donali

Okay, I'm supposed to be sleeping, but I am so addicted to you guys. I'm the new erosion on the block, and I have to tell you, as devastating as this is, I got 97.5 pounds out of it. By the time I have my band removed it will probably be at least an even 100 - that's my new goal. lol Anyway - I don't know yet if I will choose to be rebanded. I am waiting for more info on the re-erosion rates. The one response I got wasn't good (she eroded again her second time), and two other posters quote increased percentages - one 50%, the other "4 times likely" which would be 4-12%. I'm going to have to agree with Jessie Ahroni on grads that no one really knows the stats on rebanding. However, the literature from Inamed does state that revisions have a higher percentage of erosion, and I would consider a rebanding a revision. If I knew then what I know now - would I still have done it? ABSOLUTELY!! Will I do it again? At this point, it doesn't look likely. But I will have to wait at least six months before I could be rebanded, if I choose to do so, so we'll see how it goes. I love my band - it did everything I had hoped for. It sucks for me that I have this complication, but I rolled the dice and this is what I got. I'm not angry, or bitter. Sad, devastated, yes. But I knew the risks, and my results have been worth it. I've learned a lot about myself and my eating disorder. Hopefully that'll help me out when I'm back out there on my own. Good luck with your decision!

I can't tell you all how much it means to have all this support. To quote beloved DeLarla, "I'm feeling the love." To fill in a few of the gaps in this particular post (for those of you who didn't read/remember my "gall bladder" attack post, here's some of the background missing. I had just been doing research on erosion coincidentally. Or maybe all that research CAUSED my erosion... lol THAT's it... I have not had any problems/symptoms. I had no reason to go to TJ for this follow-up, except that on Thursday, 6/3/04 I had what felt exactly like an intense gall bladder attack. I had severe pain in my back about band height, and pressure/heat radiating inside from the area around the top of my stomach. I felt like if I could just burp/fart/have a bowel movement, I would feel better. That's EXACTLY how my bad gall bladder attacks felt. None of those things happened, and I had my sister race me home from work - I didn't feel as though I could even drive. After two hours or so from the onset, the attack went away, and I have been attack-free since. Just like my old gall bladder attacks. Since I don't have a gall bladder anymore, and have never had these symptoms again since I had it out (June 1992), I was concerned. I really didn't think it had anything to do with the band (and it still may NOT - I did a bunch of googling on post-gall bladder removal attacks, and there was tons of info - I figured it was very likely that I had formed a stone in my bile duct - that could still be the reason for the attack), but decided that since I never had bothered to have my annual band check-up yet, I should go do that before I see my PCP on 6/30. I didn't want the band to be a suspect in hunting down the gall bladder attack cause. I was CERTAIN there was nothing wrong with my band - I have good restriction, no stomach pain, no reflux, no problems what-so-ever. My port has been bugging me this past week, but that's a constant come and go thing with me. It's almost funny that this attack came on WHILE I was reading articles about erosion... :sick I almost feared the whole experience was psychosomatic, since it came on so suddenly with no obvious provocation. I thought, geez, not only can you psyche yourself into fainting off the toilet while reading vericose veins articles, you can psyche yourself into some sort of attack by reading band erosion articles! What a maroon! So. That's why I went for the endoscopy. Normal, prescribed band maintenance. With a little push from a bizarre gall bladder-like attack. Which still may have nothing to do with the band. My advice to you all (and I can only imagine how frightened you all must feel, 'cause I felt the same way when someone posted stuff like this): Do your regular band maintenance. That means once a year you should have an endscopy - that is NOT if you're having problems. It's my understanding that's a regular part of an annual band check-up. I do not hear of people doing it though, so maybe it's not? But that's what my doc said at the seminar I attended in late October, so it's been on my mind to have it done. I just hadn't gotten around to it. So thanks be to the fates, or whatever, that I had the attack, which forced me to do what I had planned on doing anyway. And I hope, and pray, and wish that I can be the 1-3% in your guys' lives, and that this doesn't happen to any of you. I think that would only be fair. And if my being the fall guy could ensure that, then I am happy to do it. You're all very welcome.

