Short and Chunky

Good luck to you all. I had my band 3 1/2 years, lost 124 pounds and was doing great until my doctor moved and I had to get a new doc. In no time, my band was overfilled. It slipped. The reflux, night coughs and rapid weight loss..it was crazy until April, 2014 when I began vomiting blood, could not sit or lay down, horrible pain - I thought I was going to die - rushed via ambulance to the ER. I could not even sip Water. After a total unfill (a different surgeon - #3 in the mix), cat scan and complete bed rest for twelve hours, the band had to be removed as it was restricting the blood supply to my stomach. For the next 6 months, I went without my band - I felt OK, but was ravenous when it came to food. OUT OF CONTROL was an understatement. I gained 50 pounds in less than 6 months. I went from a size 8 to a size 14/16 and climbing. Fortunately, I was continuously seeing the #3 surgeon and he saw my struggle. December 29, 2014 - he put my band back in (secured a different way I think) and I feel fantastic. So glad to have my little reminder back. I have lost 20 pounds in the weeks since surgery and doing great. No fills yet and don't really think I need one yet. We did discuss doing RNY - but I weighed 208 and he doctor thought I would lose too much weight and that could cause a whole bunch of issues (I am 5'2" and 63 years old). So, we went with the band again. I am so happy. I walk every day 3-4 miles and my portion sizes of food is back to the way they should be. Have I eaten a "no no" - sure - we all do from time to time, but now I know it will only be one cookie and not the whole bag..one or two chips and not the whole case..Good luck with whatever your decision is and whatever the results but I for one am so glad to have my band back. It is part of me. I plan on taking this part of me when I leave this life. I will be so careful. As for the cause of the slippage - the doctor says he has no idea...sometimes, they just slip. He did say he did not think it was anything I did to make it slip - that was a good thing. The journey continues....
Melinda in Florida

I have gotten stuck - several times - and hot liquid (tea), pineapple juice and pills don't help me. Too Stuck for anything to go through. I slime, PB and then god willing, throw it up. The pain hurts, can't breathe, cant swallow. It is awful and 99% of the time it my own fault. Too big, too fast, too much, didn't chew long enough. LISTEN to you body and STOP eating getting stuck is no picnic !
Melinda in Florida

smacke20 - Being from the US I don't know how much a "stone" is, but any gain is a gain and I know your pain. I am now up 10 pounds. I feel FAT. I walk 3 miles everyday and work out each evening..still up. The doctor told me to relax, that this is normal and it will come back off. Just hang in there and give it time. He is watching to make sure I don't keep going up. I hope you have leveled off on your weight gain by now (sorry for answering so late) but if not, stay active. Walk, swim, workout..whatever it takes. I am eating too much, too large a portions and some wrong things. It is ALL ME and I am the only one who can get it under control, but - that is why I got the band in the 1st place - no control. I guess now, I have no choice but to figure it out..I sure don't want to gain all 124 pounds back..YUCK..
Melinda in Florida

Good luck to you all. I had my band 3 1/2 years, lost 124 pounds and was doing great until my doctor moved and I had to get a new doc. In no time, my band was overfilled. It slipped. The reflux, night coughs and rapid weight loss..it was crazy until April, 2014 when I began vomiting blood, could not sit or lay down, horrible pain - I thought I was going to die - rushed via ambulance to the ER. I could not even sip Water. After a total unfill (a different surgeon - #3 in the mix), cat scan and complete bed rest for twelve hours, the band had to be removed as it was restricting the blood supply to my stomach. For the next 6 months, I went without my band - I felt OK, but was ravenous when it came to food. OUT OF CONTROL was an understatement. I gained 50 pounds in less than 6 months. I went from a size 8 to a size 14/16 and climbing. Fortunately, I was continuously seeing the #3 surgeon and he saw my struggle. December 29, 2014 - he put my band back in (secured a different way I think) and I feel fantastic. So glad to have my little reminder back. I have lost 20 pounds in the weeks since surgery and doing great. No fills yet and don't really think I need one yet. We did discuss doing RNY - but I weighed 208 and he doctor thought I would lose too much weight and that could cause a whole bunch of issues (I am 5'2" and 63 years old). So, we went with the band again. I am so happy. I walk every day 3-4 miles and my portion sizes of food is back to the way they should be. Have I eaten a "no no" - sure - we all do from time to time, but now I know it will only be one cookie and not the whole bag..one or two chips and not the whole case..Good luck with whatever your decision is and whatever the results but I for one am so glad to have my band back. It is part of me. I plan on taking this part of me when I leave this life. I will be so careful. As for the cause of the slippage - the doctor says he has no idea...sometimes, they just slip. He did say he did not think it was anything I did to make it slip - that was a good thing. The journey continues....
Melinda in Florida

Terrydumont - that sounds awful. So sorry for that experience. I know the pain you are talking about and how scared you were. A slip is no joke and something that should be dealt with ASAP. You may not die, but boy do you think you will. The doctor told me that I could have actually "killed" my stomach with the restricted blood flow. So glad you are doing better. I didn't blame by band either and I don't blame it now, I think this is a case of the doctor not "listening" to the patient and/or the patient not being totally clear as to a situation.
Melinda in Florida

Terrydumont - that sounds awful. So sorry for that experience. I know the pain you are talking about and how scared you were. A slip is no joke and something that should be dealt with ASAP. You may not die, but boy do you think you will. The doctor told me that I could have actually "killed" my stomach with the restricted blood flow. So glad you are doing better. I didn't blame by band either and I don't blame it now, I think this is a case of the doctor not "listening" to the patient and/or the patient not being totally clear as to a situation.
Melinda in Florida

Terrydumont - that sounds awful. So sorry for that experience. I know the pain you are talking about and how scared you were. A slip is no joke and something that should be dealt with ASAP. You may not die, but boy do you think you will. The doctor told me that I could have actually "killed" my stomach with the restricted blood flow. So glad you are doing better. I didn't blame by band either and I don't blame it now, I think this is a case of the doctor not "listening" to the patient and/or the patient not being totally clear as to a situation.
Melinda in Florida

BatnTab - well, things aren't going so well. I am exercising and walking 3 miles everyday. I am trying to eat like I still have my band, but darn it, I am hungry. I have managed to gain 9 pounds so now I am angry with myself. I am drinking lots of Water, gave up all diet soda and faithfully attend my surgeon's support group..I wish I had my will-power back. The doctor is not concerned - yet- and says this is normal and just to wait it out. It will stop and my body will start responding. He said it is the just my body adjusting. I hope it adjusts soon, I can't gain anymore weight! I have noticed that my portions are larger even though I still use my small plates - they are just fuller. This whole thing makes me angry, I just wish it made me angry enough to stop stuffing my face. Hope you are doing well. I keep re-reading your post for support and encouragement. Wow, I never thought about "not having my band". I guess the joke is on me. No additional surgery talked about yet (it has been 6 weeks) but I will be talking with him soon if the scale doesn't stop going up. I would be happy with just staying the same weight for right now.
Melinda in Florida

So glad I found you. I had lapband w/plication 7/11 and lost 124 pounds..Life was pretty good and I had about 30 pounds to go to reach my goal. Well, on Thursday of this week I began having horrible upper abdominal pain and very bad pains in my left shoulder. Thursday night the vomiting began - bad vomiting - projectile and it was black. I was throwing up blood..had a slight upset stomach. I called my doctor and he said to come in 1st thing on Friday. I was up all night - thought I was going to die. I was at the doctor at 6:30am. He deflated my band as he said he thought I had a band slippage. He told me to return by 3pm and let him look again. Well, crazy me went on to work. I stayed there about an hour or so and somehow drove myself back to the doctor's office. I couldn't even walk into his office without assistance. Vomiting blood still continued and the pain was awful. I ended up in the ER. I had a flouroscope, Xrays and CT scan. By 11pm, I was in surgery. My band had slipped and scar tissue was bad. My band was removed but my plication remained in place. I was sent home the next day (Saturday afternoon). It is now Sunday AM. I hurt like I have been beaten. No vomiting (thank you God) and no shoulder pain. I must say, I do miss my band - it was a crutch. But I do still have the plication and I will loose the other 30 pounds. I plan to join WW again to help me...I am just not strong enough to do this on my own - that is why I had weight loss surgery in the 1st place. Will I have to have any other surgery? I don't know..I just know I could have died the way things were going..I don't ever want to go through that experience again. I will be chatting with you guys now since I no longer have my band. If anyone else has gone through this, please let me know how you are doing now and if the plication is going to be my friend. Also, what dietary changes will need to be made. I followed the lapband diet well, I just don't know if plication alone has some other restrictions or something you have found is a problem. Thanks for all your help and for reading this. I was so scared...
Melinda in Florida

Good luck to you all. I had my band 3 1/2 years, lost 124 pounds and was doing great until my doctor moved and I had to get a new doc. In no time, my band was overfilled. It slipped. The reflux, night coughs and rapid weight loss..it was crazy until April, 2014 when I began vomiting blood, could not sit or lay down, horrible pain - I thought I was going to die - rushed via ambulance to the ER. I could not even sip Water. After a total unfill (a different surgeon - #3 in the mix), cat scan and complete bed rest for twelve hours, the band had to be removed as it was restricting the blood supply to my stomach. For the next 6 months, I went without my band - I felt OK, but was ravenous when it came to food. OUT OF CONTROL was an understatement. I gained 50 pounds in less than 6 months. I went from a size 8 to a size 14/16 and climbing. Fortunately, I was continuously seeing the #3 surgeon and he saw my struggle. December 29, 2014 - he put my band back in (secured a different way I think) and I feel fantastic. So glad to have my little reminder back. I have lost 20 pounds in the weeks since surgery and doing great. No fills yet and don't really think I need one yet. We did discuss doing RNY - but I weighed 208 and he doctor thought I would lose too much weight and that could cause a whole bunch of issues (I am 5'2" and 63 years old). So, we went with the band again. I am so happy. I walk every day 3-4 miles and my portion sizes of food is back to the way they should be. Have I eaten a "no no" - sure - we all do from time to time, but now I know it will only be one cookie and not the whole bag..one or two chips and not the whole case..Good luck with whatever your decision is and whatever the results but I for one am so glad to have my band back. It is part of me. I plan on taking this part of me when I leave this life. I will be so careful. As for the cause of the slippage - the doctor says he has no idea...sometimes, they just slip. He did say he did not think it was anything I did to make it slip - that was a good thing. The journey continues....
Melinda in Florida

So sorry you chaps are having a problem with your bands. I had a band slippage in April of last year (3.5 years after getting my band - 124 pounds lost). Reflux and bad pain, vomiting blood - just awful. Well, my band was removed (too much scar tissue) and 6 months later - I had gained 50 pounds..I was just sick - I missed my band and wanted it back. My surgeon agreed he said I did not weigh enough for RNY and my insurance would not pay for a sleeve. On 12/29 he put the band back in. I have lost close to 20 pounds - I have not had any fills and I am doing fantastic. I feel like I am in control and have the power once again. Good luck to you both and I hope you can have your problems taken care of without regaining the weight you lost. Regaining was so hard on me mentally - made me eat even more. Good Luck...

So sorry you chaps are having a problem with your bands. I had a band slippage in April of last year (3.5 years after getting my band - 124 pounds lost). Reflux and bad pain, vomiting blood - just awful. Well, my band was removed (too much scar tissue) and 6 months later - I had gained 50 pounds..I was just sick - I missed my band and wanted it back. My surgeon agreed he said I did not weigh enough for RNY and my insurance would not pay for a sleeve. On 12/29 he put the band back in. I have lost close to 20 pounds - I have not had any fills and I am doing fantastic. I feel like I am in control and have the power once again. Good luck to you both and I hope you can have your problems taken care of without regaining the weight you lost. Regaining was so hard on me mentally - made me eat even more. Good Luck...

BatnTab - well, things aren't going so well. I am exercising and walking 3 miles everyday. I am trying to eat like I still have my band, but darn it, I am hungry. I have managed to gain 9 pounds so now I am angry with myself. I am drinking lots of Water, gave up all diet soda and faithfully attend my surgeon's support group..I wish I had my will-power back. The doctor is not concerned - yet- and says this is normal and just to wait it out. It will stop and my body will start responding. He said it is the just my body adjusting. I hope it adjusts soon, I can't gain anymore weight! I have noticed that my portions are larger even though I still use my small plates - they are just fuller. This whole thing makes me angry, I just wish it made me angry enough to stop stuffing my face. Hope you are doing well. I keep re-reading your post for support and encouragement. Wow, I never thought about "not having my band". I guess the joke is on me. No additional surgery talked about yet (it has been 6 weeks) but I will be talking with him soon if the scale doesn't stop going up. I would be happy with just staying the same weight for right now.
Melinda in Florida

