molynn

I too came from an abuse family. My dad was a nasty alchoholic. I remember too vividly being beaten with his belt. My mom I guess did the best she could. The grandfather my children know and love (and so do I) is not the same person I grew up with. My mom died 7 months ago and my dad has not had a drink in about 20 years. He was able to beat his addiction and I am sure it is still a struggle for him everyday. I was also sexually abused by a first cousin for many years when I was approximately 10 years old. I am seeing a counselor once a week now to deal with all these issues. food is my addiction. chocolate candy (Milky Way bars) I considered my biggest weakness. Since I don't have the strength to say no on my own, my band stops me from overdosing on food. I have to admit since I was banded 4-1/2 months ago, I did have a bad day where I just thought to myself that for one day I wished I didn't have the band so I could stuff my face. Now that I am having problems with my band I wish I could take that back. My band is a part of me now and I don't want to lose it. Sorry for rambling on........

Boy do you have a way with words. What you say is so so true. It is so difficult to face our addiction everyday, but with the band it makes it a lot easier. I can't wait for you to ride the "Band" wagon with us.

I've been banded for 4-1/2 months and I still have a hard time adjusting to not drinking with meals. I try to load up on water before I eat and that seems to help a bit. The times that I did drink with my meal.....everything came back up. I learned my lesson.

Tina, the more you move around, the better you will feel. You'll start feeling better with each day. Congratulations on your new band.

When you have restriction I think the most important thing is to chew chew chew. It took me a while to remember to do that since I would usually inhale my food (lol) before.

What a beautiful family you have Alex. You look fabulous. It feels good to cross those legs doesn't it. That is my favorite thing to do right now that I wasn't able to do before.

I have had the worst week ever. At this point I don't know whether to believe my radiologist or my surgeons. I have been vomiting a lot lately and stupid me never told my doctors. I finally told them and now I had to have the remaining 1cc taken out last Thursday. The first 1cc was taken out a month before because I could not eat anything. They thought it was too tight. Last Thursday I went for an unfill under flouro. It took this man 45 minutes and lots of sticks to finally get the Fluid out. He said I had a lot of scar tissue and that the port keep moving away. So now I am black and blue. Normally the radiologist does not talk to patients and tell them what he was seeing, but he did not see a pouch and told me that the band was around the bottom of my esphogus. He said it definitely was not around my stomach. I told him I was scheduled for August 3rd for a endoscopy to see if the band was eroding into my stomach and he said the only reason for a scope was to see what damage was done to my esphogus because of the constant vomiting. On Firday I went to my surgeons and they told me the band was right were it was supposed to be and that the radiologist had no right to talk to me at all. Yesterday I went and picked up my xrays and the reports and sure enough the report says exactly what this man told me. I went to my primary doctor also yesterday because I was so upset and he read the report to my gastro doctor who said it sounded like the band slipped. My surgeon called me last night and told me that the radiologist does not know what he is looking at because he is new at this (not very comforting) and that the band is where it is supposed to be but that it could take years for a "pouch" to form. I never ever heard this before. Has anyone ever heard this. Anyway, I am seeing my gastro tomorrow for a consultation and will probably have the endoscopy on 8/3. My surgeon said if the band is eroding, it will have to be removed (he'll have to catch me first) I am not giving up my band. He said they can remove it and six months later I can have another one put on. He must think I am independently wealthy because I don't think insurance would pay for it. I was only banded on 3/17/04. How could a band erode so fast. I am on liquids only until my scope. I am doing medifast. I am so scared I can't even think. My doctor pretty much read me the riot act over the phone and told me if I don't have the scope he will help me find another doctor because he will not treat a patient who does not listen to what he wants them to do. I thought band erosion was rare, but on all the sites I have been on it seems to be happening alot to people. My internist says my BP is high now. He said it is because I am upset....ya think. Anyhow, sorry for the very long post. I just needed to vent. Maureen

I'm in on the scale challenge. I will start this Monday. I am a definite scale addict. I weigh myself more than once a day. I obsess over the scale. I should concentrate on non scale victories I think.

Congratulations on your band surgery Lucy. Sounds like you have a great surgeon. Good luck!

I'm too afraid to try toast. I tried a hard roll a few months ago and decided never again. It just would not go down. I have to stick to saltines once in a while.

