JanetNBama

What are the symptoms of a dilated esophagus? I was told that I may have a dilated esophagus because I continuously overeat and throw up. For 3 days, I've had pain in my upper-left side back, and alot of sliming. There are also chest pains sometimes. I thought it was all gas, but after talking to my nurse, I am PISSED at myself because she said I could lose my band if the stretched pouch and esophagus don't clear up. I go to get a barium swallow if I don't get better with liquids and soft foods for the next few days. Any advise???? Consoling words??

I only drank 20 oz today but wanted to post on your thread cuz...well, you are making me. :crying: I will do better tomorrow!!!! Thanks!

Can you explain the process of outpatient surgery to get arms done? Are there any other "outpatient" procedures to remove excess skin? I hear that the thighs are the most difficult to heal - but I have research VERY little. I hate pain and this type of surgery terrifies me. I will need a tummy tuck, thighs and would like a breast lift, but I am terrified!

I too am a slow loser, but it's not because the band isn't working. It's because I am not working with the band. I find ways to eat around it, and I don't exercise....at all. I have come to realize that my eating addiction is alot worse than I thought - every emotion I have is connected to eating - sad? Eat...happy? Eat...lonely?....Eat...Scared?....Eat. . . . About 2 months ago I realized that Ice cream does not hurt going down and in my "miracles will happen" mind, I figured, "I have a lap band - I will still lose weight if I eat this"........... WRONG!!! Calories are STILL going in and not exercising is not helping. SOOOO I've stopped the ice cream - for over a month now and guess what? I lost some weight - Wooo hoo!! I just have to "refocus" and "rethink" instead of depending on the band to do it for me. I pray that everyone will over come whatever obsticles they have and be successful. I've decided that being successful for me is not being in a size 5 dress...it's being healthy and happy. AND I need to get off my bottom and exercise!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup: God Bless ALL :frown: :teeth_smile:

From what I understand - it takes time for a pouch to stretch out. I was concerned about it after 6 months of my surgery and was told that it wouldn't be stretched that soon. I'm not a professional but this is what my surgeon told me.

Cajun, I am 7 months out and have only lost 42 lbs. I am so disappointed in myself, but like you, I know why I'm not losing quicker. I AM a touchy feely, emotional person, so I will be the one that tells you, hang in there - you're not alone, and you are NORMAL. Eating habits are developed over many years, and although I was mentally prepared - I went through several life changing things in the last 7 months including a break-up with someone I thought was "THE ONE", work problems, and eventually being laid off from my job that I loved. I found myself stuffing food down my throat, even AFTER getting sick, going back and trying again. I literaly had to get out of the house, and go for a ride or something to get my mind off food. The lap band is a great tool, but until I am ready to put it to use the way it was intended, I will continue to be discouraged at my "FAILURES"....we are our own enemies. For you - my friend, I want you to focus on the positives in your life and start a healthy way of eating, exercising and making yourself feel better. No one else can do it for us. I wish you all the luck - and may God bless you - skinny or fat !! Keep us informed of your progress.

Is PBing considered the same as throwing up? Because, I too, cough, and PB. I don't actually "throw up"....the reason I ask is because they say if you throw up too much or even a little, there's a risk of the band slipping. Is this true for PBing as well????

Doddie - I went to fitday.com and I think this is going to really help me. I found where you can add your own food under Custom Food but everytime I click on it - it closes the entire site as well as Internet Explorer. Is this a glitch on the site or my computer??? LOL Also, under custom foods, can you add things like frozen dinners? I use the South Beach frozen dinners alot because they are low in cals and fat, and high in Protein - $2.00 each at walmart (here in Alabama) and very tasty!! A God send to me! Please let me know if you have this problem with the site?

Go to your profile, double click on it - that will open up the site that you created it in initially. You will enter your password and can edit from there. Once you edit, you will have to copy the code back over into your profile like you did in the beginning. Good Luck.

I can't believe I read what you typed - that's exactly how I feel. At one appointment, the nurse said "Are you full after eating?" - I told her I didn't know what full felt like. I am beginning to think that my minds is telling me that I didn't eat enough, so I feel hungry - when I, too, am experiencing pain and even try to push more through - which is a noo nooooo because I'll stretch my pouch. I like this site because when you read things like this - you relate to others, and you don't think you're the only one this is happening to! I've started chew chew chewing everything to watery consistancy and I am starting to feel fuller, faster - without pain and throwing up. (Yes, I actually took the Dr's advice, go figure, huh?) Best of luck!

