tellie

after just 1 week on solids? No pbing, no restriction, nothing just hard burping a few times a day, irrespective of mealtimes. Suddenly I feel like when I had the most restriction last year. And my esophagus moves ( spasms?) funny. No reflux though (which is what happened last time). Since it was my second surgery, I gave myself 3 more weeks on mushy food to be sure. Now this. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?????? would love to dig a hole and crawl in til next year...... Been on liquids since I felt this yesterday. I am terrified of eating again.... tellie

Hi Lisa, great news! I am glad they are mostly gone. Keep taking the antihistamine for a while I guess that should keep it at bay. cheers tellie

Hi guys, I have been using and abusing Ice cream for a couple of months now. When my band moved I survived on it. Now that things are back to normal and I am supposed to be back on solids....I'm still doing ice-cream! This has to stop, I just dont know how to! (I have also been eating chocolate every day, but I can control that one....I think) Its out!!! thanx!

It is wonderful to read all of your stories, thank you for sharing. Thanks for the wonderful thread. My many moments... I was always a fat kid. Started dieting/fasting/excersising by 8. Joined Weight watchers at 10, graduated to diet pills and laxatives at 15. Amino acid shots at 20. Every year since I was 8, I would lose and regain at least 10 kilos, then 20, then 40.... Then my husband came along, and completely changed my "mirror". All my life I had blamed my self-image for pushing me into obesity (since I was fat in my mind no matter what the weight was) and when he came along and looked at me like I was perfect in every way, I guess I started to believe it (he has always been concerned about the weight risks and told me so whenever the fat conversations came out tho). So I convinced myself that that was the solution, accepting myself, like he accepted me, would take care of the weight. Yeah, right! I managed to gain 60 pounds (from my highest ever weight). Ok, enough background, sorry! The birth of my daughter: I programmed a c-section, wanting to avoid embarassing fat-lady labour annecdotes, despite a perfect pregnancy and against my obstetricians advise. They weighed me and I only just got in to the ER, 2 kilos under the max. weight the operating tables hold ( and the nurses made sure I understood this, as they kept repeating it in front of me). The anesthesist tried 6 times, in different parts of my spine, to get the needle in for the epidural, before telling me he was sorry but I was too fat and it was too risky to keep trying since he couldnt feel much ( avoiding spinal cord) with so much padding. So I had a general and missed her birth. Everyone was rude at the hospital, the breastfeeding consultants kept telling me I was too fat to do it. The depression that followed this experience took over a year to overcome. I knew i couldnt go through that again, if I was to have another child, I had to lose at least 60lbs. My baby started crawling, then walking and I started having trouble keeping up. Other peoples children started talking and asking me why I was fat and if Rebecca would be fat too. That would make me cry so much, thinking of kids being cruel to her because of me, how I look. Then one day I read an article on the paper about the lap band. Made my husband call and make an appointment (couldnt do it myself, was petrified with fear). Went to the talk, and booked an appointment with the first available surgeon in the clinic. wow, just realised, today one year ago I had the surgery. I have lost 60lbs. tellie

Hi, I am sorry that you are having trouble. I know exactly how you are feeling because I feel like that a lot myself. The band is a wonderful tool that aides with the 'mechanics" of this disease, but its not an easy solution ( physically or mentally). You are not a failure. You have lost 40 lb. > I have had all the Fluid taken out for a while- maybe 3 months for my stomach and esophagus to heal. Went on liquids for maybe a week. I am currently at 1cc. It wasn't very tight when I first got 1cc this last time, but 1.5 cc was way too tight. Now over the last two weeks, I have bad heart burn and can't eat more than a very little amount.< That sounds very familiar to me. A few months back I started having bad reflux, and couldnt eat much. Had all the liquid taken out for a while, then a little liquid gave me total restriction, killer reflux, and tiny portions. Well, my band had moved ( pls see your doctor and have an x ray). Had surgery to fix it, feeling just like you sound! hoping the doctor would decide to remove it so I didnt have to worry about it not working or all the habits I cant break and all the things I have done ( and keep doing) not quite the right way. Knowing the basics doesnt mean its easy to do it! TRUST ME! If we could control ourselves and overcome the emotional things that make us overeat, we wouldn't need a band Dont beat yourself up! There is nothing wrong with you. Just do your best with your food choices. Think of those 40 lbs! set your next goal and instead of cheetos open a tin of tuna or drink a Protein shake. Please see your doctor as soon as possible, and try to avoid foods you have trouble with. After the doctor realised my band had moved, and until my surgery, I was told to stick to a liquid to mushy diet to avoid more damage. Hope all is well. Chin up and good luck in your journey. Tellie

