mrsto

I kept telling the nurse in my doctor's office, that the port moved about an inch higher. She assured me that it's fine. Things feel VERY different with the loss of a chunk of fat. I can really feel the port now, but only when I touch it. And it still feels higher, but that could be because my stomach is much flatter.

My next door neighbor had the RNY years ago, and she drinks wine without issue. I was banded in March, and I drink wine on occasion……without issue. The only thing is, I get a buzz with the first sip!

With the added plication to my band, I feel that I got the best of both worlds, without permanence. My stomach volume has been dramatically reduced (shape and size like the sleeve), and the band on top signals satiety on very small portions. I was concerned about having plication because of the lack of long term studies, but I'm glad I did it. If I have a bad day & try & overeat, it gives me secondary restriction. And there was never any concern about leaky staples, and me losing my entire business

I would have considered the sleeve, but the possibility of leakage from the staples took it completely off the table. Though it's a small possibility, it does happen. And when it happens, you can be in the hospital for 4-6 weeks. Being self employed, that was a risk I couldn't afford to take. I would lose ALL of my clients, and for me, that made it the riskiest of all procedures. So far, I'm very happy with my banded plication. Though the long term jury is still out on the plication, the last 3+ years have shown a dramatic reduction in slips. For me, given that the whole thing can be reversed, I sleep better at night. But as I mentioned, had the sleeve not come with it's own margin for serious complications, I may have chosen that. I was actually scheduled for the RNY initially, but freaked out & cancelled it 10 days prior to surgery. My doctor thought I'd do well with that procedure, but I couldn't live with the permanence. I know a couple of people who are so Iron deficient, that they have to go for daily IV infusion. Even after two months of this, they've still got issues. That is just too scary for me. Sure, the idea of having surgery done without the continual follow up is attractive. But when I think long term……too scary. If for some reason I need to get the band removed, I will not have a revision. But that's just me

I asked my doctor this very question……about removing the band when at goal. He said that there are some that do, but most gain weight. He also said that many of us feel like we're doing all the work, over the job of the band. Given that, we feel in control, and that we no longer need it. When I say "we", I'm mean……some lap band patients. Anyway…..he said that many don't realize how much the band is working, until it's taken out. For me……it will be a cold day in hell before this band comes out. For the first time in my life, I'm not afraid of food.

At the time of surgery, my doctor fills the band (primes), but then lets all the Fluid drain out. Whatever portion of the fluid doesn't drain, he leaves in. In my case, it was about 3cc's.

Happy Birthday, CG!! I posted on the other thread, but what the hell……I'll tell you twice! I hope you have a great day

That's a really healthy attitude

Exactly what I was going to mention……the five day pouch test. People swear by it, and some (B-52 in particular) do it on a regular basis to recharge.

I don't have any issues, either. With rice and bread, if I chew it until it's liquidy, it goes down without a hitch.

I was having some (only way I can describe it) is some sticking/poking pain in the middle…right under my breastbone. I had vomited a couple of weeks before, and I was concerned (okay, more like freaking out) that I did some damage. I still don't know what the pain was about, but it's gone. 5.0 - since being banded, I go along most of the time with no awareness of the band (other than the eating signals). But sometimes, like last week, I had really bad stomach pain in the morning, which lasted for a good portion of the day. It subsided, but I don't really know what caused it. I think, probably, eating a bit too fast, or bites bigger than they should have been? I'm still not sure, but I had to back up & pay VERY close attention to eating, as I did in the very beginning. I babied the band for a couple of days, and it's fine now. But it still concerns me, because I, like you, wonder about what exactly might be going on. My doctor told me from the get go that bodies do not like foreign implant objects. That is a piece of why he's not a huge band fan. He's done thousands of them since Allergan rolled them out, but it's not his favorite. But so many people live for years and years without issue. My biggest hurdle will be to constantly remind myself that I do have this device. When things are going along smoothly, I can (and have) gotten a bit sloppy. Then, like last week, I get a huge wake up call. It's an ongoing process

My doctor does a routine TNE and upper endoscopy on band patients annually……..as a precaution. I was having some problems a couple of months ago, and he did both of those tests then….even though I was only at the 5 month mark. Nothing was wrong with the band, and I was so GRATEFUL to have the diagnostics to confirm that.

Jim - I'm late to this thread (mostly because of the new format), but I just wanted to say…..that my fills are also done in the doctor's office, without fluro. I've never had any issues, nor have I needed an un-fill. Unless we're having any specific issues, I can't imagine that there is really any difference. Others may beg to differ, but I can only go on my own experience. I have concerns about long term complications, but not based on the way my fills are done. It's more about the band itself, and things we read about all the time. But I do agree, that if it's not broke, don't fix it

There are various factors that play into the loose skin issue. Number one being, how much weight is lost. The other is age. I lost 90 pounds when I was 43 (lost the weight many times, but before now, that was the last time). Other than my legs, I had zero skin issues. I don't carry the weight around my mid-section, and I was pretty lean and tight from the waist up. This time around (I'm 58), I'm flabbier, but still don't have (and will not have) any apron or other issues. STILL, from years of gaining and losing, my lower body is disgusting (imo). Anyway…….the other thing is, if someone has to lose 200 pounds, I don't think it matters how slow or fast it comes off. That is a lot of stretch in the skin, and a snails pace of weight loss isn't going to avoid some sagging. Long winded answer……caffeine is kicking in - LOL.