Wishes - you've lost over 100 lbs since November of 2007? That's hardly slow weight loss...am I reading your info correctly? If so, that's awesome!!! I have only lost 40 lbs since my surgery of 12/31 and at my support group meetings, people have lost tons more than me and have had the surgery after I did...BUT - I know why I'm not losing as fast - I listened to what the doctors and nurses told me PRE-Lapband but it went right out my other ear as quickly as I heard it because in the back of my mind, the band is going to do it for me !! WRONG!!! This is JUST A TOOL - I have to exercise and eat right - wow - 7 months and I JUST NOW figure it out ...they were telling me the truth all along. So hopefully I can start eating right, and exercising (UGH!)....and I hope to lose faster. Best of luck to ALL OF US!! God bless.

I am very sorry to hear that you're having a problem. In my opinion, which is just that - my opinion, June 9th is pretty recent. I'm not sure what you meant by "I know that I chose this because of the way I eat"....are you referring to now, or referring to the fact that you got the lap band due to previous habits? Either way, the band is a tool - I remember my doctor "sighing" when I told him I didn't understand why I wasn't losing weight....then I thought about all the stuff I ate and realized it was me...not the band. I've been through alot in 2008 - a break up, losing my job, the trauma of surgery and not being able to eat when I'm stressed, and it's been slow -but it is coming off. The "head hunger" is the worst I've had to struggle with but I am living with it...it does get easier. Do what you have to do for yourself - only you can make that decision. If you decide to keep the band, then I wish you the best of luck. If not, that is ok too.

My prayers are with you, truly they are. I had my surgery 12/31/07 - New Year, New me!! My boyfriend of almost 2 years and I were best friends for 3 years prior to HIM deciding he wanted to start dating. January 24th, he started acting funny, and I couldn't handle it anymore (prior issues were there, we both ignored them). I asked him to leave on January 31st and although I've been broken hearted and very depressed - I'm still breathing and finally on the road to losing weight. The hardest thing for me was head hunger - everytime I had an "issue" PRE-BAND, I would turn to food, and couldn't anymore. I was also having problems at work - so 2008 didn't start out so great for me, but I'm moving along....I've lost 2 sizes, and feeling better finally. Please keep your head up - concentrate on YOU, and get out and do things.. the difficult times for me to want to eat is when I'm alone. I will keep you in my prayers...and if you would like to talk ANYTIME, I'm here for you!!! ALot of us are...this is a great site!! GOD BLESS and Congrats on your surgery - you did it!!!

I can't seem to get my ticker to work. What am I doing wrong? Do I copy and paste the HTML linK??? Help!

It's obvious that we have had lap band surgery because of weight problems. This is my 3rd month and still only 24 lbs (YES, I lost the 1 1/2 that I gained plus another 1 lb). My recent doings............eating HEALTHIER because I am fuller with this band!! HELLO?? Finally it's sinking in my head that if I eat healthier, I feel better. SO - I don't think about "what" Im going to eat anymore - I just eat to get full and nourish - so I measure now - and I pick healthy choices. I've made a deal with myself that if, after eating veggies and soft proteins, I still feel hungry, I can "cheat" but so far, I haven't. The key for me NOW is realizing - there are some things I simply can't have anymore - like buns or certain breads. And if I start pbing....................the band is full...stop eating! Lets just pray I keep up this mentality because I sure do feel good when I get off that scale and it's less than before..........it's encouraging to me. I pray that everyone (including myself) can get to the weight we are comfortable and healthy for us. I have changed my goal weight and now I'm not so "overwhelmed". While I'd love to weigh what the "charts" say I should weigh, I'll be very happy being a little heavier but feeling successful. And who knows, maybe after reaching THAT goal...I may start another. God bless and lets take care of us!!!

I was banded 12/31. Lost 20 lbs first month - 5 in the second month. It's now APRIL 7, and NOTHING MORE, as a matter of fact, I gained a lb and a half. Talk about feeling like a failure!! I, too, have learned to eat around the band - and that makes me feel like the old 'failure' before I got the band!! Why did I have surgery if I'm going to defeat myself??? I KNOW I need to make better choices about what I eat, but even with great restriction, I can eat way too much - I just wait for the fullness to go away, and I take ANOTHER bite.....until the whole thing is gone. It's like a MISSION with me - I HAVE to eat the whole thing or in my sick mind, I'm NOT full. What's up with that? I'm having emotional eating issues - really bad. 2008 has not been kind to me - work has been an absolute living H*LL and I broke up with my boyfriend whom I thought was "the one"....so needless to say - the emotional issues were THERE......how can I get motivated again???

