Alexandra

I think I'm heading for that bandster bugaboo, soft-food syndrome. Winter has something to do with it, and also the fact that I have not yet completely separated the fact of food from the feeling of comfort. Eating the bandster way is easy during the day. I have a Protein bar for Breakfast and my guts-of-a-deli-sandwich lunch every day. But when I get home I find myself hoping that DH will have made something yummy, and soft, for dinner. Like tonight's stew, or the other night's lasagna. These are foods I can eat a "normal" portion of and feel just fine, as opposed to nibbling half a salad-plate-full and having to leave the table to keep from feeling deprived. Of course, a "normal" portion for me is way more than I need and what keeps me from losing weight. It's time to get back to accepting that a half of a chicken breast filet IS normal for me, and will be that way for the long, long haul. I'm forgetting how to nibble, and chew, and eat slowly enough that this tiny amount will get me through a meal. Anyone holding a bandster-refresher course 'round here?

This is fascinating, Babs, thanks so much! It's not surprising that the existence of a small silicone band around a part of our anatomy should have an effect. Let's hope we find out these are minor changes that don't matter any more than a small scar on our skin does.

Hi Babs, Gee, that doesn't sound good, does it? But I'll bet it's less serious than the radiologist made it sound. He's just a radiologist, not a gastroenterologist or whatever expert would be the right one to comment. It may indeed be possible that your esophagus isn't responding the way he might have expected it to in a non-banded person, but it may not be as serious as "dead" sounds. My doctor described a phenomenon he is expecting to see as time goes by and there are more long-term bandsters. He said it's possible that the esophagus in a banded person might indeed become less sensitive over time just because it gets more stimulation than in a non-banded person--food remains in it longer even when the person overeats only slightly on occasion. While this could lead to stalled weight loss or even regain, it may prove to be an unavoidable consequence of having a band, and could be something we can easily live with as long as it doesn't progress beyond a certain point. And he didn't say it was unavoidable at all, just something he thinks he'll be seeing more of as time goes on. Maybe cases like yours are what he's talking about. If we do lose some sensation over time in our esophaguses (esophagi?), it's going to be ever more important to make our heads govern what we eat, not our bands. Too-tight fills, as we all know, are a route to trouble. I may already be as filled as my doc wants to make me--I'll find out on December 23--and if that's the case I'm going to have to live with that. Weight LOSS is not my primary concern at the moment; it's the continued good health and safety of my band so I can keep off what I've lost already. And I'm WAY farther from "goal" than you are. What would be the worst-case scenario? No more fills, or no more band? It's not at all surprising that you're not losing a pound a week now, since you have so little excess weight left to lose. A tighter fill wouldn't necessarily improve that, and could lead to losing your band altogether. As far as the actual amount in your band I have always said it's not about the fractions of cc's that can be measured going in or out. It's not worth agonizing over where that .25ccs went or didn't go. All that matters is how you feel and how your band is sited. If your doctor says it's good, let it be and just keep working on eating less. That's the way to lose weight, or so I've heard.

Hey, Doug, welcome back! I'm so glad to hear things went well. Dr. Bertha is great, isn't he? I saw him last week for a followup and I'm just more comfortable and impressed with him each time. We're so lucky to be near such a great banding practice. Mark down on your calendar the last Wednesday in January for the lap-band support group meeting. I'll be there with bells on!

Would anyone object if we locked this thread now? It's outlived its usefulness, methinks. Dalra, that spirit is absolutely not welcome here, as I think you can tell.

Just for what it's worth, publishers using US mail send things out "book rate" which is another way of saying "the slowest possible treatment for this, please." I don't know where this book might be coming from, but I know from years in the business that waiting for a book to come from other than a retail establishment is an exercise in frustration. They come, eventually, but printed matter is dead last on the P.O.'s priority list. Even after junk mail! Don't blame Ortiz' office if they're not doing the shipping themselves, is all I'm saying. I'm sure they can do nothing about it.

