Were is all my Chattanoogians at?

[punkster 0]

Is GBI in Dalton? I used to go to the weight management center at Memorial but never had a fill with my old band. I just saw the doctor and he gave me meds to try to deal with the difficulties I was having. Then when I had to have my band removed I saw him there for follow up. I originally went to a doc in Maryville TN for my fills. I don't know a lot about the other doctors here, as I have only seen Dr. Sass who is no longer at the Weight Management Center. Thanks, Corliss

The Gastric Band Institute that I go to is in Chattanooga and on Gunbarrel Rd in the Memorial Atrium. I see Ponce and they have flouro in their office. I think most people in this thread go to the Chattanooga office but I am not sure of that. His office is affliated with Memorial but not at the main hospital.

[Corliss 0]

The Gastric Band Institute that I go to is in Chattanooga and on Gunbarrel Rd in the Memorial Atrium. I see Ponce and they have flouro in their office. I think most people in this thread go to the Chattanooga office but I am not sure of that. His office is affliated with Memorial but not at the main hospital.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I had not heard of it being there. Corliss

[Carrie_C 9]

I also go to the one on Gunbarrel Rd.

[*slim* 2]

So GBI is now offering the sleeve? Wow.

[Carrie_C 9]

I don't know what the sleeve is.

[punkster 0]

I don't know what the sleeve is.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 15% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach, following the major curve. The open edges are then attached together (often with surgical staples) to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach. The procedure is performed laparoscopically and is not reversible.

Sleeve gastrectomy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Carrie_C 9]

Cool. I would be scared to get something permanent. But I bet it probably works better than the band. At least you wouldn't have to worry about fills.

[*slim* 2]

I would be terrified too. That is why I didn't get RnY. The thought of not being able to change things if I needed to scared the crap out of me.

[Corliss 0]

I would be terrified too. That is why I didn't get RnY. The thought of not being able to change things if I needed to scared the crap out of me.

I strongly considered getting a sleeve after I lost my band. I know I don't want another slip and if I have one, I will get a sleeve if I can beg or borrow the money. So far so good with the band, not loosing any, but definately not gaining. I need a little more fill I think.

I have two friends with the sleeve and they are both doing great.

Corliss

[*slim* 2]

I strongly considered getting a sleeve after I lost my band. I know I don't want another slip and if I have one, I will get a sleeve if I can beg or borrow the money. So far so good with the band, not loosing any, but definately not gaining. I need a little more fill I think.

I have two friends with the sleeve and they are both doing great.

Corliss

I have talked to a couple of people that have them and love them. I can never say never about not getting one, but it does scare me.

[punkster 0]

I have talked to a couple of people that have them and love them. I can never say never about not getting one, but it does scare me.

im with you slim. the permanency and Vitamin deficiency are reasons why i didnt have bypass although after this slip i am reconsidering that decision... [corliss]. it is supposed to be better than bypass because things dont get stuck and you dont have dumping supposedly. i dont know anyone who has had any type of weight loss surgery other than the band and they have had their surgery since i have had mine.... :blushing: i must be a pioneer.

[pioneer1 0]

Need some guidance please. I have not posted in a long time so I am not sure if this has come up. I am 8 mo post band. I had a fill in June and since then, I have a problem with liquids. Solids are rarely a problem. I struggle with any type of liquid. It doesnt want to go down easliy. I try warm and that helps some. I try sipping and if it is cold, it comes up. I burp and belch everytime I drink. I have trouble with sinus and I know it could be excess mucus plugging up the hole.

I would like another fill for my appetite is getting bigger but I am afraid of not being able to get Any Fluid down.

When I exercise, I am able to get more Water down.

Anybody have any suggestions or has anyone every had problems drinking but not eating?

I go back to see Ponce in 3 weeks.

[Corliss 0]

im with you slim. the permanency and Vitamin deficiency are reasons why i didnt have bypass although after this slip i am reconsidering that decision... [corliss]. it is supposed to be better than bypass because things dont get stuck and you dont have dumping supposedly. i dont know anyone who has had any type of weight loss surgery other than the band and they have had their surgery since i have had mine.... :blushing: i must be a pioneer.

My decsion to go with another band rather than a sleeve was because I had done so well initially actually for about 1 year and 3 months with the first band and not too bad for another year before I had more and more problems with reflux and the getting anything down and the last few months were horrible. I just remember how wonderful it was when it worked right. My wt. loss was effortless and I rarely got stuck. I never had very much fill in my 4 ml band, when others were having 3.6 I had I think maybe 2.5 at the most, can't remember exactly. Then even after getting it all pulled out when, I could eat and I had restriction. But as I said my problems were intermittent from that point on. I suspect that initially they were due to the hiatal hernia and not slippage/prolapse. I think that the slippare/prolapse probably happened the last 3 months. Looking back I will always believe I could have managed my band better after I started having problems had I been willing to drink the hot tea with honey and stay on liquids a day before eating. I don't think I allowed my inflamed pouch to heal thus contributing to the existing problems which I couldn't avoid.

The newer bands are supposed to be less likely to slip and I have been told given the scaring if the band is well placed that slippage this go around could be less likely due to the presence of scaring on my stomach which changes the surface from slick to a bit rougher. This makes sense to me.

