NoMoBand

I had to take Milk of Magnesia for awhile to help with this weeks after surgery as prescribed by my doc. Talk to you doc to make sure it is ok. It gets better eventually.

I can't say that I experienced this. It was opposite for me. I would go much, much more after the surgery due to the increase in liquids. Are you drinking more liquids now? I see you posted a few days ago and nothing. Why is it that women can easily talk about any and everything on these forums and we are less willing to share personal stuff? I guess it's our nature. It's a shame because we definitely could help one another. Anyhow, I do have a subject and I'm sure I'll get little input. lol And my question is how does one, thru exercise, help get rid of man boobs. The chest seems to be the area that hangs on longer with weight loss. I've lost 115 lbs. and they are getting smaller but there must be an exercise that can help tone. I do some light weight lifting, however, I deal with a lot of scar tissue in my port area and heavy weight lifting causes the tissues to bulk up and causes severe pain, thus, I have to take it easy. Any ideas?

Good to hear!! Take it easy until you are healed completely, meaning no exercise until everything has calmed down. Prayer is powerful and for now, one day at a time. God is awesome!

Under fluoroscope they can tell if something is wrong, so, don't worry about that. My fills always start out that way. I feel very little restriction until a week or 2 later. I also notice that when I'm stressed I tend to eat more than usual. In my case I don't understand this when I hear of others complaining that stress makes their bands tighter - go figure! We are all so different!!! Give it a few more days and see what happens. Hope this helps. jake

3 months after my surgery my port dislodged completely and they had to relocate it to my right side. I felt the same way, "Remove the whole darn band" kept going through my mind. My case was extreme and I went through the whole process of having surgery to relocate the port, which included new incisions. Was it worth it? Absolutely!!! I'm thinking that they will probably clean out the infected area and put you on antibiotics. If they do go the removal route, the incisions are small and a day surgery procedure, but, I hope that n your case they may just put you on strong antibiotics and let it clear up. Hang in there. This is a bump in the road and the rewards are great at the end. Prayers out your way.

Swiss Miss diet brand hot cocoa works really well with 1 tablespoon of flaxseed or nopalina to help with late night hunger, plus it's good for the digestive system. Beware of other hot chocolates that are sugar free only, they have more calories than the diet ones. I mix a packet with hot Water, flax seed or nopalina and I'll add a couple spoons of coffee vanilla non fat additive flavored milk and a packet of stevia. The combo is very tasty and filling with the flax seed. This is my treat every night and keeps me from snacking.

Did you have any kind of red meat that may have caused the stuck episode? I've been stuck for 2 days with steak and used meat tenderizer to soften the meat along with the pineapple juice and I finally got it to go through. Along with this I drank warm liquids. Gosh, I hope you will be ok.

You'll be ok, just take it easy for awhile. As I recall it took about 3 days of heat treatments before I felt the pain subside. Take tylenol for the pain.

Just be careful not to over do it. I think that's what I did. At first I started out with 10 minutes and build up to 45 minutes. The signs were there but I ignored it.

I have the same kind of port pain when I use the elliptical. I had this checked by my doc. last time this happened and she told me that I have lots of surgical scars in the port area that is aggravated when I use the elliptical. Last episode I was instructed to place a warm towel on the area for 15 minutes every 3-4 hours. What I did with the towel is wet it then put it in the microwave for 20 seconds and place on port area with a heating pad on top. It took me about 2 weeks to heal and no more elliptical. Well, the stubborn mule that I am, I started using the elliptical again and wouldn't you know it, it happened again. BTW, the best way to explain the pain is an ant or bee sting. I would still contact your doctor just to be on the safe side. They may take an x-ray just to be sure.

204 lbs. WOW!!!! That's awesome!! Congratulations!!!!! The past 4 months I'm also at a stand still with weight loss and I lose 6 lbs. then put them back on. I know that I'm still losing because my clothing fit a bit looser thus, I am losing inches. Last appointment my doc told me that my body slowed down in weight loss with the band and the rest was up to me. I'm exercising everyday but the scale just won't show it. Could be muscle weight also. ??? Hang in there and congratulations again!

