Baba Wawa

Sorry, no I'm not here to convince you or anyone to do anything. I didn't pay for the information, it came from medscape.com, an online medical professional resource. I posted it as just that, a resource. Gastrointestinal Quality of Life is important. It does affect weight loss...esophogeal, gastric and intestinal spasms kept me on a soft, low fiber diet (maladaptive eating). These foods aren't ideal for weight loss. Food intolerance (inability to eat fresh veggies, fruit, lean dense protein) are also counterproductive to weight loss, so it is very relevant. I posted on this forum, in particular because many banded patients DO look to the sleeve, since it is the other purely restrictive surgery. Hope this helps you to understand. No one having to revise, ever expected to need it.

I'm sorry this has happened. Why surgery? Usually an unfill will allow the stomach to heal and return to normal...

My instructions were: >64 oz Water per day >60 gr Protein per day Limit carbs to 125 per day Avoid white carbs/processed foods Avoid caloric beverages Eat a variety of colorful veggies daily Limit fats to olive oil, healthy fat foods, such as avocados, nuts etc and only 2-3 portions a day. If you add it up 60 gr protein = 240 Cal 125 gr carb = 500 cal 2-3 portions healthy fat 2-3 tbs = 200-300 calories Total 940-1040 calories appx

I think she was scared away...

I know that some doctors "prime" the band at surgery with a small fill, 3cc or so. I would ask a lot of questions...if your band is doing what you want it to do AND you're not having difficulty eating what you should, then I would leave well enough alone. Most people I know with bands need moist meats...even cutting it into 1/4 in pieces, I have difficulty with dry meats...if a little sauce helps, then why not?

I actually lost after my unfill in June, I have lost 17 lb, for a total loss of 88 lb. I'm 63 btw.

I get that you might think she's a troll, but wouldn't it make sense to assume otherwise and ask a few questions? I came here less than a year ago BECAUSE I was having problems and looking for some answers/empathy and got jumped on too... The other thing is the general consensus on this site seems to be that most, if not all, Lapband complications are self-induced! That's just unbelievable. I'm not saying some aren't, but the vast majority of the people I know are having similar problems and were very compliant, did their research, etc. Hundreds of people cannot all be wrong. It's cruel and unkind to tell someone who, just like you, was heavily invested (time, money and especially emotionally invested) in a process and device they thought would help them finally succeed at permanent weight loss, that they failed their device...just cruel. I thought like many of you here think....I was very wrong.

I would like each of you who called the OP ignorant, arrogant, ill-informed, troll or any other negative to ask yourself "...what if this person is truly at a difficult place, the end of her rope and asking for one kind word and what I say here can make a positive difference or lead to her being more miserable?" Where is your heart, empathy and humanity? Ask questions before you judge. This poster is NOT who you all seem to think she is....I know NicM from OH and this isn't her. BTW OH is a forum that encompasses all surgery types, not just lapband. The lapband forum over there is pretty much dead due to overmoderation. The Failed Lapband and Realize Band groups on OH and FB are very active...interesting isn't it?

If you belonged to some of the "Failed Bands" groups I belong to you would think otherwise...complications are NOT few and far between. I thought the same thing as recently as a year ago...when I started having severe symptoms and asking for help from the "negative" band bashers, I was enlightened. When my PPI wasn''t helping my night time reflux and I was waking several times per night choking on acid, this is where I went for help. Guess what, those who have been there are good resources for us, good or bad experience, it's all experience and valuable. This site is so hard on those of us who post of problems...it is discouraging enough to be suffering with a band induced side effect or out and out complication without people who haven't experienced it telling you to stop posting or worse...there was someone who posted the other day about problems and she was outright bullied....not ok! I'm sorry you have experienced problems with your band, but don't understand that you have suffered for 8 years and won't acknowledge that the band is the problem??? I don't get it.

This happened to me. My band became tight all of a sudden on its own, with 3.5 cc. Barium would barely drip thru. I had a complete unfill 7 months ago, I've lost with no fill, but still have restriction. My EGD/esophogram were both normal, showed no slip, erosion, but my stoma is about half the size of the band itself. My doctors feel that scar tissue built up between the band and stomach causing the stoma to be much smaller than it should be with 0cc in my 11 cc band. You need to get to your bariatric surgeon ASAP. Keep us posted.

Left shoulder pain is common side effect with the band. Try a heating pad, if that doesn't help, you might want to get some of the fill removed. Best of luck, hope it resolves on its own.

I graduated in 67, my husband in 65...we've been married 45 years, two kids, 7 grandkids. Concerts: Janis Joplin (Big Brother and the Holding Company), Van Morrison (Them; G L O R I A), The Beach Boys and The Yardbirds...doesn't get any better!

And thank you for that...so many of our friends didn't make it back...I remember the 60's...little foggy, but it's all there!

