babsintx3

Hi, Ms. P, I was wondering who diagnosed you with a hernia?? And if you have one, is there any reason it wasnt repaired?? In light of the problem you had, would it not make sense to have the hernia repaired. Of course it doesnt change the outcome of the terrible way you were treated, but it would seem that this problem could happen again if you dont fix it. I had my surgery three years ago here in the States and generally speaking, if you are not treated by your original surgeon or if you have a problem, for the most part you are treated like a leper. No one wants to touch other folks patients. And in the ER, if they see you up and able to walk around and your limbs are not falling off, then they don't see your problem as an emergency. And since most lapband issues do not qualify as medical emergencies unless you are throwing up blood or cant drink liquids or are completely dehydrated, most ER people dont want to deal with the UNKNOWN. Now these are all generalizations, but mostly true. And what Elizabeth said about letting them know you have a medical device with a port in your abdomen and you need an RN with mediport experience to remove saline is the BEST advice of all for all bandsters to remember if they need an unfill. I am really sorry you have been treated so poorly. I am glad that you will not be taking this lying down and that you intend to follow through. No one should have to be treated this way. Babs in TX 334/190's

Hi, I get up at around 630 or 6:45. My 11 year old is off to school bus at 6:55 (my hubby wakes up at 6:00 am with him). I get myself ready, then get my 4 year old ready for daycare. I leave my house at about 7:45, drive my 4 year old to daycare, stop at my P.O box to pick up company mail and head to my office about 8:30. I own a company, so I work from 8:30 to about 5:30, (no lunch break cause I eat at my desk but I do check email) pick up the little guy. My husband is home already to meet school bus for the 11 year old. I make dinner and we eat together at 6:30. Then homework, cleaning, putting away wash, bathing the little guy and then I plop my butt by the TV at around 8:30 and watch tv til about 10:30 and crash. I havent been to a gym in 2 months (no lectures), but I am trying to get a home gym set up so I can get back on the bandwagon, but we are relocating and I dont know where we are moving yet! I know, my life is quite boring. Babs in TX 334/190's

Hi Beachee, You need to up the Protein. If not with eggs or eggbeaters, then try having at least one Protein shake a day that has about 20-30 grams of protein. You should be getting in more calories as well especially if you are exercising. 1200-1400 is probably a better range for someone who is exercising a bit. Other than this and maybe jumpstarting things by doing liquids for a few days, I dont have any other advise. Babs in TX

Hi Beachee, My son is a vegan (age 11) and of course the biggest challenge is to make sure he gets enough Protein. How much protein are you getting daily??? It could stall your weight loss if you are not getting enough. Will you eat eggbeaters? My son does and he gets about 12 grams of protein at Breakfast, soy burgers or fake chicken nuggets at dinner and I supplement his diet with one Protein shake every other day which gives him an extra 15-20 grams of protein. Just wondered what those 1000 calories consisted of. If you really want to lose faster, you need to up the protein and lower the carb intake. The band is also meant to work with solid protein and then veggies and then carbs if there is any room left. Also, you are kind of a lite weight (I know you dont think so! LOL) but in terms of banding start weight, its harder to lose the less you have to lose. Babs in TX 334/190 ish

Hi Carlene, I found a band surgeon I am happy with in Dallas now, so no need to change anything at the moment. I was referring to the first surgeon, (other than the original band surgeon in 03 who banded me). If you recall, he was the one who said I needed a new band, had a prolapse and concentric slip and then dumped me as a patient because he did not like the fact I took a diet pill during his imposed one month of liquids... My band is perfectly fine and I am back on track again. How are Charlie and virginia? I have not been to a bandster dinner since like forever......! Babs in TX 334/190 ish