My experience and knowing the difference between sliming and pbing - sliming is usually just clear and/or liquidy. Normally happens when I think taking a sip of something will help the pain a little and 99.9% of the time, I'm wrong - liquid only makes it worse. PBing is more when you "slime, spit and food comes out with it". NASTY!! I know but it's now part of my life when I don't follow instructions. And yes, I found out that you have to chew chew chew and then some more even after you've chewed - that's the key for me!! FINALLY I have more restriction and although it still hurts when I eat, I can't wait for the lbs to start dropping!!

I go to Schmitt. He's nice but not super warm. He does fills every 4-6 weeks, and sometimes I feel that's not enough but it's protocol. I'm sure he has his reasons. I am not a pro, but a week doesn't seem long enough to adjust to your fill, I would probably prefer 2-3 weeks but I have to do what he says Best of luck

I'm no longer sore - they took all my saline out and low and BEHOLD - BURPS!!!!!!!! As soon as I began the "air burps"...I felt better almost immediately. Gas? How weird, but at least I'm better. I go for my "refill" on Monday - wonder if they will put the 3cc's back plus some or what? Anyone have a clue? Guess it depends on the dr. Thanks!!!

I never had any luck with emailing Naomi. I called almost every day when I completed my 6 month program. She kept telling me she had everything but that last visit, and a week after my last visit was sent to her, she told me she didn't have my psych visit letter or my sleep apnea information. It was around the holidays so most everyone was out. I was LIVID. Why did she keep telling me she had everything then wait til the last minute to tell me she didn't? Long story short, the psych office had someone else's notes in my file, and vice versa - they had to look for my paperwork - ugh! They found it and faxed it. The sleep apnea folks said that the Dr's were out thru Christmas - that's when I lost it. I started crying on the phone (out of anger) but the girl on the phone didn't know that. She jumped hoops to get my letter and finally I got my approval immediately!!! WOO HOO! THENNNNN I was going to have to wait a WHOLE MONTH for my surgery - NO WAY...... Out of the blue, Naomi called and said that she forgot they were open on New Year's Eve Day - did I want to schedule then??? HECK YEA!!!!!! I had my surgery on the 31st of December - HAPPY NEW ME!!!:tongue: My point is, don't wait on them - be proactive and stay on top of Naomi - she's SWAMPED!! And very nice!!! I was just anxious and got pissy! :cool2: I'm 1 month out and have lost 20lbs.....BUT not without my 'incidents'. All I have to say is......follow the rules - they are there for a reason!!! I feel good now but had to get my saline taken out last week due to a "small" issue. I get it back on the 11th....can't wait to get started on this weight loss journey!! Good LUCK!!!!!!

Any idea how long I'll be sore??? LOL :smile:

I really need to know if anyone has had this experience. I am 4 weeks out, and had a bad experience with a piece of bread. It got stuck, and I went through the whole pain, sliming, etc.... Learned my lesson about UNTOASTED bread, but the next morning started feeling sore, very sore, and it hurt to breathe! I called the nurse, and she asked if I had problems keeping things down, I told her I had a Protein Shake, and runny oatmeal with no problem. I asked about slippage, and she said NO! For me to come in tomorrow if it wasn't better. Next day, it was SOMEWHAT better but I was still sore. She made me come in and they took out what little saline I had in from the initial surgery (3cc). She couldn't find the port, so the Dr came in and jabbed around with the needle ALOT until he found it, sucked out all the saline, and today. I am STILL sore. It hurt to get down some pudding this morning (not bad, just feels bruised). I am worried that something major is going on, and of course, worst thing - slippage or need additional surgery. Has anyone had this experience? Is the soreness today due to him jabbing around, on top of the problem I had earlier? I just want to know if I'm alone on this. I'm very down and disappointed about this - I hope there's nothing wrong. Good news, I'm down 20 lbs since 12/31 (surgery date). Please help.........

Jill, this is happening to me now!! I ate lunch yesterday around 2:30 and although it stuck a LITTLE, I feel SORE when I breathe in, and have that "in my throat" feeling. I tossed and turned all night. Did it finally go away? I'm afraid the band is slipped or something :party:

I am 1 month post-op. I experienced the horrible "breadstuck" not too long ago, but today, I am VERY sore. My ribs feel horrible, and I feel a bit anxious. How do I know if it's a slip? How do I know whether to wait and keep taking GAS-X or go to the dr?