She Smiles

I'm a fellow Aussie and my Doc has always said to eat whatever I can tolerate within reason. Carbs are my friend, I eat pasta/rice pretty much every day. I don't think I've done too bad with my weight loss. I've done fortnights or so of lower carb to try to kick start my weight loss and mix things up, which has worked to some extent, but I could never do it long term, I'd have NO energy!!

Awwww, I love it! I'm so jealous of that funky medal you got!

I became the master of trying to hide/disguise my weight with clothes when I was bigger. Now I am thinner, I use those skills too but have more options of the types of clothes I can wear to disguise the loose skin I have on my stomach and hips. Like Jachut, I came out of this not too badly, so I'm kind of lucky. I did look into plastic surgery earlier in the year but simply could not afford it, so I've now made peace with the fact that my body isn't going to ever be bikini ready. And thats ok. Don't let the fear of having loose skin stop you from becoming the person you set out to be in having your surgery to start with. Best of luck.

BBK, I hope the pain subsides soon for you. Looking forward to seeing pics when you're up to posting them. I'm sure you look as beautiful as ever.

I miss Flabuless, she was around a lot when I first reading these boards and was a real inspiration. And some of the other Aussies like Susannah who only pops in every now and then cos she's out enjoying life!

Welcome to all the new Aussies!

Nope no liquids or mushies. Thank goodness! My surgeon said that had he been the one to see the films right after I had them done, he wouldn't have taken all the fill out, he would have left some in. Hence why he wanted to put some back in today. He said its such a minor slip and that most band patients probably have a slip like that that settles on its own at some stage with their band that they don't even know about. He said the only reason I know about mine is because I must have inflammed my throat some how and the reflux started because of that and it was a down hill run from there. My esophogus isn't dialated, he didnt say anything about that at all, just some of the lower stomach has slipped up. I'm don't think he plans on me having another GI, I think he thinks it will just be a waste of time and resources for every one at this stage if I am feeling 100%. I'm feeling 99% already (bit tired from only having liquids, but that will soon change). We'll see what happens in the 2 weeks between now and then. Hope we both come out of this with everything turning out for the best. When is your two weeks up? I go back on the Monday the 19th.

I posted this on my blog and couple of other threads too.. My surgeon looked at the films from my barium swallow and said "its not catastrophic", (his words) and that it is REALLY likely that it just slipped a small amount from the reflux and few vomiting episodes that with no fill for a few weeks, it will settle and then I will be able to have some fill put back in gradually. But not as much as I had, of course. He said we'd start with 4 or 5 mls and then build up to maybe 6 or 6.5mls in my 10ml band. He offered to put some back in today and I told him that I'd rather wait a couple of weeks and let the swelling go down to be safe rather than sorry. He said that was a good choice. I'm also going to continue the Nexium on his advice until I go back on the 19th for my fill so that helps settle my stomach too. I asked him if I should be doing liquids, he said no, just normal foods, but make sure I chew them well so I don't vomit. He repeated again that it was not anything to be concerned about because its only ever so slightly slipped and in a couple of weeks he is certain it will go back to where it should be. I feel SO releived. He did say that the registrar at the hospital should have told me that it was a very minor slip and was almost certainly reversible with time and a looser band for a while. Shame he didn't, then I wouldn't have been so worried about everything.

I feel great - my reflux is totally gone and I've not PBed. I think because I've had this complication I have become hyper aware of anything going on in my stomach - even gas has started me worrying in the last few days! I don't think a 0.25 is anything to worry about but maybe you could see your Dr for a piece of mind if you are concerned. I posted this on my blog and couple of other threads too.. My surgeon looked at the films from my barium swallow and said "its not catastrophic", (his words) and that it is REALLY likely that it just slipped a small amount from the reflux and few vomiting episodes that with no fill for a few weeks, it will settle and then I will be able to have some fill put back in gradually. But not as much as I had, of course. He said we'd start with 4 or 5 mls and then build up to maybe 6 or 6.5mls in my 10ml band. He offered to put some back in today and I told him that I'd rather wait a couple of weeks and let the swelling go down to be safe rather than sorry. He said that was a good choice. I'm also going to continue the Nexium on his advice until I go back on the 19th for my fill so that helps settle my stomach too. I asked him if I should be doing liquids, he said no, just normal foods, but make sure I chew them well so I don't vomit. He repeated again that it was not anything to be concerned about because its only ever so slightly slipped and in a couple of weeks he is certain it will go back to where it should be. I feel SO releived. He did say that the registrar at the hospital should have told me that it was a very minor slip and was almost certainly reversible with time and a looser band for a while. Shame he didn't, then I wouldn't have been so worried about everything.

