skittles108

I had a barium swallow a week ago, really kind of routine, as it had been a year. I felt like I could eat a little more then I should, so no problem in having it done. My dr. unfortunately is out of town for 2 weeks, but his associated called today and left me a message. He said "Your pouch is slightly tipped, but nothing to worry about"...nothing to worry about? I don't understand what this means. I've heard of pouches being enlarged, I've heard of slips, but I've never heard the term "pouch is slightly tipped." Is there anyone familiar with this term that can explain to me what this means. My dr., like I said, is gone for 2 more weeks. The dr. covering from him is not a lap-band surgeon. They left a message not to worry..like that's going to happen. So, what is a tipped pouch? Please someone help me out here? Thanks so much:confused:

I hope my band lasts me a lifetime, but IF I needed a revision, I wouldn't be going for a VSG, but a full-blown DS. Why waste the time with a sleeve? Sure you have a lot of malabsorption with the DS, but you also get to eat well, and compliance with my Vitamins would never be a problem for me. I just don't see why if you are getting your insides rearraged you don't go full bore...just my thoughts.

Two more boys have come forward claiming they slept with this girl about the time of conception and could be the father. Stay tuned. It's definitely getting more interesting.

I don't post here much, but I'm almost 3 years out and love my band. I'm down about 130 lbs. and have never had a single problem with it. The band is far from "crap" for me, but I don't choose to speak for others. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely was the right choice for me. I have maintained my weight for well over a year now, and in fact lost 6 more pounds, so I consider myself a success. I was older getting this band, and worked hard to get approved. I'm sorry BubbleButt that you hated your band, but "one man's trash is another man's treasure" and so it is with me and my band. I plan on dying with this wonderful little device inside me, AND absolutely no one can tell me I didn't do the right thing for me. I didn't want my guts rearranged, and that is the reason most people choose the band. I am going to end this post by saying I have never regretted a single day of having this band..not one single, solitary day, so please speak only for yourself. I choose to speak only for me, and I live each day like it is the beginning of my life thanks to this band.

I'm so glad a few of us check in here regularly. I had a dr. appt. a couple weeks ago and the dr. took out some of my fill. I knew I had been tight for awhile, but he took me down quite a bit. I am eating more then I should be, and I will be glad to go back on the 9th of March. This band is indeed fickle. I wonder if there is truly a "sweet spot" or just plain good restriction. I am going to NYC in May for a vacation. Your trip to Korea sounds like it will be fun. Is your daughter's family military. My SIL spent 2 tours over there unaccompanied. He brought me back some beautiful things, including I mink blanket that I cherish. Check back in and let me know how you are doing. Let's keep this thread going if we can. Skittles

Hi there, life gets in the way and I forget to check in. My grand-daughter and I share the same birthday and just celebrated together. Life has been busy. I'm also flying to NYC for a week in May and I'm really excited. I'm glad your surgery went well and you are doing good. Congrats on the weight loss. My sleep apnea is gone. My blood work is all fine, but the dr. said "you are still 67-take a nap if you want one". I guess I don't like wasting a minute in a day, but hay maybe I need that little nap. No harm done, right? I'm so glad everyone is doing well. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and still a kind of tough day to get through..when does it ever get easier, or is it just me? Love, Skittles

I found the comment about Kate Winslet's breasts in "bad taste" really. It just isn't something that should be blurted out on a TV show. I think it's a case of "maybe you had to see the show" to see how it was presented. Kate Winslet is a wonderful actress, did a great job in Revolutionary Road (although the movie is a whole nuther subject), but that was over the top even for Oprah. Kate replied with gesture-"oh you mean down to here" or "under my arms when I lay down". Give me a break, that was such an unnecessary comment, & it in no way mean I approve or disapprove of breast surgery, because I don't give a fiddler's damn about it. It's a personal decision. It just seemed inappropriate in the way it was said-but Oprah, well I guess she can get away with anything-sadly.

I like the girl that takes care of her 93-year-old Grandma. That girl had a really nice voice. I don't care much for the try-outs though.

I'd be hard pressed to top her latest blunder. She told Kate Winslet "I so glad you have real breasts" WTF kind of thing is that to say to anyone, & how come she took such note of it?:thumbup: Even Ellen topped her favorite Christmas gifts this year. Oprah went with cheap & free (why? she is rich as hell) & Ellen gave away some awesome crap.