I got home from my Mexican adventure a few hours ago, and unfortunately, the news is not good. I am trying to put this in perspective, but I still cried all the way home. My band has eroded, and has to be removed. I guess the good news is... it can be removed. And I have lost 97.5 pounds with it. It's just that... I don't mean to sound melodramatic, but honestly, I would almost rather be dead than gain that weight back. I think that's what all the tears are about. Not the additional surgery, or the $5,500 it's going to cost, but that terrifying fear that the weight is all going to come back on. Again, writing this out, it seems like such a petty fear. It's not like my life is directly in danger, or anything like that. I just thought I had finally, finally found the answer to staying a more healthy weight without struggle. It was a beautiful dream... Dr. Carmen did say that once everything is healed back up, I could be rebanded. But I have read on the support boards that once you have an erosion, the chances you'll have a second erosion is 50% (initially it's supposed to be 1-3% chance of erosion). I told Dr. Carmen that, and she said no, the chances remain the same, and in fact, may even be a little less, because the scar tissue left over from the first banding makes the stomach wall a little thicker, almost like a callous, which could help reduce the chance of a second erosion. I will have to do more research to see if that might be true - it's the first I've heard of it. I wonder if they could use the same band, or if Inamed would take it back and give me a new one for free. Otherwise, I have no idea how I will find another $10,000 to cough up for rebanding surgery. As I was bawling in the doc's office, she swore that they would do everything in their power to help me maintain my current loss. She even offered the possibility that Dr. Lopez could do a gastric bypass on me while he had me open to remove the band. At least I still had enough wits about me to say absolutely not, I definitely do NOT want a gastric bypass. I made her promise that no way, no how, would I wake up with a gastric bypass. She said not to worry - if I didn't want one, they wouldn't do it. On the way back from the endoscope Dr. Carmen asked if I still had restriction, and I said yes, and she said that I could keep my band until I lost restriction. But once we got back to her office and she looked at the pics, she said the band had to come out. Then she called Dr. Lopez, and he said it needed to come out as soon as possible. So Friday, July 2, I go in to have my band removed. Damn. Dr. Carmen assured me that nothing I had done caused this, and nothing Dr. Lopez had done caused this – it just happens sometimes. Hopefully I can keep from bawling over this too much. I am so very lucky, and so very grateful for all of my blessings. I love, love, love my band, and do not regret one moment. After talking with Inamed and hearing advice from my other various board memberships, if I am convinced that the erosion rate is not increased, and I can somehow find the funds, I will get rebanded after everything is healed up. I’m afraid it may be hard to convince me, though, that this won’t just happen to me again. Now it is time for me to play the grateful game: 1. I am so grateful I was able to have the initial surgery, and have an unremarkable recovery. 2. I am so grateful to have lost 97.5 pounds virtually effortlessly. 3. I am so grateful I have made such wonderful bandster friends. 4. I am so grateful that my erosion was discovered before gastric juices started leaking into my abdominal cavity and really caused serious problems. 5. I am so grateful I have the money to pay for the band’s removal. 6. As much as I will miss my band, I won’t miss the annoyance of my port and tubing. 7. I am so grateful I made the time to have therapy for my compulsive overeating problem, and pray all that I have learned through that and over the past 17 months will help me keep off the weight I’ve lost. 8. I am so grateful to have my health. 9. I am of course grateful for my wonderful, supportive, and loving BF, family and friends. 10. I am so grateful to have a wonderful job, and a decent income where I can own my own home, and reliable transportation. The grateful list could go on, and on, and on. Here are the pics from the endoscopy. A rough translation of some of the gastroentologist’s written comments: The body of the stomach and part of the antro is deformed (pic 4) by foldings that go through this zone and which is an extension of the round portion of mucus formed by the band which is observed in the cardias (valve between the esophagus and stomach). The posterior part of this round part of mucus and penetration of the band in 40% of it (pics 2&3)

DeLarla, really, you gotta stop doing the speed! You're scaring me, girl!! I'm up this early on a Sat a.m. to get ready for my own TJ adventure, but am CERTAIN it will not be even 1/100000000th as interesting as yours. And that's a good thing... And just for clarification (Lisa, I'm sure you won't mind), Dr. Kuri removed Lisa's PORT - not her band, as she wrote it earlier. Her port will be reinserted at a later date. So glad that fill is working for ya - sounds like it'll hold you for a while! HUGS and KISSES, everyone - Gotta hit the road.....