HI, Dr. Smith is a very very good surgeon who I have met personally many times and he was the surgeon I originally picked to do my surgery in 03. He was previously at a FW hospital in partnership with Germann Berbel in 03 and the waiting list at the hospital was enormous with too many hoops for approval. Smith is also a bandster himself which I admire. THere is however an arrogance that many surgeons have about taking care of Mexican bandsters overall and belief by many that Mexican surgeons are inferior in some way to their US counterparts, which is totally untrue. I had a consultation with a new surgeon about my band recently and he claimed that the "problem" I had with my band is similar to ones he had seen with Mexican patients bla bla bla. I pointed out that I was banded in the US, so there wasnt any relevance.I understand liability and not wanting to take care of other peoples patients, but not every US surgeon is great either.. I have the same problem myself and I wasnt banded in Mexico. My previous surgeon is no longer in network and finding someone else without the docs thinking you are a JUMPER poses its own problems. I just wanted to point out that there are some who will see her here in the states, so she shouldnt feel alone. Do the research and find someone who will give you competent care here in the neighborhood. Babs in TX

Hi, As Michele said, Ditto. I could never drink and eat at the same time with proper restriction without pain and discomfort. Especially bread which expands. Of course this isn't your real issue. Anyone who wants to sabotage themselves can, but with good restriction it is definitely harder. Babs in TX

Hi Carlene, I agree with you. Dr. Smith can be arrogant about Mexican bandsters. He was SUPPOSED to be my banding surgeon and due to a lengthy and tedious process at his former location at Osteopathic in FW, I decided on Carter. The point I was making is that there are many providers in FW, Dallas, Plano and TX that will see her, so its not the end of the world and she can get care HERE rather than the expense of heading back to Mexico to see another surgeon there. Because what she needs is a new surgeon or at the very least an extremely competent PCP who can help her. The general position of many surgeons here in the US is that MEXICO is taboo. Easy for them to say since they are not paying for the surgery and US healthcare costs drive up the price here and make it cost prohibitive for some. However, the most important thing (and its been said here time and time again) is good aftercare regardless of where you are banded and having someone there in the neighborhood to help you with emergencies and post op fills and support. Babs in TX

Hi Lindsay, I am in Fort Worth. I would try the following Docs. I know them all personally: Dr. Adam Smith/out of the surgery center in Hurst. He is banded himself and may see you Dr. Frank Veninga - He is not the doc who banded me, but he took care of me recently when I had problems recently. He is in Carollton Dr. Richard Carter: He is the doc who banded me and he is a good surgeon, but I dont know if he will help a patient who was not banded by him. Arlington TX Dr. Wade Barker - in Dallas - He will do revisions and aftercare and I am pretty sure he will see a mexican band patient Dr. Jayseleean in Dallas - I know that he will take a patient that is banded in Mexico. Dr. Louis Fox in Dallas - Better known as Dr. Angel. He recently helped a friend of mine who was banded in Mexico. She required a removal. If you need more help, please contact me privately. Babs in TX 334/190 ish banded more than 3 years now.....

Hi, I have been banded 3 years and 4 months. I have had some problems with pouch dilation, but had an endoscopy recently and everything is back to normal and I am losing again. The problems with the band happen, but none of them are life threatening and I am still happy with my decision. Babs in TX 334/190 ish

Hi, I think we need a little more information to be helpful to you. Restriction is different for everyone who is banded. The fill amount is a random amount and means nothing if you dont have ANY restriction. I have friends with nothing in their bands that have great restriction and folks with their bands almost completely filled that dont have much restriction.The question is do you have ZERO restriction or little restriction. Theres a difference. Alot will depend on what you are eating (solid Protein vs mushies) how much you are able to eat etc....If you tell me yo uare able to eat 2 cups of mostly solid protein in less than 20 minutes, I would say you need more fill. Just because you are not barfing or sliming, doesnt mean you dont have good restriction. I dont barf either, but I have good restriction. FYI: The VG band like all other lapbands holds more than the maximum they say . As an example, the 9,75 Inamed band holds 4 CC, but actually can hold twice that amount. I have heard of folks having 4.50cc in a 4CC band, so I wouldnt worry that you will "run out of fill space" in your band. If it was placed properly in the first place that wont happen. Are you a liteweight or are you a high BMI patient? Usually the VG band is placed on folks that have very big stomachs or really high BMI's which could mean that this may not be the right band for you. Also realize that the difference between 7.0 and 7.25 could mean the difference between little restriction and being completely blocked off. I am surprised that your doc hasnt filled the band up to see what happens when you drink the barium with fluro with a maximally filled band. I know this information may not be helpful, but it would help us if we know how much you are eating, exercising and contributing to band success. Babs in TX Banded 3 yrs 3months and dunno nothing!!!

