Search the Community

You have to go on that new inventors show with the new elbow screw for weight loss Jack, you could make millions!!! HA!! It is just so comfortable to fall back into those old eating habits...it's easier than to actually have to think about what is going into our mouths or to think about it and then throw that thought away because the food is so satisfying for the moment. I am getting on the scale in the morning and I know some crying will be going on afterwards and I hope that will kick me into shape because I am sure to have gained weight this week. Good thing the PMS is done though so I should be less reactive to my cravings hopefully. I'm still not back on track, but hoping to be so soon enough I've still got to lose another 75 pounds and the second half will be sooo much harder than the first half!

I am also hypo and I haven't had a problem at all since banding, EXCEPT when I had an issue a couple of weeks ago with my band being too tight. I couldn't keep anything down, so I was constantly lightheaded, passed out twice. Once I had a small unfill, presto, no more problems. So the Protein definitely helps. leenerbups - I have actually passed out at work - how embarresing is that! They called an ambulance and made me go to the hospital - no fun at all.

Ya know, I often have a similar feeling... but for me it's after I let myself go too long between food. When I eat after that, I crash... and almost always require a short nap to recover. I'm not the most experienced hypo, though, lol, by any means. Hopefully the others will have some advice!

ok - so I have a question for all you hypo's (thats sounds funny) Ive noticed that this strange thing happens to me when I eat only protien for Breakfast (like a meat patty, egg, etc. - when NO sugar/carb's are involved). About 30 minutes after I eat, I start sweating, get all shakey, my energy level drops dramatically(like from a 10 to a 0 in seconds) Im so weak I can barely make it to a chair. Only way to get going is to get sugar into my system. But whats odd is that I always drink 3-4 cups of coffee for breakfast with lots of cream and turbinado sugar. With that much sugar in my coffee, I cant imagine my blood sugar dropping just a couple of hours later... ??? My mom is a diabetic (I know, I know - it runs in the fly) and yesterday I had this "episode". Mike happened to be home and quickly ran to mom's to get her monitor. I TRIED to not consume anything until he got back, but ended up having some Cookies. Approx. 10 min's later is when I checked my b/s level - and it was 83. Im not calling the pcp for this (at least not right now)... cause I KNOW I can control it with diet (which has been HORRIBLE lately). I just wanna know what the heck it is.

Hey fellow hypos, ever pass out (or almost) in public before? And don't you hate the cold sweats? When I have an "episode" it wipes me out for the entire day. It take me 24 hours to recover from it. Havng hypoglycemai has made me afraid not to have sugar or food around just in case. I keep candies in my coat pockets.

3 weeks, awesome!! I'm borderline hypoglycemic (i.e. I never bothered to get diagnosed)... and I use the Isopure Zero Carb RTD Protein drinks extensively (about $3 per bottle, but 40g protein, ZERO carbs & 160 calories). They rock... 20 oz, I can sip on them for an hour or more. (I read about someone taking shot glasses of them every hour, hehe, too much work for me. ) The main thing for me was to be sure I was drinking something every couple of hours, because just after surgery I didn't really feel like it. (You know how that goes....) Paula -- hypo = too little, hyper = too much. Hyperglycemia = high blood suger (not sure how this differs from diabetes, or even if it differs), hypoglycemia = low blood sugar.

What is the difference between hypo and hyper glycemic and diabetes? I should probably just search the net... ?

