shortgal

Cindy, The restriction you dread is what Sades and I have been waiting for all these seven months. Funny how the grass is always greener on the other side. Just ask for a tiny fill. When I think of how many times I asked just for tiny fill because I didn't want to be too tight only to never reach restriction. I do understand tho' I never want to be too tight. That's one of the things about the fills and how I lost most of the weight, liquids and soft foods after and being careful to try foods for fear of getting stuck, so use the fill and the whole after fill process to your advantage!

I asked those questions. He did not have a band available to show me how it works, but he said if it appears defective when he gets in there, he'll put in a new one. he said the day of surgery he'll be sure to show me one and how it works. I'm at his mercy, I guess. I have to guess he would not want to have a second problem with me and will make the right decision at the time of surgery. Before surgery, I will definitely remind him to test and re-test the lock before closing me up. I'm sure I'll be nervous until I get restriction, but then I'm kicking nymphs butts!

yeah, you go Sades! We'll show them once our bands work. We thought we were slow losers, ha! Imagine what we'll do when we get restriction! It's got to feel good to finally see that scale go down. I'm hanging on until my surgery and then plan to join the next challenge. I'm sure there'll be a Fall challenge of some kind. If it doesn't take too may fills to get us to restriction, then we might still have a chance to get close to goal by our one year bandiversary!

Hey, NJ Gal, You did it? You got married? Congrats! Where are the pics? Please don't get down on yourself too much about not weighing what you want. you're a newlywed, please enjoy this time with your new husband and then set a date to get back on track with eating. I have a complication with my band. Dr. says it's unlocked. I am having a second surgery on Aug 5th to lock it. I have not lost more than a couple pounds since the end of April, but I have been able to maintain my previous weight loss, by walking. I never believed how much difference the walking can make, but it does. Maybe that can be part of your "get back on track date" to start tracking what you eat AND walk at least a mile. Everybody can find 20 mins to walk a mile. Before you know it you'll be walking 2 miles. There were days earlier this summer, before it got too hot, that I was walking 5 miles. I can't even believe that myself, but my feet are living proof as I have the blisters to prove it! But I've endulged in ice cream and other summer treats, like a cocktail or wine and still managed to hold off the weight gain. Take your son with you to a walking path near you, maybe he can bring a bike or skates, while you walk. I see families on the path near me do this all the time. Anyway, Congratulations again and lock up that snack food! hope you post a link to the wedding photos!

Hi Kendra, Your vacation sounds great. I'm having a bad hair day (need a cut bad) and somedays I wish I could throw a wig on, and go out the door. So much lost time spent blow drying our hair, huh? You can try out some short styles without worrying about growing it all back, if you don;t love it. Great to hear from you!

I am reading Isacc's Storm. I chose it because I loved another book by the same author, Erik Larson, which was called Devil in the white city. Devil in the white city was about the chicago world's fair and a serial killer. I was especially interested in the architecture and landscape architecture people in the book that designed many of the worlds' great parks, like NYC's Central Park. Isacc's storm, I've only read a few chapters so far, much of the beginning of the story has a lot of technical info about weather and how forecasting has changed over the years. The story itself is about a huge hurricane that destroyed Houston Texas in the 1900's. so far it's ok, but I enjoyed the other book much more. I also bought Pillars of the Earth and will start that after I finish this one. Has anyone read pillars of the earth?

Well I saw the Dr. this a.m. He showed me my x-ray compared to a closed band and I have to agree the diameter of my band appears larger. He feels strongly that's it related to the new band's locking mechanism. the lock was changed to allow surgeons to open it easier if a patient needs a revision, like for a slipped band. Patients were complaining because they had to purchase a new band if they needed revision. I hope the second surgery, which is scheduled Aug 5th, proves that he is right and that the solution is as simple as re-locking my band. I feel better that the Dr. really listened to me and understood that going through a second surgery and all the possible risks, is not easy. I guess the next update will be after Aug. 5th and until then, I'll just try to maintain my weight loss. Maybe later I can join a fall Nymphs challenge.

I saw the Dr. today. He showed me my x-ray compared to a person with a closed band and I agree the band diameter on mine appears larger. He described how the new allergan band locking mechanism was changed so that patients that needed revisions (like from a slipped band) could re-use their original band and not have to pay for a new one. Anyway, I have a second surgery date of Aug. 5th and I hope the Dr. is right that locking it is all I need.

Please tell me what brand band you all have and how many cc's currently in your band. I have an allergan APS 10 cc band with 9cc's in the band and no restriction. The Dr. has just told me he thinks my band is unlocked. If you have close to max. fill in your band, please ask for an x-ray. The diameter of my band looks larger than a normal closed band on x-ray and this is why my Dr. thinks it's unlocked. Ask your Dr. to check for this. I have been told that the manufacturer has made the band easier to open on the new band so that patients that needed revision could re-use their original band and not have to buy a new one.