Hi Lisa, I started with multiple allergies and hay fever at 12 or so. Maybe hormone related I dont know. For hives I take phenergan, works well. I used to take clorotrimeton but it would lower my blood pression and I would faint, not good. Hope they go away soon! tellie

Hi Janie, I am sorry to say (because he sounds obnoxious), but I think you need to go back to your doctor and demand he explains exactly what the deal is. I don't think that your band would have been filled at all during surgery. They wouldn't risk it moving during the healing period! I live in Melbourne, over here they schedule the first fill at 6 weeks post-op ( want it or not). Your band is a tool that needs to be adjusted to suit YOUR needs, not the doctor's!!! If he doesn't like your progress, he should give you a fill! not criticise you! Don't take it! Don't let him intimidate you. Good luck! Tellie

Hello everyone, wow, I remember being so addicted to Diet coke myself! Was my first question to the doctor at the interview. Australian band doctors seem very relaxed about the whole thing. Avoid it for the first 8 weeks, then start flat and build up to fizzy, etc. The thing is, the knowledge that I could have it if and when I wanted it, made it less important in my mind. Before surgery I would drink 1-2 lts ( quarts i guess?) a day. Afterwards, I probably would drink a glass every few months! and realised I didn't actually liked it that much anymore! Diet coke is addictive because it's convenient, it's cold, fizzy, wonderfully advertised (caffeine helps of course, although I am not affected by caffeine either way and I was still addicted so it wasn't just that), and for me at least... IT IS NOT WATER!!!!! ( I try to like water, I used to, a lot, but then something happened...) Having said that, if there is any question in any band doctor's mind anywhere in the world about fizzy drinks contributing to something or other happening to the band....why would anybody want to take the risk? ( I want to believe I have learnt my lesson after my band moved.... but the flesh is weak...). cheers tellie

Hi everyone I am on the liquid stage.... again, and i really didnt remember how bloody hard it is!!!!! ( probably has to do with the fact that I got given the wrong post op treatment/rules the first time: got painkillers in capsule form at the hospital after surgery, got a 3 week programme from clear liquids to solids last time ( my booklet had missing pages apparently!)). I am 1 week post op and STARVING! Nothing makes me happy. The main difference with last time is that I dont want anything sweet this time, i crave real food, which i cant drink of course. I spend my time looking for new ( fast and easy to make) soups. Any suggestions? family recipes? Yesterday I roasted some veggies ( pumpkin ( squash for most of you), potatos, carrots, and lots and lots of garlic, with salt pepper and olive oil. Threw everything in the blender with chicken stock and it was delicious! cheers tellie

Hi Katie, sorry to hear about your fall. I agree with michelle, call to keep your mind at ease. In all likelyhood, everything is fine and in place, but why not make that phone call and be reassured. You should take it easy for a few more weeks too! cheers tellie

Hi everyone, just got back home from hospital after surgery. The doctor wanted to keep me for an extra day/night, but my husband couldnt take another day off work. I am still in shock, so please someone remind me why this is worth it. I am having the same feeling as the first time, when I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life and so on.....I think I am depressed. The gas pain was much worse than last time. My liver had attached itself to the scar tissue so it got cut ugh! and i am just wondering if I can ever again go through this kind of pain again! I wish I had someone to look after my baby for a couple of days while this gets better! I hate being alone so far from my family.... ok, enough whining.... sorry, had to get it out tellie, very very sore.....

