Alexandra

Hi Alex! I'm fine! You know, life goes on (and on). Work, kids, family, house, all that is good. Banding seems like ancient history now, and I am not happy to admit it *feels* like ancient history too. I need to get more active here and bring my own health back into the forefront. I've gained back way too much weight. I'm still holding out for that brain surgery that will turn me automatically into a naturally thin person!!

Hi guys! Just poking my head in here as I do once in a while. I'm so glad to still see some familiar names. Can I come back??

Alcohol doesn't affect your band in any way that I know of, Mio. There are no special harms that can come to you by drinking while banded, other than the extra calories and risk of overeating while impaired. Relax!

You can drink with a band, sure. Just be aware that besides the hundreds of empty calories you're ingesting, you may also feel the effects faster because you're not eating as much the rest of the time. Also, a good reason to avoid drinking is that it leads to overeating (speaking from experience, here). So go ahead and drink if you want, but realize it may sabotage your weight loss program for several days afterwards.

Can you point me to the thread where this happened? If they were deleted by mistake I may be able to restore them or somehow figure out the answer to the mystery.

The tone really does have to change, and a moderator (me) is watching. I am sorry for the negativity that seems to have snuck in. Back to the subject at hand. I'm a bandster who is happy with her band and very happy with the decision I made years ago to get banded. Even if the sleeve had been an option for me back then, I would have gone with the band as a first move. I'm of the opinion that implanting a completely removable device is less invasive than removing a significant portion of the stomach, and as such it would have absolutely been my first choice. But that's me. Even with a BMI of 48 at the time I was healthy (relatively speaking) and my FIRST priority was minimizing postop complications so I could get back to taking care of my two (then) small children. It was the band or nothing, and I fought my insurer for over a year to get it. My band worked wonderfully for me for three-plus years, when I started to have complications. But the complications were relatively minor, I remained completely healthy and whole, and even now after three surgeries and significant regain I am still 100% positive I made the right choice for me. I certainly don't rule out a possible revision to a sleeve or whatever else for me some day. But the arguments about which surgery is "better" than another are worse than pointless. Everyone is different and has unique needs. There are a lot of details to consider when making the decision to have WLS, and no one knows the right answer for anyone else.

HH, you must learn to make your points without personal attacks. Same goes for Wasa and TopTier. Your opinions are all excessively clear and there is no need to continue the ranting.

I wonder if you somehow put yourself on ignore? I've never heard of such a thing. Can you see your posts in this thread?

My doctor also mentioned that my esophagus is enlarged, but I have no symptoms that I can detect. It's up to me to keep my bites tiny and think about my esophagus when I'm eating--sloowwly--and I'm just going to keep on going. The last fill I had was two weeks ago or so, after a year of what felt like an empty band (though I know it wasn't completely). Good luck to us!!

Are you scrolling up in a thread to see earlier posts? What happens when you try to read a thread from the beginning--what do you see when you get to where your post should be?

Thanks for the voice of reason, Jachut. There is absolutely no need for all the personal attacking going on here, Wasa. Please tone it down.

You need to see your doctor and see what's going on, and soon. I know how hard it is with a newborn but your own health has to come first or you won't be able to take care of her! You could have swelling or a slip or who knows--but this will NOT go away by itself. You absolutely must have it checked out, and soon! Good luck to you, and congratulations on the new baby!!

Thanks, y'all!! I'm feeling really good these days and am REALLY enjoying the early satiation that a properly adjusted band gives me. Once again I can go several hours after a meal without wanting to eat. Yay!! I really appreciate the words of support. Thank you!!

That seems like it eroded into your stomach very quickly, Bobo. March till June? It sounds like there must have been some underlying reason for that to happen and you should question your doctor closely. Banding is likely not right for you at all if you experienced erosion so fast.' ETA: Wait, you lost 73 lbs in four months? Or did you mean to say you were banded in 2008?

Um... tea bags and Water? Lipton has a Cold Brew teabag that brews up quickly in cold water. That's what I use when I want to make a quantity of iced tea. If desired, sweeten to taste with the artificial sweetener of your choice.