Thanks Diane, you're so right. When things are going well we feel like part of the lap band crowd, but when something goes wrong, we feel so alone. Like most on here with a problem, I post, hoping my story will help someone else. I saw the Dr. this a.m. and he did show me my x-ray compared to a banded person that has a closed band and I have to agree the diameter of the band on mine appears larger. He feels confident that closing it is the answer. He did seem more understanding that a second surgery is a lot to endure. He tells me the manufacturer has changed the design on the closure so that people that need revisions can re-use the original band. That was a complaint from patients who were asked to buy a new band and from surgeons that did revisions so they changed the design. I have confirmed this online. I guess there is a possibility there will be more bands unlocking now that this new band is being used. I hope other Dr's are considering this possibility for people that are not getting good restriction. At this point I consider myself unlucky that I need surgery again and lucky if it turns out it just needed to be locked and all ends up well. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 5th and I'll post an update after that.

Donna, You'll see from my earlier post, my surgeon says my band is unlocked as well, I am seeing my surgeon today and asking some questions. What brand band do you have? Why don;t you insist at this point that they do a fill with floroscopy, so they ( and you) can see how fast liquid goes through your band. They owe you that much as least. If they do the fill with floroscopy they can get closer to a good level of restriction for you faster and more accurately. Why should you wait any longer? I know you're in England and your healthcare system is different, but if you are not getting help from the Dr. why not talk to a hospital administrator? Maybe they can help you. The only bright point for me is I did lose almost 45 pounds and I have been maintaining that for the last few months, mainly because I have been walking. I'm sorry we've both had this problem and I will post again after I talk to my Dr. today.

I did e-mail the lap band company ( no reply). I'm sure they don't want to admit it's possible their band failed. That's why I thought it was brave of your Dr to just admit his mistake and fix it. Definitely that's the better way to go, in my opinion. I do plan on asking how this can happen to him twice, since as far I can tell it's rare. I hope I can keep my nerve up and yet not blow up. If things don't go well, I might ask to talk to a hospital administrator to mediate between us. I just don't know how the Dr will re-act to my questions. At least tomorrow will be here soon and hopefully I can get some resolution and answers so I can move forward. Walked again yesterday but I bought new sneakers ( old ones were giving me blisters) well the new ones are giving me blisters in different places. I'm am getting frustrated, how many pairs of sneakers does it take to walk blister free? Not walking today to rest them, doubtful for tomorrow as appt is in the a.m and then I have to go order flowers for the shower and buy undergarments for my dress for the wedding. I won;t want to try on tight strapless bras after the surgery.

Congratulations Craig! Sometimes the belly never really goes away. I am finding that out. For men, that's the area above the waist, for women the area below the waist. Some fat never goes away once we get it, no matter how much we lose. That's why so many people get tummy tucks and other PS. Oh well, we are still way better off than we used to be. Great succes for you!

I didn't get much sleep last night mulling over all my questions. I found old threads about people with unlocked bands and it really seems rare and yet my Dr says I am his second. He never mentioned a defective band (just that it needed to be closed) so that would seem like it's his error from the beginning. I am going to try to press him to admit this. It can only be a defective band or a surgical error, in my mind, unless he has another explanation. I know they worry about lawsuits, I really don't care about that, I just want to be taken care of properly after the second surgery and this includes the new round of fills. This is a big inconvenience to us both and they should just be sure we are accomodated for appts and fills as necessary. I have never had a problem getting in for fills before anyway. But he has mentioned being discharged the same day and I am not happy about that either. I prefer to stay overnight and have a barium swallow before discharge. We'll see how it all plays out. Glad you're feeling better!!! I actually lost a little more weight, so that's a good thing. I really only want to lose about 25 more pounds, so hopefully a working band will get me there, fast.

Thanks for the supportive words. I am upset of course at the prospect of a second surgery and more upset that my Dr. has made "light" of my situation. He says he'll just go in and lock it, but that means anesthesia all over again, all the same surgical risks, recovery, fresh scars ( mine are just light pink now and getting smaller) and repeating post op diet and then start the fill process all over again. Not exactly a walk in the park! I am glad to have read that people have asked for their bands, but since he has told me he will just lock this one, how would I know if he actually has to replace it at surgery and never tells me? I have an appt Thurs and have a lot of questions to ask. Hopefully, I'll get answers that satisfy me. I hope in the end everything works out. It was a lot of money to pay. I have a allergan/inamed 10 cc band. The new APS one.