Hi again, Sorry first of all for the drama, I get like that when I'm... well, like this.... Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and good wishes. I wish I knew how to stop my brain from doing this to me, it's hard enough dealing with the physical pain.... I just went to the "zone" with all the morbid thoughts, the so sorry for myself, etc.. ( still in shock with the liver thing; the foreign object inside ( my alien) which I thought I had dealt with last time) I am better. Still in pain, but healing fine I am sure, since I am starting to get hungry. I only noticed that this morning watching an add for kellog's "all bran" ( which I have never liked), and thinking " oh my god, that looks delicious!" My mom always says as long as you are hungry, you cant be too bad. Thank you again. Tellie

Hello everyone, I would just like to ask if anyone knows how common if at all, is it to develop GERD after the lap band. And if it's related to theband moving or can just be a coincidence? Haven't been able to lie down for 3 weeks now, and both my GP and band doctor keep telling me its not band related, just something that can happen at any time, and as long as I can eat/drink, just have to put up with it. But last night i couldnt even sit at night, I inhaled acid 7 times before I decided to spend the rest of the night walking around the house in the dark feeling sorry for myself :mad: I am still feeling sorry for myself, sorry. Thank you all Tellie

Hi Andrea, I am glad the band helped you with the reflux! At least now I know its not a permanent thing for me. GERD is a horrible disease and as worried as I am about having surgery again, at least I know when my band is back in place these horrid symptoms will go away. Thank you for the advise. Cheers tellie

It is all happening too fast! Saw MY Dr. on monday, he unfilled me and changed yet again the meds for my reflux. He is going to spain tomorrow, for 3 weeks. Talked him into x rays. Well, today i had them, and my band has moved, a lot, eventhough the barium went through, very slowly, there is a huge amount of stomach above the band. The radiologist made an appointment with another doctor in the clinic, since mine is not going to be in town. She saw me, talked to yet another collegue, and I am scheduled for surgery on tuesday, to fix this. **I** knew the reflux was caused by the band moving, but I was so desperate to believe my Dr. that that wasn't the case. ACK! Now, here is my list of predicaments. 1) should I call my doctor the day before he flies O/S( that means today) and tell him Im going under the knife with someone else? what if he wants me to wait? I have been sitting up at night for 4 weeks, and the last week, even that doesnt halp at night. 2) I will meet the surgeon at the O.R., she is too busy to meet me any other time, I dont know how I feel about that. 3) We were supposed to visit the in-laws on thursday, but I dont think I want to take a 4 hr drive after surgery. My husband claims he cant lie to his parents, so he will tell them what is going on. Telling my M-I-L will inform the world of my lap band faster than taking an add in the papers. Last time I didnt tell anyone. I dont want to tell anyone, its my life, its my body and my dear Husband better learn how to make excuses! This issue is stressing me as much as the prospect of surgery again. 4) last time, I swore I never ever wanted to go through that surgery again this lady I saw today said the band slips in less than 10% of the patients..... so why me????

Becky, I am so sorry to hear you have been so sick. I hope it gets fixed as soon as possible, and I hope your band is in place. With the reflux, I found a few things work better for me: dont eat 4-5 hrs before bed ( or drink in my case) eat small meals, in my case, Soups help avoid citrus, acid foods like tomatos. onions are bad too, fatty stuff, dairy unless fat free, Hot drinks and chocolate are quite bad too. potato based soups ( heavier soups) are better since they go down a bit easier/faster. I hope things start improving for you very soon. Congrats on your weight loss! keep us posted. tellie

congrats! well done!

thanx Donali. Now, I have been curious for a while... how are you doing it??? the weight loss. It is amazing. Could you share what is your sectret?

