Bandarella

Ten days post OP I was still on purées. Safeway has a southwestern black bean Soup that I would blend with some cooked ground turkey. I ate 1/4 cup at a time, 3-4 times per day. 12 gr Protein each. I made instant sf pudding adding Meal Replacement shake powder and non fat milk. I made 1/2 cup portions and would eat 1 per day. 13 gr protein each. Breakfast was poached eggs, mashed up. Other foods, cottage cheese, pnut butter in my vanilla shake No noodle lasagna is good too. Just run all coarse ingredients thru food processor till very small. Assemble as usual, in layers. Just leave out the noodles.

How do you join a protected forum???

You will get instructions when you're released, but it's good to write down any questions you have and ask your doctor at your preop appointment. I was allowed to shower on day 3. No immersion until all incisions were completely scab free. With my removal, I had one incision that weeped a bt for about 8 weeks, so no hot tub!

Why are you eating chicken 2 weeks out???

Maybe it could be a preferences type of option, in our profile. Check the forums you want to see. In the meantime, look at the top of the page after you click on a trending or recent topic...it says which forum you're in...it's a bit of back and forth, but it will keep you where you want to be.

It was disturbing. I see it's gone. I'm very proud that everyone sternly, but politely (for the most part) told her what they thought of her actions. Even though the post was pulled, she may see our replies via email notification. I hope she does the right thing.

Call your insurance provider. They will tell you exactly how much your out of pocket costs will be. The doctor cannot charge you anything more than your copay and coinsurance total. If they insist, mention your state's ins commissioner and attorney general. My total billed to ins was $22k, I paid $150, GB removal was $18k, I paid $150. Band removal $19k, I paid $150. You might need a different Dr, but be sure to get your records first.

Trouble swallowing sounds like an esophageal issue. Glad you had it emptied. Please continue to follow band eating guidelines, since after a complete unfill bands are more likely to slip, prolapse. Hope the unfill does the trick!!

I asked about hiatal hernia because your complication seems directly related to it. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/819642

Like this?

@@2muchfun Here's a survey(from your state) taken that addresses patient follow up success ratios. I missed where Sue said she was from Washington.

Sue, sorry you're having a tough time. Being 300 miles from your surgeon is a huge issue for banded folks. Is there a Lapband practice near you now? Did you ever have any fills? Feeling stuck is never a good sign. Please make an appointment to get your band checked out and discuss your options moving forward. Best of luck to you!

Do you have a link to this study?

Wow... This is a problem unique to banding: mainstream medical professionals haven't a clue when it comes to our situation. Our bariatric caregivers are generally not available for emergencies, sinçe many of us live far away from them and their office hours/days can be limited. What people don't understand is that when an organ is cut off from its blood supply, there is very little time to figure out what the problem is before the organ dies. Did you have a hiatal hernia? This sounds like you did....but I'm only guessing.

BTW, if you read posts from people who had mgb, you'll see many of them revise due to reflux. Also, obese peeps are prone to reflux and hiatal hernias and come into the surgery with preexisting GERD. Their "Barrets" could have been there prior to surgery.

Really?

I honestly don't know.

I don't know how many of each are implanted, but the overwhelming majority of bands placed are lap bands. The only advantage of realize is the lower profile port.

The doctor you cite does mini gastric bypass, an outdated and prone to failure procedure. Are you on the staff of this surgeon???

TMF: it's low because I still see your words. It's a personal attack on my character and intelligence. BTW: I never said I was "proud". Your choice of vernacular only serves to skew the perception others may have without providing any additional information regarding the content. Fight fair or keep quiet. The link is posted above.

Realize is 9 cc or 11 cc Lapband is 10 or 14 I believe

http://www.lapband.com/content/lapband_AP_dfu.pdf

TMF, you must realize that I get emails with your response, deleting it is pretty low. You know how in boxing you're not allowed to hit below the belt? You hit below the belt when you dismiss everything I say because of my surgeons mistake. My experience is still valid and in the old Allergan info for surgeons (2011) states a 3 % risk of misplacement of the band. Don't attack the messenger, disprove what yòu disagree with...

If you have a hiatal hernia repair, the z line can appear irregular on endoscopy. This is an early Barrets indication, but a biopsy shòuld be done. I have an irregular z line, but my biopsy was negative for Barrets. I don't know where you got this slide show, but this doesn't look like anything I've seen that looks legitimate. Did you have a biopsy?

There's not a big difference. The a Realize band has a wider, flatter port. The actual silicone band is flatter and wider too and I think it has two inflatable chambers instead of the 3 Lapband has. The Lapband port can become visible, even under clothing as you lose weight.