GeezerSue

If you DO go to the ER, you might be able to get that endoscopy done a little sooner. Just make sure the doctor there knows you NEED it NOW. Then, if there is evidence of a big problem, you can get it addressed sooner. NOW...what might happen if you call the office that HAS scheduled an endoscopy and tell them that you're afraid you'll end up in the ER with someone else doing it and you were counting on their expertise in this matter...and is there ANY way you can get in sooner. And if THEY see a problem, they can send you to the band doctor sooner. From what I've read, the repositioning or removal surgeries are not usually a "do it now" kind of thing. But any change for the worse, like you've been dealing with, should be addressed asap, both for relief of symptoms and for your peace of mind.

About two years after being banded, I had a panniculectomy with rectus muscle repair. I had a complication (one of those resistant infections--had to be readmitted and on IV antibiotics for about ten days), but I was MO at the time and the supervising surgeon told me that the complication rate for that surgery on an MO patient is 100%. A year later, still MO, I had a breast reduction and he tweaked the panniculectomy a little to remove dog ears. My "wisdom" such as it is, is that the belly probably could have waited, had I been in search of perfection. What I went for at the time was relief from that hangy thing. But I'm glad I didn't wait for the boobs. It is NOT a painful surgery and the recovery goes pretty fast (all things considered) and I think I can get by with what I have even when I lose more weight. Also, I went to our daughter's (she wore a 36-J bra) PS for the boobs and the panniculectomy revision. I told him I didn't want to look like Paris Hilton, I wanted a more Rubenesque shape. He "got" that and had no problem doing the surgery on someone who was not at any "goal" weight. Good luck with this!

Mine was at my sternum, so yeah, I could have. Wanting to is a whole different thing.

Sounds a little defensive. I would just assume that, if anything WERE TO go wrong with your band, Benavides already knows it will not have been his fault. LOL That said, I've heard his name around bandster boards for a long time, and don't recall any negative comments about him.

I don't know if even that many need revising. It was just that HIS PRACTICE was 20% revisions to other approaches.

Not noodles. They have been the cause of many a problem. BUT...if you give it a day or two, you can put some spaghetti sauce and some cottage or ricotta cheese into the blender and make a pasta-less lasagna.

Do you live near a Jamba juice ( http://www.jambajuice.com )or similar place? They have interesting drinks and they add a free Protein boost and they can add additional protein if you pay for it. Many of us have found that the kind of hunger you're talking about can be helped with increased protein intake. This, too, shall pass.

I am not the spokesperson for anyone. And, even the most casual observer could figure out that someone is attempting to diss a few people. All about the facts, Sue

Oh, Megan...I forgot...yes the band is the STARTING PLACE for most of the civilized world...but a good number of them are removed, as well. When looking into band removal/revision, one of the better known European surgeons wrote back to me that 20% of his practice is removing bands and revising to RnY or DS. I think, though, that in many countries physicians hold the philosophy that, "when you get to the bottom of the whole, it's a good idea to stop digging." If the band doesn't show promise of delivering satisfactory weight loss within a reasonable period of time, they pull it out and go for something else. THAT part of the wisdom has been missing from the American approach, although some doctors are becoming more open about their willingness to try another method.

A lot of people reasonably assume that this study might have something to do with THEIR potential with wls. But there is a HUGE problem with that assumption as far as THIS study is concerned. THIS study was on MEDICARE PATIENTS ONLY. To get Medicare under the age of 65, you have to be very, very sick. Very, very, very sick. People at death's door are routinely denied Social Security Disability and, therefore, Medicare. So this study was NOT done on a random sample of the MO population, it was done on very, very sick people. For that group, the numbers aren't bad. Because withouth the surgery, more of them might have died. Another one of their stats, which I don't think you quoted, was how many wls people "needed" additional surgery within a year or two. Well, hello? Plastic surgery, anyone? I didn't need additional surgery (boob reduction, panniculectomy and revision) because I was sicker...I "needed" it because I was getting healthier. This study is probably valid for the population on which it was conducted, but I think that it just doesn't apply to most of us.

It isn't MENTIONED on the USDA website...where they have all the news releases... http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navtype=MA&navid=NEWSROOM ...and even the FDA was unaware... http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html But, for the record, I use sugar. I'm just not worried about...what is it?...18 calories or something, per teaspoon.

