tellie

I have not been in to this site for a very long time. My band did NOT cure my obesity ( I am still a size 20 -3 sizes smaller than at my highest weight pre-band) but it cured my life long depression. I had my first band in 2003, revision in 2004 after I moved it by overeating. The second one I did not fill until 2 years after my surgery (was trying to have a baby, then was pregnant). My band expands to suit my needs. I can eat as much as any NORMAL person with no problem. This has not allowed me to lose a lot of weight, but the feeling of being normal, for the first time in my life, has actually changed my life. I am happy for the first time in decades. 30 years I struggled with my hunger, constant, painful, desperate, unsatiable urge to swallow, didnt matter what...never enough. And thanks to my band I finally have limits. The fog lifted and I am enjoying my life tremendously. Is it an ilusion? am i not willing to do the work and lose more weight? is it wrong to be enjoying this "freedom" to enjoy food with limits. My husband asked me the other day why I was not "using" my band if its there. I tried to explain that I am happy like this! But is the whole point of the band to be thin? Isnt being happy, healthy and fit ( and LOVING the lifestyle in the process) enough? What do you think?

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I was here so i have heaps to read! I would love to hear any of you ladies out there who has been through pregnancy with the band because I am indeed 8 weeks pregnant, very scared (miscarried in september at 7 weeks) and having tremendous morning sickness ( I dont know why its called that, evenings are worst, but anyway I was wondering if there is any written material regarding what happens and why. My band is actually not tight enough that I cant eat a normal size meal, but tight enough that I must eat very slowly. I also have this feeling that it has stopped me from throwing up with the nausea, since the gurgling and indigestion all happen under the band, i dont get that yucky taste i did when I was pregnant with my daughter. I havent called my doctor with the news, and I want more info before I do, because he tends to not listen ( busy guy) and just do, and I fear he will want to empty my fill, and I dont want to unless there is any medical reason ( something like a half filled band will put too much pressure whenever or the port can flip when the stomach gets big and many other creepy things I spend my nights hallucinating with. Sorry this is too long. If anyone has any info or knows where I can find written info into this, I will appreciate your help a lot. cheers Tellie

Has anyone had pain like this? Today while making dinner I just had to throw myself in the floor with really severy shoulder pain, both sides, just like I got post op..... Have no idea what brought that on!!?? very freaky.... is this even possible or was it something else? Was fine after an hour lying down.

I react badly too to the glue on the bandages.... When I removed them ( a week after surgery as indicated) they peeled the skin off, so i was left with worst scars from that than the actual incisions. Maybe she developed an allergy?

hunger, fear of eating in public, frustration when I forget the "rules" I still do unfortunately....

wow! I just saw this today. I am sorry you had to go through all this. But I am glad everything went well. I am happy for you!

In my experience, yes it certainly does.... BUT like any muscle, once you start excersising it again, grows. After my second surgery, and since my band had slipped and I had been eating almost nothing solid for 3 months by then, I was never hungry, so after the liquid and mushy stages, I really believed I was in control of how much I ate.... and I was, up to xmas that is, when I went back into binge mode and ate everything in sight, but couldnt manage to eat as much as I would before banding... after that, and with regular binges (not proud, just sacrastic), I ended up eating as much, if not more than before banding, and ran for fills.... This little excersise taught me that unfortunately, I am what I am.....

Australian doctors ( well, at least the ones at the clinic where I had my surgery) have no problem with carbonation. I have and continue to drink diet coke whenever I feel like it, except when I have too much restriction and cant even drink water fast enought, but thats another story. I was told when leaving jospital after surgery to start by drinking it flat, then mixing it with fizzy, then just fizzy. Hey I am against drinking the stuff anyway, and would reccomend to everyone that you should give it up, as should I, but I still drink it because sometimes, I just have to, and sometimes I must add scotch to it too. Alcohol is a nono, empty calories, but occasionally, in moderation, is like everything else. I am bad with the drinking, although was told NOt to drink 2 hrs after a meal. Before meals they encourage drinking ( here, as long as non caloric).