I've had thyroid disease for many years. I've had more than one Endocrinologist tell me "you can't blame everything on your thyroid". Like being overweight, thyroid disease does run in families so it's very likely that you could have a thyroid problem. If you're being advised to take thyroid medication by a PCP, don't take it! Go to an Endocrinologist and have your thyroid function checked. The biggest mistake people make is listening to a doctor who has no clue what they're dealing with. See a specialist. When you start toying with your thyroid function you are playing with more than just your weight. Your thyroid controls a host of functions in your body that you won't even think of. Over-medication, under-medication, and non-medication of your thyroid can causing lifelong damage to your other glands and organs. If your TSH level is between 1.5 and 5.5 and a doctor puts you on thyroid medication that doctor is a quack. That is a normal thyroid function and medication can cause your thyroid to become hyperactive, which is just as bad as hypo. In all the years I've been on thyroid medication I've not been able to lose the weight I want to lose. My thyroid function has been in normal range for many years. I lose some weight, then it just stops. I eat a healthy diet always and see my Endo every 3 months to have my TSH checked. Sorry to sound like a medical journal. My thyroid almost killed me several years ago and I hate to see anyone taking chances with theirs...I hate even worse to see doctors handing out thyroid medication.

I thought this was a really great FAQ that answers a few more questions beyond the usual what is a band/how is it adjusted type of question. Also, interestingly, the doctor talks about the causes and repair of erosion, slippage, and pouch dilation. This docter says erosion has to do with the way the band is stitched to your stomach. If that's true, it might explain why erosion is more likely to happen with some surgeons than with others. Just a thought. liquids. That said, average weight loss is 50% of excess weight at 5 years. But this includes all patients, including those who have lost little or no weight. How is the Band adjusted? The Band is tightened by accessing the port with a needle. This is most commonly done in the office. Some surgeons do it at the hospital under x-ray guidance, but this is generally not necessary, and makes the procedure much more expensive. For patients with very thick abdominal walls, it may be more difficult to find the port. In our office we have an ultrasound machine which makes it possible to access most ports without need for x-ray. Can I adjust my own Band? In theory, yes. But the answer is NO. NO. NO :confused: (you just know somebody has tried this at home) Why do I have to take Vitamins? The LapBand operation is purely restrictive, so technically you don't need to take vitamins if you are eating a healthy diet. On the other hand, by definition you are eating a hypo-caloric diet, one which will cause you to lose weight. Because of this, we worry that you won't get all the vitamins and minerals you need. This is the main reason we ask you to take vitamins after the surgery. What about the gallbladder? We don't remove the gallbladder unless you already have gallstones that are causing symptoms. Weight loss is slow and natural, so the risk of gallstones is not sufficiently elevated as to make gallbladder removal worth doing. Can the Band be rejected by my body? The Band is made of silicone rubber, and cannot be rejected. Of course it can become infected and require removal, but this is not the same as being rejected like a transplanted organ. What happens after I lose my weight? The Band causes you to lose weight by restricting your caloric intake to less than your caloric expenditure. As you lose weight, your calorie requirements diminish. Once intake matches expenditure, you stop losing weight. How long does the Band stay in? The Band stays in forever. If it is removed you will regain all the weight you lost. What is a slipped Band, and what causes it? There are two types of slippage; anterior and posterior. This refers to whether the front or back side of the stomach slips. There is something else called concentric pouch dilation, but this is not the same as slippage. Slippage or prolapse is when the stomach slides up through the Band, making the pouch bigger. If this happens the Band usually becomes too tight, and patients experience symptoms of reflux (heartburn) as well as nausea and vomiting. This is because the amount of stomach being “squeezed” by the Band is increased, thereby obstructing the Band. There are several causes. Posterior slippage was more common when the Band was placed by the “perigastric” technique. With this technique the back side of the stomach was free to slide up through the Band. These days most surgeons use the “pars flaccida” technique, which was developed to prevent posterior slippage, and has more or less eliminated the incidence of this problem. Anterior slippage is when the front of the stomach slips up through the Band. We try to prevent this by suturing the stomach below the Band to the stomach above the Band, “locking” the Band in place in the right spot. In spite of this, slippage still occurs. It can happen because we haven't placed enough stitches, or they haven't been placed in the right place. Slippage can also occur if patients eat too much and vomit frequently. How is a slipped Band diagnosed? Fortunately, this is very easy. Often the diagnosis is made based on the history alone. A patient who has been going along fine, with no problems, and then suddenly develops reflux symptoms or symptoms of a too-tight Band will most likely have a slipped Band. The diagnosis is easily confirmed with an x-ray and barium swallow examination. Endoscopy is rarely necessary. How is a slipped Band fixed? A slipped Band needs to be fixed with an operation. The Band has to be dissected out, all the sutures removed, and the position of the stomach made right. Some surgeons remove the Band and place it back through a new tunnel. Others just straighten things out and re-suture the stomach over the Band. What happens if the Band slips again? That's a tough one. One could certainly try to fix the slip again, but my personal view is that, for whatever reason, the Band is just not working for that particular patient, and ought to be removed. What is a Band erosion? This is when the Band actually erodes into the stomach. It is a more serious problem, and generally requires removal of the Band. Band erosion is thought to be related to placing too many sutures (or too tight sutures) at the time of Band implantation. Surprisingly, Band erosion is often unnoticed. Occasionally the port will become infected if bacteria track along the catheter out to the port. Other times patients will stop losing weight. Diagnosis often requires an endoscopy. What is concentric pouch dilation? This is technically not the same as slippage. In this case the pouch just seems to be enlarged. Sometimes partial emptying of the Band may help with this. What is esophageal dilation? This is when the esophagus enlarges over time, and is probably related to either too tight a Band, or possibly improper placement of the Band around the junction of the esophagus and stomach. This requires loosening or removal of the Band. What happens if my Band has to be removed because of complications or failure to lose weight? One option, of course, is to give up on weight loss surgery. Another option is to convert to another procedure such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This can be done at the same time the Band is removed, and is generally done laparoscopically. If you have questions that have not been answered by this FAQ, please send them to me and I will try to answer them for you. Mark A Pleatman MD 43494 Woodward Ave. #202 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Phone: (248) 334-5444 Fax: (248) 334-5484 Email: pleatman@laparoscopy.com

