donali

There are two issues here wrapped into one: 1) weightloss 2) pouch damage If we're talking about #1, then it doesn't matter HOW MUCH you are eating, if you are losing weight. If you are eating 5 cups of food per meal, 3 times a day, and are losing weight, who cares? Then there's the nitty gritty of WHAT exactly those 5 cups are composed of - 5 cups of lettuce, 5 cups of meat, 5 cups of lasagna? This is where portion size is important in terms of calories. If we're talking about #2, the argument is that the pouch only holds 3-4 ounces, so eating any more than that at one time puts one at risk for stretching or in some way damaging the pouch. The fact is, the pouch is not a closed reservoir - the pouch is emptying as soon as something is put in there. A person's restriction determines how fast the pouch empties. If someone continually eats faster than the pouch empties, and ignores the signals of being full, then the pouch overloads and begins to back up. This is the "golfball" feeling, or the feeling of food sitting at the bottom of the throat. Continuing to abuse the pouch in this way can result in reflux, dilatation of the esophagus, and, I suppose, in extreme cases, the actual stretching of the pouch (although I am not perfectly convinced of the "permanent" stretch damage - I think one is much more likely to end up with esophageal problems first). And I have to be realistic in admitting that any opinions I express regarding #2 are tainted, since I have experienced erosion. (I'm waiting for one of those clever people to bring that into the argument as to why no one should listen to me - after all, my band eroded, so whatever you do, DON'T do it DONALI's way!) I honestly do not think I have treated my band any differently than anyone else, but I cannot prove that, and I will never know for sure if it was something I did that caused my erosion. But I have gone to many bandster support meetings, and I have watched other successful bandsters eat, and they are eating more than 1/2 cup of food per meal. I stick by my original advice to everyone: eat when you are PHYSICALLY hungry, and stop when you are full. If you are not losing weight, and you are making healthy choices about 70% of the time, and you are not experiencing reflux or vomiting, then you probably could use a fill. FWIW. Love, Eroded Girl

Yay, Nanny!!! Congrats!! Whoo hooo!

tigk - The cause of erosion is not known for sure. There is speculation that certain behaviours can increase the risk, like overeating and using NSAIDs or other gastric irritants. I believe if overeating was a big factor in erosions then the 1-3% chance that's quoted would be more like 50%, since I believe most bandsters overeat at least occasionally. According to a superficial search on implanted devices of all types, erosion was listed as a possible complication in all the devices I checked out. So I believe spontaneous erosion is possible.

Thanks, Elizabeth. Yes, you've pretty much pieced the story together. Supposedly after about 6 months I would be eligible for rebanding, but at this time it's not an option as a self-pay. Plus the vast majority of the info I've gotten is that there is an increased chance of erosion for the next time if you eroded the first time. I'm going to see how it goes, and if I start struggling look at my options again. Good luck with your decision.

Slip-on shoes and chapstick.

Hi Julie - Congrats on your success, and welcome!

Hey, DeLarla - how many birds did you get? lol Good luck on your first day on the job tomorrow!! I'll be thinking of you!!

Thanks, Nancy. Physically, I feel just the same, except for thinking my tummy feels tender off and on, but I think that is due more to my imagination about what's going on down there than anything else. Emotionally, I took a couple of days to bawl my eyes out and freak over how on earth I'm going to maintain my weightloss, and after much support from BF and you guys, and tons of soul searching, I decided I am as prepared emotionally for what comes next as I'll ever be. If I need physical help (and I can't imagine why I wouldn't), I will take Meridia or something that is stimulant free to help dial-down the physical hunger. I feel so normal now, I'm not sure I remember what it was like before being banded, so it's hard for me to predict what will come next. I plan on leaning on everyone here for lots of support, though! I'll keep everyone posted - hopefully the recovery won't be too bad, and I'll feel good as new within a couple of weeks of unbanding.

