Leena

I had my surgery just over 4 years ago and have been having a lot of GERD lately, waking me up at night and interfering with me sleeping flat. I saw a GI doctor, followed up with my lap band surgeon yesterday and it's severe slippage. He removed all of my fill. But my current insurance policy doesn't cover bariatrics. Any advice would be appreciated as I can't afford this surgery out of pocket and I can't afford not to have it. The options are to remove the band and covert to a bypass or try to repair the slip and hope it doesn't happen again. But from what I've read once there's been slippage it's more liekly to occur. Any thoughts, advice, etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Leena

Seriously, I don't wish this on anyone. It's a serious issue. Your issue of eating junk food is completely separate and unrelated. I have no idea why you even bothered to reply to this thread. Something you may want to ask yourself.

I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this. I'm 2 1/2 years post op, have lost just about all of my weight. I wear a 4 in clothes and do have more muscle mass so get away with weighing more. At this point I struggle with getting in enough calories. I take in under 500 a day, most days it's about 300- and I know I burn most of it off through exercise. (I see a trainer 3x a week for an hour). I don't have a tight fill, but do have a fill so I do get full easily. I know my body is probably in starvation mode. Yes, I'm in therapy for it with an eating disorder and anxiety specialist. My questions to you, for those who are years post-op and just maintaining their weight: -how many calories to you consume in a day? -are you still using Protein shakes? -how much of a fill is in your band? -Any thoughts on having the remainder of my fill taken out? thanks- leena

Thank you so much. I called my surgeon; he's calling in a prescription for me and seeing me on Thursday. Apparently it's not all that uncommon. Just as long as I get in my calories and hopefully the meds kick in. I guess I'll know more on Thursday. I haven't been pbing at all. I did actually throw up two weeks ago from it. And since then have avoided solids as they tend to upset my stomach more.

I'm a little over 2 years out from surgery and am happy with my results. My issue lately, as in the last 3 weeks has been upset stomachs, more like really bad heartburn that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Tums have been my best friend lately. I'm not eating anything different than I was 3 weeks ago. Any ideas? I'm putting a call into my surgeon this morning as interuptions in my sleep really get to me. And I'm starting to eat a whole lot less to avoid the upset stomachs. But then I have no energy. I do feel a whole lot tighter than I was even although I haven't had a recent fill.

I'm 2 years out, my weight has been stable since May. I'm ready to find a plastic surgeon. I'm thinking lower body lift or mons lift and tummy tuck. I'm debating the inner thighs and am willing to hold off on those for a while. My insurance isn't going to cover any of it, which really sucks. But it's something I want to do for me. So which docotrs should I consult? Any recommendations? Thanks- Leena

I have a 4cc band at the moment have 3.1cc in it. So far it's worked wonders. It needs a slight adjustment right now probably just another .1 in. I've had very few fills in 2 years and they've all been rather small. I went from now until May without a sweet spot, so I'm trying to find it again. I miss my sweet spot.

Very interesting point Felicia. I kinda have to laugh because I've been dating more lately and every woman I've dated has been a BBW. Yeah I know I think I have a thing for them. I have literally been smaller than each and every one of them. Maybe I'm not as attracted to skinny girls. Right now I'm 194, have made it to the ones, YAY! And still I could care less if I loose another pound. I'm a freakin size 12. Yeah me a 12. Still trying to pinch myself awake on that one. I've taken up running, swimming and most recently karate. And thanks cheri, I don't think I'm one of the biggest loosers here. I technically still have a lot to go. Thanks though. I'm the worst at accepting compliments and have been on the receiving end a lot lately. -Leena

Just thought I'd update you. Dating in the last few months has gone very well. I'm met some amazing accepting women who aren't at all, even remotely freaked out by my ever changing weight. I have also become so comfortable in my skin, and I think that has a lot to do with it as well. I'm confident in who I am as a person, and that seems to be all I really needed. This morning I was 203 on the scale and can honestly say I'm very happy with that number. I'm so excited to see a 199 or less and I know once I reach that point I'll be dancing around my kitchen in utter happiness. It's amazing how loosing weight can change so many things in ones life. Thanks all, Leena

I'm 7 months out and have lost 58% of my excess weight since surgery to total 118 pounds post-op. I didn't include the pre-op loss of 17 pounds. I'm down a total of 135 pounds in all and still have 85 to go. I have been working out a whole whole lot and really watching what I eat. I've also become a vegetarian in the last 4-5 months, still have cheese and eggs though. Hang in there, it will come off. -Leena

I like the lo carb EAS shakes, 110 calories, 17g of protien and I think 3 or 4 of fiber. These are the only ones i can even remotely tolerate.

I'm more concerned about all the loose skin that's going to be hanging around. My arms already look like sagging boobs.

Hi Chris, I'm in NJ too. In the beginning you will get hungry as the swelling goes down. Most of the initial restriction is swelling, very little has to do with the band size, even if you have a 4cc. Most likely your band is empty. I didn't have anything put in my band at the time of surgery, it wasn't filled unitl 5 weeks post-op. You can look up "bandster hell" as that's what that time period is considered to be. Getting to the full liquid and then mushie stage is going to help a lot with the hunger you're experiencing. Just hang in there until Thursday. -Leena