Doctors make up their own rules as they go along, it seems...but the INAMED instructions say nothing about beverages before a meal. On the schedule you mentioned, someone who slept eight hours and ate three meals would go without even Water for 14 hours per day...which is IMO a bit much, especially for people who are supposed to keep hydrated. I've HEARD that some doctors say no water before meals, but I've never heard of the science behind that rule.

There is a LOT of information here and I'm sure I'll miss a few things I wanted to address, but: •"Failing" at the band--The definitions of success varies widely. Some studies are saying that the band delivers about a 51% ewl, some say 62%. (And, btw, the DS is closer to 75%.) We each have to decide what WE consider success. I don't have to get down to 128 pounds to be happy--which is good because I haven't weighed that since 1959--but maybe someone else does. If losing 50-62% of excess weight isn't going to feel like success to YOU, then chances are pretty good that YOU might consider the band a failure. •"Mixed Meetings"--I think that there ought to be a social time--to support and learn--and then each group ought to go off on its own. The leaders should be supportive of all the procedures. •"Carbon Filters"--Because of all the scare stories, I bought some. (My husband probably thought I needed them YEARS ago.) I haven't used them yet and no one has suggested that I do. I had no idea this applied to RnY people; I thought it was just a DS thing. •"The band is safer"--Well, yes and no. There are several takes on this. The band surgery is safer to be sure. But morbid obesity is not safe and if the band does not take someone out of morbid obesity, then the banded patient is not going to have a lower mortality rate than any other MO person. •"Nice, slow weight loss"--My orthopedic surgeon is pleased as punch, because the rapid weight loss has rapidly reduced my chances of having knee surgery fron the damage the excess weight has done. I'm STILL supposed to avoid stairs...but 25 pounds from now, I can climb those puppies again. •"My Aunt Jane's Uncle's neighbor's horse"--There are hundreds of thousands of RnY patients who are doing fine. We shouldn't have to dwell on those who are not doing fine to justify our choice. If the overwhelming majority of RnY patients were NOT doing fine, no insurance would pay for the surgery. (I still don't WANT the RnY...but I can find reasons why the DS is better for me and I don't have to mention anything I consider negative about the bypass.) •"Who-Has-What-Problem"-Last year, several dozen of us--band, RnY and DS--got together for a few days in Chicago. Since then, some of us have gathered in local groups and on a Las Vegas thing. Here's what I have observed: Nobody shat upon herself or others. Nobody had room-clearing farts. Most people who drank seemed to get drunk pretty fast. RnY people (in general) tasted stuff to see if it was too sweet, but ate most stuff. Bandsters (in general) had to avoid pastas and bread-y stuff. The restrooms were NOT full of barfing/dumping people. The DS'ers were the thinnest and ate everything, the RnY people were the next thinnest group and the bandsters--many of whom had lost a lot of weight as individuals--were (in general) NOT the thinnest group of people there. •"Disgusting bodily functions"--While banded, I produced the biggest, gloppiest, most viscous balls of goobered-up-slime...beyond what anyone could imagine. I'd make it out to the parking lot and have to spit that crap up. My husband had to pull the car over near bushes so I could barf it up without doing it in the middle of the street. And, I know I'm old and this is TMI for some, but my port was at the sternum and was in the way for some of my bedroom antics. And my reflux/bile/garbage in the throat thing was also a huge turn off for me as far as adult activities. I'm just saying, things are easier since my DS. •"Older bypass surgeries"--Those long-ago surgeries may have been a totally different surgery than they are doing today. The band may just be the very best thing that has ever happened to you. It may not. It is probably wisest to NOT put-down those who have chosen another path without REALLY researching that option...you never know when your own journey may just need an alternate route. I know there are those who say they would NEVER go with anything but the band. Their choice. MY choice is to NEVER be MO again...whatever road I must travel to get there.

These are somewhat scrambled, but once you get the hang of it... The procedure code (CPT) for the adjustable gastric band is (or WAS, if this isn't current) 43659, and the diagnosis code (ICD-9) would be whatever code goes with YOUR bmi plus the codes for any comorbidities. https://www.oxhp.com/providers/sell/inthedetails/gastric_surgery.html

Are aspirins a no-no? I took them once in a while.