Yes, stress affects your band and a good thing to keep in mind when you think of fills. Go slow, my friend. If you're still responding to stress this way when it's time for a fill, be very conservative. It's great that you are very in tune with your body and the stress response. Best of luck to you on your band journey!

I get your point, but what is the difference between keeping your band in to the point it damages your god-given anatomy, requiring parts of the stomach and other organs to be removed, and removing 80% of your stomach initially? When I first started hearing an increasing # of banded people having major complications, I started paying attention. I'm not trying to prove that the band is bad, just sharing facts. If you have read my posts, I have been successful in losing with my band, but have unfortunately dealt with some pretty miserable side effects. I'm trying desperately to keep my band...I don't think that will be an option much longer. Poor "quality of GI life" is indeed a "complication". Getting food stuck in an empty band, GI dismotility and constipation as a result are complications and negatively affect my life daily, not to mention the $90 copay for ONE of my medications. If you have a problem with me posting, perhaps you need to use the ignore feature in your settings.

It's scary to think of starting over. The good news is you weigh 163 this time...your revision will keep you there or lower. VSG is a longer, more difficult recovery than band, especially revision VSG, due to scar tissue, adhesions etc. Many of the people I've talked to had their band adhere to the liver, pancreas, spleen etc, which makes removal more difficult. They all report feeling much better getting it out whether they revised or not. Good luck to you!

It isn't known what causes erosion, it can happen to anyone with a band, compliant or not. If you're unable to comply and overeat, purge, etc, yes, you are more likely to cause complications, but they do occur, even in compliant patients fairly frequently. At your BMI and age (you look fairly young) you need to determine which surgery would work best. If portion control is your problem (3 big meals a day), then restrictive surgery (band or VSG) will most likely work for you. If you are constantly eating throughout the day, you might benefit from a malabsorptive procedure (RNY or DS). If I were young, I would opt for the VSG or DS. The reason I say this is that it isn't a "lifetime" device...the manufacturer even states it. Generally it is thought that it will last about 10 years max. I know of one person who has one at 11 years out, 3 or four that are 7-8 years out and literally hundreds who have had theirs removed due to complications. Do your research, beware of doctors who push one type of surgery and bear in mind that Lapband requires not just a lifestyle change, but a tremendous amount of follow up care. It's a commitment for as long as you have your band. Join other WLS forums, vertical sleeve talk, etc. Read up on complications of all surgery types. PM me if you have questions or need help.

You should probably get at least a partial unfill with the problems you're having. Many women do gradual unfills, as needed during pregnancy, a gradual step down, refilling postpartum. Some are able to keep their fill throughout pregnancy, but it's unusual. With another 13 weeks, you need to be able to get nutrition and hydration, not just for you, but for your baby. Congrats & good luck!

It's tough refilling an emptied band, from what I've heard. I know many on our FB page that were never able to get back to where they were. Many with the older 4cc bands have had them removed and replaced with newer bands or revised to sleeve. Those who got new bands have had mixed results with about half ending up revising to sleeve/rny in the end, or even just removing it. If you'd like to join our FB group pm me for the link. I had my band unfilled 7 months ago, am still restricted, but I can eat bread. I rarely do though. I still am having reflux and motility issues, so may end up revising, though I really don't want to. Good luck to you!

Do you have a fever? It isn't impossible for it to be erosion, but unlikely. Could be you strained while exercising and pulled your port a bit? Call your doctor to be sure. If you have a fever, you could have an infection. Why are you drinking pineapple juice?

Crap food is cheap, well because it's CRAP. You will eat so little that you'll actually save money....you'll spend it on clothes, though, so it's a wash...except you'll be healthier! Look at the positive, look ahead, but don't even think about the ding dongs!

My daughter runs half marathons and has a 17 yr old and 3 fifteen yr old girls. She's only 5'2" tall, so you can imagine the excess skin she has from carrying 32 week triplets with polyhydramnios...she swears by compression running pants/shorts depending on the weather. They help with circulation while running too. Good luck!

I had this problem last June, had a complete unfill, after 3 weeks of babying my band I was able to eat, but I'm still pretty restricted. I have lost 17 lb since my unfill. Since you still cannot eat or drink easily, you probably need ALL your fill removed. I don't know how much you have in your band, but mine was almost completely closed with only 3.5cc in my 11cc band. This happened more than a year following my second fill of 2 of .5cc. It's better to have your band doc take it all out than risk messing up your band getting it unfilled in the ER.

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I don't do artificial sweeteners, they give me migraines. I do use sugar in my coffee in the morning and avoid processed foods, which likely contains refined carbs (sugar). I'm a believer in moderation, so if I want a little sweet treat, I count it in my daily intake, enjoy it and move on. Your items you have on hand should be ok immediately post op while on clear liquids. Once you're on full liquids, I would avoid them. Your nighttime ff chocolate milk might be ok, provided you check with your doctor. Generally, the consensus among bariatric professionals is that liquid calories shouldn't be part of our diet once we are on solid food. Best of luck to you!