Since day ONE of my LapBand surgery (5/11/05), I've been having problems... at first I couldn't swallow spit. They took a Barium Floro and found my esophagus was bulging. The remedy was not drinking anything and walk, walk, walk. It worked but I still have issues. I have a feeling I have reactive esophagus type problems, similar to reactive airway disease (which I believe I also have as an asthmatic). I was wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and, if were checked out by a doctor, what the issue was... Here I go... - Sometimes ... and then other times ... A small sip of hot tea gets stuck (like right now) and I gurgle for hours - nothing seems to unstick it. Then I can eat a whole pizza with the crust and no problems! Then nothing goes down at all but liquids in very small quantities. When I get hungry (physically) I resort to eating chocolate, which unfortunately goes down real smooth... sigh... then I have no problem getting down extreemely small bites of half of a cheese sandwich on high Fiber bread, but it can take over an hour to finish half the sandwich... The most frustrating thing is... I'm only loosing 1 1/2 pounds a MONTH! Grrr! I sure would appreciate any feedback from anyone that has experienced these symptoms and has found a resolution for them. By the way... yes, when I can finally get things down (usually a LOT later in the day) I drink at least 60-80 oz of distilled Water a day and take liquid vitamines in some of that water... and no, I'm not walking enough... but do spend the enitre day on my feet at work, walking, not sitting - ever. Yes, I've had a few fills – and then all the fill taken out when all at once I couldn't swallow spit for 2 days. Two weeks later it was filled again with a very small quantity and I've been in this place ever since then. So annoying! For all of you that haven't had the band installed... truthfully, I'd still have the band installed. I consider it a "speed bump" - no more “binge eating” or “wolfing” food for me... At least I'm down 1.5 pounds per month rather than up and I actually can shop in the petit department, even though I'm on the high side of the rack.

