thenug

parisshel,
Thank you for your post! Let's see if I can answer your questions. As far as my esophagus and feeling anything...no, not really. The band has always been sooooo completely fickle. Some days the band felt wide open and other days completely shut down. I was telling the surgeon's nutrionist about my restriction changing with altitude or when sick and she didn't believe me..said it's an internal pressurized system..blah blah..that is not effected by anything..yeah right. Live with this sucker and see! When I have the flu, I can barely get down gatorade(when I was filled of course) and then next day probably could eat a burger..or at least part of one!
Like I mentioned, I lived with it probably being too tight for too long, but I was not really considering it too tight. I just adjusted to the quirks..don't eat or drink late..deal with having to go and PB because I ate too much or wrong thing. I know I was overeating my band...I did this to myself I know. But I lived with all this because I stayed at my goal weight. I didn't have any chronic pain that would have said "oh something is terribly wrong" .. I only was prompted to go to the surgeon in august because I just hit my 12 yr bandiversary and figured I should at least have it looked at to make sure all was okay. I worried if this band ever needed to be replaced or if it had moved or whatever..since I was in a maintenance phase with this, I was not worried for years that the band was helping me to lose weight. It was helping me to keep it off! Exactly why I got it!!
I don't think ANY WLS is truly "plug and play". They all do something totally abnormal to our bodies in one way or another. I personally think the band is way too quirky for many to adhere to properly..as intended. The inventor just assumed an overweight person would just put this device on and automatically be able to go from a plate full of food to a cup full and MENTALLY be okay with that..FOOD IS FABULOUS. I want more! I don't want to stop at a cup. I KNOWI should, but I want more. Right? This is typical I think. So we eat over our band, we eat the wrong foods, we ask for more restriction thinking this will stop us from overeating, but it doesn't necessarily. It slips, erodes and causes other issues because of all the quirks and our tendancy to really put this band through the paces it was never intended for. Why do some people erode or slip while others don't?
Who knows.
Your heart issue is scary. The vagus nerve controls heart and digestion..so while helping with one issue, it is possibly causing another? Yikes.
I have been off of forums and talking to other bandster for years. I had no clue so many people have had problems with it. I never knew the sleeve was a recent surgical option. I guess when things are okay, you go along quietly until something goes wrong. If I hadn't decided to just get a routine check of the band, I would be 40lbs lighter than I am today, but still just dealing with the quirks AND possible further damage to my esophagus.
This was an expensive but valuable lesson for me. I got complacent over the years since I lost all the weight I wanted to. I ate more than I should and I will need to learn to behave if I want to keep this band long term. I don't want to be 140lbs heavier ever again! This 40 extra lbs up is just devastating enough!
If I get to a "green zone" (funny had not heard that term until I came back here after my unfill) I don't know what the future holds.I will pray that a few small fills will at least stop the gain. I am already eating and working out where I should be losing, just need to stop swimming against a tide which is this unfilled band!!
I will post up as I get refilled and hopefully lose what I have gained and learn to be a bandster again!!!
Thanks for anyone listening to my rant!!

Don't need the lectures dad! My post was truly saying that I'm motivated because of you guys on here. I am losing because of WLS hence utilization of the tool.
This group knows how to keep everyone accountable. So thanks to all of you!

I am two months out and have not lost since post-op I had a completely empty band after surgery and 2 fills of 2.4 cc in total.
I also have a 1 hour commute each way to work, so I know what you mean. I am tired and not enough time in a day. I try to take a 30 min walk at lunchtime....heck what else are you going to do besides eat and read your email.
I read that most people dont lose until the 3rd fill. Maybe you need a fill? Are you really stuck or just eating to big of bites and too fast? I read on here that most sucessful people eat very tiny bites and chew extremely well. I know I am going to have to get under the 1000 calorie mark in order to lose weight.
It may also be possible that eventually you may have to do low carb? Not really sure....that might be me as well down the line especially for the "losing phase". I know in the past I have only lost weight eating meat and veggies and very little fat. No fruits, no bread, no starchy veggies, no sugar at all.
I am from the same area as you and have self-paid as well, so if this doesnt work I will be poor for nothing

I am seriously a newbie and I just started mushies- I didn't think I was eating a lot but upon review- I had 3 peppermint mochas in the past 3 days- ridiculous, I had dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potaotes, gravy, cranberry sauce, turkey, chocolate pie, hominy casserole- duh why wouldn't I gain 3 lbs-lol. Carrying on...

I am seriously a newbie and I just started mushies- I didn't think I was eating a lot but upon review- I had 3 peppermint mochas in the past 3 days- ridiculous, I had dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potaotes, gravy, cranberry sauce, turkey, chocolate pie, hominy casserole- duh why wouldn't I gain 3 lbs-lol. Carrying on...

I'm with you on this….. I never got stuck, but I can't help but feel that I stressed my "surgical system". I'm going to try & stick with liquids for a day or two. My husband has been on vacation this past week, so my food and eating is way off. When he is on vacation, he goes hog wild with eating, which makes it more difficult. Throw in the holiday…….yikes. I've been slipping and sliding all week long, and I need to get back in the LB saddle. I hate the way this feels…….like I'm losing control. Scares the crap out of me.

I didn't get stuck at all and wished I would have. It was all so good my band almost seemed nonexistent during feasting time. Definitely ready to detox all the carbs again and get back to my band healthy menu again. Good thing Thanksgiving is my only time every year that I know my head may win the battle over my band. Ready to get back on track.

That would be cool. Anyone else- we will have a small group, just like our new sizes-lol

cant we just have a southern president who will eat fish???

ok, thanks- Im a little worried I eat so mechanically! I have been on liquids for weeks, how could I just forget-lol

Got banded Thurs with 2 hernia repairs. I have had a boob lift, hip surgery,2 c-sec,2 carpal tunnel surgeries and this was by far the worst. I didn't realize in laparoscopic they filled you with air,worst gas pain ever. Could not even breathe day 1. Nurse said it was worse because of the umbilical repair but damn.....i fully expected to be working on my Christmas decorations this weekend,im not. Hope everyone else has had a better go of it

Eating a 1/2 slice. I have been so good at my pre-op and now this. I rationalized I have only had 320 calories today so this is not that bad. This is how I got to 217. Now im all worried about tomorrow. I just wanted a last bite of crust!!!!! I hope I can still have surgery tomorrow. Im very disappointed. But I did chew it slow, ate only the crust and toppings not the bottom crust.
Cannot believe this

I am set for Nov 14th and should have been on my liquid diet since the 1st but today, the 5th is the first day I was able to do it all the way perfect. I'm hoping this is not going to be a big deal but will talk with nurse next week just to make sure. I talked with her yesterday and she said I had to be perfect from yesterday on so I guess I am just paranoid. Anyone else doing their pre op liquids and hating it? Im hoping there are a lot of us getting banded next week so we can all share what is going on with each other. I know I need it.

November 14th, Houston here.

I am set for Nov 14th and should have been on my liquid diet since the 1st but today, the 5th is the first day I was able to do it all the way perfect. I'm hoping this is not going to be a big deal but will talk with nurse next week just to make sure. I talked with her yesterday and she said I had to be perfect from yesterday on so I guess I am just paranoid. Anyone else doing their pre op liquids and hating it? Im hoping there are a lot of us getting banded next week so we can all share what is going on with each other. I know I need it.

November 14th, Houston here.

I am really scared because I could not even finish one day on liquids! If I cannot do one day- how am I going to do this? I will try again tomorrow-

omg I love a basket of chips with red and green sauce then some cheese enchiladas and a taco! HOWEVER, I love my children more and think it is time to really think what all this is about. Sweetrose, not to go all Jesus on you but I too have been having a ton of doubts lately and have been really thinking about it and this is my conclusion. My weight has held me back my whole life- no enchilada crawls in my bed and tells me it loves me. When I have a doubt, I think, that is the devil, wanting me to stay where I have always been, a little afraid, a little hesitant, a little held back and I don't think that is the life I was created for. As I deal with my fat/ weight issues, I will be stronger for myself and my family, I will be teaching my children restraint and moderation, I will be able to put my energy somewhere else other than figuring out how I can get a third enchilada without seeming like a freak. I will be free. Not to say losing weight will change everything, my life really is pretty good now, but it will help me move on to more. Stand fast.

omg I love a basket of chips with red and green sauce then some cheese enchiladas and a taco! HOWEVER, I love my children more and think it is time to really think what all this is about. Sweetrose, not to go all Jesus on you but I too have been having a ton of doubts lately and have been really thinking about it and this is my conclusion. My weight has held me back my whole life- no enchilada crawls in my bed and tells me it loves me. When I have a doubt, I think, that is the devil, wanting me to stay where I have always been, a little afraid, a little hesitant, a little held back and I don't think that is the life I was created for. As I deal with my fat/ weight issues, I will be stronger for myself and my family, I will be teaching my children restraint and moderation, I will be able to put my energy somewhere else other than figuring out how I can get a third enchilada without seeming like a freak. I will be free. Not to say losing weight will change everything, my life really is pretty good now, but it will help me move on to more. Stand fast.

I think I have come to a point in my life where I am ready to be out of bondage to food. Anyone else out there who was a bad dieter but has been successful with this new tool?

You can be sure that for the vast majority of people, the coverage/services will be reduced (or unavailable) and the costs significantly more under the ACA.

The president doesn't have to worry about obamacare since he is exempt from it. Come to think of it congress is exempt from it too. But they are more than happy to shove it up our ass.