Sultana, I think my doctor is very conservative. I mean, he gave me an unfill with only a hint of a potential problem down the road. He wants as much as I do for me to keep my band and be safe with it. He's not much of a cheerleader with regard to weight loss--he's a surgeon, not a social worker--and he mentioned that I might be in a "gray zone" meaning no more adjustments will be possible without risk. I'm OK with that assessment, because keeping my band is my primary concern. I realize if/when I lose more weight it will be because of what I do, not what my band does. I'm glad to hear Dr. Kurian is not concerned with a "moderate" dilatation. She's nothing if not experienced and her perspective comforts me. I have not had trouble keeping the weight off with this level of fill, which is why I'll be OK with it if that's all there is for me. I fluctuate between 243 and 248--and though that may not sound so amazing, it's a whole lot better than fluctuating between 335 and 340, which is where I was in 2002!! I know I bear responsibility for my caloric intake, and if I want to make the scales move again I'll have to kick my ice cream addiction. And skip dessert more often than not. But with my band I have an invaluable assistant to help me keep all the portions down to a reasonable size all the time, and that's the most I can ask.

Hi Rhonda, Where do you live? Resources vary considerably in different parts of the country, so no one can answer unless we have more information. Try posting your question in the state section for your state, and you might get answers from people in your area. Good luck!

Sultana, that's great news! I'm so glad you were able to find out that nothing major is wrong. That's the best that could have happened!! Take it easy now, and perhaps this will be the magic point at which you'll be comfortable AND be able to lose weight. Good luck!! I'm going back for another swallow test in two weeks, to see what effect my being unfilled has had on my band position. On the 23rd I'll either be told it's OK to adjust it a little tighter, which is what I want to hear; we should leave things the way they are because any tighter and I run the risk of enlarging the pouch or esophagus--which I could live with but would prefer not; or the band has slipped further and surgery is needed. That's what I DON'T want to hear, but better to know than not know is my feeling so I'm going in for the test. So glad for you!!

Benefiber. Benefiber. Benefiber.

Hi Phyllis, Whether you have to crush pills when banded depends on how much restriction you have and the size of the pills. There have been many stretches when I could take even fairly large-size Vitamin pills with no problem, but if you know your restriction is fairly tight you might want to stay away from the big ones. I take a small pill every morning and have never had a single problem from that one. It's just a matter of caution and personal experience. If you take any pills larger than, say, a pencil eraser, you may want to find an alternate like a liquid. Having a pill get stuck in the stoma is no fun at all.

Oh Lauri, I feel for you. An observation I made a long time ago, to a different husband who was "helpful" in the same way yours is trying to be, is that if he sees me eating a brownie or something he should think TO HIMSELF: "I'm glad she can enjoy a treat now and then. Life is no fun without a little goody once in a while, and I know it won't destroy all the hard work she's doing." And TO ME: say nothing. What he eats is not a matter for me to comment on, and I deserve the same respect. But what the hell are y'all doing eating brownies in bed??? Ban them immediately from any room except where you eat meals. It's absolutely CRUEL BEYOND MEASURE for him to sit and eat crap in the place where you should be the most comfortable yourself. If he objects tell him it's your bedroom too and this is just not fair to you. That's how he can help, not by making snide comments. Set some boundaries, girl!

Hi Lauri, Now that I look at the first post again, I think your best bet with this specific issue is to have your doctor write a letter. The carrier is simply saying that you haven't fulfilled their requirement of a 12-month supervised weight-loss program in the last 24 months. They're allowed to set that bar in terms of assessing who is a good candidate for surgery, since they want to discourage people from going straight for the knife without trying other means first. That makes sense. So if you've been seeing your doctor over any period of time for your weight issues, she can write an appeal letter stating that you've been under her care for XX years following a program she devised. If you haven't been doing this, then you may have no option but to start immediately and get that clock started. This is not a major-league, slammed-door denial. They did not say they don't cover the band or that you are not a good candidate for it. They're just saying you haven't jumped through all of their hoops yet, and are very helpfully illustrating what hoop you have missed. I think you're in good shape, actually, and it's just going to be a matter of time.

Lauri, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to take a look at this yet--last night we went out shopping and I didn't get five minutes to sit down and read it. I'll try to get to it before lunchtime today. Just quickly: Marie is right--you don't want to get emotional in your letter. Try to read it with the most critical eye you can, think MEDICAL ISSUES and try to stay away from words that describe feelings. The carrier doesn't care if you're happy, they only care that their actions can't lead to their getting sued down the road. Address the specific issues they mention in the denial letter (I can't remember what they were right now, sorry). Gotta run, I'll be back later!