Thank you again, everyone, I really don't know how I would cope without your support and insight and help and advice.... Daylight always makes things better, I dont know why. Last night I was feeling a bit overwhealmed... but I want my band! I am scared.... i feel like I failed, not an exam, but a whole subject... Rebecca, that's exactly what I will do. He should just let me handle this and answer everything with a yes, no, or i dont know. As for the reasons for not telling, they just keep getting reinforced. The 1 person who knows besides my husband, the friend who looked after my daughter last year while I was in hospital, her comment when I told her was: "well, maybe you will finally learn to do things right and stop eating, you have to adapt to that thing, instead of ruining it in order to keep eating!" argh! Its my fault for telling her, and what she is describing, is the first 4 months, before my fill, when I could eat like a normal person ( still, half of what i ate b4 band). I feel bad enough without this 80 pound woman telling me off! argh, and argh again. My surgeon is brilliant, and used to be very nice, until I started telling him what I thought had happened, i guess it is an inconvenience to him... I am. about the new doc, I am in australia, so I googled her, but did not find much. I know my GP sent her my latest bloodwork, and she should have received the x rays today. And thats all the info she will have on me. More than I know of her I suppose. Actually it was sort of a coincidence that I got her, everyone else at the bariatric centre is away next week! But my doctor had told me on monday, when he doubled the dose of my meds, to see her if I had any trouble while he is away. He recomends her highly. I dont think there is a chance of things settling on their own. 2-3 months ago, when I had the infamous diaper incident, I was unfilled after i started with the reflux, and it got better, until my next fill when things started to get worse little by little. Now it's terrible and i am empty! Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, I really appreciate it and need good vibes! cheers tellie

Thank you Betty. I appreciate it.

Thank you Marie, Alex, Vicki and Donali for your replies and support. I feel so strangely. LIke 2 people fighting in my head. One calm and rational, thinking " I knew it! I was right!" and angry that my doctor chose to think of me as a hysterical hypocondriac. I know at some level that I can't wait, and I know I don't have to tell if I don't want, and I know what comes next so I should be less scared. And then, there is Ms. hysterical hypocondriac ( which means my doctor must have been dealing with her and not me all this time and had no choice but to think I was exagerating) wanting to run away and have this magically fixed without going through surgery again, wondering whether I should have the band removed instead, rather than going through this again in the future. I wanted to have another baby next year and now, with this "complication" it just seems that my band and pregnancy dont mix (specially when last time I was throwing up all day every day for 6 months, and a horrible retching attack while changing a diaper moved my band 2 months ago). Then the guilt of "lying". I read Gail's post and thought "she shouldn't feel guilty! She doesnt have to tell!" But now, after avoiding lying the first time, I get to go through this again! and instead of just dissappearing for a few weeks, i will have to avoid and tell them im having the reflux fixed, which is true, if not the whole truth. I am working on my husband, explaining that if he sticks to " fixing the reflux" its not actually a lie. But his mother is so nosy! Called the Dr. and told him what happened. He sounded a bit annoyed, but said he highly recomends this surgeon, so I guess thats a good thing. Talking to him, I felt like a child, terrified of dissappointing a parent. I have serious issues! Thank you all. Sorry I made it so long! Tellie

I hate not hearing the whole story! How frustrating! I guess that doctors do have a policy of covering for each other, no matter how (un) ethical ( or is that immoral?). It does seem that things are going better this time with your band, and that is a good thing. I am having the x ray tomorrow. I am terrified of what comes next ( and my doctor leaves tomorrow for 3 weeks, on holidays). cheers tellie

errr i meant to ask why, not when, to the rebanding.....

Hi Leatha, that is very interesting. When did you change bands? Keep track of the differences while you still notice them, one day, I guess, you will be so used to the way everything feels now, that "before" becomes a foreign place ( like life pre-banding, I cant believe I could eat tons and not feel a thing, pain, discomfort at all!). I am glad you have a subtle band now, I hate the big hiccup so much! and the pain of course. cheers tellie

Hi again, and thank you for your replies. Donali, that info is very interesting, I wonder what exactly makes that happen. It is horrible though. What gets to me is the fact that I was perfectly healthy ( albeit morbidly obese :mad:) and now I have this crippling thing that is making my life hell. I have gone through all the diet and behviour changes in the last 6 weeks ( since this started) and yet it keeps getting worse every day. I just got back from seeing the doctor again. I asked him to take all the liquid out and insisted on having an x ray. I only had .5 ml in and a lot of restriction, so something is just not right. Sue, I dont know if aciphex is available in australia. I have actually been on medication for 3 weeks, taking pariet and somac, both acid suppresants. The doctor today said to double the dose. Leatha, what is the differentce between an upper GI and a barium swallow? I asked for x rays because I know they did those after surgery. I dont know what I want to find out.... what scares me more. The band slippage, and surgery again (?) or the band in place and no way of fixing this disease. Thanks again Tellie