Hi Mark, I am sorry you have had such a rough time, some people react really badly to anesthesia, but even without that, just the pain and the huge change to life ( specially during those first 6-10 weeks, is mind boggling. I have had the surgery twice, both times I felt like I had made the worst mistake of my life, and regretted it for ... well, 6 or 10 weeks. Then it just became life as usual. It will get better. take care

Just try to take it easy for a few more weeks, even if you have been taking big bites and not chewing properly, etc. Healing is so important to prevent problems in the future. Then go get a fill and start "enjoying" restriction. take care Tellie

I finally got some (plenty actually (restriction of course)) with my second band, yet the experience is completely different from the first time around. So I am wondering if it is different for each person, or if its due to the fact that I am "wearing" a different "model" ( inamed too, but 12 ml) this time. The first time around, I was very restricted in the morning, but could have a couple of bites of something or other, a bit more for lunch, and yet a bit more for dinner. This time, I can only manage liquids until 3-4 pm, when I can start having solids, very very slowly (2-3 hrs for a tiny portion). By 8 pm, I actually have to control what I eat, because anything and everything seems to go in easily (within reason). First time around, i had lots of PBing. This time, none so far, can even have bread!!!! (a no no last time around) as long as it is at night, which is not a good thing). Last time around I would get that pain in the chest, like the esophagus was about to split in half, and the pain would travel to and through my neck, jaw, temples and give me the most agonizing headache. This time, i feel pain in the chest, lots of noises, feel the food moving around, settling. No sliming, no PBing ( not yet anyway). So, what does it feel like for you?

I am so afraid of my band leaking. After my second surgery I swore to myself that if anything else went wrong I was only having another surgery to take it out for good. The fear ( rational or not) pre surgery, the anguish is too much, so if this is leaking.... I dont know what to do! get a fill every week I guess...at least for a while. For now I am going to concentrate on the baby thing, my daughter is 3 1/2 and desparate for a sister/brother and I fear I have already waited too long, didnt mean for the gap to be too big between my children (if I ever get pregnant again), but had to lose some weight before attempting another pregnancy. I always try to figure out what I am missing, the big picture when things dont go as planned, specially when so carefully planned as I thought I had them.... I just cant see what is it that I am supposed to be doing now! anyway, Hi Teresa!! please tell me everything about your friends pregnancy! was the c section band related or not ( I would have one anyway), did she have restriction during the pregnancy? take care

ugh, my last reply is not here! Oh well... Sassay, tell me more about your first band not working. I am afraid mine isnt either. A couple of days ago I just lost restriction. I went for seconds ( a no no) after dinner and it got stuck for one second, then I lost it. My portions are getting bigger and it just goes through ( still have a little restriction, but a joke compared to last week) ((background)) When I got my first fill in this band, I got 2 mls is, because IO was travelling overseas and didnt want trouble far from my doctor, after 5 weeks, when I came back for more, my 2 mls were gone. He didnt comment on this, just put more in, but I have been fearing that my band might be leaking, ever since) or can it just be a fluke and I will get my restriction back with a vengance next week? judy, my band is inamed "advantage" 12 ml, I have ( had?) 6 ml in. fauxnaif, please tell me about pregnancy with the band! Did you have to get the band completely empty? did your port look funny? did you get morning sickness? Sorry about all the questions, and the change in topics tellie