Hi Vera, You skiny thang! I am jealous 154 is a number I will never see! You look great. Yup, restriction is still there and working now after a week. Hopefully, I can get back to losing weight! Babs in TX

Hi Everyone, I know this is the complications section but since I thought I was going to be rebanded and now I am not, this is ongoing for me. I just wanted to let everyone know I have restriction!!! And good restriction!!! I just ate most of a can of very mushy tuna fish over 15 minutes and I am done!! Felt a little tightness in the chest, but no golfballs etc. I feel like a new bandster 3+ years out!!! Dunno what happened here since I have less fill, but I guess my pouch shrunk back and I am back on the bandwagon again. I have not had any restriction since last year after PS even with 2.5 in my band. I now have 2.00 and it seems to be working fine again. I cant tell you how happy I am about this. I am really rationing my portions carefully so I dont have pouch dilation issues again. SO I guess there is hope!!!! Babs in TX

Hi Everyone, As always, I agree with Alexandra. THe longer you are banded, the less it seems that the full signal is there. Mine used to be hiccups for a soft stop, hard stop could be knotty feeling in chest. After several years of banding, I no longer had the stop signals and had to rely on eyeballing and measuring to determine portion. Over time, I was eating just a little more, little more and a little more until the food was in my throat and I felt that this is when I should stop. I did not barf or throw up, PB, just gained weight and ate a lot more than I should. If anyone wants reassurance that this cant happen to them, I cant offer this. The best thing you can do for yourself is invest in baby forks and spoons, use a little plate and consistently measure your food quantity. Hugs, Babs in TX

Hi Chelly, Whether your doc will start the refill right away or wait depends largely on what the endocscopy says or the flouro. My doc refilled after the EGD even though my esophagus was still large and the pouch was still enlarged as well. I had already been on liquids and mushies for 5 weeks and I dont think he felt it would improve much more. He did not fill me as tightly as before thought. 2:00 CC instead of 2.5. I definitely have restriction now and even slimed last night a little when I attempted to eat quicker than I should. If you had a pouch dilatation, I dont think you would be PBing although I guess its possible. That sounds more like a slip that may resolve itself with an unfill. When the pouch dilates, you can eat a lot of food and not get full and it may even start to back up into the esophagus like mine did. I did not PB, never got full and could just keep eating and eating. If its a slip, PBing is a symptom, although some folks dont have any symptoms at all. Babs in TX

Hi Chelly, I am three years out and had a complete unfill due to pouch dilation. I used this time to go on liquids and lose 15 pounds over 5 weeks that I had more than gained due to a too tight band. I did not have any symptoms other than the ability to eat much more due to the stretched pouch. I was also using my esopphagus as a third pouch which is evident because my esophagus was really wide. I gained almost 35 pounds in a year due to pouch dilation and chronic overeating. You may think you are eating a third of what you are eating, but the best way to know for sure is to measure everything and serve yourself on a baby plate. You will then see what I mean. It adds up. You may be eating less than you were before, but more than you need to lose weight. FYI: Normally, when they unfill your band, they do not TOTALLY unfill it unless you normally have restriction with a tiny bit of saline. Example: I had 2.5 in my band and they unfilled me down to 1.00 CC which is something, but not nothing. Babs in TX 334/190 ish

Hi Carlene, Vinesqueen is correct. My plastic surgeon was supposed to remove .50 CC from the 2.5 I had in there so I could eat a little more post op plastics. He removed all of it instead, although he claims that he did not and my lapband surgeon says there is nothing in there. I am convinced as a result that my band migrated a little giving me a larger pouch that dilates quite easily. The more you mess with restriction levels, it seems the more problems bandsters seem to report getting their restriction back to either too little or too much instead of just right. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that you get used to a certain level and your throat/esophagus becomes immune (achalasia) or the motility changes leaving you with either a feeling of too tight/too loose or lack of restriction the further you get out. But of course this is all pure speculation since even my surgeon cant seem to explain why I have little restriction and can still eat salad, a 5-7 ounce steak, bread etc... Never had any problems with any foods at all. babs in TX

Hi Debi, I wish you success with your attempt to continue to lose weight on your own. I have been banded 3 years and 3 months and even with some of the complications I have had, I would NEVER have lost the weight I did lose without the band. I have regained some, but mostly due to lack of restriction. I am back on track again and I have lost some more weight. Even with the band empty, I had some restriction that I would not have had without the band. Babs in TX 334/190 ish

Hi Carlene, I don't agree with the statement that self pay take better care of their bands. I think its the folks that understand "compliance" and band limitations that are the ones that do the best with their bands. They are the ones that stay on top of their post op care, make sure they do all they can to be successful and understand that the band is just a tool. I do GET what you are trying to say. If you have to finance a band and have a monthly bill coming in like a car payment or you had to scrape the $ together cleaning houses, you MIGHT feel more strongly about being successful, but...... I have lots of friends that have paid for their bands and many of them have not done well due to difficulty getting post op care (if banded outside the states). The band requires lots and lots of post op attention and its the folks that are compliant 80% of the time that do the best. In response to the fill/unfill vacation scenario, Geezer Sue is correct. The more fills and unfills you get, the bigger chance of complications. The folks I see that seem to have steady success are the ones with the least fills/unfills. My problems started with my band when they accidentely emptied it during PS. I can assure you that I no longer have the restriction I once had with far less in my band than I have now. Any surgeon who would unfill a band just so a patient could eat more on vacation is not someone I would want to band me. So if the question was asked during a seminar to flush out a surgeon that might not be the right one for you, then kudos. Personally, I have never had a problem eating anything I want on vacation in smaller amounts. ITs really great to comeback and not have regain. Babs in TX 334/190 ish A lot depends on what a person is willing to commit to the experience, like exercise, eating protein first, not drinking and eating at the same time etc....

Alex, Michele I have the opposite problem. I never get too tight, no reflux nor barfing. I have only been too tight once in my banding existence of 3 years. But I have chronic pouch problems and a tight band (I didnt say too tight) just makes the problem worse. I know the band is helping me still, but obviously not enough other wise I wouldnt have gained so much weight since my PS last year. So I will just have to be happy with what the band will do for me. Of course I am grateful for my success , but its not exactly helping me to maintain my losses for which I am really frustrated. Dieting is working for me right now. Hugs Babs in TX

Hi yall, I must be even a bigger weirdo. I dont barf, PB, throw up and only occasionally golf ball. However, I have slimed a couple of times over the last 3 years. I must have some kind of rubber esophagus... That cant be a good thing.... Babs in TX

Hi Alex, I am in the same boat. More fill is not an option for me since the tighter I am my pouch becomes dilated. Sometimes less is more so I will stay here at 2.00 CC and not mess with my band for a while. Babs in TX

Hi Seppi, I quit last year 2 years after banding and losing 90% of my weight. I am still cigarette free, but I did gain weight as a result (13 pounds). So stay on top of it and dont let a few pounds turn to a dozen and you will do just fine. I sometimes can hardly believe that I ever smoked even though I did for 24 years. Babs in TX

Hi Joe, Good thing that your insurance paid for reband cause that could have gone South. It either has to be product defect or it was installed wrong. THere really isnt any other possibility. Can you think of one??? I have never heard of a band unclipping. Honestly, if you tug with both hands on a properly secured band, its almost impossible to pull it apart. I have tried and it takes a huge amount of force and requires two hands. Babs in TX

Chelley, If you are PBing daily, then you are too tight regardless whether it is a slip or not. Its possible you have a dilated pouch, but harder to do if you are PBing and not pouch packing. I had pouch dilatation, but was asymptomatic other than the ability to eat more and more. No reflux, barfing, etc.. That was my problem and it resolved once the Fluid was out for 4-6 weeks and the pouch and esophagus was allowed to relax.My band waas too tight. I love my band but it is work and requires significant post op care and diligence to follow the bandster rules of eating solid Protein first, then veggies, no drinking and eating with meals etc.. I dont know your day to day habits what kind of foods you eat, how much so its hard to say why your band is not working for you. Most people who are too tight have "soft food syndrome" start gravitating to soft comfort foods and then wonder why they are gaining or no longer losing. Maybe this is your issue?? Babs in TX