Carlene

You are a brave soul. Most men would not let their ex-wives anywhere near them with a sharp object.

Is this fact, or rumor? Last I heard, Star Jones had admitted to surgery, but refused to disclose which one.

Before I spent the money to have a second band placed, I would get a second opinion. There just has to be a logical explanation for this. Have you had a swallow test under fluoro?

I absolutely LOVE the Vagina Monologues! I have not seen a live performance - only the cable version, which you can rent from Net Flix (and probably Blockbuster, too). I guess I fit the target audience (older women)...LOL. And I think you are right about the play "speaking for us". Most women my age would NEVER have the nerve. I think I could watch the VM with my daughter, but I NEVER could have watched it with my mother. My husband worked nights and he wasn't home when it ran on our cable network, so he's never seen it. I'd certainly like to watch him, watching it...I think.

Sharon O. has admitted to bulimia for some time now. She has also mentioned in several interviews that she promised her family she would get help. I think having the band removed is probably the advice of her therapist.

Sunshine...you don't need anyone's approval. Whether you tell your hubby up front or not, you don't need his approval. You are a responsible adult. Would you tell him he shouldn't have surgical treatment for whatever ailed him? Of course not (at least I hope not). But I still think it's going to be really hard to keep him in the dark afterward (pun intended). Even if you can manage that (undressing in the dark) until the incisions heal, what are you going to tell him when he feels the port? I'm smuggling small bombs (or drugs) to earn extra money for Christmas? And sometimes, especially with the VG band, the port actually shows a bit. My husband's looks like a little baby alien trying to get out. His is visible even thru his clothes, but I think that's unusual. Here's a photo, so you can see what I mean. His port is straight down from the little polo guy.

I read several interviews where she admitted to being bulimic. I think the band removal may be part of her therapy for the eating disorder. She said months ago that she had promised her family she would get help.

Okay...I can't stand it any longer. Barb (aka Mrs Husker), did you get your Halloween gift box? Please tell me it arrived. I mailed it Priority over a week ago.

You know...I never thought about the tubing at all until I saw it on an x-ray when they checked my spinal fusions. It kind of weirded me out, too.

It's amazing how many of those bypassed women, once they lose the extra weight, change their minds about the no-foreign-objects rule and get breast surgery with IMPLANTS to perk those puppies up again. And how many of them wear contacts? Hello....that's a foreign object you're sticking in your eye every morning.

Good luck with that. Once you start getting fills, anyone who eats with you regularly will notice something is up. Just about everyone slimes, at one time or another, and PB's. Sliming can last for an hour (or more). It's really hard to hide something like that (copious amounts of foamy mucus pouring out of your mouth) from your immediate household. And then there's your port. It feels like a nine volt battery resting just under the skin of your upper abdomen. And the five incisions from the surgery. Until they heal it looks a lot like you've been the victim in a drive by shooting. Afterward, they are just scars, like any wound/surgery leaves. Unless you and your husband have a strictly platonic relationship, I just don't think it's possible to pull this off. I'm sure, however, that there are lots of potential bandsters who would like to know how it works out for you.

