burnsun

Well i am more worried about my flight than the actualy surgery at this point. It was the worst part of my trip to get my band on 04 and it always is horrible! So glad you did well and are home, and doing well!

Long journey..... so similair to so many of yours over weight since about an hour after my first period started....(.later diagnosed with PCOS at age 26) . Dieted my way for years and lost well over 600 lbs total my whole life! :cursing: Currently I am a stay at home mother with eight children (5 adopted special needs children with down syndrome and one with autism too) I decided on the band when I was pregnant with my first biological child..... right about the time Carnie Wilson had had her bypass. I was not interested in the bypass and malabsorption thing. I was 330 lbs before I got pregnant...... I delivered on July 4th 03 at 270 lbs. (I am a puker) I wasn't worried about it if I ever got pregnant again..... this was a huge fluke (or so I thought) I have sever PCOS and throw about 1 egg a year and all that crap.... we had tried all kinds of fertility stuff for almost 10 years before and no luck ever even making and egg. I had been about 5 months pregnant before we even realized (I thought I was dying of ovarian cancer when I went to the doctor.....:juggle: So she was born (self pay here cause I could not get insurance on me and when I finally did I never bought maternity 19K later) I had a wonderful happy and health daughter albiet huge! I started saving again. Got my band 7 / 27 /04 from Dr. Ortiz in Mexico......all went great and awesome for 18 months..... got my first fill in Mexico 6 weeks later..... only one fill ever till unfill on 12/05 for three weeks because one morning I woke up to puking..... realized I was pregnant.... but lost the little one (I actually have five losses to date with the two live ones since band....another PCOS side effect.....some sufferes can not stay pregnant) my band tightened up and I could do or eat nothing...... even after I miscarried it would not open..... it was so bad and the only time my us follow up doctor could see me was the same day as one of my adopted girls with DS open heart procedures. I went to get an unfill while she was in recovery..... firt time i could eat or sleep in 9 weeks since getting pregnant. I went back in Feb and got about half the fill I had before cause I had been at goal for several months...... just wanted to stay there. Went through another pregnancy.....same issue....unfilled when I saw a heart beat......... I never got another fill...... alll yearly endoscopies fine and all check with swallow fine and I stayed between 150 - 165 when not pregnant. Though any time I got pregnant came the nausea and vomiting and worse! I adopted three more children in the time we had the band,.....heck I felt so good and could keep up with a small army by then! Got pregnant again last June..... this time the heart beat stayed and so dod the baby. THough I never really felt good about this one or did I ever feel good after he clamped my stomach down! No fill to remove....... bad doc and I and OB decided we would wait it out...... I would keep drinking my food as necessary and eat if I could...... well this worked for the most part.... though three times I had to go get fluids at the hospital...... Band doc was convinced all wa s well with the band...... the one xray I was able to talk into at six months said....all fine...... I was puking so long after eating solids they were coming up digested..... so everyone was sure there was no problem..... I was on zorfan ....it would occasionally fix it.....most times I just felt so nauseous I could die! I gained 15 lbs, but In Novemeber one night I puked so hard I thought I was going to die....I lay down in the bathroom and cried ! From that point my five year old girl would make sure I had baggies or cups to puke in..... it happen 12- 15 times a day, The hospitalized me for 5 days to stop contractions and then I went on home IV therapy and zorfan pump...... all medical involved still want tme to wait it out....couldn't be the band....... I am still puke digested food..... Water goes through.... I JUST PUKE!. Sometime after thanks giving I stopped eating solids.....liquids were easier to puke.......bad on my point...... I lost some weight.... but no one was worried.... I started to swell on and off in my ankles,,,,,,again all blamed on pregnancy and my age! (geriatric pregnancy:ohmy: I was told):confused1: Well on December 19th I was at the orthapedic doctor with a few of my children to check their growth and how their orthotics were doing when he accidentilly hit my belly..... I almost fell to the ground in pain...... it hurt so bad..... he freaked and wanted to get me admitied right then (course he is at the children's hospital)..... he called my ob's office ...I had just seen his partner that morning and commented about how it hurt and was ignored....my ob out for vacation. They had me go in for observations...... took the kids home, got a sitter and husband and by the time I got there I was having contractions every three minutes . They got them stopped and decided since I was dehydrated again (surprise....it was now going to be 24 hour IV and we were going to increase zorfan and I was