Magnolia - This is everything I know about erosion: http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showth...=&threadid=2250 http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showth...=&threadid=2256 http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showth...=&threadid=2274 Is it dangerous? It can be, if not treated. Generally speaking, most erosions are found and corrected before they cause severe problems.

tigk - Yes, those feelings are completely normal. It is scary knowing that you are going to have to change, and that for all intents and purposes, it's a permanent change - not something you can waffle on on a whim. The good news: The changes that you will be required to make are not that usually that drastic once you're out of the healing phase and back on real foods. There is a very good chance that you will feel little if any difference with a wide open band, but in spite of that, chances are you will be eating less anyway. As you start getting fills, the amount you eat at each meal will decrease naturally, if you listen to your full signals. As far as "why can't you do this yourself?" You can. It's just extremely difficult to change one's habits permanently, particularly when it comes to food. With the band, eating less is easier, because you get full faster. Making healthy choices is easier, because your hunger level is under control, and lots of times the less nutritious items are unpleasant to eat, so there is negative reinforcement going on. As long as we keep on doing whatever we did to lose weight, the weight will stay off. That's why diets don't work - people don't stay on them forever. And they don't stay on them forever, because the changes are too drastic and don't fit in with a normal lifestyle. The changes that aren't too drastic we don't continue to do, because the results are not readily apparent. With the band, it doesn't matter if the results aren't readily apparent - we are forced to continue on regardless. If I were just eating less on my own, and it wasn't very pleasant because I was hungry, and my wieght did not go down after 8 weeks, I would have little motivation to continue eating less. With the band, I'm not feeling hungry even though I'm eating less, and regardless of whether the scale moves or not, I have to continue eating less, because of the band. So eventually the scale starts moving down again. Like it would have if I had NOT been banded, but continued to eat less. However, the chances that I would have continued to eat less all by myself are very, very small. I hope this helps clarify some things in your mind.

One last general comment for food for thought, directed at ALL of us (particularly myself): If what Alexandra had described was really a bite on your CHILD (or beloved pet), would you have waited to seek medical attention or questioned the need for it? Would you have thought, "I should probably take Billy in, but I'd hate to waste the $20 if it's nothing."? I think we all need to take a hard look about how we care (or don't care) for our own health. Why is it that we brush off for ourselves something we'd never poo-poo if it were happening to someone else? I know that if my sister had that gallbladder-like attack I experienced earlier in the month, I would have been taking her to the emergency room kicking and screaming, instead of home to her bed like I made her do for me. I have chastized my mother for ignoring pains and symptoms that I myself would have ignored if they were mine. I'm not suggesting that we all become hypochondriacs, but... There is a fine line between being too reactive and non-reactive. Perhaps asking ourselves what we would do if it were a child in our care would help us strike a better balance. At the very least, we should do what Alexandra did and get other people's opinions, and then hopefully act on the best consensus of advice if it did not conflict with our own better sense. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Well, THANK GOD you are not dying! And thank you also for getting this taken care of. That guy from work I was telling you about? I asked my sister, "When did John say he got that bite again?" and she said, "NOVEMBER." NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!! And I just saw him like 3 weeks ago, and he had that arm all wrapped up like it was broken! So glad you didn't mess around with this. My BF won't let me have pets anyway, so glad the non-existent critters won't have to go homeless...

It's 10 a.m. in NJ, and I'm patiently awaiting your news.... :D Hope all is well, Alex. Let me know where to send the $20.

Mary - I'm so sorry for your scare. I do not have tachycardia, so cannot help in that area, but I do think it is unlikely that the band has anything to do with it. Some things really are just coincidental... And yes, it would be a pisser if your thyroid was at fault all this time, but one would hope that the pre-surgery testing would have looked for things like that, and post-poned the surgery if something came back abnormal. Please keep us posted, and I hope the doc is able to treat/cure you.

You guys can get together with Sue and have an alias-making-up party for when you get banned, so you can join again right away and not miss a thing... lol

I LOVE the Princess Bride!!! One of my favs! Got it on video...

I'm thinking of you during this joyous time!

Just keep Lola away from DeLarla - she's already terrorizing the smartbandster board.... lol

Sorry, I always forget there are criteria. I thought it was just 6 months, though - sheeezzz, they're getting so exclusive. Penni I will post your SoCal post to the grad board.

Just call me "Little Ray of Sunshine". lol

If that's what it is, you should be able to feel is squirming soon... lol Okay, I'll let you wait until tomorrow. If it's not better in the morning, you are honor bound to go in and have them look at it.

Go drinking with DeLarla. I think she's going to be on a tear tonight... lol

Darcy, I was thinking about your surgery today, and had to look again to see when it was. Just a few more days!!!! Whoo hooo!!! We're thinking of you!!!

Doesn't sound like the brown recluse is found much in NJ according to this site (although it's possible): http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061.html

Oh, you'll love this. Maybe it was one of those insects that bites and lays an egg in there, which hatches and eats the surrounding flesh. I saw this on TV, I'm not making it up. Although I think the man and woman had been traveling outside of the U.S. Wish I could remember what kind of bug that was. Have I suggested that you go to the doc yet?