Wish I would have done this a long time ago. I love my new life. Wife loves my new life. I actually help around the house, whereas, I was always tired and hurting and grumpy all the time and wouldn't even pick up after myself. My yard is now full of compliments, including the alley - holy smokes! The house is getting improvements that I never thought of before. Wow! I've had a weight problem all my life and lost and gained and lost and gained - we all know the story. The band keeps me in check and I'm at a point where I've learned to "eat to live" and yes there are head games with food that I deal with at times but I'm back on track quickly. I don't intentionally try to be a band cheerleader, but, man what a difference the weight loss has made in my life. Yoyo dieting just did not work for me and if one day I lose the band I am thrilled that I got the chance to begin to enjoy life to it's fullest at 52, the Golden years. Almost last but not least, the couch misses me and pay-per-view is no longer making a killing $$$. I'm embarrassed to say, but, we actually have left overs in the fridge. Lastly, the washing machine is working much better! lol

I really like the crisper look. I find the posts easier to read with less clutter and the avatars are bigger and you can see the pictures clearer. The biggest improvement by far is "no more advertisements" in the posts that would take up most of the screen. The advertisements are at the bottom away from the posts. Good job! You probably have a few bugs but I do like the look and feel. jake

I can't help with clinic choice or band choice, however, I can share some of my experiences on your other questions. As far as research, I'm sure you have all the basics covered and just a couple of things that I was caught off guard. It takes a while to get restriction and you must be patient with potential fill after fill and fills are 6 weeks apart. All bandsters are different and you cannot compare yourself to anyone else. The band is a very individual learning process and other people's experiences are only a possible guide. One example is the types of foods you can or can't tolerate. Only you will learn as you go. There are medications that are not recommended to take with the band. One big medicine family are NSAIDS or anti-inflamatory meds for arthritis etc. No more motrin. As time goes by, you will learn that the band acts different at different times. Some days you have good/normal restriction and other days not as much. The band still keeps you in check. There is not enough data yet to know how successful the band is on a long term basis and complications can occur. Post surgery Not so bad, however, it is still surgery and you have to take care of yourself. Many people post how easy it is and how they didn't feel much. They are the lucky ones while others deal with incision problems, infections and pain etc. Everyone is different, but, you will heal. 120 lbs. is very reachable, however, you will need to help the band with exercise to reach your expectation and goals. As you start dropping the weight you will become energized and exercise becomes easier. You will not feel sick on a daily basis. The only times you will feel sick is if you eat too fast or have a stuck episode. You get used to eating smaller amounts. Impact on birthdays, dinner with friends is minimal and you will be able to participate, however, you eat less and have to be very careful not to eat fast and chew your food well. Last, but not least. The beginning part is difficult, but, as time goes by you'll be able to eat normal meals, but, much less. I have no regrets.

Best explanation yet. Thank you bandwhisperer!! I hope you are still active on these forums. If you are can I bother you with a question? With such uncertainty on long term data on bandsters would it be appropriate to ask if you are seeing more slippage and prolapse cases and possible causes at this time? jake Bandwhisper quoted "I am a PA and have 4+ years in AGB care, fills, and have performed over 7000 barium swallows. Slippage and prolapse are being used as one in the same and they are NOT. Slippage is when the fundoplication (stitch) breaks loose and the band physically slips downward on the stomach. Prolapse is when stomach from below the band "mushrooms" up through the band, usually caused by an intense vomiting episode. However, both can present the same way........................................."

I can chime in and answer some of your questions. Maggie can also give you input on her experience. 1. Did you vomit a lot or even any? Vomiting is not the norm and can occur at first, but, you learn really quickly on how to eat properly. Trust me! Not chewing your food well enough is the main culprit. This occurs when pieces of your food obstruct or become lodged in your stoma. The stoma is the entrance from the upper stomach (small stomach above the band) into your large stomach (below the band). The stoma is the cause of restriction keeping the food to remain above the stoma a bit longer and sensors there signal the brain that you are full. The food eventually passes thru the upper to lower stomach. You can also vomit if you eat too fast or too much. The "proper way of eating with a band" is a learning process and you do learn really quick. 2. what do you eat eh first month? Every surgeon has different diets. I can share what mine required. Right after surgery - 2 days of Clear liquids. Sugarless juices, tea, coffee, broths, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles etc. 3-5 days - Protein drinks with skim milk, apple sauce, cream of wheat Mushies stage: Examples of mushies: scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, vienna sausages, grits, cream of wheat, mashed Beans, mashed potatoes, cheese etc. Once past the mushie stage you will eat normal much smaller meals with eating Proteins first, fruits and veggies second, then, carbs last., but, will proceed slowly until you know which foods you will be able to tolerate. Within 1month or so you will have an idea of what you can and can't tolerate. All bandsters are different so it's hard to say how your progression will be. 3. I live in SE Indiana and want to find a Dr. that I can trust and who has experience who can I go to? No advice I have BCBSTX PPO INS> I do suffer from HB, Pre-Diabetic and am 110 pds over weight. I'm 5'5 and weight 258. What are my chances of my insurance covering this? I was approved through BCBSNM. Your chances of being approved look really good. Your primary doctor has a major role in approval or no approval. Make sure your Primary is on board, for he/she must submit a letter of medical necessity on your behalf which plays a huge role in approval. 4> How much pain is there involved to filling and what all is involved? Pain is minimal. A special needle is inserted thru your skin into the port where they will either insert or remove saline (fill or unfill). All my fills have been done under floroscope. Floroscope is a special kind of x-ray machine and they have you swallow barium and they can see how much goes thru the stoma. You get used to this very easily. Trust me I did and I was a wimp when it came to needles. Hope this helps.