going to get an endoscopy if they couldn't stop it. Every on all involved still sure it was just pregnancy......I wanted to believe them..... I listened..... I SHOULD NOT HAVE!!! Got to go home for CHristmas.....but I could no longer walk and I am swellling from all the IV......it is going into third space.... not me! We go back when the contractions come back...... my doctor send me to the big hospital not our little one cause I am diallating.....where the NICU is..... they send me home after 12 hours.....again just pregnancy.....no issues. Well I finally talk them into the endoscopy....cause they all think I have an ulcer or cancer or something.....band still looks fine on xray....... get endoscopy...... NOT FINE....though the place feeding tube through the band........... STILL PUKING MIND YOU ALL THIS TIME.....band is around middle of stomach..... slipped since x ray the week before ...... not working! Still puking with the feeding tube (by the way this was the best method of birth controll I ever had!) I have contractions on and off.... they are trying to stop this and keep us both alive till I deliver...... we get a TPN line in.....I still puke even if I eat or drink nothing...... and I am still swelling!!!!! I need potassium (the most pain I have ever had from a drug in IV twice daily) I am at the point of having a heart attack due to the fact my body will not absorb anything and I have no potassium or no Protein now! We do this dance for 10 days...... i finally give up..... I ask and have my husband start calling all bariatric and or other surgeons around..... finally find one who will operate....cause I know I am going to die if we don't I can not do this for ten more weeks! We transfer hospitals, get a new OB....get evaluated....do another funny xray....... band has now strangulated my stomach...... IT MUST COME OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Doctor wants to do it that after noon.....we all then realize no one gave the baby the shots for his lungs...... I have to hold on two more days..... I talk them out of the TPN line and NG tube..... I finally almost quit puking! Get my shots and wait...... still having contractions on and off..... The plan was to take the band at 3 pm and watch me for 3 hours and send me back to anti partum for a few days and hopefully send me home. Well Emerson had quit participating by this point...... our surgery got postponed till 11 pm on the 7th due to OR needed for accident! We switched anesthesiologist and I am sure we got to much verisaid...... the operation for the band removal went grat....stomach was not dead.....they were worried there might have been issues babby ok. In recovery and awake at 11:30. On my way back to my floor (still prgnant at 12:45) they tell mt husband and he goes for some food and coffee! In the elevator! The labor nurse who had been by my side since 3 asked me if I though I was having contractions...... I said... I have a pain med...how would I know....she asked over her walkie talkie phone for permission to take me to L&D.... they doctors said no....we were just fine when she left..... time is over for the danger to baby...... WELL THANK GOD SHE DIDN"T LISTEN! We went to L & D and with in 4 minutes of being in room we were on our way back to OR for emergency c section...... they actually started before I was completely anesthetized..... the beds got locked to gether and it was a mess and I remember the same nurse holding something that wasn't the baby..... (I do not want to know what it was....) then I fell asleep..... Emerson was born at 1:08, he was here almost 45 minutes before they could find my husband! His apgars were 1 & 1 and then at 10 minutes he extubated himself! And he went off to the NICU and I went off to recover. I woke up about 9 am the next morning.............. with a c section scar too! Not really happy!!!! None of this was working out the way I had planned! I was now about 238 lb almost 50 lbs of water weight..... besides the surgeries I could not even move my legs past each other they were swollen that far up! We went home without Emerson five days later. He stayed at the nicu for 8 more weeks and still has a few issues with being early.... heart monitor and apnea monitor. He may get a pace maker if it doesn't go away in the next 8 months. It is a lot less than it was..... but not that much We had a lot off issues.... but the first thing I wanted to eat was a PICKLE!!!!! I loved pickels and always pbed on them....so we quit eating them!!!! It was the best pickle I ever ate. I am back around the 200 mark and am doing great I just do not want to get any bigger and would prefer to be back at 150.....so we are going to get sleeved. Doctor here who took out my band thinks this is great idea and I hope that this surgery goes better than my last:thumbup: My VSG is scheduled for june 22 09. thanks for reading so long...... ....and the best compliment I ever received was when one of my daughters therapists told me I was such a nice person for letting my husband keep pictures up of his "first" wife. Not many people were that understanding! :confused1: SO I guess I really did look different! I was an original memeber of lapband talk in 2003 /04 and posted for years.... hoping to enjoy this new forum