This is the same for band patients. Protein is numero uno, and hydration. The post op diet varies widely, as we've seen in the LB forums, but typically, it's protein protein PROTEIN, and other foods are slowly added back. Even still, it's always protein first, with at least 8 glasses of Water per day.

I'll go back to my "in a perfect world" state of mind…… I think it is healthier to lose a bit slower than weight virtually melting off from malabsorption. However (as I've been told), some people are in such a horrible state of health, which is more dangerous to them than the rapid loss. I agree with you……I don't think it's healthy, but some folks are at deaths door from diabetes, etc. The thing that I don't like about the RNY honeymoon period, is that the weight seems to come off effortlessly. Effortlessly isn't reality, and sooner or later that stops, and they end up where we were immediately post op. I almost had that surgery; was scheduled for it, but freaked out 10 days prior. I was deathly afraid of potential irreversible complications, so I went with the band plus plication. I sleep a lot better at night knowing that I can "undo" the whole thing, should problems arise. I had lunch with a woman yesterday, who has had her band since Allergan put them on the market. She did very well; lost lots of weight, looked great, etc. But over the years and various life events, she's put back all but 20 pounds. She's still got the band, but she's not working it. But she has had that band inside her body for many years, with zero issues. I hope to God that is me……not the weight gain part, but a happily settled in band :-) I know I keep saying this, but I feel strongly about it. No one surgery is better than the other. It just depends on the person, and what works best for them. I went to a general support group at my doctor's office, and there were several RNY patients. All of them felt that if they were going through surgery, that they wanted to go through with (as they put it) the BIG surgery. They've all done very well…….to date. With compulsive overeaters, it really is a day to day thing. I've heard people (one in particular) stand up in these forums, claiming to be cured of this affliction. I say…..the jury will always be out, until our dying day. I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist

I know a couple of people who had the bypass a few years ago, and ended up having the band placed over it. Really? If the bypass is so successful long term, what's up with the added band?? Challenging each other's surgery on this or any other site is ridiculous. It ALL boils down to control; like it or not. None of these surgeries are a magic wand that changes our psyche. The combination of WLS forums on this site was a huge mistake. It's bad enough that we argue within our own "family". Now this? I don't know how much longer I will stay on this forum. It seems there is way too much of an influx from the other surgery posters. I'm not judging anyone's surgery choice, but we had enough issues with e-fights without adding the opinions of other WLS patients. Geez……Alex, I really miss the old site.

Like the other surgeries, I think people start out very strong willed when banded. But as the years pass, many revert to old habits. They don't only do it with the band; they do it with ALL surgeries. The difference is, the other surgeries have a huge weight loss right out of the gate. The band takes more work. Some have the will to carry through, and some don't. At the end of 3-5 years, many people do gain a portion of weight, no matter what surgery they chose. No matter how you slice or dice it, it all comes down to some sort of self control……..something most all of us were never good with long term. We can only take this journey one day at a time, and I don't care WHAT surgery you have. That is just a reality with the issue we've dealt with most of our lives.

We were in Lake Tahoe about 6 weeks before my surgery date. I saw this jacket and absolutely fell in love with it. I bought it, planning that it would fit in a few months post-op. Well, the darn thing isn't cut for my body, and though it fits, I'm going to donate it. The arms are tight, but the rest is boxy……weird. Given that, I'm not buying anything until I know it's a good fit for me

I never had an issue with Protein and gas. If I add in veggies, definitely. But protein alone (eggs, chicken, fish, meat) seems to keep my gut quiet. Could the gas be coming from something else you may be eating? If your Protein shakes are milk based, could it be lactose intolerance? I drink only Lactaid, which eliminates the gas/stomach issues with milk. Just some thoughts…… The gas might be from the form of protein….or what's mixed with it, rather than the protein itself. Make sense?

Post-op I had a minimum of 60 grams, but never exceeded 80. Now, 7.5 months out, I shoot for a minimum of 50, which my doctor said is fine for me at this point.

Speaking of technical issues, is there a place to find a list of recent topics/posts? I loved the way we could see it along the right side of the page, but now only 4-5 show up. I miss that "view all" button.

I tried some liquid Vitamins, and I threw them up. Certainly not good with the band! Now I take Celebrate chewable Multivitamins, and a liquid cal/mag I got at the Vitamin Shoppe. I have no issues with the cal/mag, and I think it's because of the milkiness. The liquid vitamins are probably too acidic.

In a perfect world, I would have loved to have a surgery that didn't require so much follow up. But given the issues with the other two surgeries discussed (issues they don't seem to talk about), I'm perfectly fine having control over this tool. Once the others are done……that is it! There ain't no turning back, and that is a dynamic I could not live with. I've said this before……if for some reason my band goes south, I'd have it removed without revision. The doctors may not like all of the band aftercare, but so many people also gain weight back with the sleeve and bypass. The sleeve can be stretched, and people gain with the bypass as well. I've seen it with a couple of people I know. One actually had the band placed over the bypass. But these are the things you don't hear the doctors discuss. And that's not to mention the issues of malabsorption with the bypass. That is some scary sh-it! Especially because you can't reverse it! No thank you……not for me.

I think we've all gotten some of those same responses. My sister's first response was that her friend who got the band a few years ago, gained all her weight back; as if that was going to be a deterrent for me. I also got the "all you have to do" comments, but most of those people were also supportive of my decision. I'm convinced that the folks that make these types of comments, have zero clue what this is all about. They don't understand the disease of obesity, nor do they understand that WLS is only a tool……not a cure. I've been very selective about whom I discuss this with, and I'm glad. I don't really care what anyone else thinks, but I don't have the time or energy to educate them.