Can I induce any of the physicians who belong to this group to offer an opinion on this? I belong to another board where a number of people are having potentially SERIOUS, recurring problems that may or may not be band related. (I have cut and pasted a series of posts below my message.) These ladies have all consulted their band docs, specialists, etc - without any concrete answers. I experienced something similar about a year ago and my doctor slapped my butt in the hospital, unfilled my band, and put me on a course of IV, then oral antibiotics. His diagnosis was Aspiration Pneumonia. The general professional consensus seems to be that these are not cases of Aspiration Pneumonia, otherwise they would not clear up without treatment. I'm thinking there are just way too many instances of this for it to NOT be band related. Do we have anyone here with a similar experience? Here are the posts... Post #1:ffice:office" /><O:p></O:p> Several months ago, I wrote a message to you about fever, teeth chattering, vomitting etc. This happens to me on a semi-regular basis -- 3-5 times a year. My PCP sent me to an infectious disease specialist who tested me for every possible inf,. disease. All were negative. I thought it was related to reflux, and you seemed to agree. My hiatal hernia was surgically fixed, yet I still have fever, vomitting etc. My doctors call this my "mystery illness", "fever of unexplained origin" in relation to the band.. My lapband was inserted in Oct '04. To date I have lost only 30 lbs. You can imagine how depressing this is. Have your doctors been any more forthcoming? These fevers (102 degrees and up) mean I am fighting an infection, but no one seems to know what. Any help would be appreciated.<O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> Post #2:<O:p></O:p> Rose, I'm not a doctor, so I don't know what to tell you. I do remember you asking me about it because everytime I had reflux I also felt really yucky and fevery the next day. I know for myself it's directly related to the night time reflux. I've always suspected that my body is ensuring I don't get any infection from the stuff I'd aspirated into my lungs. I'm sorry that this is happening to you. I'll let you know if my doctor has any ideas. Post #3:<O:p></O:p> Robin<O:p></O:p> I have these same symptoms. I, too, have nighttime reflux, but thought my symptoms were possibly gall bladder in nature. I wonder how many of us have this!!!!<O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> For me, these types of symtpoms are directly related to my nighttime "reflux". I am sure I have aspirated fluids, and I probably don't get "sicker" because there is no food or stomach acid in it - as we discussed in the other reflux post, it's just liquid, and usually mostly saliva. The next day, I feel downright sick for at least 4 or 5 hours. I feel fevery (though I don't always actually have an elevated temp), nauseous and headachy. It does pass as the day wears on - sometimes faster than others. My doctor said it would take an immediate doctor visit, a chest xray at least and probably blood work to see if there was anything incubating in my lungs. He told me if the pattern changes, to let him know, but if Tylenol and a few hours passing addresses it, that's what I should do.<O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> Post #4:<O:p></O:p> Thank you for all your responses, I have been on several courses of antibiotics. When the fevers etc. began, I would wake up with flu-like symptoms - so sick I could not get out of bed for 5-6 hours, but I would be fine the next day. Now I begin to feel sick 2-3 hours after I wake up and I am not better for at least 24 hours. I have had two MD visits during an actual episode. Bloodwork confirmed an infection. Chest xrays were clear. I was sent to an infectious disease MD to test for malaria, dengue fever etc (all have recurring fevers as a symptom) and was negative for all. I saw my PCP, gastroenterologist, lapband doctor, even my gynecologist . I guess I need Dr. House now.<O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> Post #5:<O:p></O:p> I had the same thing numerous times in the past. I would have fever the next day and felt generally run down and awful. I needed to spend the better half of the day in bed. Good thing I was not working during this period or I would have been fired for so many sick days. As it was I think my friends who did not know I had the band thought I was terminally ill. The problem is stomach contents entering the lungs at nightime. This occurs during sleep when the musculature is completely relaxed. Also our saftey reflex called our " gag reflex" which causes us to cough and the opening to our trachea to close does not work as well when we are sleeping or in the supine position. The lungs are "sterile" unlike the stomach, intestines and esophogus. Whenever anything "unsterile" enters the lungs the body reacts by creating inflamation, fever and white cells come to surround and battle the envader. If our immune response loses this battle it turns into full flegged pneumonia caused by the aspiration of the stomach contents. This problem must be fixed for obvious reasons. Long term I believe you will permanantly damage your lungs with scar and fibrotic tissue. You will be at high risk for esophogeal cancer. ( and possibly lung cancer?) And people have been known to die from aspiration pnemonia, especially if it evolves into somthing called Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), where the lungs go into shock and stop working. If you do survive you will have to endure a long serious illness requiring a stay in the ICU and a respirator. Much to my dismay, my severe reflux was not simply fixed by the repair of my slip and Hialtal Hernia. It occured after incremental unfills. I was simply too tight. Dr. Feilding's last unfill did the trick. However, unfills before the Hiatal Hernia and slip repair were not effective. It was the combination of the surgical repair and the incremental unfills. I have had no problems since ( almost a year) I can eat a full meal and go right to sleep without a problem. I wish everyone who suffers from this gives it full attention, repairs what needs to be repaired and lossen up by all means. Best of luck, ffice:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<ST1:place w:st="on">Nancy</ST1:place></st1:City><O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> Post #6:<O:p></O:p> Thank you all. I am hearing my symptoms repeated as you all report yours. I have another gastroenterologist appointment next week and will reiterate what you all have told me about your symptoms. How can so many MD's, including lapband surgeons, and gastroenterologists not have heard of these symptoms? From all your comments, it seems as though reflux is what we are all suffering from. I will also mentiomn these symptoms in a message to Anne (aefpa), in hopes that she can ask Dr. Fielding about these continued fevers etc. I am, clearly not the only lapband patient with this problem. It is ridiculous to think no one (MD's) know what we are experiencing.<O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p> <O:p></O:p>