haven't posted in years!!!!!!!!!!!! Was a long term member years ago...... lost my band due to slippage and horrid issues which almost kille dme and my unborn guy! No ones fauly.... not even my own...... I just get horrid morning sickness..... I neve even got my fill back after my first band prgnancy (in 2007). I had to have an emergency removal after 37 days on TPN and NG to give baby more time...... till I could take no more of 24 hour puking....... was I having problems before this.....no......endoscope said so two months befor conception.....at goal and alll...... i cried more that I lost my band in the first hour after waking up that that I had Emerson 8 weeks early....... would I get the band again now that they are doing the "sleeve: likely not...... I was a self pay and will be getting sleeve soon........ but also I can not have a band back....... the doctor would have sleeved me that night had I not been pregnant......... and by the way I had the surgery at 11 pm that night......cause it had been scheduled for 3 pm but there was an emergency that needed the OR...... so I don't think I would have had Emerson that early had it not been for that length og time off the mag drip...... but oh well he is here and I am looking foward to my sleeve...... BUT I LIVED and LOVED MY BAND and really enjoyed looking like a thanksgiving turkey at 8 months with my port popping out!

I have three soon to four adopted children. I can say that We started lateish 33 and I al 39 bringin home our last little girl! All of ours have come from texas. Texas is a great state to adopt from. Their laws are all for the adoptive parent. If the rights are terminated correctly and the appropriate days are waited (it used to be 3) it was done and over with. They also terminate grandparent rights usually . Our firt three were with aprivate agency in their special needs program. And our 4th will come from DFPS. We have been pleased with the DFPS - escept for the amount of time it seems that everything takes Would I do it again IN AN INSTANT!!!! Do they tire me out OH!!! YEAH!!!!! But my biological little girl does too (sometimes ok most times) she is more challenging than any of my special little ones! You will kno what to do! Good luck Jane

Some days after almost 2 years you would think I new why things work, but I don't! No better clue!!! URGH!!!!!!!! Why can I eat the unhealthy white gloppy rice with out any problem (same with rice aroni! - at total venue for sodium intake) and I can not even get 1 spoonfull of brown rice or any other great type down- no matter how much soy sauce or butter or other crap I try it with! This was the same even when I had no fill!!! Why oh why!!!!

My local hospital considers isopure a clear liquid and so it does with ensure. I used the iso pure for my clear phase - or I would have killed someone! Dr. was aware. Not 100% on board (but he hates protein drinks anyways) but I needed it to keep breast milk production up. Would I do it? Yes

I have a son with special needs and diabetes. I always make sure I bring something for him to eat and or drink just in case there is nothing being served he can eat. I do not let him have sf sodas (except clear or the lemonaide- most restaurants only carry diet coke/pepsi as well as most of the parties we attend for his little chums (or no diet stuff all together)and he occasionaly wants something other than Water. I think nothing of it and really hope I have never offended any host.

As a mother of four mentally disabled children. It is very hard sometimes to get them to eat right. (Now mine do eat lots and lots of variety and fruit and some veggies- but we started out that way) But my son will eat fries first! No matter what- but most 6 year olds will do this, then bread! I do have the hardest time. We actually get one or two happy meals with fruit and the other two with fries and share (me included!) We try to eat chicken and other thing- but the kids menu is not the greatest source for healthy cuisine! especially if you have a bunch. I feel for this young lady- because it is next to impossible to get or teach most typically developping adults to eat healthy (an occasionally that can include fries by the way) working with an adult with developmental delays can be overwhelming if not down near next to impossible!