Good luck, Sally!! I'm especially interested in NJ insurance info, so please post here when you find out. I'll bet it's good news!!!

Thinking of you today, tman! Best wishes for a quick and uneventful surgery!!

Congratulations, Pat, and welcome to bandland!! We're so glad to hear from you and now go to bed--healing is hard work and you need your rest... :D

The answers to these questions depend on when/how the erosion was detected and what the treatment is. I know of a couple of people who had their bands removed and replaced later, after they healed up. And sure, in most cases the stomach does indeed become "normal" again, albeit with scarring where the erosion took place.

Newbie, I think moving on to more-solid foods is really a very personal thing. Dr. Abkin also told me to go ahead after one week, but I found that I wasn't really ready for more than a bite or two. So while our doctors are definitely on the more lenient side as far as that goes, be sure to listen closely to your body and STOP if you feel any discomfort. And yes, feeling hungry again is ABSOLUTELY NORMAL. You're healing and normal function is returning. The simple presence of the band in a fully healed stomach is not enough to affect your hunger process much. You're heading for the hard part now. My strategy was to do what it took to not get too hungry, because I figured the worst thing I could do is eat too fast or too much and possibly damage my stitches, etc. And when I get really hungry, WATCH OUT! So get youreself to Trader Joe's and buy the yummy pates, stinky cheeses, and exotic yogurts and spreads you'd otherwise never buy, because protein-rich mushies are what it's all about at this stage. Glad to hear your appointment went well. Nice to have those staples out, huh?

I attended that meeting in October, actually, to speak as a banded person. They have about 100-150 people or even more in the room, and most of them are interested in RNY. But basically it's an introduction to the different kinds of bariatric surgery this practice does, what the medical criteria are, the risks/benefits of surgery, etc., etc. I'd be very surprised if people actually *learn* anything new about surgery during the planned part of the evening--I think the vast majority of people attending have already done a bit of research and know what they're looking for. But then there's the Q & A and that's when it gets interesting. The doctors attend and you'll get a look at them if not meet them personally, and they take questions from the audience so you get to hear them speak as well. All in all it's a great introduction to the practice, and you might even be able to make your appointment that night.

Sonia, I too was very apprehensive about the surgery. And I'll tell you, surgery is no picnic. But as surgeries go this is pretty easy, especially since at Morristown it doesn't involve a night in the hospital (which I think is the worst place to heal and rest). General anaesthesia was the worst part for me. It took a good three-four days before I felt it was completely out of my system. And with two little kids at home that was a real challenge. But after surgery on Wednesday I was back at work on the following Monday with only a little soreness to speak of. Before surgery I comforted myself by thinking of all the people who have surgery for various things on a daily basis. Even though general anaesthesia was a new experience for me, people go through multiple surgeries when they're in an accident or have a serious health problem. Major negative reactions to anaesthesia are quite rare when we take into account how many people are put under every single day of the year. What if you needed a joint replacement or a heart valve operation? I think it's just the "elective" nature of this procedure that has us worrying so much.

Lisa, your spirit is amazing and your strength truly inspirational. What you've had to deal with would have done in many a lesser soul, myself included. And to lose weight amid all of it!! You're the bomb, lady. I can't wait for the day when I come here to read that you have a new port and a cleanly healed incision. PARTY TIME!!! (Note to worried newbies reading this: It is VERY UNCOMMON to have a wound not heal for months and months. And the band is made of inert materials, so it's almost unheard-of for it to be "rejected" in people with normal immune systems. Infection is always possible with surgery, of course, but these things usually clear up quickly. Lisa's case is VERY unusual.)

Michelle, baby, you look amazing!! You are truly an inspiration. Congratulations on your fabulous success!! :D

You look terrific!! We're glad you came out of lurkdom to share your success. How was the plastic surgery? I hear it's no fun. Was your experience good? Bad? Certainly the results are impressive!!

Sonia, you are in like Flynn. With the state coverage you're in fantastic position. No worries there! And yes, spouses are welcome at the intro meeting, absolutely. I believe in dreams. You're on your way!! :D