Alexandra

My family is pretty much all thin, with a few notable exceptions. THIS is what leads me to believe that my obesity, at least, has a strong genetic component. The fact that only isolated individuals among my extended family are obese is as clear an indicator as if we had isolated individuals with blue eyes while everyone else's are brown. Those of us who "tended to fat" did so in a BIG way, while everyone else's metabolisms were pretty much normal. I think we probably all do that. You're not alone.

Topsy, I'm so sorry you've had such a bad experience! It's certainly understandable that you and your daughter would be leery of keeping the band when you yourself had such problems. I've read this thread over and just don't see where ANYONE is saying there's anything wrong with taking the band out if it's causing problems. Your daughter may not have been diagnosed with slippage or erosion, but pain in the back and vomiting foam sure sound like problems to me. And of course your erosion is very close and naturally raises the level of concern for both of you. We are all on the same page, as far as I can see. No problems? Keep the band. Problems? It seems like everyone understands that removal is a possible outcome. Perfectly reasonable on every level.

DeLarla, neither you nor Renee are speaking "on behalf of" any Mexican surgeons. I think it's important to correct that misstatement. You're talking ABOUT Mexican surgeons. Forgive me, but I'm not just being the grammar police here. The two are totally different things, and I don't want anyone getting the impression that you are speaking for the surgeons (which is what "on behalf of" means).

That makes sense, but I assume there is some other test to check that the band is in the proper place, right? Presumably the surgeon has some confidence that he's done the job right. I didn't mean to imply that it was. I specified the U.S. in my question because you are a U.S. doctor and can only speak to the practices here. Have you, in your experience, ever heard of this particular surgical error happening? What would be the proper step for a surgeon to take next, if it did?

Dr. Hekier, my thanks too for your insight. I'm curious, can you comment on the likelihood of this sort of thing happening in the U.S.? What are the post-placement tests run in your practice? Have you ever heard of this happening in the U.S. with the Inamed band?

Nice job on the pic, Susan. When I first saw this picture when the thread was started I thought, wait, can that be the band over there on the right? How is that possible? I can't believe I was right. And I'm totally with you on being enraged, but I knew others would come and express it too so I reined myself in. Christy, really, don't stand for this! It's abusive and in all other ways intolerable. Please go back and demand that the doctor make it right, however you would define that. Holy cow!! Just curious: What did your mother say?

You've got lots of people very happy about your diagnosis, Kathy. Thanks for letting us know--we worry about our bandbuddies when things aren't going well!! :hug: :hug:

That's great, Kellie! I'm sure your SO will be thrilled! Your point is very well taken, though. Significant weight loss changes more than just our physical size, and anyone on regular medication should have the dosage checked and monitored. In addition, anyone using a diaphragm for birth control should get re-sized after each 20 or 30 lbs lost, since our internal dimensions change as well.

I'm sorry, are you saying that your doctor is claiming you eroded all the way through when in fact he never put it around your stomach in the first place?? Holy cr*p. How can you have nothing against this doctor? I'd be as mad as I could be and demanding a new band (if I trusted him enough) be placed at no cost. That's utterly appalling. Seriously, is there no recourse for you? You completely wasted thousands of dollars and had two utterly useless operations. You know what would happen in the States. Is there anything you can do? Big hugs to you for retaining a sense of composure. You're a strong and dignified person. :hug:

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!! Absolutelly yes. The thing is learning HOW to be normal with a band. My old normal meant eating at a buffet, say, but taking enough of each item to make a whole meal out of. Now buffets mean taking one small spoonful of each. It takes time to really change enough to accept this new normal, physically and mentally, and that's where everyone varies. There's a definite learning curve, but it does happen. And hell, I've been going to Starbucks since two weeks after banding. Why on earth not? Again, this is a learning process. Early on, there were loads of situations where my band told me I was "done" but I didn't feel "full" in the old sense of the word. Those were tough sometimes, I won't deny it. But after a year or so those situations became less and less common, and now the vast majority of the time I'm perfectly content to be done when I'm done. If not, I know I just have the munchies and I can either choose to indulge them or choose not to. The brilliant thing is having that knowledge and that control. That's my normal now. :biggrin1:

Sorry to hear you're in AZ. That's one of the very worst states in which to get individual coverage, I hear. And I don't know anything about their group requirements. But it's always worth investigating. Good luck!