Michelle - I'm not sure what causes a port infection once the intial healing has completed when erosion is NOT involved. One would have to think it must have something to do with fills, since the materials are inert and supposed to be non-reactive. Although if someone is having problems with the port suturing, like when I tore mine, I wouldn't have been surprised if it had gotten infected, since obviously I had done some internal damage. I don't know much about bacteria living inside of the body, waiting for damage - would that have to be introduced from outside, like with the fill needle? Penni? Any insight into this phenomonen? I do not have any stats as to how often port infections occur, but I do know they are considered to be one of the more common problems (next to vomiting and reflux). As long as your doc is following proper sanitary protocol, there should be a very low risk of infection from fills. But I think the caveat is there is always a risk - it's just not very high. As far as symptoms, I am assuming the area become red, hot, and tender to the touch. Maybe there is an eruption through the skin as well in severe cases? If you have one, you will know. I would not worry too much about this possibility. There does seem to be a rash of them lately, though. :sick

Hey Francesca - The meeting location changes each month. The July meeting will be on the 11th at 1pm at Bonnie's (have no info on where that is yet - usually comes out about a week before meeting time). I will try to post the info in the CA San Diego thread, and those interested in attending can email me for details, or join the San Diego Bandster group through Yahoo! And don't feel bad about missing Lisa this time around - we spent maybe 30 minutes together, and then she was off. That girl is on fast forward!!! I told her we were going to have to take away her speed prescription. Penni - congrats on your recovery. I still am finding it hard to believe all that redness and swelling was from irritation, but am so glad that's all it was! Whew! Alex, we're going to have to get you down here, girl! And yes, there was a LOT of laughing... lol

I would die without Google... lol

I had lunch with the captivating Lisa, and she seems none the worse for wear. Well, okay, maybe a little worse for wear - she's still on pain meds, so we'll see what happens once they wear off... I was extremely disappointed in our meeting - not only did she not demonstrate any pole-dancing maneuvers, the slutty red glove was no where to be seen. DeLarla, I let you hold out on me this time in deference to your ordeal, but NEXT time you better put up the goods!!! :D Sincerely hope you had a safe trip back, and that your recovery from here on out is uneventful!

I am assuming you have tried the WestSoy brand, as that is very common. I use the plain and the unsweetened chocolate, and find them to be very palatable. I use both on Cereal and in smoothies/protein drinks, and to make instant SF/FF chocolate Jello pudding. There is a large group of people who believe that milk products are not for human consumption, and that it is unnatural for adult animals to drink milk at all, as we are the only animals on earth that drink milk as adults, and milk from other species. (Other animals that drink milk as adults are fed that by humans. ) Adult animals stop making the enzymes that breakdown milk, which is the explanation for lactose intolerence. I consume and enjoy dairy products, but I am NOT convinced they are an important part of a healthy diet. Not that I'm cynical or paranoid, but I do honestly believe the advertising for drinking milk as a health benefit is politically driven by the dairy farmer lobbyists. (Since in many parts of the world, drinking milk after childhood is virtually unheard of.) If you cannot get the Calcium and Vitamin D that you need from your diet of dark greens, then a supplement should suffice you. IMHO

http://www.smh.com/sections/services-procedures/medlib/docs_articles/Bariatric/bariatric_pdf_articles/bariatric_surgery/Spivak%20&%20Favretti%20-%20Avoiding%20Postoperative%20Complications%20with%20the%20LAP-BAND%20System.pdf In many cases, the first indication of possible erosion is an infection at the access port site. The connecting tube provides drainage of gastric content to the port site, which causes the infection. Erosion should be ruled out at the first sign of port infection. http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94800-12_LB_Product_Data_Sheet.pdf Erosion of the band into stomach tissue has been associated with revision surgery, after the use of gastric-irritating medications, after stomach damage and after extensive dissection or use of electrocautery, and during early experience. Symptoms of band erosion may include reduced weight loss, weight gain, access port infection, or abdominal pain. Re-operation to remove the device is required.

Alexandra - I started a new thread with the doctored brochure info in it. Boy, it's so easy to get off thread topic!!! Sorry, all. Not just here, but in the intro section, and well, basically everywhere... Some things take on a life of their own. I think they call that "hijacking a thread" in the savvy world. I don't do it on purpose!! :D And Alex, I know you weren't telling me I hijacked the thread, but I DO know I've done it on occasion, and have been meaning to apologize to everyone for a while now.

Oh, Chantal!!! :( I am so sorry this happened. Highlight the deleted items icon (the trash can). Under tools, select "Empty Deleted Items Folder". Say yes to the empty confirmation. Then under tools, select the "Recover Deleted Items". You will see the list. Select the first one, and then holding down the shift key, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list and click on the last item. Everything should be highlighted now. Click on the red "X" at the top of the window. You will be asked if you want to purge the items permanently - say yes, and they should be gone. It is not out of the question that your employer has some sort of programs running in the background on your system that captures everything you do. I think most employers don't, but there is software out there that would let them do that kind of "spying". So although this will remove the obvious evidence, you are not necessarily 100% in the clear, but this is the best you can do at the moment, that I'm aware.

