two years out...stalled need help!!! please read!!

[Kelly Ann 0]

I am two years out from banding. I have been my current weight or around it for well over a year I am wondering if I may have hiatal hernia....has anyone had one???? I can't seem to get past my current fill w/out night coughing , weezing and throwing up...I tried twice a little more and each time took it out. I thought it was due to a cold all of the mucus. I had the flouroscope last month all looked well including a chest x-ray.

last year I had only two fills all year. I feel pressure right in front where my bra line is between the boobs ....all of the time even before my last fill two weeks ago. It was my first fill since April 2006. I only received a small fill.

so to recap: can't get past this fill to reach my goal in over a year . If I go past I must remove ( it is not filled all of the way ) due to cough , throwing up at night, feel pressure just under the ribs between bra line and boobs -like a constant uncomfortable feeling.... had flourascope looked ok last month... Hiatal Hernia or something else??? Oh and I think I aspirate from the night coughing.... help!!!!!

[Kat817 19]

Well, not sure anything I have to say will help---but wanted you to know someone was out here listening to you!!!

It looks like you are getting close to goal, and maintaining your weight. I would see about even another small unfill to see if that will help with the night coughing, and reflux issues.

Have you tried upping the exercise since upping the fill is not an option? I have heard different percentages of the amount of excess weight that is "normally" lost through lap band surgery, and you may have met that point. Have you discussed any of it with your Dr?

I am just totally impressed with the fact that you have lost and maintained the loss!! But I understand being so close and yet so far from your goal!!

I hope you get some more insightful answers than mine....Good Luck, and congrats on the great job!!!

Kat

[mousecrazy 2]

Kelly Ann, Kat has some good questions and things to think about in her post, and I hope you'll check those out.

Another possibility you might need to consider is that you have the optimum fill (for you), and the rest of the journey will involve more "head work" than "band work."

You have made great progress (I'd call it a success!) with your weight loss, and in order to keep your band, I'd quit fooling around with the fill. That's what I, personally, would do. Keep it where it is, or get an unfill to where it is comfortable, but still gives you a level of restriction you can LIVE with. Then, take it from there.

This may just need a re-committment to your goal, or maybe even changing your goal to where you are now. I know I have changed my goal from where I set it when I first started.

Good luck to you, and congratulations on all you have accomplished!

[Jachut 487]

I'd say the same thing, time to change things round. At a year out I've had the same issues, although I was able to just go and get another fill as I still have quite a bit of room in my band and dont tend to have tightness issues at all.

But perhaps its time to really up the exercise, long sessions of cardio and are you doing strength work? I know really that my actual goal weight is irrelevant, its fat I still have to lose now, not weight. I think its easy to think another 10lb, another 20lb whatever will kill that belly roll or slightly jiggly behind when really, you need to pack on some muscle and that will effect the visual change more than actual weight loss.

I do think the band itself can only do so much and this is different in different people, there's fill levels you cant get past etc. So you have to take the bull by the horns as Mousecrazy has said and put in the rest, afterall our bodies still work the same way, band or no band, so if you were to do something like Body for Life just by way of example, you'd get the results, but its much much harder after a big weight loss. I suspect long term success with the band comes from being proactive with it.

I used to be this weight as a teen, could cut down a bit and lose a kilo a week easily, I have to really fight for that kilogram now as my body has just dropped 30 and is not letting go so easily, lol. I really am prepared to let near enough be good enough on that score, I have no interest in living my life on a strict diet to maintain a certain weight just because its a figure I had in my head. Have a good think about where you are and what you still want to achieve, you've done BRILLIANTLY and perhaps your body is either saying that's enough, or you need to be realistic about how easily and quickly the rest is going to happen

[ReneBean 3]

Kelly Ann

you rock!

So - tell me - what size clothes are you wearing? Can you shop at normal stores? How tall are you?

153 is actually right on top of my 'goal' weight - but that number will fluctuate with whatever size clothes I can wear. My goal is to be a true size 14 - or maybe a 12 if I get really motivated.

Maybe the number on the scale needs to be re-evaluated? Or maybe you do need to get an unfill and then really focus on the old rules... Protein first, low carbs, lots of Water between meals.

Hugs and good luck~! You have come so far - it must be frustrating to just be stalled - and to have that weird coughing thing, too.

I am thinking good thoughts for you.

[Randi 0]

I think you may find something useful in this thread:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25721

[Marimaru 7]

You should probably consider having an endoscopy. That'll look at the inside of your stomach and you might find something else out.

Other than that, have you asked your doctors about the possibility of a hernia? Like Vinesqueen always says; demand answers, and don't back down until your pain is resolved!

[GE Mom 0]

There's a graphic that describes exactly your symptoms as being an example of someone who's too full and needs Fluid taken out. And being too full often results in eating things that are sweet and easy to swallow, resulting in inadequate weight loss.

(www.core.monash.org/patient-care.pdf )

[Carlene 12]

so to recap: can't get past this fill to reach my goal in over a year . If I go past I must remove ( it is not filled all of the way ) due to cough , throwing up at night, feel pressure just under the ribs between bra line and boobs -like a constant uncomfortable feeling.... had flourascope looked ok last month... Hiatal Hernia or something else??? Oh and I think I aspirate from the night coughing.... help!!!!!

Kelly Ann...

We have almost exactly the same story, you and I - except that I got to within 10 pounds of my goal weight. I am 2 years post-op today and down 97 pounds. I've been over-filled twice...once to the point of reflux and aspiration pneumonia. (You want to be careful that doesn't happen to you. It makes you VERY sick and you end up in the hospital and they unfill your band.)

