forreste

Hi everyone and good morning, I am sort of new, definitely new to posting though I have been on this site reading. I love that there is a 50's group 'cuz that fits me. I have a question, it appears that everyone is newly banded or waiting to be banded. I have been banded a couple of years, would this still be the correct area? Or is there another place better suited? It is nice to see such a supportive encouraging group of people! Forreste

Hi, I had my surgery several years years ago. I am curious why the Social Worker is gone and Dr. Morand left. I did okay until insurance ran out. I did not lose weight. Curious how your experience was or have you had any procedure done yet? Maine General - no problem. I do wish there were some supports and maybe there are, but I do not know of any. Forreste

I have been banded about 2yrs. At each fill never felt restriction really until the last fill. Then occasionally after that, very occasionally if I ate too fast I had terrible pressure as if my esophagus (area) was going to explode. Gross part*** sorry, there would be much saliva to have to spit out. Only twice with food returning, other times just the huge pressure like the largest gas bubble in the world in me. Now we have different insurance and it does not pay for lap band ANYTHING. I am already in debt due to a lumpectomy during a "no insurance" time and money is very very tight with other bills other medical as well. H does not support lap band process, thinks it has been a failure, I have been a failure and I know he is disappointed in the lack of result. When last fill occurred MD withdrew Fluid before putting in more so band must be in correct position and ok, right?I believe I was at 8.?? full. He told me then no more fills, acting very annoyed and borderline angry. Definitely not supportive. I left feeling very very humiliated. So now no insurance, MD that did procedure seems to thrive on the successes (understandably) but where does that leave the failures? The social worker of the program was very supportive and helped me by keeping e-mail tabs every so often. I re-visited dietician (my cost) at her suggestion and learned my Protein intake way way to low so I have tried to improve intake and have pro drink for Breakfast. I cannot get breakfast down at 6,7 or 8 am I am up around 4:30- 5 ish. Can drink a pro drink though. Dietician said better than nothing and increases protein. ** I rarely post here, once I saw someone admit to slipping, and having a hard time and person was flamed and judged so harshly I chose never to write here. I feel in a quandry though and just do not know what to do and I am risking. I know I am asking what would you do, but please ahead of time, I beat myself up enough. I really would feel awful (more so than normal) if I get a lot of judgemental, mean spirited, harsh not helpful comments. I do exercise what I can, I fell 2yrs. ago and really hurt one and cut the other kneecap to the bone needing stitches in and out, never went to PT (cost) So now they are very painful, car accidents hit from behind (not my fault they put up a stop sign and I stopped, ditto for the green light that turned red. My back really hurts and neck. I am in PT now (insur.pays) for my back very helpful. Why is it that it does not seem to work for some people? I am truly looking for helpful feedback. I am 51 y.o.and feel 97. 5'4 and still in the 200's where I started. I lost initially for a few months Well here goes and I will be off and send this in good faith that maybe there is someone out there that may have/had similar experience or give an opinion. Thank you so much, forreste

Hi GraceUtah, thank you very much for your educational and supportive words. I really appreciate that. I agree with uplifting, helpful and non-judgemental when someone is struggling. I always feel I really do not know what a person's life is really like as I do not live it. I try very hard not to judge anyone, life is just too complicated as it is!!!! I am curious and know very little; by slime do you mean the times when there is just this constant heavy amt. of saliva that there is no other choice but to spit out? If yes this is to me is one indication of restriction (but I am not sure) the other is if it goes beyond the heavy saliva to severe pain (and I do not know what the severe pain means) I do know if I can get water down just a bit then it is relieved if I can burp. It almost feels like an air lock in there once the burp can come up most times no vomiting (only2x ever and more like PBing now that I've read) then the pain goes away. I endeaver not to create the pain for sure. Most times I eat very very slowly by nature. Where do you get the fills at $155.00? The Bariatric center I was going to cost $500.00 for a fill. I almost :faint: I watch the whole procedure and understand this part and it doesn't bother me to watch. When I saw the first bill for this I could not believe it!!! I had insurance then so I just breathed a sigh of relief. Currently there would be no way to justify $500.00 with winter coming and oil such as it is. I live in the Northeast and oil is necessary.Thank you so much for your help.