Penni - I did understand that you had your surgery done at the Sanivov, but not knowing exactly where the brochure came from, or who did it, it could have easily been modified for the Sanivov, or you could have been given the one from Oasis by Dr. Lopez, since his office is where I originally picked the thing up. Again, it was not handed to me - it was lying there in his office waiting room, and I took it, because there is so little written info available. I was going to copy it and return it (since I didn't ask if I could have it), but after reading all the way through it I realized it wasn't band related, so I never gave it back. I have not had an opportunity to discuss the brochure with Dr. Lopez, but I will try to mention it tomorrow, particularly if I find another in his office when I'm there! As far as the liason position, I have a wonderful job that I love, so I don't think that's an option for me.

Hi All - Just a heads up. I picked up a brochure from Dr. Lopez's office once while I was there, and it had a color xerox cover with the Oasis Hospital logo on it. It was blue, and seemed to be intended to be from the Oasis Hospital. Inside were supposed guidelines for patients who had the lapband. I have to tell you, that article was taken WORD for WORD from an RnY doctor's article, which was written specifically for gastric bypass patients. The word "lapband" had been substituted everywhere the word gastric bypass appeared in the original article. The doctor was not credited. I started getting suspicious because it said that there would be no hunger for 6 months, at which time hunger would start to return. I knew that wasn't true for the lapband - no WAY, no HOW. But, having a sister who had the RnY, I knew it was true for her. Because the brochure was so long, I couldn't believe it was typed from scratch, so I took a key phrase and Googled it, and lo and behold, I found the original bypass article. The post-op protocol for the RnY is drastically different from the post-op protocol for the lapband. The only thing they have in common is the liquid diet post op. But even that is shorter for lapbanders, and not restricted in quantity, like it is for the RnYers - there is no drinking a thimble-full of Protein shake every hour directly after post-op, like the RnYers are required to do. The only other similarity between the two is the longterm strategy of how to use the pouch to its fullest advantage - eating solid food, not drinking with meals, waterloading prior to meals, and avoiding gastric irritants like Aspirin, Advil, and other NSAIDs. There is no "window of opportunity" for weightloss with the band. With the RnY, it is expected that weightloss pretty much stops 18-24 months out. That's how long it takes the body to adjust and compensate for the malabsorptive part of the bypass. For Bandsters, our band will continue to be a tool in our weightloss journey - there are bandsters 4-5 years out who have continued to lose weight with the band. Also, it is NOT expected that a bandster lose 30-45 pounds in the first month. That is a gastric bypass stat. The expected average weightloss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. I'm not sure how widely dispersed this pirated booklet is. But for anyone who has gotten a thick xerox brochure on the lapband while they were in Mexico, beware. It is unlikely that is it truly a lapband brochure, since there does not appear to BE one!! Which I imagine is why someone got the bright idea to create one in this manner. Here is a link to the original article by Latham Flanagan, Jr., M.D., FACS : http://obesitysurgery-info.com/understandingsmallgastricpouch.htm

Oooops.... waaaay too early. Sorry, Lisa!!! That's what you get for posting to the boards so early in the morning (usually). lol :(

Thanks, Francesca! I got her number written down, so I second Sue's advice - if you wouldn't mind editing your post and taking her number out, for her protection/privacy. Thanks again, and so glad she's all fixed up. I wonder if it's too early to call her? Probably not...