Diane, what state are you in? Perhaps you and your husband could partner up as an LLC (Shepherd's Enterprises, or something like that) and become a small business? Talk to a broker and see if that would work in your state. It's a VERY common tactic for self-employed folks in NJ.

We were just talking about this exact thing in a support group meeting the other night. I think it's first-bite syndrome, which is common enough to have a name. As was mentioned, a hot drink before eating can help a lot. But as to your question, NO, you are not a failure!! Everyone has their learning issues when it comes to their own band, and everyone's body behaves a little bit differently. You're learning how yours behaves, and now you have to figure out how to work with it. Try taking that first bite and then getting up and walking around. Take a drink of something warm. Rest a good two or three minutes after the first bite, and don't take another one until you feel COMPLETELY clear. Make your first bite something super soft and take it really slow before swallowing. Your esophagus is just not ready for the meal, and you have to figure out how to prime it for the solid food that is coming. Good luck, and I'm totally confident that you will work it out. Don't fight it--work with it and let your body guide you. You'll do fine!

Wow, that is VERY interesting. I hope you share your experience with us, Newbander! Are there any projected long-term downsides to being omentum-less?

Unopadre, lots of people who have reflux before banding report that it is cleared up by surgery. But there are situations where banded people get a form of reflux (it's not precisely the same thing as non-banded people get). If our bands are too tight--which can happen from a too-tight fill, or Water retention, or slippage, or internal swelling, for example--it's very easy to have the experience of lying down before all the food and drink has left the pouch. In that circumstance, when we fall asleep and the muscles relax, undigested material can reflux back up through the esophagus. That's what people are talking about here. It's not "acid" reflux because there's little to no acid involved. It can usually be managed with an unfill or behavioral modifications, depending on the cause.

Um, Zoe, that IS what they're doing. Most Innocent: Zoe

Leener, if your date is firmed up you'll have a pre-op class with Linda. It's there that you'll get your marching orders and all the information you need. As for people not getting faxes, I actually scan and e-mail now more than I fax. Is there any way you can do that? I don't know if A & Bs office is set up for that, though. Any way you can hand-deliver information?

My hubby could have posted this. Jill, your pattern absolutely does NOT hold true for me. Much to my husband's distress. :cry

Leener! Soon to be Leaner!! :bounce: Congratulations on the date being set!! I know how that makes you feel, excited, scared, fluttery, and HUNGRY! :laugh Hope to see you at a support-group meeting sometime soon, Ms. Bups. They're scheduled for the second and last Wednesday of each month. Yay for you!!

Just for the record, the band was approved in the U.S. in June of 2001, getting on five years ago.

Newbander, I think it may be clear from our reactions that this is not a wide practice here in the States. Is it happening overseas yet, or just in the study stage?

What exactly does that mean?

Beccamay, are you asking to have your membership deleted? Or just to stop getting e-mails? You can stop the subscription feature by going to your User CP (Control Panel) and edit your subscriptions to stop sending you e-mails. If you want to have your membership and all your posts deleted, that's another story. Please let me know what you're after. Thanks!

Beccamay, are you asking to have your membership deleted? Or just to stop getting e-mails? You can stop the subscription feature by going to your User CP (Control Panel) and edit your subscriptions to stop sending you e-mails. If you want to have your membership and all your posts deleted, that's another story. Please let me know what you're after. Thanks!

Nykee, I hope you realize a fill that would restrict your liquid intake would be extremely dangerous. Please don't ask a physician to do that. It's clear you know you're addicted to these liquid calories. You also know there are many alternatives. When you're ready, you'll make a switch. :hug: