itsyvonne

Why don't you start practicing now ... pretend that you're already banded and eat like a bandster at these gatherings and see if anyone notices. You could say you're on a diet and you're trying behavioral modification techniques like serving yourself smaller portions, eating slower, and taking smaller bites. By the time you actually get restriction, nobody should notice any difference. :eek: Worth a try...easier said than done, I'm sure!

I can only eat about 1/2 a sandwich ... and my level of restriction is on the looser side compared to what I know others can typically eat. From what you say, it seems like you could use another fill, but it would probably be good to get your fill(s) in very small increments since you tend to get irritated.

I hope you mean a gall bladder sonogram. Your symptoms sound exactly like a gall bladder attack, as others mentioned.

Just a peripheral point ... the 11cm band is not the same band as the VG band, although it is similar in size and capacity. It's also an Inamed band but it is not approved for use in the United States.

I would choose the 10cm band because it's only slightly bigger than the 9.75 ... just in case you do have a fattier stomach it has a bit less of a chance of being too tight from the outset. I would avoid the VG band because of the possibility of taking a much longer time to get to optimal restriction. There is no scientific data at this point that tells us that the VG band results in fewer complications, even though you will probably see speculation along those lines.

My surgeon won't prescribe it because it interferes with being able to tell if the band is working and whether or not you need another fill. I have heard of some surgeons prescribing it to help you get through a period of being unfilled (e.g., if you're unfilled to calm things down after a bout of reflux).

The thing he said about roasted nuts got my attention. Apparently roasting nuts changes the "good fat" in them to a "bad fat" (as bad for you as partially hydrogenated fats). You should stick to raw nuts only.

Also, another thing I did not know is that you should not use Olive Oil to cook over high heat (changes the good fat to bad) ... you should use an oil with a higher "flash point."

How many bands has your surgeon done? I think this is a very rare complication ... to have it happen twice is very odd. So sorry you're having to go through this!

Banded July 2002.

I have lost 110 lbs and have been maintaining at goal for almost a year. My BMI is 22.

I considered getting my port switched when I had a LBL, but my PS and WLS talked me out of it. The PS didn't think my regular port would really show after LBL.

Well, it turns out that it does show, but not very much...it's definitely acceptable to me.

There were other downsides...it wasn't simply the cosmetic aspect - i.e.:

* Replacing the port would have released all the saline from the band, and required me to go through a series of fills again to get to the right level.

* The cost of the new port was $700 ... on top of all the other money I was already spending on this surgery!!

* Recovery would have been harder (the port being sewed into muscle was the hardest part of recovering from lap-band surgery for me)

Have healthy, sit-down meals w/your family and eat the same things they are eating. If you're too tight for eating most 'regular' foods (solid Proteins, vegetables), then you may be too tight, period.

I don't think the old thread gives any more names than what have already been listed here..........cuz there aren't any other celebs who are 'out' about having a band....yet.

P.S. Randy Jackson did not have the VBG; he had the 'Fobi pouch' variation of the Roux-en-Y

I "only" had 100 lbs to lose ... so yeah, it was an unrealistic expectation for me. As it turned out, I didn't even lose 50 the first year ... I had setbacks with reflux and having to get unfills. I eventually got to my goal...after about 2.5 years ... and now it doesn't really matter to me how long it took.

Wikipedia lists:

Khaliah Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali)

Brian Dennehy

Anne Diamond

Sharon Osbourne

Ann Wilson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lap_Band#Celebrities

I got to keep my slipped band ... I also got to keep my gallstones.

Leatha - what are your problems since rebanding? I am sorry to hear that. I actually had horrible problems for the entire 3 years that I had my first band (a 9cc Midband), and my second band (4cc lap-band) works like a dream.

-Yvonne

How frustrating! I can believe that it could easily happen, though. That is what makes me nervous about having the PS replace my port ... when he replaces the port I believe the protocol is flush the port & tubing with saline and then fill.

I'm still communicating back & forth w/my band surgeon to get all my questions answered (via email). Luckily my band surgeon does work pretty closely with my PS - but he won't be there at the time of surgery, and this port replacement will be a "first" for my PS).

The band surgeon told my PS to refill me to a level just below where I am now, and that we'll make up the rest with a fill or two post surgery. I am really worried about this, though!!! ackkk!!

Regarding your case - I WOULD perhaps want to seek a second opinion. However, I wouldn't necessarily not trust this person - it sounds like he is very experienced, and as long as you are not having symptoms, it may be okay. If you have an uneasy feeling about it, though, please do seek a second opinion.

-Yvonne

P.S. Are you unhappy at all with the bulge of your port after PS? I am thinking that maybe I should just live with the bulge (which may not even be noticeable) and not expose myself to the risk of the port replacement.

Did you lose your saline during plastic surgery because he replaced the port with a low profile one?

I am considering whether or not to get the low profile port, but one of my biggest fears is messing with my restriction and getting into a situation similar to what you are enduring. I also wonder if getting unfills (or changing saline level drastically) can increase the risk of slippage.

My original band slipped after this cycle:

one slight unfill due to reflux

complete unfill about 3 months later due to continued reflux

endoscopy - no problems seen

one fill after about 4 months of being unfilled (upper GI showed no slippage)

slippage about 2 months after that (I had been banded about 3 years at that point)

Looks like you're selling this product. Sorry if I misinterpreted.

I am incensed reading this story. Is there any sort of legal action you can take against this surgeon? If he were telling the truth, I imagine he would have taken photographs of it because it is such an odd case that should be documented & discussed with colleagues.

It appears to me that the evidence points towards him lying to absolve himself of any responsibility to you. Do you feel this is the case?

-Yvonne

I am amazed that she can wear a bikini without first having a Tummy Tuck.

BTW, the scars don't necessarily prove anything - as someone said, similar incisions are made for gallbladder surgery. Now, if there are 5 incisions and one scar is obviously bigger ... that might be more convincing...

If he definitely did say 10cc, then it is probably a typo on your chart - because the VG band's "official" capacity is 10cc. The VG band is the same band as what people call the "Vanguard" band. I think it's pretty likely that you have the VG band.

It sounds like your main issue is that you don't think you have enough restriction. Is your surgeon refusing to give you any further fill at this point, or do you feel he is being too conservative w/your fills?

-Yvonne

Yes, I'm sorry to say that what you describe sounds like a classic slipped band symptom. I had the same symptom when my band slipped.

-Yvonne

What Emily said !!! Definitely go see a Gyn about getting progesterone to stimulate a period or you may end up having to get a D&C (been there, done that).

Okay - here are the possible bands he could have put in:

VG band - which has a 10cc capacity

10cm band - which has a 4cc capacity

9.75cm band - which also has a 4cc capacity

From what you said, if you are quoting the surgeon correctly, it sounds like there was a typo on the chart referring to the VG band as an '11cc capacity band' when it is actually a '10cc capacity band'. The difference between 11cc capacity and 10cc capacity is minimal, anyway, so it hardly matters if that's the discrepancy. Now, if he was saying he thought he put a 10cm band in you, then there's a BIG difference in capacity (4cc vs 10cc).

You definitely need to push him on the issue, and find out which one you have.

P.S. I really wish that we referred to capacity in ml like the Europeans do!! Then we wouldn't have this confusion between cm and cc's - it happens all the time!!