ElfiePoo

Many eating disorder sites have a definition along the lines of: "Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and emotional health." By that definition, all fat people have an eating disorder...anyway, my .02. .

Life with Hilda is a never ending bundle of fun. About a week before we went to Disney I was scheduled for a fill, but woke up that morning feeling 'tight'. So I cancelled the fill. Now, three weeks later, I was scheduled for another fill this morning and woke up tight. Pffft. I told Hilda to shut up and went for the fill anyway. After 30 minute conversation with the nurse, we decided to go ahead and get another 1cc (taking me to 8) and then stay there for a month. She said to be kind to my band for that month. In other words, stick to soft foods and mushes for 3 days and then if I'm too tight to eat solids, continue to stick to mushies and pureed and see if it doesn't resolve on its own. At the end of the month, we'll take another look at Hilda and decide where to go from there but will most likely do it in tiny .1cc increments. I had a protein shake before I left for the fill and another protein shake about 30 minutes ago. I'm not hungry and have no desire for food. It would be luverly if I kept this feeling. Now, I think I will go out for my walk since I missed my aerobics and walk this morning and it is a *gorgeous* fall day outside! Melody .

For those worried, I found this...have to say I'm not worried at all about my band. VOLUNTARY RECALL OF REALIZE® ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND CINCINNATI - October 13, 2010 - Obtech Medical Sàrl, a medical device manufacturer, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery (EES), in cooperation with the U.S. food and Drug Administration (FDA), have initiated a voluntary worldwide recall of existing inventory of adjustable gastric band systems sold under the brand name: REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Bands. There is no action required for patients who already have received these gastric bands, and removal (explantation) of the gastric band is not required. The voluntary recall was undertaken due to reports of the potential for the Tubing Strain Relief, a small (2 centimeter) flexible sheath on the band's Injection Port, to slide out of its intended position. In these rare cases, the Tubing Strain Relief may slide along the catheter tubing that connects to the Injection Port. If this happens, the Tubing Strain Relief can no longer aid in preventing kinking where the tubing connects to the port. The Tubing Strain Relief was an enhancement made to the gastric band system to address tube kinking, a complication common to all gastric bands. Movement of the Tubing Strain Relief is highly unlikely to cause any serious injury or adverse health consequences and it rarely affects the band's function. In the extremely rare instance when tube kinking occurs at the Injection Port, the physician might be unable to adjust Fluid volume within the gastric band, which may require additional surgery to correct. The reported incidence of the Tubing Strain Relief sliding out of its intended position is less than 1 in 1,000. The reported incidence of tube kinking at the port related to the Tubing Strain Relief sliding out of position is 1 in 10,000. There have been no reported cases of gastric band removal due to the Tubing Strain Relief sliding out of position. As part of our ongoing commitment to improve the safety and effectiveness of the band, EES identified this issue as part of the company's continuous improvement program and developed an enhanced design of the component that was approved by the FDA. Hospitals and clinics will receive the enhanced replacement product upon returning the recalled product. All new orders will receive the updated product. About the Realize® Adjustable Gastric Band The Realize® Adjustable Gastric Band is used in one type of weight-loss surgery. It contains two main components: the first is a fluid-filled balloon that is placed around the stomach; the second is an injection port to adjust the degree of fluid in the band. Thin flexible tubing connects these two main components. The recall involves an ancillary component called the Tubing Strain Relief. If surgeons or patients have any additional questions, they may call our Customer Support Center at 1-866-REALIZE (1-866-732-5493) for more information.

Treat eating softer foods for a few days. Everytime we get stuck, we irritate the banded area which may cause swelling, which may cause even more things to get stuck. My doc said to measure out what I *should* be eating and take no longer than 20-30 minutes to eat it. *Never* drink with your meals. I can drink right up until I take that first bite and then nothing for 30 minutes after my last bite. When I've been stupid enough to disregard that advice, I'm instantly stuck. I just had another fill this morning putting me at 8cc and the nurse reminded me to 'be kind to your band' for a few days. Since I've already done the overfill, constant sliming/stuck episodes to the point where I couldn't eat anything but sliders, I'm sticking to soft foods and mushies for a few days. .

My doc has a sign on the wall in the fill rooms that shows you what to look for when determining whether you need a fill, are at the right restriction or overfilled. If you're losing weight and aren't hungry, then you're 'just right'. If you stop losing weight and are struggling with overeating or snacking, then you don't have enough restriction. If you're constantly getting stuck, coughing at night, have reflux or pain in the abdoment, you're overfilled. .

If I can't find my sweet spot in the next 2 months, making me 14 months post op, I'm going to seriously check into getting the sleeve. I went into my regular doc's office yesterday and saw her nurse (who had a sleeve the same week I had my band put in) and was shocked. This woman weighed 375 pounds on the date of her surgery and has been losing steadily because she didn't have to wait to get her 'tool' to work. While I've only lost 30 pounds and still have no restriction, she's lost 200 because she's had restriction from day one...and looks fantastic. I'm sure she feels it as well. .

Betsy, I thank you very much for your interest and concern and do not see it as being condescending or argumentative :cursing:. I actually had quite a long conversation with my doctor's nurse (who has been very successful with her band) this morning regarding my expectations and she confirmed that my expectations were on target. She was not the one who was giving me my past fills and she thinks, based on the notes, that at 8cc I was close to that sweet spot and when we jumped by .5cc, we should've been going up by .1cc and allowing a bit more time between fills. They decided to give me another 1cc fill today to take me back up to 8cc and then come back in a month for a small tweak if I need to. I had a Protein shake this morning before I went for the fill and am just now getting ready to eat something...but I'm really not hungry. In fact, I'm going to have to force myself to eat something because I have no desire to eat. Maybe I'll just have another Protein Shake and be kind to my newly filled band. Now if I could just keep this feeling...no hunger, no desire. Sweet! .

I'd just respond with, "Yeah, I know a bunch of people who went on WW and gained it all back too." The band is not for everyone. We each have to find the tool that works for us...and then we have to work that tool. .

My surgeon also does both types of bands and bases it on the size of the person's stomach/BMI. Betsy, I also gained weight on WW. That was back when they used to applaud the losers and boo those who gained or remained the same that week. The head of the program who loved to brag about how "if I can do it, anyone can" actually told me I was a liar and cheat because nobody gains on WW. Then I also found out she only had 25 pounds to lose and that was her after baby weight. She'd never been overweight for more than a year in her entire life. What a dumbass. .

Depends on your doctor. My doctor doesn't torture his patients by making them go on a clear diet for 2 weeks to a month prior to surgery, as some do. I was limited to only Clear liquids (he suggested Isopure as it would give me the Protein I needed...I'm diabetic too) on the day prior to surgery and nothing at all after 10 p.m. After surgery, his patients are back on solid foods by the end of two weeks. .

So far the lap band has not worked for me. At almost a year postop I still have no restriction. At one point I was overfilled, so we dropped back on the fill and are now going up again in smaller increments, hoping I just passed that sweet spot. All I know at this point is that I went from no restriction to getting stuck on everything. No middle ground. I'm seriously considering getting the band taken out and having the sleeve done if I still have no restriction in 2 months. .

Every fat person has an eating disorder. If we didn't, we wouldn't be fat. A lot depends on what that eating disorder is. My surgeon was pretty up front that he will not band someone who is bulimic because of the compulsion to binge and then purge. He said the only patients he's had who had to have their band removed due to erosion were bulimics. Due to their constant purging, they stressed the stomach area around the band until they had to have surgery to remove the band and repair the damage. .

Hunnybee, I didn't realize Ireland was still in feudal serf mode where their 'employer' owned their bodies and could tell them what to do with them. I'd contact your Labor Relations board. .

Everything I've read suggests this is phrenic nerve pain and has to do with the band rubbing against the diaphragm. The pain in the shoulder is a referred pain. I had mine for 6 months after surgery and then it went away. In the past month it's come back with a vengeance. Mine bothers me if I'm only slightly reclining to a full horizontal position. Sometimes I can relieve it by pulling my arm above my head, while lying down, and stretching my torso. .

My doc said I should be able to eat only 1 cup when I have restriction but when I went to the meeting with the nutritionist and she showed a plate of food with a typical meal, I almost laughed in her face because it was very obviously about 4 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of vegies and about 1 cup of mashed potatoes. She's apparently doing her own thing.

Only if you want to be. Their housekeeping problems are not your problem. I would simply write them a letter and send it certified stating that you were told this was a one day procedure and you did not spend a night due to medical complications, but a lack of organization on the hospital's part. Their problem, not yours. I would also send a copy to my insurance company. I think you'll find the insurance company will take a dim view of them trying to charge for their ineptness. The squeaky wheel and all that. .

Hang in there, Jen. You're only a week postop so you're bound to have discomfort. Most people are back to normal by 4-6 weeks (meaning they forget they even have a band in). .

No, I lost 72 pounds on my own prior to the surgery. Since surgery I've only lost 30...and even that was done pretty much without a fill. I have hope though. I go in for another fill tomorrow and am hoping it gives me at least some restriction. .

Just because this all needs repeating. We can research and research and do more research and still find the band was not the right choice. Cleosmom: Something to keep in mind with the sleeve is that you get whatever size pouch you get (and it may still allow you to overeat), whereas the band is adjustable. I guess we just need to keep working it until we get it to where it will work for us. .

I never feel obligated to respond to someone when I have a bite in my mouth. I just smile and hold up a finger to say 'just a moment' and continue chewing. Than again, I've done that all my life. Order something you know will go down easy. As Cocoa said, eating sliders for one meal won't kill you. .

As HB said, slider foods will vary with the person. cheese is not a slider food for me, but potatoes, rice and Pasta are (even when I had too much fill and was getting stuck on everything else)...and many people have problems with rice and pasta. .

I had no pain in recovery and just mild discomfort for a few days, so never took any pain meds other than liquid Tylenol after surgery. I was back to work (desk job) the day after surgery, although I did go home after a couple hours. Slept the rest of the day and then went back to work the following day with no problem. I have been banded for almost a year and have only lost 30 pounds. I've had little to no restriction as far as how much I can eat except when I was overfilled. Perhaps that was my fault getting filled too fast so now I'm taking it a bit more slowly in getting refilled. I have yet to see the advantage to getting this band, but I'm still hoping it will do what I was promised it will do. .

We are all unique and our bodies will all respond differently. Try it and see if it works for you. Even when I was doing shakes all day, I made sure to drink enough to get in around 1200 calories because when I drop lower, my weight loss stalls. An aunt of mine lost weight doing Slim Fast for Breakfast and lunch and a regular meal for dinner (5-6 oz Protein, a cup of steamed vegies, 1/2 cup of starch). .

I try to stay around 1200 because studies, and my own experience, show that most women who eat 1200 calories a day lose weight faster and more consistently than those who eat less. .

Gypsy, I think we need to redefine what 'full' is. For most overweight people, 'full' is when we push back from the table and feel the need to undo the top button of our pants. At some point on my way to overfill, I think I passed my sweet spot (and am currently looking for it again). I remember there being a point where I just knew that I had enough...and if I was dumb enough to take that next bite, it would be too much (and was if I was dumb enough). .