We are all sooooooo different!! I started out with 3cc's and my first fill was a unfill. I was too tight. I am now under 2cc's in a 10cc band.

I was also terrified of surgery! Your support group, as long as they are on-board with you makes all the difference in helping with your decision. Someone already mentioned health. If your weight is causing health issues then 'yes' this is something to seriously consider. I just got my one year physical and blood work done and everything came back normal. One year ago I was a medical mess and knew if I did not get serious about weight loss I was headed quicker to pushing daisies. I am so happy and blessed that I had this opportunity and second chance in life. Good luck in what your decide. Jake

Crystal lite counts. I drank it for a good 6 months and eventually got tired of it. Water then tasted awesome. Thus, don't worry about it substituting water, it is counted as your liquid input. You'll eventually change to just water. In your breakfast menu example I'm curious if you have your coffee with your meal? If so, you probably should have your coffee separate from breakfast and at least 1/2 before or after. That's what my doc told me and I've stuck to that rule. I think that the coffee may be pushing your breakfast too fast thru the stoma. Just a suggestion though.

Maggie, Yes, this did help. I do have the option of seeing the PA for a fill, however, it is such a hassle with insurance, that I will wait til December when my doc comes back. Some fills back I also experienced acid reflux and had to sleep sitting up, otherwise, I would wake up gagging. I had .5 removed and this took care of the problem. I'm really scared to do another fill only because they may put too much in and I'll start up with the stuck episodes and acid reflux. I may just go on liquid Proteins for a week or so and see if this helps. Thanks again Maggie. Definitely see your doc about a very slight unfill to get the acid reflux controlled. Jake

Maggie, I'm not a newbie and am actually one year and a couple of weeks banded. Best darn thing I've done for myself. I do have a question for you. I am almost at goal, however, the past month I've noticed a change in my restriction when 2-3 days out of the week I can eat a lot more than usual and there are some days that I don't feel like I have a band at all. The other days I do just fine with small portions and feeling full. I've kept my weigh off and continue to slowly lose because I am working out everyday (running, gym, zumba, yard work etc etc. I'm sure it is time for a fill and my question to you is in two fold. 1) Are my symptoms calling for a fill? 2. How often does one need a fill after losing most of your weight and is there a point when we don't get anymore fills? My understanding is that the stomach loses fat as you lose more weight leaving the band loose. I have lost a bit more weight since my last doc appointment at which time she told me that I was fine where I was at as far as volume in the band (done under floro). My doc is out on medical leave and I can't see her til December. Can you share your experiences with fills after 2 years and what to expect? Thanks, Jake

If they do proceed, I would ask the doctor for a prescribed liquid cough suppressant. You definitely don't want to be coughing while healing.

Yes and no. At first I did, but, discovered that very small bites at a time and you should be able to participate, however, stop immediately if you start feeling a sliming episode. Breads will work for me as long as the bread is toasted and again small bites.

Terri, The Bariatric clinic is with Lovelace Westside Hospital. 2 bariatric surgeons reside there, Dr. Lilibeth Sanchez and Dr. Adam Smith. Dr. Sanchez is local and Dr. Smith is out of Texas and comes in to perform surgeries. My doctor is Dr. Sanchez and she is awesome! The staff is very friendly and supportive. Fills are done under floroscope. The phone number to that clinic is (505) 727-2300.

Mystalia, I think you are being too hard on yourself. My wife has thyroid problems and when she is either hyper or hypo thyroid it takes time for her metabolism to adjust to the increase or decrease in medication (at least 6 weeks or more). Her weight is up and down and will not stabilize until the medication take affect properly. As long as you have good restriction the weight will start coming off once your thyroid levels are normal. Exercise will help, but, be patient and recover from the thyroid issue first. Hope this helps. Jake