So glad I found you. I had lapband w/plication 7/11 and lost 124 pounds..Life was pretty good and I had about 30 pounds to go to reach my goal. Well, on Thursday of this week I began having horrible upper abdominal pain and very bad pains in my left shoulder. Thursday night the vomiting began - bad vomiting - projectile and it was black. I was throwing up blood..had a slight upset stomach. I called my doctor and he said to come in 1st thing on Friday. I was up all night - thought I was going to die. I was at the doctor at 6:30am. He deflated my band as he said he thought I had a band slippage. He told me to return by 3pm and let him look again. Well, crazy me went on to work. I stayed there about an hour or so and somehow drove myself back to the doctor's office. I couldn't even walk into his office without assistance. Vomiting blood still continued and the pain was awful. I ended up in the ER. I had a flouroscope, Xrays and CT scan. By 11pm, I was in surgery. My band had slipped and scar tissue was bad. My band was removed but my plication remained in place. I was sent home the next day (Saturday afternoon). It is now Sunday AM. I hurt like I have been beaten. No vomiting (thank you God) and no shoulder pain. I must say, I do miss my band - it was a crutch. But I do still have the plication and I will loose the other 30 pounds. I plan to join WW again to help me...I am just not strong enough to do this on my own - that is why I had weight loss surgery in the 1st place. Will I have to have any other surgery? I don't know..I just know I could have died the way things were going..I don't ever want to go through that experience again. I will be chatting with you guys now since I no longer have my band. If anyone else has gone through this, please let me know how you are doing now and if the plication is going to be my friend. Also, what dietary changes will need to be made. I followed the lapband diet well, I just don't know if plication alone has some other restrictions or something you have found is a problem. Thanks for all your help and for reading this. I was so scared...
Melinda in Florida

BatnTab - well, things aren't going so well. I am exercising and walking 3 miles everyday. I am trying to eat like I still have my band, but darn it, I am hungry. I have managed to gain 9 pounds so now I am angry with myself. I am drinking lots of Water, gave up all diet soda and faithfully attend my surgeon's support group..I wish I had my will-power back. The doctor is not concerned - yet- and says this is normal and just to wait it out. It will stop and my body will start responding. He said it is the just my body adjusting. I hope it adjusts soon, I can't gain anymore weight! I have noticed that my portions are larger even though I still use my small plates - they are just fuller. This whole thing makes me angry, I just wish it made me angry enough to stop stuffing my face. Hope you are doing well. I keep re-reading your post for support and encouragement. Wow, I never thought about "not having my band". I guess the joke is on me. No additional surgery talked about yet (it has been 6 weeks) but I will be talking with him soon if the scale doesn't stop going up. I would be happy with just staying the same weight for right now.
Melinda in Florida

So glad I found you. I had lapband w/plication 7/11 and lost 124 pounds..Life was pretty good and I had about 30 pounds to go to reach my goal. Well, on Thursday of this week I began having horrible upper abdominal pain and very bad pains in my left shoulder. Thursday night the vomiting began - bad vomiting - projectile and it was black. I was throwing up blood..had a slight upset stomach. I called my doctor and he said to come in 1st thing on Friday. I was up all night - thought I was going to die. I was at the doctor at 6:30am. He deflated my band as he said he thought I had a band slippage. He told me to return by 3pm and let him look again. Well, crazy me went on to work. I stayed there about an hour or so and somehow drove myself back to the doctor's office. I couldn't even walk into his office without assistance. Vomiting blood still continued and the pain was awful. I ended up in the ER. I had a flouroscope, Xrays and CT scan. By 11pm, I was in surgery. My band had slipped and scar tissue was bad. My band was removed but my plication remained in place. I was sent home the next day (Saturday afternoon). It is now Sunday AM. I hurt like I have been beaten. No vomiting (thank you God) and no shoulder pain. I must say, I do miss my band - it was a crutch. But I do still have the plication and I will loose the other 30 pounds. I plan to join WW again to help me...I am just not strong enough to do this on my own - that is why I had weight loss surgery in the 1st place. Will I have to have any other surgery? I don't know..I just know I could have died the way things were going..I don't ever want to go through that experience again. I will be chatting with you guys now since I no longer have my band. If anyone else has gone through this, please let me know how you are doing now and if the plication is going to be my friend. Also, what dietary changes will need to be made. I followed the lapband diet well, I just don't know if plication alone has some other restrictions or something you have found is a problem. Thanks for all your help and for reading this. I was so scared...
Melinda in Florida

AtoZ - 1st, congratulations on the new baby. I am sure you are excited and I wish you only the best.
2nd, your lapband experience was sure scary. Been there..my band had to be removed in April of this year for the same reason - a bad slip - nothing going through and horribly sick. I was actually vomiting blood. My band had to be removed too.
I am glad you are home and feeling better. I did feel better, almost instantly. I do miss my band (I know crazy thought) because I have regained 30 pounds - in 3 months. I am under a new doctor's care now and hopefully, that will get better now.
Best wishes and good luck in post-band but most of all best wishes on your new family member..
Melinda in Florida