Actually, we were wondering if these symptoms (chills, fever, flu-like aching) which seem to reoccur on a regular basis ARE, in fact, band related. Are they dangerous? Should a person who experiences this on a regular basis have their band unfilled? Sorry I wasn't more specific in my first question.

Better yet, buy a tongue scraper at your neighborhood pharmacy. They are cheap and effective. The bad breath is definitely due to ketosis. Breath sprays work pretty well, if used several times a day. Also, there are little strips you can buy - like congealed mouthwash. I like those a lot - especially the cinnamon ones.

I researched different WLS procedures for a year before I made my choice. It wasn't a financial decision, as my insurance would pay for whatever surgery I chose. My doctor performs both LB and bypass and did not promote one over the other (although he is banded himself). I, too, was turned off by the idea of taking supplements. I'm a lousy pill-taker. Also, there was the matter of my oldest son's neighbor. She died from complications of her bypass. And finally, there is a Yahoo group called OSSG Gone Wrong http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-gone_wrong/?yguid=196617044 It scared the daylights out of me. Here is a story from a woman who had both the band and the DS, and complications from both. I had a gastric band placed in January 2000. It was very straightforward and and had a reasonably easy run for a few years until I vomited some blood and ended up with a rash on my belly. It turned out to be a late allergy to silicone which had caused an erosion. I saw a WLS expert to remove the band and convert it. I was offered RNY or DS. I chose DS as I would be able to eat more! (ha!) When I asked about complications he said a small risk of leaks and that I would need to take vitamins and 100g protein each day. My operation was difficult as the band was welded to my stomach and there were lots of adhesions. It was placed high and so my lower oesophageal sphincter has been ruined and I have permanent reflux. Now two years later I have borderline osteoporosis and take mega doses of ergocalciferol. My liver function tests are barely passable. I have recurrent bacterial overgrowth. Until I started taking lots of meds I was losing my hair too. I now take 12 vita4life each day, lansoprazole, iron, folic acid and creon. My recent endoscopy stretch my sleeve which is still very tight. Some days I can eat a lot and other days hardly at all. To be honest the vita4life have made a great difference but I am still in the bathroom twice a night so I am very tired in the mornings. I visit the bathroom 4-8 times daily- even with all the iron I am taking. Yes, I know there are risks associated with any surgical procedure. I just thought it was a good idea to minimize my risks, and statistically the bad is safer than the other options. Although it is true that most people do fine with the RNY and DS, I wasn't willing to take a chance on being the one that didn't.

Evidently there are FOUR bands. I cut and pasted this from the Inamed site - the product data sheet. Overfilling the band may damage the band. CAUTION: Maximum fill volume of the Vanguard band is 10cc. CAUTION: The maximum fill volume of the 11 cm band is 9 cc. CAUTION: The maximum fill volume of the 9.75 and 10 cm band is 4 cc.

I just checked the Inamed web site and both the small and middle size bands hold 4 cc's of saline. The diameter of the two is almost the same, too - one is 9.75 cc and the other is 10 cc. I don't see how it could possibly help to replace your band with one that holds the same amount of fill and is only .25 cc smaller in diameter. I still think you need to have your band checked under fluoro. And definitely get a second opinion before you consent to a second surgery.