This is a great post Patty. You are truly an inspiration to me. I have struggled through a lot of the same things. PBing in restaurants was definitely one of them Congratulations on hitting one of your goals and a month early at that.

Alex, this is the start of my second week of Medifast. Weekends are very difficult with me not eating. Last Saturday we had a party for my son's 24th birthday. I did all the cooking but did not taste anything. Last Sunday, I participated in a walk for Pancreatic cancer (my mom died from it 2 weeks before Christmas in 2003) and after the walk we all went to a diner and I had 2 cups of coffee while everyone ate in front of me. At night my sister had a barbecue because my dad is up from Florida. I had nothing but Water and my Medifast. I feel like I am on the outside looking in watching people eat. ONce I am able to eat something I think I will be too afraid to. Either I am going to eat too much (my biggest fear about eating) or I will eat next to nothing. I dream of a scrambled egg. How sad is that. Last Friday I weighed in at 225.5 Today I weighed in at 217.5 Just hope I don't gain it back once I start to eat.

Wow Ryan, your doctor should frame your answer. That was a great answer.

Ouch...that looks like it hurts. One side looks kinda nasty. Hope you are doing well.

Awesome weight loss total Cindy. You are doing great.

This is a great site. A lot of great information. I am checking out the individual sites. Thanks!

Just a little update of my dilemma. I went to the gastro and he said on Tuesday he will see 1 of 3 things. My band is partially resting on my esphogus (they now tell me my band is sitting on an angle. The band is eroding into my stomach and must come out. Everything looks fine, maybe still a little swelling and that maybe my band is placed too high for me and might need to be repositioned. I have avoided all of my surgeons calls to me. I am really too upset to talk to him now. I will wait until Tuesday and find out what they say. I am praying my band is okay. I can take a surgery to reposition, but I will be devasted if the band is eroding. I don't think insurance pays for a second band but I might be wrong. My doctor said if the band needs to come out, he can put one back in six months. I guess he thinks I am independently weathly. Keep your fingers crossed for me guys. I need all the prayers I can get.

Thanks everyone for all your wisdom and advice. You make me feel so much better. It is very comforting. I wish you all could enlighten my doctors who at this point seem to be a bunch of idiots. I see the gastro today with my films, reports etc. I have been told I am not allowed to try food until further notice. I'm a little nervous trying food anyway. I so afraid I will eat like I did before the band. I am only allowed Medifast. I lost 5 pounds since Friday, but this is not why I had the surgery for the band. I don't think they are allowing me to eat at least until I have the scope on the 3rd. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders by just talking to all of you. I truly believe that you get the best answers from a person who was banded. Erosion at this point has been my biggest fear and I couldn't understand how after 4 months this band would be eroding because it was too tight. I think my doctors are trying to scare the heck out of me. I feel so much better, Ican't thank you guys enough. In a very short time this has become my favorite board. You are all so warm and welcomed me to the family. Love you all. Maureen

Hi everyone. My name is Maureen. Iwas banded on 3/17/04 by Dr. Leon Katz and Dr.Glen Fitterman on Long Island, New York. To date I have lost 35.5 pounds. Hope to get encouragement and support from everyone. I can't wait to get to know everyone. Maureen:p

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I am excited to be part of such an awesome group. Maureen

Denise, I am having a similar problem I think. I just got a complete unfill yesterday under flouro (it took them 45 minutes - they could not hit the port because of scar tissue). Anyhow, I was banded on 3/17/04, had my first fill of 2cc on 5/13. Because of quite a bit of PBing, they took out 1cc under flouro on 6/21. Yesterday the remaining one 1cc was taken out. Now i am totally confused. The radiologist said he didn't see the pouch and that the band was actually around the bottom of my esphogus (sp?). He said the only way to fix it was surgery. Today I saw my two surgeons and they thought the band was in a good spot. I am scheduled to have an endoscopy on 8/3 to see if there is any damage to my esphogus because of the Pbing and also to check to make sure the band is not eroding into my stomach. I am so confused now, I don't know what to believe. I am asking for the reports from the radiologist to see what he said. Until further notice they told me to have fluids only. I am just miserable. It seems like slippage is very common. Any words of wisdom would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Mine is about an 1 to 2" below my waist on my left side.

Hi Minda1. I too was banded 4 months ago and am brand new to this site. Looking forward to getting to know you.