Thanks Marilyn, It's not just hunger that's a sign, I also had little restriction ( only have a problem with fruit) and that is with 9 cc's in a 10 cc band. How much fill do you have and what size is your band? Do you have any restriction?

Well this thread is older, but I recently posted a new one on my situation, as my surgeon says he "thinks" my band is unlocked. No restriction, hunger and filled to 9cc's in a 10 cc banded prompted an x-ray. Does anyone know if an x-ray is enough to diagnose this? I am seeing the surgeon again in 2 days as I have a lot of questions. I don't know how a band is unlocked unless it was not locked to begin with or the band is defective, either way it is not my fault and I am the one suffering the greatest of consequences as a second surgery is needed to close it or replace it. I am now exposed to all the same surgical risk as the first time around. I was self pay and surprisingly have lost over 40 pounds. liquids for several weeks following surgery, then liquids for 2 days after each fill,(nine fills) then being carefull after each fill trying new foods and fear of getting stuck is apparently how I lost the weight. Any info is greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure about a guarantee. He says he'll bill my ins for a lap exploratory, but I have a $1000 deductible. This is one of the things on my list to discuss, Thurs. How are you feeling? Judy

It's true the band will not do all the work for you, but it has been said many times on the forum ( and I'm a believer) that if you are too tight, you'll stop losing. If you can't get down healthy solid protein, (eating small bites slowly, chewing and not drinking for an hour) then you'll resort to slider, easy foods that are generally higher in calories. I would try a SLIGHT unfill and see how it goes. If being at your current level of restriciton is not working for you, then trying something else can't hurt, right? P.S. 45 pounds is a lot of weight ( although, I'm sure you want to lose more). Try carrying 2 large turkeys around for a few hours, or putting 45 pounds of rocks in a backpack and carry it around all day, you'll see just how much that is.

Cindy, Well thanks for the laugh, I needed a good one. :confused_smile: The idea that you now have a country gift shop and used to be dressed in a black trench with blue hair and a dog collar, is too funny!

I think we both have that feeling of "what if I am one of the people that cannot be successful at this war with weight". I just came back from a walk. Now that I am back home, I have to drive to the walking path. In RI, I can walk out the front door and there are many directions to go in. The walk here also has a few hills that bother my knee and it's shorter at about 3.25 to 3.5 miles, but I did it! And it IS hot and muggy! I don;t know if I'll walk tomorrow as I have an appt in the a.m and I prefer to walk in the a.m. (especially since I did it today in the afternoon and it's much steamier) so I knew I better get out there. At least that's one positive thing. I hope in the end we are both just fine with working bands, seems we worry if we had one problem it will lead to another, which sometimes happens. Let's hope it doesn't. It'd be a big $18,000 mistake for me if it doesn't work out. :cursing:

It honestly would be much easier for me, if my problem was something the Dr did wrong. I think he already thinks he is doing the best for me by going back in, but I don't believe he thinks he is at fault. Not sure I see it that way. It would be better if he at least understod that I ended up with a short piece of the stick and that I am the one most at risk. I still feel that is what bothers me the most, that he does not seem to understand how awful it is to have surgery again to take care of something I thought was done the first time. I would like him to say "sorry, you got stuck with this problem and we'll do everything we can to get you through this as easily as possible". I haven't walked in four days now. I am using the humidity (which it has been) as my excuse, but I've just lost my motivation. I think it's partly because I don't feel like I'm on the upside of the surgery now, I feel that I't be feeling mentally defeated right now, but I just do. I'm just trying to hang on until I know more and get through this.

The wedding is Sept 27th, and the shower is July 27th. The dr. had July 22th available but I would not have felt well enough for the shower, so we went to a date after the shower. The Dr. is on vacation the week after the shower, so that brought us to Aug 5th. At this point it seems my Dr. believes the unlocked band is not his error, so has not gone out of his way for me.

thanks Sades, That was the explanation I thought it would be on why we would get a few things stuck ( for me it's fruit) but I didn't know if what I was thinking made any sense. I would be happy to have the surgery done sooner, but with the bridal shower and the Dr's schedule, it just wasn't possible. I might ask again when I go in Thurs. if anyone has cancelled or if other days are available. I hate wondering about all the what if's.

Foofy: posted on the OH thread hoping to get more info. Sades: At this point I am prepared but scared for almost anything to happen. Who knows what they'll find when they get in there. I suppose if the band was not around your stomachm there was no scar tissue on the stomach to worry about? Or is that not right? Did the Dr. ever explain why your scrambled eggs got stuck? I just hope to understand this more after Thurs's consult. Judy