We are talking about Inamed bands, aren't we? The smallest band is the 4 cc capacity band. I don't know anything about the middle one (didn't know there was a middle size), but the large VG band holds 12 cc's. If you are, indeed, filled to the max and have no restriction, something is wrong. I would insist on having a fluoro study done. I think the nurse is mistaken. Either the middle size band holds more than 4 cc's, or you have the large band. My DH has 8 cc's in the VG band and is soon to get another fill. The large band holds 12 cc's. I have never heard of anyone having their band removed just to replace it with one of another size. And I fail to see how that would help you lose weight.

This is the hardest part about being banded. The band makes it physically impossible for you to over-eat. Your head, however, has no such limits. We were fat because we ate too much. We ate past the point of feeling "satisfied". We ate (not always, but often enough) until we were stuffed. We could eat a helping (or more) of everything on the table. Now we can't do that, but we still WANT to. We still love the taste of food. And we still WANT to over-eat. I was also guilty of grazing. I thought I had to have a drink or a piece of food in my hand every waking moment. I ate at the computer, while I read, in front of the TV....the only place I didn't eat was in the car. I have worked really hard to break those habits. I have learned to read without food, and that was a biggie. I also used to eat in the middle of the night. I don't allow myself to do that any more, either. The band is a tool. I'm sure you're sick of hearing that, but it's true. It's the difference between cutting a tree down with an ax and using a chain saw. Don't fight with your band. Let it take the lead. Let it choose what you can eat and how much. In the end, you will be glad you did. Even if you have a hard time distinguishing between real hunger and "head hunger", remember that neither one is going to do you any harm. The best thing to do is distract yourself - go do something that requires you to think, and you will forget all about food.

What does your doctor say about the weakness and dizziness? Does he think this is normal? I would ask him to address my symptoms, as well as reconsider his "time off" rule. I don't think you are supposed to feel this way a week after surgery.

What kind of work do you do? I could do office work with no problem at one week post-op, but I could not have done really strenuous stuff - lifting, etc. I went to a Christmas party 8 days after my surgery and had a great time, but everyone is different. Do you have vacation you could take instead, or personal time? That way the doctor would not be involved.

See my thread "Help...Many doctors, no answers". I have had the same symptoms, as have Bandsters from other boards. I am hoping that one of the doctors here will address this.

This is not about race, but rather nationality. When I was a young DINK (double income, no kids) my husband and I lived in an apartment complex near downtown Dallas that housed mostly singles. One of our neighbors was Isabel, a young Scottish lass. Across the hall from Isabel lived Robert - typical American male in his mid-twenties. Toward the end of one of our regular Sunday afternoon poolside barbecues, Isabel caught Robert's attention just as he was leaving. She had suddenly remembered that her alarm clock was on the blink. "Robert," she yelled from about 20 feet away, "Could you come round in the morning and knock me up?" We were all laughing so hard, no one could explain to poor Isabel for a good 10 minutes. She kept going from one of us to the next, asking "What did I say? WHAT DID I SAY?

There you are, Mary. I lost you because I didn't know your LBT name. The Arlington dinner is always the 3rd Thursday of the month. In October, it's the 19th.

I would love to visit Canda, in real time - especially summer. It gets REALLY hot in Texas, you know - like 107 for weeks on end. It's pretty nice now, though....about 72 at night and a bit warmer in the day. My favorite snack when I was a kid was ketchup on saltine crackers. My mother hated for me to eat them, for some reason. Same thing with mustard sandwiches - I loved them, and she cringed every time I begged her into making one for me. We have all kinds of chips here (but no ketchup). I don't like the "newer" ones - like salt and vinegar and dill pickle. I love sour cream chips, but my all time favorite is crispy Cheetos. I can't have them in the house or I will eat a whole bag in one day. My DH loves veggie chips. Being as this is Texas, Doritos are very popular served with salsa - also Fritos and all brands of tostidos.