Its such an emotional topic for me. While I do believe surgery should be the resort for everyone (young and old), I believe that a MO child (of 8,12, or 15 or 18) will continue with the trend like most of us here did. I also believe that parents CAN NOT do a things to stop the behaviour (my mom controlled everything available at home, but I found ways to eat loads of food everywhere else). I also KNOW its not about excersise, I was the fat kid in dance lessons, tae kwan do and swimming, I would get over 2 hrs of excersise every day, and still get fat (very fit and very flexible, but very fat). For some people I am certain, the only alternative to being obese is something as radical as surgery. And if it was my child, I think I would feel happier with the band, knowing that it can be adjusted to include enough nutrition while restricting the urge to overeat. It would be so hard to allow my child to have surgery, but I can only imagine how heartbreaking it would be to see her grow up obese, deal with the limitations of the size socially, physically, emotionally, only to have to resort to surgery when she is older and can decide it herself. At the same time I often wonder if having gone through this made me a better person somehow, but there is no way to answer that. A thin version of me would have had many more choices available, much less depression too. In conclusion ( sorry I just cant get the thoughts organised) I think the band is a very valid option for kids in very specific cases.

I have been fat since I can remember. Also, since I can remember, I have "hated fat people". At some point I realised it was easier to say/think that than "I hate myself".

Hi Brenda, me too. Banded in Nov 04, rebanded sept 05 after my band slipped. I would also like to know more about other's experiences with the second band. If you just kept going from where you were or had a major setback (like me- got out of control again). all the best tellie

Its good to be back! so many new faces ( and avatars)! I have been away dealing with life and packing up the pounds..... but with my new HUGE band ( 12 mls) restriction is taking for ever! ( and I get a fill every week, but I still manage to get bigger every week.... yes, I am weak, and stressed, and food is my drug of choice, still now... not proud). As usual, I have a question that I forget to ask the doctor (every week). I am guessing I will be revealing my ignorance regarding anatomy. After my band was replaced (slipped and was changed, I found out months later, for another, bigger band) the surgeon said she had had to cut my liver which had become attached to the band. That sounded freaky enough, but ever since the second surgery (and with that freaky knowledge on the back of my mind constantly) I just cant sleep in my left side, because I feel heart palpitations, that cease as soon as I move on my back or right side. So, Is there any chance of the band actually somehow pushing/touching or being near the heart? ( could it become attached like my liver did?) could it just be pressure on a big artery maybe? Anybody has anything similar? ( ahhh I almost forgot, after my first band slipped, it would move inside me as i changed sides in bed, also very freaky feeling, but this is different as it only happens on my left side.) Thank you my more anatomically knowledgable friends.... cheers tellie

Thanks for the anatomy lesson, I suspected as much but it is such a weird feeling I thought I should ask anyway. tellie

My parents still find it funny that when I was born, they had to make a budget and calculate how much *I* ate. My older brother never demanded such amounts of formula/baby food/food.... Always the fat kid in a family of very slim people (my mom was a model before she got married). I dont know if its true or not, but I always felt their dissappointment; their embarrassment when they had to introduce me as their daughter. My mom tried everything, controlled everything I ate (at home), hid food from me (why deprive my thin brothers?). So I learned to hide too. I would steal food from the school cafeteria (pre-school), sell my homework to the highest bidder later on, anything to support my addiction. By 8, I would try every diet I found in my mom's magazines. Diet for 1-2 weeks, Binge for the rest of the month. The Hunger cant be satisfied, even now which is why I keep getting in trouble. I am fat because I cant fill up something inside, and the only thing that comes close to satisfying it is food, even if just for a couple of hours. tellie

I am back, 10 pounds heavier after the holidays, waiting for my fill which I should have booked last month. Anyway Its good to be back, I have to read so much! what did I miss???!!! Hope everyone is well. Cheers, Tellie

I just want to wish you a wonderful holiday season and an amazing 2005 full of love and blessings and more lost weight. I wont have access to my computer for a few weeks and I dont want to miss the opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate this wonderful community and how grateful I am to have found this place and all of you. Be safe, be happy and enjoy the season. love, Tellie

Hi everyone and Thank you for your support. Life goes on, I think I have cried and yelled enough this past couple of days that the poison is almost out of my system. Thank you for letting me vent and for your replies. I have, throughout this situation, forced myself to stand in her shoes, and I wouldnt want to be her if what she told me is the truth. But I have this nasty voice inside me that keeps telling me something is fishy, that I am missing some important piece of the puzzle. That voice is what I need to get rid of now to be in peace again and be able to enjoy the wonderful things that are happening in my life. I want to be free. I will wait and see how things develop, I will go ahead and cancell my flights and send her the bill, see how she responds. If she doesnt keep her word, I will reconsider my options. Thank you again tellie

