Erosion

[DeLarla 22]

Now I'm positive I'm dying... I just read that Inamed literature from their test studies. I have every single problem on every single page. Why not hand me some scissors to run with? Reading is bad. Bad, bad, bad.

[Banded14yr 2]

Originally posted by DeLarla

What a whacky world. You mean Johnson & Johnson, makers of famous Q-Tips, bandages, and all those other American products actually makes the Swedish band? Never mind... not clever enough to figure that one out.

Johnson and Johnson purchased the manufacturing rights for the Swedish Band not long ago (not exactly sure when)

[Banded14yr 2]

Originally posted by DeLarla

Now I'm positive I'm dying... I just read that Inamed literature from their test studies. I have every single problem on every single page. Why not hand me some scissors to run with? Reading is bad. Bad, bad, bad.

They probably list every potential problem to cover their own anatomy. There's nothing wrong with reading, but now you need to find a positive article about your band.

Hey! Look at the weight you lost! That's a very positive thing!

[DeLarla 22]

I know, I'm ridiculous. You could give 10,000 patients bottled Water and come up with the same results. Some will choke, some will perspire, some will wet their pants.

[Alexandra 55]

Originally posted by donali

My doc's office said that the vast majority of the erosions they ee are diagnosed via endoscope. Which implies to me that those patients were symptom-free as well....I don't know if there is any benefit to finding out about an erosion earlier than later, when you start exhibiting symptoms, like a port infection, loss of restriction, or pain.

Yeah; the first thing that popped into my head when I heard the docs' answer about annual scoping was "how many patients do you have with UNDIAGNOSED erosion?" But of course, there's no answer to that.

I don't know either. It seems to me that it could be possible that a "little" erosion isn't a bad thing? Maybe it's possible for it to get to some point where it's stable, and doesn't cause any harm--like if there's good scarring or something? Obviously I have no idea what I'm talking about, but the bottom line for my doctors was that scoping everyone would just be expensive and time-consuming for very little benefit.

Apparently some docs advise waiting until the band is completely eroded into the stomach for removal of the band itself via the throat.

Gad. Doesn't that just freak you out? I can't get my brain around that.

And I must say that once I KNEW my band was eroding, I was a mess of psychosomatic feelings, and needed to have it out before I drove myself crazy, worrying if there were going to be holes in my stomach leaking into my abdominal cavities, causing perontinitis and other frightening things...

I'd have felt EXACTLY the same way. I can't imagine waiting until it finishes the job of slicing my stomach in half.

[DeLarla 22]

What Alex said. I just don't think I'll have my band for life. I'd love to have it for a few years, but the more I read, the more I realize I'm going to have to use a lot more willpower to kick this food obsession than just relying on the band alone. I'm still having problems with Portion Control. I just can't seem to put small amounts on my plate. Tonight I dumped most in the trash after I eat, but I often eat past being full.

Note to self: More willpower, less band. I know we can lose weight and keep it off without a band or bypass because my friend has lost over 100 pounds on her own and kept it off over 5 years. So I know it can be done, I know it can.

[Alexandra 55]

Note to self: More willpower, less band. I know we can lose weight and keep it off without a band or bypass because my friend has lost over 100 pounds on her own and kept it off over 5 years.

This is something I think about too. I'm trying really hard to internalize and memorize the amounts I am eating, so that if I ever have to limit myself without help I'll have an easier time recognizing what's ENOUGH. It's hard to imagine that I'd be able to do it without the physical assistance of the band, but it's something I'm trying to do for my mental health too.

But god, that impulse to take big bites and swallow them whole is still with me. How do I get rid of that? If I ever lose my band that's going to be my biggest demon.

[DeLarla 22]

Baby steps. Today work on your chewing. I think too many people put numered/weightloss goals in their head, which I think is a big sabotage. My goal for the first year is to get the chewing and eating slowly down. Plus learn not to heap massive portions on my plate (my biggest problem.) Sorry, but I'll never, ever be able to depend on the way my pouch and/or my stomach fell when it's supposed to be "satifsifed." The only way I'll achieve long-term success is by stopping when the portion has been visibly consumed. That's all I care about these days along with exercise, which makes me feel like Super Woman.

Last night we couldn't sleep so I got up and had 2 Cookies and half glass of milk at 10:00 p.m. I went to bed so happy with myself because I've never had two Cookies in my entire life. Two rows out of a bag, 2 pounds, two boxes, but never 2 cookies. If I could learn to do that a couple hours before bed I'd be thrilled, but eating always puts me to sleep. I can't do that again though because I woke up having a hard time swallowing, so no matter what, no eating late.