I was quite surprised that I felt more anxiety over swimming in public this summer than I have ever felt before (at 330 lbs). Eric (DH) said it was because of the hanging flabby stuff ( this seems to be showing up the more I exercise and build up muscle). He thinks PS will fix my head- but I doubt it- It will always be a one piece for us (me and my 8 " bat wings)

I loved diagraming- It was my best thing in 6-8th grade in English class. Spelling was SO NOT!!! (17% on Iowa state tests) SO I want a spell check too!!!! This is the operation I would consider if I lost my bad too! In regards to eating with children- this is what I have to do with 4 soon to adopt a 5th! (all under age 6 ) * IF WE EAT OUT- I get a mushy or Soup or chili! and maybe eat something of DH plate (bad but I can usually eat no problem * Breakfast- I eat after I put two on the bus for ECSE preschool and before the therapist of the day shows up (I get 15 minutes alone) but I have to scedule it * lunch - I eat after I put the kids down for a nap- (all of them) I usually drink 8-16 oz of milk while I am feeding them lunch to "tide me over" My lunch is usually a frozen meal- 300-350 cal and I eat most parts! * dinner - I sometimes eat what the family is eating- but never at the same time- It is too hectic and I have pb or gotten hurt when I try!. (I do keep trying though) But dinner is also my hardest time to eat now. So usually it is just something very small - where ever I can squeeze it in. I also need to eat before 7-8 pm to control mild reflux if I didn't eat enough all day I have to get in minimal of 1200 cal with most coming from solids or I get horrible reflux (and I drop below 150 lbs and it get worse) My problems seem to not be there as long as the scale is at 150 or higher (weird- but it works) Good luck with eating with young children- it is such a challenge!

bad for me---- they were my favorite food too

As weird as this sounds. I finally figured out "my acid reflux" was / is due to me not eating enough. It took almost 4 weeks of looking at foods and times I was eating, it finally stumbled onto the fact it was not the time or any " normal" factors for me it was a calorie "quantity". If I get below 1400- I have horrid reflux- so I have to watch that now. I am not trying to loose more weight, but their are days that my band "seizes up and Soup is it" due to cycle and moon beams or jupiter or whatever. I have to make sure I eat more or get it in somehow or I pay for it! I hope the post nasal drip is your cause- cause the lack of sleep can drive you insane!

I decided to figue mine on a weight that put me at 5'9" in a normal bmi range. 165 was my goal and normal. I am now 150- 155 (right in middle of normal BMI range/ (propbably too skinny - because I have about 15-20 lbs of hanging skin and still have a bottome 2 sizes bigger than the top! Nothing will change that but another surgery! I have litterally walked my &$$ off. But is is a 14 while top is 8-10. (NOT COMPLAINING THAT MUCH- but waist is the 8 makes it hard to get fitted pants and such) But I havbe often pondered that question about what is "normal" or 100% excess and no one really does seem to have the right answer. No I have not conquered my demons, just held them at bay- I really fear that if no band I would be back there quicker this time

I somewhat disagree with the sweet thing and such! I am / was a high volume anuthing eater- including sweets. But since banding I can say the following. 1-2 mini reces cups makes me happy (instead of 4 king size), a small bag of mm's or skittles is four- 5 days worth (or at least servings) for me now (again not the 1 lb bag), and a mini blizzard is two servings (inless the kids are at the hospital- then it is dinner- I can't chance a pb when I am taing care of them there) I have even had to throw out pies or cakes that we can no longer eat up before they go bad! SO yes my sweet intake is down. 10-15 corn chips is all I could eat if I didn't want ot eat anything else. I do eat a lot of soup- but again I have five kiddos under 6 that I have to keep up with and I always eat Soup or cottage chees or a mushie for dinner now- cause I can not concentrate and eat at the same table. Breakfast and lunch ar emy solid meal - (Isqueeze them in a nap time where I can concentrate) PS_ I feel I lost more than 100% of body weight. I am right in the middle and 15 lbs below my original goal

I have it bad, and we recently adjusted my metformin (since I weigh less now) - bad move!!!! I need the greater amount to keep periods at normal 28-30 day and keeps weight steady. It will be hard sell for my endocrinologist though! But the Acne is now back and I am loosing with my refill, however the symptoms returned with a vengence about 2 months after lowering dosage. BAND LOSS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did have such irregular cycles for the first 6-8 months when banded every 2-3 weeks. But the stabiliezed till dr lowered the met with my weightloos slowing down and reaching near goal!

