Kelly Ann

Who are your doctors???? You are all misinformed or not informed at all, YOU SHOULD NOT BE EATING AFTER SURGERY!!!!! are you crazy??? You know the answer already...You either are just cheating or your doctors' are of the new breed of jump on the lapbandwagon surgeons that don't have the experience and knowledge they need to be treating people!!! LIQUIDS AT LEAST 10DAYS!!!! MUSHIES AT LEAST 10 DAYS!!! YOU Will harm yourselves otherwise you need to heal!!! There is no grey area here follow the orders.If your doc let you eat a burger a few days after surgery or drink 32 ounces of water then you have a doctor that does not know what he is doing!!! I don;t want otherds to read your posts and think that you guys are the norm and that it's ok You will lose the band or harm yourselves

I stumbled on this support section on the forum last night and feel it was for a reason... I need some help . I am feeling like presently I am not only using food but alcohol as well to numb me and stuff everything down. I have had some complications and have been basically unrestricted and going crazy eating since May... I gained like 35 back now.... I also have been drinking as well all along and even when I was close to goal for the past four years... I am at a point emotionally where I realize I need professional help for my head and that I really need to sort out the baggage. It can't be pushed down anymore if I am using food and alcohol as my only source of comfort. Even when it was only a three ounce piece of salmon and pureed vegtables it was my source of focus and soothing always with an "expensive" glass of wine or more...Going "out" to a nice place was a n entire experience for me to make myself feel better... Is this so wrrong? I guess when you can'e control your eating and drinking it is... I am considering a 12 step...I have been to AA before a few years back but of course decided that I really did not have a problem ... I also had trouble finding a group I felt comfortable with. The person I asked to be my sponsor flaked out and I was scared off. I have been to Food Addicts for awhile. I have never tried OA . I just need some advice and connection with someone on here. I am banded ,,,soon to be re-banded and not your average case. I am feeling awful right now.

As you can see I am 4 years out from surgery and due to have a revision and hialtal hernia repair. I am steadily gaining weight since being unfilled. This has proven to me that I have no control and need this band!!! I wa size 4 and loving life and feeling great. If something were to happen like me so what?? get it fixed. Your journey will be great. Come to the boards and get info but remember there are some peopel on here who post things that would scare anyone away from the banding surgery. Some people have major issues and things they will not admit on here either so worry about you and do the right thing and follow the doctors advice. You will be in skinny summer clothes before you know it!!! I know how you feel facing tomorrow I was there and I will be next Friday but it works and is a great tool. I will be thinking of you and looking forward to hearing from you as a new bandster!!! Congrats on embarking on a new healthier you!!! I would always keep my band and if I need another surgery down the road so be it...It works and has changed my life

Hey thanks for replying to me. I have had several esophograms. I had one today ! My doctor saw the hiatal hernia. It confirmed what we thought. It never showed up before on the three others I had. They told me it is very hard to diagnose a hiatal hernia and that sometimes you can't see it until they operate. Anyway, It has been an ordeal and it is nice to connect with my fellow bandsters to talk. I really want to get back to my good weight. I have steadily been losing my self esteem and I feel like a failure. I can't control my eating and I know this since I have been unfilled and gained again!!! I just pray the second surgery goes well and I get home in one piece and safe. This is a journey and I am still on it.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal... I too have had a rough year and a half of fills unfills pain from reflux and pressure. today I have been scheduled for a new band and hiatal hernia repair. I had been about 140 for over two years and doing well but sometimes there are problems . I should not have waited ssoooo long and got unfilled and gained some back... Good luck with your new band!! I am glad I got the band and will always have one they work great when you work them!!!

Dr. George Fielding of NYU Hospital in New York City will take care of you. He is known worldwide. It is easy to take the train into Penn Station and grab a cab . I sometimes have walked to the hospital. Google him and you will see his credentials. You must be seen monthly in the first year . Or every eight weeks or so. If you have any questions post them to me!

Hi Puddin- I have not posted in a long while on these boards but I am so intrigued by your story. You are really a cool girl! You're personality comes across as so genuine . I know what you mean about the transformation thing and the not knowing how to act around men. I am married but I have not worn my wedding band in three years ...not really sure if I am staying . Anyway....I just wanted to say to you I too understand about the major change and how it is difficult to get used to how different you are treated by everyone -----men especially! It just happend again last weekend. A man I used to know came up to me and said I was watching you walk across the gym (we were at a sporting event) and he said I was thinking "wow who is that?" He then said I saw you talking to so and so and then realized it was you! I thought you were some 25 year old....This guy used to never even say hello to me or even acknowledge me on previous meetings. The kicker for me is I had just turned 40 that very day! I am happy but not at ease at the attention from men sometimes. I would not trade this for anything but it is something huge to deal with. Therapy would be good for me too I think. I have also been considering surgery like yours. I am basically at goal and in sizes 4-6 on the bottom and small- medium on top I am 36C but mostly skin and sagging in the bra now. I am inspired to start planning final part of the journey and get the surgeries done!!! You really are a great girl and have much to look forward to! I look forward to reading more about your recovery and getting on in life with the new and improved you!

Thanks everyone for your fantastic insight! I am a little better this week. I would have gotten to the doc sooner but I just could not get myself into New york this week. I have been very careful to eat early between 4-6 and stick to liquids and water after that. I am still sleeping propped way up at night ... I was able to move on to protein this past week (solids) and feel better and hydrated. You all made such great points to me. I will re-think alot of my behaviors and also try to accept where I am at now. I did lose with this fill and of course that makes me feel great since I have been around the same number for so long. I was 232 at my biggest at 5ft 7. I was banded at 217 and am now 150. I wear some 4's and some 6's at this weight. Ten more pounds up and I am an 8. I am beyond grateful and can't even believe I am writing those numbers for my size. I carried that weight and developed health problems at 37 . I come from a family with obesity problems on my DAd's side so I saw what was coming. I took a leap of faith at my lowest point and decided to go for the operation. I thank God I did every day. My life has changed dramatically. So many people who knew me heavy just gush when they see me now. It feels amazing to get compliments. I have to get my head in order and accept myself and see the thinner me now. All of you mad esuch great points to me. I will be going to the doc Dec 18 and will ask for another look at the old band with the flouroscope but some of you mentioned I should get the endoscopy. I will ask for that since I have never had one. I want to be sure I am ok. If I could not get the food down and keep it down I would have went right in to NYU. I seem better with everyday -I just need to follow all of the bandsters rules better...I will let you all know how I am doing !

I am two years out from banding. I have been my current weight or around it for well over a year I am wondering if I may have hiatal hernia....has anyone had one???? I can't seem to get past my current fill w/out night coughing , weezing and throwing up...I tried twice a little more and each time took it out. I thought it was due to a cold all of the mucus. I had the flouroscope last month all looked well including a chest x-ray. last year I had only two fills all year. I feel pressure right in front where my bra line is between the boobs ....all of the time even before my last fill two weeks ago. It was my first fill since April 2006. I only received a small fill. so to recap: can't get past this fill to reach my goal in over a year . If I go past I must remove ( it is not filled all of the way ) due to cough , throwing up at night, feel pressure just under the ribs between bra line and boobs -like a constant uncomfortable feeling.... had flourascope looked ok last month... Hiatal Hernia or something else??? Oh and I think I aspirate from the night coughing.... help!!!!!

So sorry to hear about your daughter. Dr. george Fielding of NYU in New york specializes in children and teens. He has been on television talking about it many times. He is my doctor now --you must call him he is the best good luck.

I was afraid and apprenensive but all went well. I go to NYU Dr Fielding for fills and aftercare. I'd be happy to tell you about my experience with him. You are right to look at the number of surgeries he has done and I have never read or heard anything bad about him. Infact , he is well regarded in the world as well as the USA for having a wonderful reputation. He has mot experince than many US doctors. He has a lapband as well.

I need some advice. I want to know if anyone is having problems with pressure from your bra strap line in the front and /or their bust putting uncomfortable pressure on the diaphram area? My bras are very uncomfortable and when I literally pick up my boobs up and off that area I feel relief. I am not that huge 38 d. It is more skin now than actual firm tissue. I wonder if something is wrong or is this grounds for a boob lift? ( I want one anyway ) but this pressure is really causing me discomfort and problems on a daily basis . It is discomfort in the diaphram. I have not had afill since the end of APril and am still 158 . Of course I will contact my doctor probably in the next week I will see him but I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue??? Does anyone think this is because I actually need a lift to correct this problem or possible band problem ?

an owner of a summer cheerleading camp and a summer basketball camp. I also raise a couple of kids who I often want to exchange back at the hospital that they were all birthed at for three new ones!!! (now that I think I know what I am doing- I'd do a better job mothering ) only kidding I love them but teenagers area b*&%$!!! I still want to finish my degree in education ar some point which i put on hold to have kids....

:rant: Last week after dealing with this same problem as all of you gals I went for it and had hair extensions put in! I am sooooo happy with them!!! My mother is a hair dresser and she can't believe how natural they came out no one can tell except for the fact it is long and thick again. I had real human hair in three shades put in -they use a keratin based type thing and a tiny iron to attatch it. They only do very small strand sections. My head is still a little sore but I love them! It took 7 hours and it was $1500 . It will last up to six months as long as I follow the guidelines. I was so depressed about my hairloss . It was thin, brittle and sparse. It was not coming back the way it was and I have even developed some psoriesis (they say from stress) on my scalp since banding. I saved the money took a deep breathe and went for it. The reaction has been incredible from family and friends. I feel so much better about myself now. Girls look into it and only the best hair and salon - you can not tell at all! There is no reason to live with this ---that is why God invented extensions and the lapband.....

Since I have lost weight I get treated differently by everyone. It is great now but sad because before I think people did not really take me seriously or respect me. I have not "come out" about my surgery except to my husband and children. I have also told a few people I felt needed me to who perhaps might need to consider the band. I won't tell everyone I won't do it to myself. People will judge and once you tell them all there is no going back and they tell others and so forth. Then people make snide remarks about being too weak and so forth. I have heard those who have not dealt with weight issues talk about WLS patients and they generally say they were weak or took the easy way out. We all know that is such a load of Bull but I am glad I did not tell . I am a year and half out of surgery . I struggle to get to goal and struggle in my mind with this head hunger I have . My emotions take over and stress helps me find other sabotaging things like milkshakes I should not have or too much alcohol. I get treated differently yes and it is good now and I am getting attention from men and compliments from women who can't believe I finally did it and all... Does discrimination exist against heavy people?? Oh yes it does. It sucks but it is true. I struggle with the band it is not easy but I would do it again in a heartbeat. If anything ever happens to it I will get it again.