Hey Vines! :Bunny I have HYPO thryroidism, I started synthroid on 4/28/2005 Within 2 months i was totally back to normal (thyroid levels) However this pass test (dec 10th) it came back HIGH again:confused: ..So now they have increased my medicine, I was loosing Slowly BUT i was loosing..Last month (Nov i only lost 2 lbs) They sd its because my thyroid was out of control again..Now hopefully i will loose more.. I am down a total of 55lbs..some months i loose 5-10 others and some i don't. I am hoping once they get me regular again i will loose steadly again.. Kristen

I have been hypo for the past 10 years. Before I got my band i was on 2.25 sythroid, now I am down to 1.75 sythroid now. So I think the weight loss has helped with my thyroid problem.

I sure understand. I'm so happy with my weight loss. I like the new, smaller, me. I can't say that any one food makes me PB. I PB when I eat too quickly, and chew too little. It's a habit from the bad old days. Eat!Eat!Eat! Hurry! There is so little time and so much food. It's a plan. Eat fast enough and you can get in a few more sandwiches before your body gets the message that it is full. But the band knows. Right away. The band sends you a message that you are full. Take the drink out of the alchoholics hand. Watch the reaction. Indignation and anger, usually. Grab the hypo from the heroin addict and throw it in the street, if you dare. Frodo turned into Gollum when he thought his Precious was being taken. I've taken my precious. I took it and I threw it away. Eating. Where are you when I need you? Now, like you, I must deal with my feelings, and, more importantly, the causes of those feelings. Eating was how I dealt with all emotion. How about you? I ate to Celebrate a happy event. I ate to console myself in times of loss or sorrow. I ate because I was bored. I ate because I was depressed. I ate because it was a beautiful day. Now I take a few small bites. And that's it. How can that be it? I can't be done, there's food left! Still I dream of being thin. I'm over halfway there. But thin is a destination that my true mind never believed I would reach. And I never knew the road would be so rocky. And the road to thin is rough and rocky. But you can come here, you don't have to walk it alone. Ever walk on a railroad track? You kept falling off didn't you? But let someone else walk on the track next to you and just touch hands (you don't have to hold hands, just a touch) and the two of you can virtually walk around the world together and not fall. Support groups are the other friend on the track who holds you up. Thanks for venting. Thanks for reading. Know your dream will come true. Know that there will be a day when you LIVE and are happy. The mirror will be your friend and not your foe. You can beat this demon. You will. You can do it. Love, Ryan

I am also not banded yet. (will be after oct 28) The only time I go hypo is after I eat too many carbs or too much sugar and my blood sugar goes too HIGH. When it finally starts dropping it just goes down, down, down. It seems like if you follow bandster rules and have protien followed by veggies there would not be so many blood sugar swings. I have been curious about this also. Just a thought, have you considered getting some glucose tablets? They work much faster than food at bringing bs level back up some. I just use them because they are easy to keep on hand and prevent the overfeeding low bs, which can just cause a rebound high and low again.

Well when I was doing 2 hours i did 35 minutes on the treadmill, and 35 minutes on the elliptical. The other time was spent doing weights. Or I would do a 50 minute class and weights. My favorite class is Zumba, its dance areobics..lots of fun even if you aren't any good at dancing like me Btw, after doing this much exercise and not loosing weight I went to the doctor and found out that I'm hypo thyroid. And to be honest since the dosage has stablized I've been rather sparatic with my workouts. I log my exercise in fitlinx...and it tells you how many calories you burned that day, how many that week , month, year or even lifetime (since you started logging). Madam, please tell me you have "healthy choices " on your menu LOL. I couldn't imagine trying to run a resturant and loose weight, more kudos to you! Melissa

The reason hyper vs. hypo confuses me is because nearsighted vs. farsighted sounds backwards to me. I also have a problem with astigmatism. Do you have a stigmatism, or an astigmatism? They should drop the "a" and call it a stigmatism! People also get "fortunately and unfortunately" backwards all the time. Therefore I have a slow thyroid, no confusion! Now I have to read up about how soy will affect my already slow 'roid.