Terry, glad to hear you are doing so well. Hope you get to keep your band. I miss mine terribly and the scale proves it.
Melinda in Florida

so far so good. The plication appears to be doing well and it might get me through the rough spots. I haven't gained any weight and I am back out walking 2 miles plus a day. I am feeling much better. I do miss my band and I am very sad that it is gone. I had done a lot of research and I was sold on the band. I guess it was just not in the cards for me to keep it. The doctor said I had had a "significant slip" and that almost 1/3 my stomach had come up through the band. With all the Vomiting the stomach became swollen and well, there was no way it was going to go back down and behave. The blood I was throwing up was the lining of my stomach and the part that was through the band was going to die if he did not remove the band. Scary stuff !!! So, I move on - bandless - but still with plication (thank heavens). I am still getting weekly shots of B12 and B1 as I was very run down. But, I have to look on the bright side - 124 fat, ugly, unhealthy pounds are gone. I need to maintain and loose a few more but keep up the good, healthy habits I got over the past 2 1/2 yrs. My knees thank me every day..I can do this..I hope..
Melinda in Florida

I agree with everyone else that has posted on this topic. I would be a real mess as big or bigger than I was almost three years ago and certainly no where near as healthy,. Sure, I have had issues. Band slippage, vomiting blood, emergency surgery to remove the band - yep- bad news..but I have lost 120+ pounds and that is an ENTIRE PERSON. Rene's said she couldn't lift the 50 pounds she lost - try 120 pounds LOL - not happening..Since my revision surgery (4/25/14) I have had issues..healing is slow, weight gain (up 12 pounds) and in general blah..but I would have WLS all over again in a minute. It has given me a new life. I can play with my grandchildren, I am running 5K's (at 63 yrs old) and I work 50+ hours per week. No more shortness of breath, pre-diabetes, HBP..Life is so much better. I need to now get my head, my heart and my stomach all on the same page and get back to being the WL queen again and move on with my bandless life. I love the person I have become and I know that because of this surgery I have added years to my life.
Melinda in Florida

I agree with everyone else that has posted on this topic. I would be a real mess as big or bigger than I was almost three years ago and certainly no where near as healthy,. Sure, I have had issues. Band slippage, vomiting blood, emergency surgery to remove the band - yep- bad news..but I have lost 120+ pounds and that is an ENTIRE PERSON. Rene's said she couldn't lift the 50 pounds she lost - try 120 pounds LOL - not happening..Since my revision surgery (4/25/14) I have had issues..healing is slow, weight gain (up 12 pounds) and in general blah..but I would have WLS all over again in a minute. It has given me a new life. I can play with my grandchildren, I am running 5K's (at 63 yrs old) and I work 50+ hours per week. No more shortness of breath, pre-diabetes, HBP..Life is so much better. I need to now get my head, my heart and my stomach all on the same page and get back to being the WL queen again and move on with my bandless life. I love the person I have become and I know that because of this surgery I have added years to my life.
Melinda in Florida

I agree with everyone else that has posted on this topic. I would be a real mess as big or bigger than I was almost three years ago and certainly no where near as healthy,. Sure, I have had issues. Band slippage, vomiting blood, emergency surgery to remove the band - yep- bad news..but I have lost 120+ pounds and that is an ENTIRE PERSON. Rene's said she couldn't lift the 50 pounds she lost - try 120 pounds LOL - not happening..Since my revision surgery (4/25/14) I have had issues..healing is slow, weight gain (up 12 pounds) and in general blah..but I would have WLS all over again in a minute. It has given me a new life. I can play with my grandchildren, I am running 5K's (at 63 yrs old) and I work 50+ hours per week. No more shortness of breath, pre-diabetes, HBP..Life is so much better. I need to now get my head, my heart and my stomach all on the same page and get back to being the WL queen again and move on with my bandless life. I love the person I have become and I know that because of this surgery I have added years to my life.
Melinda in Florida

I agree with everyone else that has posted on this topic. I would be a real mess as big or bigger than I was almost three years ago and certainly no where near as healthy,. Sure, I have had issues. Band slippage, vomiting blood, emergency surgery to remove the band - yep- bad news..but I have lost 120+ pounds and that is an ENTIRE PERSON. Rene's said she couldn't lift the 50 pounds she lost - try 120 pounds LOL - not happening..Since my revision surgery (4/25/14) I have had issues..healing is slow, weight gain (up 12 pounds) and in general blah..but I would have WLS all over again in a minute. It has given me a new life. I can play with my grandchildren, I am running 5K's (at 63 yrs old) and I work 50+ hours per week. No more shortness of breath, pre-diabetes, HBP..Life is so much better. I need to now get my head, my heart and my stomach all on the same page and get back to being the WL queen again and move on with my bandless life. I love the person I have become and I know that because of this surgery I have added years to my life.
Melinda in Florida

That sounds so yummy...can't wait to give this one a try..

That sounds so yummy...can't wait to give this one a try..