Hi Penni - I like your site. I just have to comment on the following, though: Protein shakes are NOT required by bandsters once they get to the eating solid food stage. It is always recommended to eat real food that stays in your pouch longer and helps keep you feeling full. Since we do not have a malabsorptive-type procedure like the RnY, we are able to utilize all the calories and nutrients of what we eat, just like before surgery. For people who are too tight in the mornings to eat real food, protein shakes can be helpful, but for the most part are not needed. For people who do choose to use protein shakes, for whatever reason, they should replace the meal, not be in addition to it, unless one is having troubles meeting their caloric goals (in which case you are probably adjusted too tightly, and could benefit from a slight unfill). And I know of no vegetable or fruit juice that would be considered a good source of protein. It is recommended that all caloric liquids be avoided, which is why drinking juice is not recommended, as it is a high calorie liquid that passes through the pouch and again, does nothing to help generate the full feeling. Even for people who are not banded who are watching their weight, physicians recommend eating whole fruit as opposed to drinking juice for that very reason. I picked up a brochure from Dr. Lopez's office once while I was there, and it had a color xerox cover with the Oasis Hospital logo on it. Inside were supposed guidelines for patients who had the lapband. I have to tell you, that article was taken WORD for WORD from an RnY doctor's article, which was written specifically for gastric bypass patients. The word "lapband" had been substituted everywhere the word gastric bypass appeared in the original article. The post-op protocol for the RnY is drastically different from the post-op protocol for the lapband. The only thing they have in common is the liquid diet post op. But even that is shorter for lapbanders, and not restricted in quantity, like it is for the RnYers - there is no drinking a thimble-full of protein shake every hour directly after post-op, like the RnYers are required to do. The only other similarity between the two is the longterm strategy of how to use the pouch to its fullest advantage - eating solid food, not drinking with meals, waterloading prior to meals, and avoiding gastric irritants like Aspirin, Advil, and other NSAIDs. Also, it is NOT expected that a bandster lose 30-45 pounds in the first month. That is a gastric bypass stat. The expected average weightloss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. I'm not sure if this pirated booklet is where you got these impressions, but just felt I should pass on this info to you. Oh, and just in case you were given the bypass info instead of the band info, there is no "window of opportunity" for weightloss with the band. With the RnY, it is expected that weightloss pretty much stops 18-24 months out. That's how long it takes the body to adjust and compensate for the malabsorptive part of the bypass. For Bandsters, our band will continue to be a tool in our weightloss journey - there are bandsters 4-5 years out who have continued to lose weight with the band.

Hi Carolyn - NO, the band does NOT expand. It is possible (likely) that as you lose weight, your restriction will feel less, because you will also be losing weight off your internal organs (i.e. stomach). Do liquids for a day or two, since your stomach was just adjusted twice in a short amount of time. It is possible (likely) that your extra restriction right now is due to stomach swelling, that will recede if you do NOT continue to irritate it with food. Once the swelling goes down, if you are unable to eat without PBing you need to have even more fill taken out. Good luck!

Penni - It would be so fantastic to have you as Dr. Lopez's office liason. I am certainly keeping ALL of my fingers crossed for you!! FYI - Our San Diego group got a message from the original person being considered for that position, and she said she declined the offer due to time/family constraints.

Michelle, You're welcome. And Kudos to you, Alex. You guys are amazing women. ***hugs*** again...

Hi Penni - There are two well established groups in the L.A. area - the original SoCal bandsters, and another group that's pretty quiet these days. the OSCB meets at least once a month, and had a big picnic a month or two ago. I haven't been, because it's kind of a trek from San Diego, but I've met a couple of people from that group, and they're wonderful. Some of their meetings are HUGE. You'll find lots of support there, I'm sure. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSCB/

Yay, Bailey! What Alexandra said. If you're still in the liquid phase, try blending Protein shakes with ice - that may help you feel a little fuller, faster. I also found hot broths helped to take away my hunger, and let me think I'd actually had some sort of "meal". I had the painful burping too - it went away after two weeks.

WOW - Penni, that is GREAT news! Hopefully you'll have no further problems. Thanks for the update!!!

I can't believe anyone has the stomach for even one more little word from me in the emotional advice category. lol I wish I did have some good advice, but I think you said it all. And when you're dealing with alcoholism, it is totally out of your hands, just like our dealing with our weight was totally out of anybody else's hands. I have an Aunt who chose to go to Al-Anon, and stayed with her husband. She said that she learned that she was not responsible for his behaviour. I admire that, but at the same time, I don't really understand why someone would choose to stay in that situation (he could be very mean when drunk). But it worked for her, and after the kids grew up and moved away he got sober. That's a really long time to wait for improvement, in my opinion. I realize I wasn't the one in love with him, but... I don't think I would have done it. There are other things I'd put up with that others wouldn't, but I've had my fill of mean people. But again, it wasn't me - who knows what I would have done in the same situation. I personally think I'd do what you're doing instead, as painful as that must be. We all have our limits, and our requirements for happiness. I think it's good to be open to other possibilities, but at the same time we have the right to live our lives, and make of our lives what we choose. Taking responsible steps towards personal happiness requires no excuses or apologies. ***hugs***

My heart goes out to you. My sis is in the same boat, so I know how hard it is. Hang in there, girl...