My personal take on it is that the last few pounds are just a bitch to lose. It takes discipline, as far as food choices AND exercise. Unfortunately, I have been too lazy to apply those principles to my own lifestyle, so my extra 10 pounds are still hanging around (literally).

I guess we just need to get our butts to the gym, girlfriend! And back away from the Cheetos!

[Jachut 487]

It really is true too that if you build up some muscle, tone up, you may not even need to lose the weight.

I have had an honest look at myself in the last week and a good think about my desire to get to my goal weight. I went to the gym, got a full assessment and a new program done. My exercise program to date has consisted of running, I'm absolutely and utterly addicted to my new love.

I'd been kind of looking at myself and thinking "hmm, huge improvement, in fact looking pretty good but I dont think losing just 8kg more is going to give me the body of my dreams, I really need to lose 15 or more". What my assessment at the gym showed is that I am a healthy person, my cardiovascular fitness is excellent, but I still have too much body fat. I cant keep dropping weight forever and ever in order to get the bulgy bits to go away, I have to tackle it from the other end, putting muscle there.

So as of this week, I really have no goal weight anymore. Its now more of a matter of fine tuning until I'm happy with the balance between how I look and how much work I'm prepared to do to achieve my goals.

food for thought. A number on the scale doesnt mean awfully much really.

[kalamazoo 1]

I have had a lot of problems with reflux myself; it started before I was banded. An endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of hiatal hernia. I had 1/2 my stomach protruding upward into my chest due to the hole in my diaphragm. It was immediate relief. However,now I am 21mo postop from hernia surgery and am again suffering with severe reflux. I had a fill 5mos ago that was tight but I dont think too tight as I can eat 1cup food. My surgeon thinks the hernia has returned so I go for an endoscopy next week. I think you should have one if you are sure your band isn't too tight. Have you tried Nexium prescription for reflux? The pain in your ribcage area sounds like reflux. Do you have Fluid backing up into your mouth/nose during sleep? If you have a recliner, try sleeping upright a few nights. If this helps it must be reflux - which could be treatable with meds or may require surgery like mine did. Good Luck!

[Kelly Ann 0]

Thanks everyone for your fantastic insight! I am a little better this week. I would have gotten to the doc sooner but I just could not get myself into New york this week. I have been very careful to eat early between 4-6 and stick to liquids and Water after that. I am still sleeping propped way up at night ... I was able to move on to Protein this past week (solids) and feel better and hydrated.

You all made such great points to me. I will re-think alot of my behaviors and also try to accept where I am at now. I did lose with this fill and of course that makes me feel great since I have been around the same number for so long. I was 232 at my biggest at 5ft 7. I was banded at 217 and am now 150. I wear some 4's and some 6's at this weight. Ten more pounds up and I am an 8. I am beyond grateful and can't even believe I am writing those numbers for my size. I carried that weight and developed health problems at 37 . I come from a family with obesity problems on my DAd's side so I saw what was coming. I took a leap of faith at my lowest point and decided to go for the operation. I thank God I did every day. My life has changed dramatically. So many people who knew me heavy just gush when they see me now. It feels amazing to get compliments. I have to get my head in order and accept myself and see the thinner me now. All of you mad esuch great points to me.

I will be going to the doc Dec 18 and will ask for another look at the old band with the flouroscope but some of you mentioned I should get the endoscopy. I will ask for that since I have never had one. I want to be sure I am ok. If I could not get the food down and keep it down I would have went right in to NYU. I seem better with everyday -I just need to follow all of the bandsters rules better...I will let you all know how I am doing !

[Woodys 0]

Hi Kelly Ann: For the first time today I had those same symptoms. I think they occured because I layed down too soon after eating. I had a light lunch around 2:30 and was feeling very tired since I didn't sleep well the night before. I only had time for a quick nap because my restaurant reopens at 5 for dinner. I laid down within 10 minutes of eating my lunch and fell asleep right away. I woke up at 3 choking on my own saliva....there was so much of it. I sat up and the coughing started...I couldn't stop...I kept coughing up saliva...it was gross. I also had a heavy feeling in my chest.

Anyhow, won't do that again!

Carol

[Manzanyta 0]

You guys are what i have been looking for!

I posted on intruductions yesterady, and started doing some more reading today. I have had overfills! Ha! I was scared i might be eroding, slipped, or something like that, but from reading it seems to me i may have been overfilled for the past year.

I have an appointment with my dr on the 15 and ill be sure to get the flouroscopy before i decide to get a SMALL fill and try and keep going.

The last year i was able to maintain my weight at 180 but in the last couple of months (got married in october) i've been consistenly gaining.. i kept blaiming it on the wedding, the move, the adjustment to married life...something's got to change... i feel the weight creeping back on and i start to mope and feel depress and dissapionted in myself... It was hard to call and schedule the appointment, dont want to hear bad news, b ut hopefully this time i can get a small fill and start to feel like im doing something good for myslef agin!

M

If anybody know andy Dr. In Phoenix for followups and fills that would be great. I heard about Wendy Hall but im a little scheptical 'cause she's not a doc.

__________________________

289 Highest Weight

280 Surgery weight 3/20/2004

180 Lowest weight

203 Right now!

Dr. Lopez Corvala

[nick 0]

Me too! I am generally very pleased and only have about 20 more pounds to go, but just can't vseem to get there. I too can't get past the night coughs. I guess I need to just bump up the exercising cause the night coughs are killing me (and my partner).

Best of Luck!