Whole milk is "regular milk" It's "whole milkfat". If I drink cows milk it's also 1 to 2%. I like whole milk sometimes, but it's just way too fatty, and skim is nasty to me. I bought some of the Silk soy milk and thought it was alright. I'm going to try some other brands, and checkout the Ricemilk as well. And yes, Hypo-thyroid is the one you have, where your thyroid is slower... hyper is fast... like a hyper little kid . But see what your doc says? *edited for typos*

*** hanging head low*** I get "hypo" and "hyper" thyroid confused. I have to take meds cause my thyroid is slow. Did I finally find a delicious milk product that I'll actually drink, only to learn it will hamper my weight loss? Is whole milk the same as 1%? Regular milk is too thick, so if I drink milk it's only 1-2%. Betty and Alex, you girls just have to try this stuff. Maybe I bought sweetened or something? But it's like drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast or eggnog. I can't believe how good it is. I started reading labels when I bought the stuff, but there are about 25 different containers of soy milk, which is why it was easier for me to ask here. The carton I bought had all sorts of health benefits from Protein to Calcium.

I'm the leak queen and becuse of my leak i've been re-banded. Most lesks are in the port, very easy to be re-placed. Do a search in the above bar for "Just my luck back to Mexico" under Vera or any other leaks stuff I said. (hypo-link??? help Penni?) There are leak checks your doc can perform any questions PM me good luck