Thank you so much for responding to my question and doing it with tact and understanding. Thank you Sades. I wish you the best and I hope it goes very well. I appreciate your supportive words. Jodie- Congratulations!!!! I love the picture you have posted. Technology is amazing. I hope everything goes well for you and your baby Your circumstances sound very similar to mine. I have to say I was never much of a breakfast eater. I always get up early, just not hungry till around 9-10 A. That throws everything off unlesss I am very careful. In the morning I would say I also probably (if I ate) would feel restricted. Times I have nibbled a breakfast I was preparing or for some occasional reason (breakfast meeting) I am very very aware that only the smallest if any amt. of food is going to stay down. So I am careful etc. As the day goes on that "feeling" is lost, gone, I do not feel it what so ever unless as I said on the occasion I have eaten too fast. Things that are very cold can do it as well. I love pears and apples this time of yr. and keep in fridge or they will turn so fast I have to let them sit out or put under hot Water. I would be very curious why the "feeling" of restriction is only present in the am. Of course no insurance, rude MD, long distance as well, 0$,oil $$ for this winter coming. I do not know. I was looking for this restricted feeling to be with me all of the time to use as my guide to know to stop. Now I continue the evening meal on a sandwich plate, try and eat meat first, then more then my veggies, yea! Love the veggie part, keeping at the meat part. I am sorry you have experienced the rudeness, lack of compassion and the struggles with the fills. Seems like my MD was wonderful while I was losing, amazing the transformation. I went into this after long pondering, the full year of stuff that has to be gone through before you get to the surgery. I fully expected 100% this to work. It never entered my mind it wouldn't. Here you have to have a psych eval. before the procedure; and I was asked what would happen if I didn't lose the weight. I was flabbergasted- how could I not!!!????. She then went on to explain....I should have listened, but my mind said No way, not me I will lose it. Well...... Thank you again for offering your story, hardships and now happiness. Thank you for showing me nicely that I am not alone in this. I still want it to work and would not consider removal unless there was a problem. I guess I keep hoping the restricted feeling WILL kick in. Take care. Varja- Hi, it is an awful feeling isn't it? I am sorry you have the same problem. I really thought this would work and have been so upset that it has not. When I see the success stories I am happy for them but I feel such a bitter disappoinment in, for and about myself. Thank you for telling me about how you are and not saying anything to make me feel worse than I already do. Are there any support groups in your area, the ones for me are about an hour away, so none really. Especially now that the social worker left I do not know if they even run them anymore. I feel very isolated and the exercise class the run is even further away. With gas costs it is too much and there is nothing close except exp. health clubs. They Y is almost $500.00 a year so frustrating!!!!! Take care Varja, I hope as this procedure becomes more and more common that maybe there is an understanding and real knowledge about what happens and why to some like us that it does not appear to help.Then maybe they will know what to do to make it work. I can hope.... Thank you again everyone for not making this brutally painful. You were so kind and respectful. I appreciate your comments very much.

Wade I thought your book was very informative, interesting and had the best pictures I`ve seen of the process.I think it is a really good job,great pix. forreste

Hi, I am new here I have had the lap-band 1yr. I am wondering if anyone has pain at the site where the port is located. I experience an almost constant aching, but then there are times it is very painful. Mentioned to MD, said it was normal for some people. Does anyone else have anything like this.? Thank you in advance for any inf you might have. It really gets tedious after awhile. so it would be nice to know.. that yep, just something I have to live with or that it is unusual. forreste

Thank you everyone for answering me. Sometimes when the pain is very present it does cause me to worry, so it is good to know this can happen Natural Beauty- oh i can not imagine having it repaced- cost wise. I am up to there in bills as it is. Guess I will be "living with it" It does hurt so sometimes, and I do catch myself holding, masaging etc. Does not help. When I have had fills it didn`t specifically hurt there, still had the generalized area pain at site. Thank you for the info Cindy 110, yes I believe they are all attached to muscle, I do as you said and try to go easy. Maybe I should try and be more self-aware, I could be causing my own prob. I do lift things, bending over frequently. I will have to see. Thank you for helping. I felt quite alone with this problem Kat 817- hhhmmm fat reserves still plenty and then some:cry in this department. i fell and had to take a break from my main exercise (indoor bike) too hard on hurt knees. So weight has not been coming off as much. Ready now to get back on and start routine again. I was doing well until summer, then the falling down. Just don`t bounce like I used to.!!! Thank you for helping with some more insight to this problem. Hate to think it is going to hurt more! as I lose more. forreste

Fills by feel, no fluro, same surgeon that did surgery does fills. He gets it the 1st time.. so far..

I find when I eat too fast or do not chew enough I experience this as well with PAIN. The saliva has no choice where it is going. great idea the cups, I`ve been using paper towels. Ick, eeeuuuw, gross, oooww. The whole time is awful. It has definately slowed me way down, or to be careful with something new. Just in case. I am glad I am not alone.forreste