I just saw this thread- And I will say your nephew is the most beautiful boy (next to my Colin of Course) I have seen in a long time! If your sister needs any help please email me. I have three children with DS )(soon to be four) and have spent oodles of time coaxing them to eat and lots of other trick. I also belong to a forum where there are lots of moms, dads and other to ask questions of ant they have all been there Jane

I have three adopted children, one semi open, one closed and one completely open. We love and respect all of our children's birth families- I could not ever nor have I ever said a negative word to my children about them. They are part of our children. I am so happy it went well for you and your husband. It is very difficult after such a long time to develop a relationship- but it is done all the time. Someone I care deeply for placed a child almost 20 years ago this past month, and I know she would love to hear from her. To date this is still her only child, and I remeber the agonizing and pain this decision caused her, but she did it for her daughter. She sill wait till time and fate play out and maybe they will meet. I hope you all find something you are looking for and wonderful new friendships

The other thing my doctor told me- is we as country over portion even for the kids! A meat serving for them is "their fist size" not mine! Same for other foods. So I down loaded a portion size chart for foods- but you also have to remember I am dealing with a lot of special needs children with tendancies for weight gain and the distinct possibility we might not read- so we are way to creative- I also have a padlock on the snack cabniet (ie- cherrios, grahm crackers, animal crackers, gold fish , mommy favorite home made oatmeal & bran "poopy" cookies. This is more to keep them out- since none of the lazy susan locks worked. But it does keep them out the oldest goes for the grape s or cut up apples first! (By the way I use "snack bags- about 1/2 - 2/3 size of sandwhich bag!- I love them)

I know I started early. Every weekend I make up baggies with carrot, grapes, melons and other fruits, apple slices dipped in lemon, they are the perfect to go size and my son and daughters will choose them over Cookies any time. (they also love frozen grapes) They will fight for yougurt in the cups- we started as a baby food. chips and other Snacks are for parties! They love goldfish and animal crackers and smarties is the only cany I really let them have on a regular basis. I also wrote the serving sizes on the cookie containers and the calories/fat amounts so I would remember and not hand them cookies to shut them up.. (Actually it is more for grandma- to know that two is sa 190 cal serving and it is ok to give them only one) I also taped a pictur eof what a serving size really looks like to each storage container for each type of food. I told COlin to pour or scoop till that amount.

I have lost well over 100 pounds too!

My weight when I first thought of banding was about 330. I lost about 30 on atkins got and stayed pregnant for sa surprise. Delivered at 270 on July 4th 2003 and got my band on 7/27 2004 at 278. My BMI was high- but not 50- I amalmost 5 ' 10 now (I keep getting taller as I loose weight. before at 330 ish after in October 2005 158 ish But I will say I was still breastfeeding which burs lots of extra calories so I did very well. I currently have no fill due to a problem (not really band related- just lost pregnancy) and am still at 155 (was actually happy to gain some weight back) I still have about 20 lbs of hanging skin in places I don't want. But you can do it!

Banded in Mexico Dr. Ortiz 7/27/04 No erosion

I have a really expensive one (about $1900 for floor model) It inclines to 20 % has 12 preprogramed work outs, storage for 3 personals and several other things. I have put over 65 miles on it since begining of the year (about 2-3 miles a day (I am litterally walking my ass off) I got it after Adtrian was born (a self pay on her birth as well- and I didn't use all the $ I put into the hospital account- So I took the extra for the tread mill! ) I really recommitted to exercise after having all my fill removed. (due to complication of band and pregnancy and body attacking the band at same time it was attacking the deceased fetus) I have only gained 3 lbs since- and I was really sick when we finally got it all out. But I could never get any exercise in with four kids and all if I had to go to the gym. I just finsihed 2 miles before I logged on and am now to energized to sleep!

You might try over the counter yeast cream (like the 3 or 7 day) miconozole product. It is likely a yeast infection! A few days of tratment will tell you if it is or is not. That is my problem and the more I work out the worse mine gets! So I lose but or have a red belly button.

I have to second the sling. But you have to be a sling type person to want one. I can still carry my little five year old and I also use it to cover the cart or as a blanket and about every other thing you could think of- but again you have to be that type of person. I always give the gerber lavendar baby lotion and bubble bath. My kids love it and it smells so good! I wish they made a spray for me in that fragrance. I also liked the gift cards and that would go great tucked in that neat wreath thing! That way I could get something I really needed once they got here and needed some special bottle or were allercic to cotton or couldn't use ______ formula and need a special or something like that.