Controversies in Coverage for Obesity Treatment and prevention have seldom been emphasized by insurance providers, despite spiraling health care costs attributed to obesity. With more Americans overweight, obesity has become a leading cause of preventable death (65) . Direct costs associated with obesity represent 6% to 7% of the National Health Expenditure (66) (67) ; 99.2 billion dollars were attributed to obesity in 1995, of which 51.6 billion dollars were direct medical costs (67) . A study examining the 25-year health care costs for overweight women over age 40 years using an incidence-based analysis, predicted that 16 billion dollars will be spent in the next 25 years treating overweight middle-aged women alone (68) . Other investigations have suggested a relationship between BMI and health care expenditures. In one study, medical and health care use records of obese women (N = 83) belonging to a health maintenance organization were compared with records of non-obese women (69) . As BMI increased, so did the number of medical diagnoses and the use of health care resources. In another analysis of employees of 298 companies (N = 8822), obesity was directly and significantly related to higher health care costs (an 8% higher cost), even when adjusting for age, sex, and a number of chronic conditions (70) . A longitudinal observational of obese individuals (N = 383) covered by the same insurance plan reported that the probability of health care expenditures increased at BMI extremes (71) . A study of over 17,000 respondents to a 1993 health survey reported a strong association between BMI and total inpatient and outpatient costs (66) . Compared with individuals with a BMI of 20 to 24.9 kg/m2, there was a 25% to 44% increase in annual costs in moderately and severely overweight people, adjusted for age and sex. Wolf and Colditz (67) reported an 88% increase in the number of physician appointments attributed to obesity from 1988 to 1994, and a total of 62.6 million obesity-related physician visits in 1994. A recent review of the scant literature on access to and usage of health care services suggests that obese persons use medical care services more frequently than do non-obese people and that they tend to pay higher prices for these services (72) . Beliefs that obesity treatment is unsuccessful and too costly have been challenged (73) . Weight losses as small as 10% are associated with substantially reduced health care costs, reduced incidence of obesity-related comorbid conditions, and increased lifetime expectancy (73) (74) . Recent research has addressed the cost-effectiveness of drug treatments and surgery for obesity. In 1999 Greenway et al. (75) found that weight losses produced by medications (fenfluramine with mazindol or phentermine) reduced costs more than standard treatment of comorbid conditions. Gastric bypass surgery has demonstrated even more impressive effects, with lower costs and greater long-term weight loss maintenance in comparison to low-calorie diets and behavior modification (76) , as well as significant reductions in BMI, incidence of hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypo-high density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, and sick days from work compared with matched controls (77) (78) . Current Coverage Practices Even with some evidence of cost-savings for some weight-loss methods, medical coverage is inconsistent. Surgical treatment is often not reimbursed even though diseases with less supported treatments are compensated (79) . Some have explicitly pointed to prejudice against obesity surgery by insurance providers who are preventing its broader acceptance and use in practices (80) . As Frank (81) concludes, "... no claim to justify the denial of benefits for the treatment of obesity has any validity when held to the standards of health insurance otherwise available in the United States. It should be obvious that such a judgment is ethically unconscionable." It is typical for health insurance plans to explicitly exclude obesity treatment for coverage (82) . Physicians often have difficulties receiving reimbursement for their services (79) . Many reimbursement systems do not categorize obesity as a disease, leading physicians to report comorbid disorders as the reason for their services (79) . In 1998, the Internal Revenue Service excluded weight-loss programs as a medical deduction, even when prescribed by a doctor. In response, several organizations such as the American Obesity Association (83) filed petitions for a ruling to allow the costs of obesity treatment to be included as a medical deduction. As of 2000, the Internal Revenue Service policy changed its criteria, allowing costs for weight-loss treatments to be deducted by taxpayers for certain treatment programs under a physician’s direction to treat a specific disease (84) . The Social Security Administration has eliminated obesity from its list of impairments, which is used to determine eligibility for disability payments (65) . Because individuals who receive social security disability benefits are also eligible for Medicare after 2 years, those who are denied disability also forgo opportunities for medical coverage (65) . Although few studies have addressed this issue, a recent cross-sectional analysis of third-party payer reimbursement for weight management for obese children reported low reimbursement rates (85) . Despite the medical necessity of weight management for obese children in the study, no reimbursement was given to 35% of the children enrolled in weight-management programs, and no association existed between the severity of obesity and the reimbursement rate (85) . Although this article does not intend to examine all of the potential factors that may underlie these coverage policies, one likely contributor are perceptions that obesity is a problem of willful behavior and that treatment is unsuccessful and expensive (81) . Although health insurance typically covers treatment for substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases, which are also considered to be problems of willful behavior, obese persons may not receive the services they need (81) . Denying obese people access to treatment may have medical consequences, but also denies people an opportunity to lose weight, which itself may reduce exposure to bias and discrimination. For example, Rand and MacGregor (58) assessed perceptions of discrimination among morbidly obese patients (N = 57) before and after weight-loss surgery. Before their operations, 87% of patients reported that their weight prevented them from being hired for a job, 90% reported anti-fat attitudes from co-workers, 84% avoided being in public because of their weight, and 77% felt depressed on a daily basis. Fourteen months after surgery, every patient reported reduced discrimination, 87% to 100% of patients reported that they rarely or never perceived prejudice or discrimination, and 90% reported feeling cheerful and confident almost daily. A further study indicated that 59% of patients requested surgery for social reasons such as embarrassment, and only 10% for medical reasons (86) . After the operation, patients reported improved interpersonal functioning (51%), improved occupational functioning (36%), and more positive changes in leisure activities (64%). Although these studies are based on self-reports from selected samples and, therefore, have limitations, it is interesting to note the dramatic reduction in postsurgical perceptions of prejudice and discrimination, and the power of social perceptions in motivating surgery decisions. Summary and Methodological Limitations A "fat is bad" stereotype exists in the medical field (87) . Further study is needed to test the degree to which this affects practice. It seems that obese persons as a group avoid seeking medical care because of their weight. One barrier to drawing further conclusions, however, is that much of the research relies on self-report measures of variable reliability and validity. There is a need to move beyond reports of attitudes to actual health care practices.