It has been pointed out to me that my comment to Dody lacked the "context" that Dr. Pleatman's comment to Dody--which I quoted--contained. And that MY comment was insulting because of the lack of context. Therefore, I am editing to add context. I am not only appalled at the inaccuracy of the Mexico-bashing that has been offered--by someone with no experience at having surgery in Mexico--I am offended by the negative comments regarding Mexican surgeons, Mexican hospitals, and Mexican pre-op procedures. It would be just as offensive to me if someone--with absolutely no experience at all in utilizing Italian surgeons or Italian hospitals were engaging in bashing Italian doctors and Italian hospitals, without ever having used either. I suspect it's because I'm Mexican-American and Italian-American. But I am also offended because the statements have been so far out in left field, that it would take an Iditarod team to track down their alleged sources. To wit: the comment I quoted below. This was not written in order to attack Dody as a person, but to attack the relentless onslaught of misinformation she has presented as fact, as pointed out by Dr. Pleatman and others. I certainly have no grudge against Dody and have no interest in upsetting her. But I DO have an interest in challenging false, misleading, inaccurate statements, especially those which hit a little too close to home for comfort. Dr. Pleatman wrote: "You should preface all your remarks with the disclaimer, "I'm not a doctor and I don't know what I'm talking about." link: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16279&page=3&highlight=what+I%27m+talking+about You might want to add: "And I've never had surgery in Mexico, either."

Megan--do you have the LapBand or the MIDBand (or the SAGB)? I've known of several people banded in France--with the MIDBand--who were fed solids from day one. But those are bigger, softer bands. Or...if you were on solid food early on...do you suppose the French doctors use a technique that is more forgiving?

This may seem a little gruff, but someone should say it: NO...without Protein you were weak. And you can get Liquid Protein. I'm sorry, but your deciding that soft food = a pork chop just defies logic. It's too late to decide not to get the band. But it is not too late to decide to stop playing all the games that got you MO and to follow the instructions. If you want to get rid of the problem, you probably need to go BACK to liquids. There are canned Protein drinks which aren't bad, some people like powders, there are even juice places which add a protein boost to a beverage. But you have to stop eating solid foods unless you want REAL problems...and if those show up, you'll be going a lot longer than a week without solids. You have most likely irritated the stoma (if you don't have stuff stuck there) and it will need at least three days on Clear Liquids and then a week or so of full liquids before you move to soft foods...which does NOT include a pork chop. You have made the ddecision to get the band, now make the committment to give it a chance to work. Good luck!

Summary: He didn't know he was marrying a fatty and you didn't know you were marrying a shallow moron. Solution for you: YOU can lose weight. Solution for him: Missing--he will still be a shallow moron. Take care of yourself and get GOOD legal advice.

I know someone--I went with her--who had her port removed and a new one replaced and she drove home...like three or four hours worth of driving. Was not, according to her, a huge deal.

When it was first explained to me...a long time ago...I was told that the band was touching a nerve that signaled the brain that there was pain in the left shoulder and that it would go away. Good News: For me that's how it worked. Bad News: For a friend, repeated surgeries and eventual band removal were needed. The current theory is that her surgeon "nicked" the diaphragm during the original surgery and that it will never completely return to normal. Other Good News: Most stories are like mine.

Taking the capsule apart isn't necessary and isn't going to solve the problems caused by NSAID's. #1--to swallow a capsule, let it sit on your tongue for a while until you can feel it begin to soften. JUST BEFORE it dissolves, you can swallow it with some Water. #2--The problem with NSAID's is not the swallowing of them or how long the drug is in the upper part of the stomach. The problem is that the CHEMISTRY which causes NSAID's to work also thins the mucous layer of the stomach, leaving it susceptible to other problems. (Have you noticed that after the NSAID's came on the market, so did Prilosec, Aciphex, Nexium, etc.?) Bottom line IMHO, NSAID's should be avoided by anyone who can manage it because they cause other problems. (And, because my cousin--a judge, a smart man who was successful and should have known better--drank a least his fair share of his beloved chardonnay, the Tylenol he took for flu symptoms was all that was necessary to compromise his liver, land him in a nursing home for six months and then kill him at age 57. Every drug has its risks.) Good luck. Maybe weight loss will lessen the pain.

Over the years, I have read of several people who NEVER needed an adjustment. Good luck! Sue

The surgery should go okay...my band was implanted when I was almost 56 and removed when I was almost 59, HOWEVER... now that I have lived with esophageal dysmotility, I don't think this surgery should be performed on any older person who has not undergone manometry to check on esophageal functioning PRE-banding. Because the functioning of the esophagus can be compromised with age and/or with obesity and /or with the band, an older fat person should know going in if he or she already has problems with that issue and make the decision for--or against--surgery based on the results of the testing. IMHO

http://tinyurl.com/f6whe