LJM you rock! Well done! A 5:26 mile is fast in anyones books, never mind one done amongst 8 others!

I'm staying on plan today because even though I found out I have a small slip last week, I refuse to put on any weight. I've worked too hard so far to take a step back.

Yeah thats your best bet, call and ask your Doc. By the way Slimmy, you've done great with your weight loss! My Mum has a flipped port (its flipped to the side, not all the way over), but they can still fill it, so they havent done any corrective surgery or anything. A flipped port doesn't always mean that you'll need to do anything. Good luck!

A lot of people have their stats in their signatures too, so reading other threads you might get an idea of other people's losses by looking at that. Ive lost 107 pounds since being banded in Nov 2006.

I was a typical "apple" shape when I was bigger - all torso and boobs and smaller more normal arms and legs. I didnt have rolls on my tummy though, just the big round beer belly look that some one else mentioned. I'm down to 147 pounds at 5'3" and I have to feel a fair bit for my port. I don't know if I got a low profile one to start with, but it feels like its still under about an inch of tissue when I press it. I do still have a bit of tummy fat, but nothing drastic (its here to stay I think unless I decide to have plastic surgery). I can't imagine my port ever sticking out visibly, even when I get to goal.

No worries, I will do, you can also always check my blog (the link is in my sig below, I update pretty regularly with whats going on with my weight/band etc). Keep me posted on how you're doing too!

My sugeon would have said the excess was the amount to the goal he made for me, which was not a healthy BMI and waaaaaaaaaay higher than the goal I have set for myself (which is mid range healthy BMI for me). I met his goal months ago! I'm not sure how its done across the WLS "industry" though....like how they get to the "patients lose 60% of their excess on average" assessment. I just did my sums though, and I've lost 87% of the excess weight I want to lose. Sounds good to me!

Funnily enough, I'm not that hungry either! I thought I was going to be STARVING, but I'm not so much, I got on the scales this morning and they had gone down! I'm shocked! Good news for both of us!

I feel a bit more at peace with it all today too! I feel like I have processed it a bit more. Each moment from here on in is a choice and I have a choice to make the right decisions and be positive and hope for the best. Playing the "what if" game is going to get me no where. Thanks for your compliments, you've done great too!

Unfortuntely I can't help either, I had my unfill for my slip done yesterday by a registrar at the hospital and he gave me no guidance on what to eat either, I was so shocked at the time I didn't think to ask! I'm seeing my surgeon on Monday. For the time being I've put myself on liquids just to be safe, Soups will be my friend for the next few days at least. Its probably best to keep trying to get a hold of your Doc for his instruction.

I didn't really think I could have a slip myself, I mean I thought about it, but I'm a paranoid person by nature so I just though i was being paranoid because the only symptom I had was the reflux and a few PBs in the space of a few days (which NEVER happens for me). I was eating normally before that and felt fine. I guess thats why I went to see my Dr because I knew something just wasn't right. The reflux came on so suddenly and was SO bad so quickly. Lets hope we can both get this sorted out!

I had not had reflux before last week, today I found out my band has slipped. My tip is to go see your surgeon as soon as reflux starts, I am hoping that by catching my slip early by not letting the reflux go on and on, I might not lose my band. Only time, and an unfilled band (which is hella scary) will tell.

I was just about to start a thread asking the same thing. I'd love to know some stats on what percentage of slips can be fixed by a period of being unfilled and what the other factors that might affect this being successful might be. I found out I have a small slip today, and have been totally unfilled. I see my surgeon on Monday to discuss the plan of action. I'm scared out of my wits!

I found out today that I have a small slip too. Have had all my fill taken out and am waiting to see my surgeon on Monday for some more instruction. Unlike you I had only had symptoms for a matter of days and am hoping I have caught it in enough time for it to resolve itself. I totally understand how you are feeling right now - its very scary thinking about gaining weight or losing my band :smile:

Here you go, glitter in every colour to create all the shimmery eye sores you like :coolgleamA:

Susie! You should have emailed/texted/PMed me! I'm going to contact you now....sorry this has been going on and I had no idea! I feel like a crap friend :coolgleamA: You have NOT been slack! Your health is much more important this this forum!