Christina, Dr. Pleatman is one of the doctors that feels that NSAIDS are fine on a sort term basis. The is no real PROOF of them causing band erosion, just the mental flow of logic that some NSAIDS are hard on a stomach if taken in high doses and over long periods of time, and that it may cause problems with the stomach lining thereby possibly causing erosion of the lining near the band. Also if a person is properly adjusted with the band there, many of the pills are to big to be taken and would lodge into the stomach stoma that is formed with the band. A liquid form of the NSAIDS would be a better alternative from the physicality problem part, however infrequent use of nsaids--especially if taken with with milk- should not be a problem or concern towards erosion. If a person is taking large dosages or taking them over weeks of time--then it could become a problem with the stomach in general. Right now it seems that the largest body of evidnece of erosion is that it is caused by surgeon technique in securing the band and if the surgeon removes the "fat pouch" around the stomach. The more body tissue cut into and/or removed the greater chance of the body forming a reactive surface to the band. That was one reason the larger band was created was so that the fat pouch could be left in tact with the band merely placed around the fat pouch and stomach while leaving enough room in the band unfilled. Another "thought" as to why erosion was caused was that sometimes surgeons closed (latched) the band on the stomach--in effect, pinching it partially in the band. This would cause an irritation that could "fester" into an erosion- hence another reason for the larger band. I don't think there are any definative answers as to what really causes erosion as erosion is a very small number--like 1-2% of all banded people and falls into the mainly non-event category of complications. Statistically speaking, the number is small enough that it could even be just due to different body types and chemistries having a reaction with the band or the material. Also these bands are placed on not the most healthiest people-many with other health complications and/or medicines and these could be causing some of these erosions as well. I am just glad that the numbers are as small as they are. If I remember the statistics right you had a greater chance of dying or became physically incapacitated from surgery than getting erosion. T

I have a 8 year old stepdaughter that lives with us half the time. She is 4'7" and weighs 113lbs. (Hubby and I have only been married a year so I'm still adjusting to my new role.) I've expressed a huge concern about her weight at such a young age. We've discussed it with her mother but she feels like we are making a mountain out of a mole hill. (We don't discuss it with the daughter, just me, hubby, and her mom.) I wonder if I am not overly sensitive and reactive to it because of the way I grew up being fat. I want so badly to "fix" this in my stepdaughter so she won't have to deal with all of the cruelness that comes with being overweight. I've always sworn that I would NEVER let my kids get too big. Do you think I worry about it more than I should? In a way I feel like a hypocrite because I am trying to help control her portion sizes and food choices and exercise and then I look at myself. I didn't do a very good job of those things pre-band. The last thing I want to do is make her self-conscious about her weight and expose her to eating disorders and low self-esteem. But how do you get it under control with a delicate touch?

What's an OM egg? Leatha, I think I'm getting to the same point you are. I've noticed recently that I can eat faster than I've been able to for a long time, and before I know it I've eaten too much and have definite discomfort. The feelings that used to stop me from eating too fast are much less evident now. Naturally my thoughts stray first toward wanting a tighter fill, but I worry that my esophagus isn't as reactive as it used to be and that's the problem, not the restriction level. My doctor says he expects to see more and more examples of reduced esophageal sensitivity as time goes on, and I don't want to be one of them. It's SO HARD to break those habits!! Even 21 months out and I still have a tendency to eat too darned fast!!!

Natalie - A PB is the result of the stoma or the entrance to the stoma getting clogged so that the pouch above the band does not empty. Stoma=the passage way between the pouch and your lower stomach. When something gets lodged in the stoma, or blocks the entrance to the stoma, food, Water and saliva start backing up in the pouch. If the obstruction doesn't get moved, eventually all the stuff you swallowed backs up into your esophogus and then your body reactively throws it back up. Usually the quick return of your pouch contents is considered a PB. Heaving repeatedly is considered more as vomiting, but in actuality both are technically vomiting. Chewing well and eating slowly helps eliminate the risk of blocking the stoma, but certain foods can recombine in your pouch and effectively make a thick paste/glue which doesn't easily pass through the stoma. Those types of foods are generally breads, rice, potatos and Pasta. Hope this helps...

Hi Hefftynetty, Welcome! Sorry I can't answer the first question, that would be one for the surgeon. But as far as Synthroid goes, that's not a problem. The only issue would be if you had uncontrolled hypo- or hyperthyroid function, but if you're well controlled on meds that's no worry. Good luck and keep asking questions!!