Big-D

Well, I had my follow up with Dr. Hamn. He was very nice and relaxed. He didn't criticize. He suggested I convert to a gastric sleeve. I don't think I'm ready to make that leap. After examinging my band through a flourescope and seeing that the barium was not flowing, he unfilled my band. I think this will help. He said my esophagus was exhausted. It was dialated to the max and wasn't returning to its normal size. He thinks if I go easy on the food intake for the next 30 days, it will give my esophagus a chance to return to normal. I didn't ask him what it would if it doesn't. I figured I'll deal with that if it happens when it is time. Later, Danny

Thanks for the concern. I think regardless of my situation, I need to schedule a follow up with my WLS. Well, good news for me. I think the problem has passed. Last night, I started with ice chips and for some reason, I made progress with keeping that down. Slept through the night without a GERD incident. Little by little through today, I added some food. By this evening, I had some chicken fried rice, probably not the wisest choice, but only had half of what I normally have. Everything's good. Now I'll see how my sleep goes. All the Best, Dan

Same boat. I'm 5+ years post-op. I've lost 80 lbs., but I've gained back 30 lbs. I had two fills within 6 months of surgery. I haven't seen my WLS since. This week on Thursday, I started having trouble keeping food down. Today, Saturday, I can't even keep Water down. Last night, I had about 3 GERD attacks. Didn't get much sleep. Even though I didn't feel like it, I mowed the grass a couple of hours ago. Afterwards, I sat out on the patio and drank some water. Couldn't keep it down. Now I'm sitting in bed trying some ice chips. I've had the stomach flu about a couple of years ago. This is not like that. I don't know if I should ride this out or if I should go to the emergency room. Maybe if things aren't better by Monday, I could go see my WLS. NAT, I hope you feel better soon. I don't know if it helps, but if misery loves company, let me pull up a chair. Ugh! Miserable in Dallas, Dan

2 years and 1 1/2 months post op. No problems. I thought when I got sick (flu) last year, that I may have caused some slippage due to some heaving related to the flu, but I got x-rayed and they said everything looked good. Feeling fine and holding at my current weight of 280 lbs. Still too much, but I'm 6'2" and before the band, I weighed 350 lbs. So dropping 70 lbs. has helped make life more enjoyable. Is it worth the restrictions and the occaisional regurgitating of food?? I would say yes. Once you know what foods you can handle, you'll be surprised how you naturally change your behavior. Although, I must be a glutton for punishment, because I tempt fate from time to time. For me, barbeque is a problem, although I had some pulled pork the other night, and it went down fairly well.

But you're good now? Are you gaining weight?

What caused the lap band to do this? What did you feel like when it happened and did you lap band doctor diagnose this or was it your regular physician?

Well, I'm over a year and half post-op and I'm still alive and kicking. I haven't lost more weight, but that's my fault, not the band or the surgery. I haven't gained too much back. I'm happy I did it because I can do more than when I was 350 lbs. I look better and feel better. There are times, sometimes often, when I wish I hadn't done it, but if I think it was necessary. All the Best, Danny

Have you used Ephedrasil? If you have, does it work? Or is it just snake oil? Thanks, Danny

I'm having portal pain, but it isn't real bad. I say on a scale of 1 to 10, it is either a 1 or 2. I only really notice it when I'm wearing a shirt. It hurts when I touch the skin around it. Otherwise, if nothing is touching it, I feel fine. Could weight gain be causing the problem? I've gained back about 15 pounds. How do you know if your port is flipped? If it doesn't need be filled or unfilled, does it matter if it is flipped?

I'm okay for now. No complaints except for sliming and not being able to handle some foods like barbeque. I'm hovering +/- around 285 lbs. I think if I really worked at it, I could get it going down again. For right now, I'm good. Good luck to all. Regards, Danny

1. Identify foods that trigger a sliming response, then avoid them or approach with extreme caution (i.e. barbeque). 2. When you first start to eat after not eating for a while, eat S-L-O-W-L-Y. I know this is hard to do when you're hungry, but if you pile up food, then you you will most surely start to slime your way into misery. 3. I don't know, but I think air that's trapped in your stomach needs to escape before you can eat comfortably. So that's why it is important to start slow. As you eat, you'll feel the need to burp. Don't fight it, but be careful so you don't burp up what you just ate. Again, going slow is the key. At some point, you will feel that any air that's trapped has dissipated, then you'll be able to eat normally. Given what I know, a light appetizer can help prepare your stomach for the main event. Regards, Danny

I haven't noticed anything with regards to hot or cold. I do know that if I try to eat bar-b-que, like ribs, then I will get slimmed. It sucks to slime, but it is the body's natural reaction to having something stuck in your stoma. Slowly, I'm learning not to get to that point where food is backed up and my body reacts this way. In public, just excuse yourself and go to the restroom where you can work it out. In private, just head to the bathroom. No one likes to vomit, but I've found that if I can induce myself to upchuck, then things calm down a lot faster. While it isn't pleasant to vomit, I've noticed that it isn't as bad with the lapband. The food hasn't mixed with the stomach acids, so what comes up tastes pretty much the same as it went down. I hope this helps.

Okay, I don't know what the docs in the general community are saying, but I can tell you about my personal experience. My wife had gastic bypass. It started out laparoscopic and ended as an open surgery. She developed a leak and spent 10 days in ICU. Luckily, she survived the operation and got out the hospital about one month later. She dropped from a size 22 to a size 6 and, now 7 years post-op, she's about a size 8. She has gastro problems, suffers from poor nutrition, has been anemic, and has advanced osteoporosis. When she eats something that's very greasy, like fried chicken, or has something sweet, she suffers with "dumping" and is out of commission for about 30 minutes to an hour. On December 31, 2007, I had a lap band surgery. It was laparoscopic and I spent only one night in the hospital. I dropped 65 pounds in 2 months. I'm 6'2" and right now, I'm stuck at 285#. I feel fine and a blood test in May shows that I'm healthier now than ever. Before surgery, my liver enzymes were out of whack, now they are normal. Before surgery, I was miserable with lower back pain that affected how I walked and now I'm relatively pain free and walk normally. Before the surgery, I had high blood pressure that was almost out of control even with the help of two medicines. Now my BP is normal and I only take one medicine. So even though I haven't reached my goal, I'm happy with my results so far. Despite the problems my wife has had, she has said that she would do it all again if it was necessary. Personally, I think lap band is a safer and healthier way to go. Ideally, losing weight without surgery is the best thing for you, but if you can't lose weight the regular way, IMHO, the lap band is the way to go.

I appreciate the encouragement. Maybe by the end of July I can get below 280. <<Break on through to the other side.>>

Still STUCK! Okay, now it is July 6th and I am far from my goal of 250. So now what?? This past week, I have been walking about 2 miles every night before I go to bed. At first it looked like I might finally break 280#, but this morning I gained again. I continue to hover around 285#. Sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. Well, I'm not giving up. I'll continue to work on this.