My specific concerns about the sleeve were of course the fact that it is permanent. Once your stomach is gone, it is gone. The possibillity of leakage along a staple line is scary also. I was told that this only happens during the first week. My surgeon in Mexico Dr. Zapata has never had this particular complication. He strongly encouraged me to have the sleeve but agreed that I was a good candidate for rebanding. The other thing is that when you get old a lot of times you can have all sorts of nutritional deficits and many are a result of lack of appetite. Without the grehlin hormone one could become anorexic easily. I can't imagine it ever happening to me, but it could.

I fear being really fat again more than I fear a staple leak or loss of appetite as an elder however, so if I can't keep this band, I will definately have a sleeve if I can find the resources. It is the pits that we have to go to such lengths to be normal size and to contain our appetites. I am strongly convinced that it is more than psychological inability to balance the energy in/energy out equation. I fully believe there is a physiological reason for our inability to eat just for our needs and I know the band helps me with my lack of ability even the mental/emotional part of it. It has to be a hormonal/nuerological interface with our emotions and intellect.

My sleeved friends seem to be able to eat most anything, and one of them says she has not really experienced a loss of interest in food to the degree that the other one has. She rarely experiences a stuckage and if she does it doesn't seem to be as miserable to her as it is to most bandsters.

I could not imagine any reason for having a RNY unless you are around 600 lbs and severe diabetic, but even then i would think the sleeve would be a better option. It is just not as available. Hopefully soon most insurances will start paying for it.

Anyhow that is my essay for the day, LOL!

Corliss

Edited August 27, 2009 by Corliss

[punkster 0]

My decsion to go with another band rather than a sleeve was because I had done so well initially actually for about 1 year and 3 months with the first band and not too bad for another year before I had more and more problems with reflux and the getting anything down and the last few months were horrible. I just remember how wonderful it was when it worked right. My wt. loss was effortless and I rarely got stuck. I never had very much fill in my 4 ml band, when others were having 3.6 I had I think maybe 2.5 at the most, can't remember exactly. Then even after getting it all pulled out when, I could eat and I had restriction. But as I said my problems were intermittent from that point on. I suspect that initially they were due to the hiatal hernia and not slippage/prolapse. I think that the slippare/prolapse probably happened the last 3 months. Looking back I will always believe I could have managed my band better after I started having problems had I been willing to drink the hot tea with honey and stay on liquids a day before eating. I don't think I allowed my inflamed pouch to heal thus contributing to the existing problems which I couldn't avoid.

The newer bands are supposed to be less likely to slip and I have been told given the scaring if the band is well placed that slippage this go around could be less likely due to the presence of scaring on my stomach which changes the surface from slick to a bit rougher. This makes sense to me.

My specific concerns about the sleeve were of course the fact that it is permanent. Once your stomach is gone, it is gone. The possibillity of leakage along a staple line is scary also. I was told that this only happens during the first week. My surgeon in Mexico Dr. Zapata has never had this particular complication. He strongly encouraged me to have the sleeve but agreed that I was a good candidate for rebanding. The other thing is that when you get old a lot of times you can have all sorts of nutritional deficits and many are a result of lack of appetite. Without the grehlin hormone one could become anorexic easily. I can't imagine it ever happening to me, but it could.

I fear being really fat again more than I fear a staple leak or loss of appetite as an elder however, so if I can't keep this band, I will definately have a sleeve if I can find the resources. It is the pits that we have to go to such lengths to be normal size and to contain our appetites. I am strongly convinced that it is more than psychological inability to balance the energy in/energy out equation. I fully believe there is a physiological reason for our inability to eat just for our needs and I know the band helps me with my lack of ability even the mental/emotional part of it. It has to be a hormonal/nuerological interface with our emotions and intellect.

My sleeved friends seem to be able to eat most anything, and one of them says she has not really experienced a loss of interest in food to the degree that the other one has. She rarely experiences a stuckage and if she does it doesn't seem to be as miserable to her as it is to most bandsters.

I could not imagine any reason for having a RNY unless you are around 600 lbs and severe diabetic, but even then i would think the sleeve would be a better option. It is just not as available. Hopefully soon most insurances will start paying for it.

Anyhow that is my essay for the day, LOL!

Corliss

wow. that was long. do you have a 4ml band now? mine is 10 ml.

pioneer - i would call the office. they suggest mucinex for mucous problems.

Edited August 27, 2009 by punkster

[*slim* 2]

Need some guidance please. I have not posted in a long time so I am not sure if this has come up. I am 8 mo post band. I had a fill in June and since then, I have a problem with liquids. Solids are rarely a problem. I struggle with any type of liquid. It doesnt want to go down easliy. I try warm and that helps some. I try sipping and if it is cold, it comes up. I burp and belch everytime I drink. I have trouble with sinus and I know it could be excess mucus plugging up the hole.

I would like another fill for my appetite is getting bigger but I am afraid of not being able to get Any Fluid down.

When I exercise, I am able to get more Water down.

Anybody have any suggestions or has anyone every had problems drinking but not eating?

I go back to see Ponce in 3 weeks.

I would definately try something like mucinex (like punkster mentioned) to clear up the drainage. I have found that any time I am having major sinus drainage, I have trouble getting any cold liquid down. It just sits on top of the drainage. The warm liquid helps to push the gunk through the pouch to allow your liquids to get through. Otherwise, your liquids basically just hit that mass and comes right back up. You also may be taking too big of a swig. I can't take big gulps anymore. I don't have to sip, but big swallows never go down easy. I hope you feel better soon.

Corliss-you hit the nail on the head about the sleeve and RnY. I also completely agree with you about our inability to lose weight without assistance. I hope this band stays with you with no problems.