Hi everyone, This is completely unrelated, I just need to get it out before I eat everything in sight. I am so angry, frustrated, and sad. A (travel agent)'friend" called last week telling me there was this amazing airfare to LAX but I needed to book and pay within a day. So I did, drove 60 kms to where she works, paid that, and went ahead and booked and paid for my connecting flights. She calls me a week later to tell me she missed the deadline to confirm the booking, and if I want to go I need to pay 1000 dlls more! She was crying, so sorry, feeling so bad, she doesnt want to lose her job. BUT I cant pay more, nor should I! My husband is furious, wants to call the agency and complain and have them pay the difference (which would cost her her job). I havent told my parents that they wont be seeing their granddaughter for at least another year and I will have to pay a few hundred dollars on cancellation fees on the other tickets. What hurts the most is, I was already coping with the fact that we weren't going home for christmas, then we were, and now we are not again. I am hurt to think that she is taking advantage of the friendship to minimize her problem because I cant believe the other people in the situation are all happy to pay the extra money and wont do anything about it. ( she claims all herfriends were happy to do so to help her out, but then what about the perfect strangers who purchased similar tickets? aren't travel agencies insured against screw ups like this?) ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! sorry... I just cant stop eating since I heard, and since my band is empty, I can consume large amounts....why is it that is always food? no matter what the emotion.....its always food..... tellie

Hi and thank you all for your support. I called this woman again today to ask all the things I needed to know. She claims she got so excited with this "special offer" that she called all her friends as soon as she found out. The special deal was a 2 X 1 with United, from melbourne or sidney to LA for 1000 dlls less than qantas ( it has a similar deal, pay one fly two, but more expensive). The last day to finalize bookings was last friday (US time) saturday morning here. I paid on friday morning, others in the same boat(plane rather) had paid the week before, as this was an offer for a limited time. She claims that she was told repeateadly by her boss to confirm to the airline that the bookings had been paid as soon as they were. She also claims that since the travel dates were many weeks away, she didnt think it was necesary to do so immediatly. When the time came to print the tickets, the system refused all the bookings since the date for confirmation had expired, its like they were never paid for since the money never left her hands. So, basically this is the deal, she wanted me to pay the extra 1000 and fly rather than get a refund, so she could still have a sale this month. I asked about the other people, and she said everyone had pulled out as well, and she will be in a lot of trouble. Now, I will be getting my money back (or so she claimed), except probably for the cancelation fees on the flights I booked myself (although she offered to pay for that). So in the end, I may not have lost much money, but I wont get to see my family for at least another year, and that hurts so much more! My husband still thinks the agency she works for should cover the cost. That would certainly get her at least fired, if not broke. I dont want to hurt her in any way. I know she is not telling me everything, I know that she is trying to do what she can to keep her job regardless of anyone else. And I know its human nature. I want to think I would, in her place, do the right thing.... but what is the right thing? I hate it so much when my idea of someone's character gets shattered. Trying to minimize the impact of my binge, I went for tuna and salmon... I ate so much, straight out of the tins....yuck.... I dont really want to eat either of those for a while. Funnily enough... the caramel sauce that forced its way to my digestive track its still tempting.... go figure. Compulsive vaccuming sounds sooooo cooooool!!!!! why cant I have that instead?????? Thank you Whipple, Penny and Alexandra so much for your words, comments and specially for your time; for your offer to find good airfares Penny, thanx heaps. I will need to do some more crying before I can accept this really happened. Thank you so much.... Tellie

Hi everyone, Heard this on the news on monday and found it... well, scary to say the least. A woman drinking cold soda tore her esophagus from the gas build up! http://seven.com.au/todaytonight/story/?id=17340