Hi, I just wanted to check in & see how everyone is doing on this busy thread. I am 2 1/2 years. out from lapbanding, & I have lost 130 total. It's like a new life for me. I was pretty well confined to a wheelchair, had been told I needed new knees, but when the weight came off so did the pressure on the knees...2 1/2 years later & no new knees yet, & no more pain. Today I spent 6 hr. out shopping with my daughter for Christmas, & never even got tired..had a great day. This is a brand new phase of my life & at 66 going on 67, I feel better then I did at 45-50. I have gained nothing back...absolutely nothng. I love my lapband. I didn't read all your posts, but I hope you are all happy with yours, or looking forward to it. It was a life saving surgery for me. If you have any questions that you need to ask someone further out, prease feel free to ask, & I'm happy to meet you all. Dee:smile2:

Hi There, I would be happy to talk with you, while you await your surgery. I had surgery 2 1/2 years ago & have lost over 100 lbs. I am at goal & feeling good (although somewhat fatigued at times). I was 64 having my surgery & I'll be 67 in Feb. Keep in contact if you want to talk. Skittles

Hi there Karen, & yes indeed we have a lot in common. Before my surgery I was told I would need 2 new knees, & I was prepared for that when I lost some weight. Strange thing though is that they have gotten so much better. I was to a point where I couldn't shop without one of those carts you ride in, & now I walk all over the stores. I also went through a series of Synvisc injections which helped a great deal. It seems like my weight alone was a lot of my problem. I hope you continue to feel better. My hands seem to be the only thing that don't work right. I have an essential tremor for one thing, & some arthritis in them also. I take antidepressants, but they can only do so much. They truly can't fix real life can they? I think the fatigue is probably a combination of things. Thanks for checking in on this thread, & please keep in touch.

Hi again, it looks like we kind of own this thread, huh? Your date is getting close, so I'd love to keep in touch with you. I'll be going to one of my daughters for Thanksgiving (going over the day before to help with the cooking), & I will spend a night or so with her. I have 5 kids, but they are all grown & out of the house, so there is just me & my dog. That would be wonderful if I could trade in the machine & not have to go through another sleep study. I will most definitely ask at my next appt. Considering my blood work is fine, it just may be the sleep apnea, but before I knew I had it..I would wake up gasping for breath. That never happens to me anymore though. I'll check tomorrow & see if you are around. :laugh: Skittles

Hi, I will check with my PCP again about the sleep apnea. She thought that probably since I had lost so much weight it was gone, but perhaps it isn't at all. I know I shouldn't be feeling as tired as I do. My labs are good, with the exception of my Vit. D., & that is my own fault for not keeping up on my multi-Vitamin like I should. We don't have malapsortion, but I've begun to realize just how important those Vitamins are. I felt good for so long, that I slacked off. I usually take 2 of the Centrum chewables. I will most definitely see if it's possible to trade the machine in. I hope I don't have to take another sleep test, because Medicare requests it be done in 2 parts. I have a little dog, & I so hate to leave him overnight. I hope you are as happy with your surgery as I have been. I haven't had one single thing go wrong...knock on wood. I'd love to keep in touch with you. Skittles:teeth_smile:

Hi there, you know I had sleep apnea bad when I started this journey, & I have one of the old CPAP machines with the large Water reservoir. My hands have some arthritis, & I could no longer change it all the time by myself. My dr. felt I was ready to give it up with the weight loss, but I think maybe that isn't the case. It could very well be fatigue from not using it. I know they have a new model out that is a lot less work, but I think you have to have your old machine 5 years before they will trade it in. It does me no good, because (yuck) you have to be able to change the water. I'll talk to my dr. again about it. I'd love to keep in touch with you & see how you do with your surgery. I surprised myself. Except for the port area being sore (like a pulling sensation when I got up & down), I did great, & 3 days out was shopping Walmart with my daughter. I didn't push it but I managed to walk some every day, & every day it got better. I was off Lorcet in 2 days & taking Tylenol. I think the older we are, the better we seem to do to be honest. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself, because I could hardly walk anymore, & knew I was destined for a wheelchair. It was so important to me I was able to stay in my home & take care of myself, that I knew I needed to do this. It has been wondeful. I still marvel at going from a 22-24 to a 10-12, & I can shop for hours (seems like that is my cross-addiction:) People that tell you that you can only lose 50% of your weight with the band have never really worked it, or experienced it first hand. I have a friend with RNY, & I've done better then her. I wish you the very best of luck with your surgery, & if you have any questions at all feel free to e.mail me. I think you are doing the best thing in the world for you, hubby & grandchildren. Skittles:teeth_smile:

He there, all my lapband friends. It's been a long time since I posted here, but I have more time on my hands now. I'm 66-years-old & my birthday is creeping up in Feb. I had lapband surgery in 06 & I've lost 100 lbs. I feel good, except for some fatigue, which I can't quite put my finger on. I'm certainly much thinner & I'm sure much healthier, & I take my vits, but I can't get past the tired. I wonder sometimes if it's depression, but I do take some meds for it. I guess I wanted to know if anyone else is feeling like this, or if you are all feeling great :rolleyes2: I really feel the need to re-connect with people my age, as I know nobody here that has had lapband surgery. I've never had a single problem, & the last fill I had was a year ago. I'm maintaining, but not losing anymore, but I'm in a size 12, & I can't ask for anymore then that. I'm a widow, & have been for 14 years. I pretty much keep to myself, except for family, so I wanted to connect with some of you & say hi, & happy holidays to you all. Take care, & please say hi if you have the time, & let me know how you are doing. Skittles:smile:

I had lost weight often on my own on every diet imaginable to man and always, always gained it back and more. I knew for me the band would finally be the tool to not only losing but not regaining. I will be out 2 years very shortly and am at goal and maintaining. I wouldn't trade my band for anything, but if you weren't nervous I would be worried about you

My dr. advised me against the bypass being over 60. He felt the malabsorption part is tough enough, and even tougher as you get older. I felt safer going with the band. I truly didn't want my insides rearranged, nor be committed to taking all the vits you have to take. I think age should play a huge part in the deciding factor. For me the band was much safer and I am at goal having lost well over 100 lbs. I'll be 2 years out shortly.

I hope I get to see 89 :party: I lost my dad 3 years ago at the age of 100. I used to always send him baskets of cheese and meat from Hickory Farms. I would just order online and have them send it out and he loved it. They have some nice baskets with bigger cheese and meats in them. Just an idea. He also loved getting items from Swiss Colony. Both of these have a website.

Hi there, I'm a 66-year-old female (a widow) that is approximately 2 years out from lapbanding surgery, and it is the single best thing I've ever done for myself. I had open heart surgery 6 years ago (5-way bypass) and thought I would never get approved for WLS. I knew the minute I saw the lapband info I wanted it, and I never quit until I got it. I am 5'9" and now weigh 150 lbs. (20 lbs. below the goal I set for myself). Life is good. I now can walk and walk, something I couldn't do before. I was told I needed 2 new knees, but since the surgery my knees are fine, as is my BP, triglycerides, cholesterol, and everything else. It took me about 3-4 fills in a 4 cc band to get any real restriction. I am now 2 years out and I have 4 cc in a 4 cc band (which will hold up to 6 cc). Virtually, all the fat from my stomach pad is gone, and that is why the larger fill level is required. I am perfect right now, and have been for 4 mo. now. The time is going to come shortly when I will have a little saline taken out just to maintain. I wear a 10-12, and I'm amazed. I'm down 120 lbs. since the time I started pursuing this surgery. To those who have just had the surgery, be patient until you get the right fill level. To those awaiting the surgery, I am convinced we are tough in our 60's and 70's, and this is a cakewalk compared to some surgeries I've had. I took pain meds for 2 days, and on the 3rd day I was with my daughter shopping at Walmart...and I haven't stopped being on the go since. Like I said life is sweet, and the Golden Years are truly golden now. Best to all of you, Skittles:thumbup:

Hi there, I don't get to check in as often as I would like, but for the first time in years I'm out living life. I'm busy with shopping with my daughters, and going to the YMCA. I think I've become addicted to exercise :smile: I'm glad the newbies are doing well and your surgeries were successful. My birthday was wonderful and my kids threw me a b'day party which was ever so special, and so very different from other years. My daughter gave me a beautiful top and told me she had told the clerk "I can't believe I'm trying on clothes for my mom"...wonderful feeling that size 12 I can tell you. I'll check in every chance I get, but you will all find that as you lose and get more energy you are going to be more scarce as you begin living your new lives. All my best to all of you. Skittles

Good luck to you. The 4th is my birthday, so I hope it's a lucky day for you. My kids are throwing me a birthday party. To think that 2 years ago I didn't think I would make it to 66 and here I am feeling wonderful. To anyone else...it's common to be hungry. Until you get some fills and get restriction you are in what they call "bandster hell". Having the band is only the first step. The fills are ever important. I was also hungry during the first 6 weeks until I got my first fill, and even somewhat after that, but it got better and better. You will feel better when you move onto mushies. There are so many great things you can eat. I loved having refried Beans (low-fat) heated with some low fat cheese, topped with a little salsa and ff sour cream. I think that was the best thing I tasted after surgery, and so high in Protein. To this day I still love to fix it for lunch. Good luck to you and keep us posted. Skittles

Congratulations on your surgery and feeling so good. That is exactly how I felt I was sitting in my recliner the next day watching TV, dosing off and on, and feeling only stretching pain at the port site. We really are tough birds for sure. It seems the older gang seems to get on lots better than the younger people who have maybe never had any surgery before. I'm so happy you are doing well, and wish you continued success. Welcome to the loser's bench Skittles

I am 1 1/2 years out and happy as can be and at goal. I no longer need the two knees they were convinced I needed 1 1/2 years ago. It's amazing what losing weight can do for you. My exercise was limited to walking, and yet I lost. My recovery was as smooth as smooth could be, and actually propped up on pillows the first night home I slept in my own bed. I actually begged family to go home so I could be by myself and it was the most relaxing time I had...I had all my Protein drinks and everything all ready for my recovery and actually did a lot of sitting in my chair with a heating pad and watching TV, and walking (although I had absolutely no gas) and I drank lots and lots of Water. I've heard 20 year old's complain about the pain they went through, but most of us over 60 are tough old birds It seems to come with the territory. I was at Walmart 4 days later doing my walking and enjoying myself and only on Tylenol at that point...I hate those pain pills. I can now walk for a couple miles at a time. I work out at home to a DVD by Leslie Sansone and have a huge ball that I work out with. I also joined Silver Sneakers through Humana (it's free) at the YMCA and I'm loving life. I get to work out there on low impact equipment and do water aerobics. It's been about 40 years since I've felt this good. I wish each and every one of you the success I've had. I don't get to answer many questions about problems, because I didn't have them. I have been extremely lucky...I have never PB'ed or been stuck, and that in itself is a miracle. I eat everything, just in moderation. I see my dr. once a mo. whether I need to or not for him to take my BP (which is wonderful) and my weight and I continue to hold at my current weight of 155 lbs. I am 5'8" and don't remember when I weighed this little before. I wear a 10/12 and never thought I would see the day. I went into surgery wearing a 22/24 and 275 lbs. I huffed and I puffed and I didn't think I would make it another year honestly. Now, the world is at my feet For some people an RNY or DS might be the answer, but my dr. felt very strongly at my age and with health problems already an issue the band was the safe way to go. I've never looked back and I've never been sorry. I stay full for 4 hr. after eating and then just have a snack. My focus is never on food anymore and friends are amazed at the turnaround in me. I went from being a sort of recluse because of my limitations to being a social butterfly of sorts. Life is wonderful for me with the band and I wish the same for all of you in this magnificent journey...health and happiness to all of you. Medicare made me stay 1 night in the hospital and I couldn't wait to be turned lose. I walked and walked in the hospital and could have come home the same day. A lot of people choose to have people stay with them at home, but my family was just a phone call away, and I enjoyed the time to myself. My pain was minimal, with the port pain being a pulling pain when I got up. My incisions healed beautifully. I so wish I had done this long ago, but it wasn't truly approved until 2001 in the U.S. I turn 66 in 2 weeks and I'm feeling 50 at the oldest...umm wait I felt 66 when I was 50 I do believe. Take care to all of you and God Bless. Skittles:biggrin:

I've found an over 60 group and that is exciting. I'm 65 and had the surgery at 64. I'm not 1 1/2 years out from the surgery which I think saved my life. I was unable to walk because of bad knees that they said needed replaced; heart surgery; hypothyroidism; sleep apnea, and many other problems. The surgery has changed my life. I have lost 115 lbs. and feel wonderful. I'm 5'8" tall and weight 160 lbs. for the first time in years and years. When I had the surgery I was 275 lb. and unable to get around. I now have no more sleep apnea; my knees are like new; and although I still take Synthroid it is a much lower dose. Life is good and I'm so happy to have met older bandsters. I would do this again in a heartbeat. If you are considering the lapband, it is the best thing that ever happened to me. I've had zero complications..no gas after surgery, nothing. My fills have gone perfectly, although I'm at 4 cc in a 4 cc band (which holds 6 cc). The restriction is perfect. I don't PB or anything and I'm full very fast. Life is good. I wish you all the best. Skittles:biggrin: