restrict2008

you know, I find that a little worrisome (I am neurotic mind you and find many things worrisome). But if so many erosions are asymptomatic, I wonder if the incidence of them is being under-reported.

i would be worried about a leak as well- BTW I dont know what kind of band you have, but the allergan recs are to use Omnipaque- it is a contrast agent so that they can spot a leak under flouroscopy. *hugs- hang in there and let us know how things go!

Redstar- For someone who purports to be so knowledgeable about everything please stop insulting us with your venomous attitude and your bad grammar. I am unsubscribing from this thread; we are here to help each other not attack each other with bloated and skewed statistics. I read your other threads and you seem insanely obsessed with bashing the realize band. Don’t bother responding, I am not going to read your PMs or read this thread again. Lisa 717, I have heard many good things about Mexico, many doctors will give you the box and serial number for your band. I chose to get my surgery in the USA because a colleague of mine did it free of charge (only charge was for the band itself and the anesthesia- still came to 4K though) and I was concerned about follow up. Let us know what you choose, good luck to you no matter which way you decide to go!

i would be totally pissed- they arent doing themselves any favors, even if it were $53 more, if they were up front with it I bet you wouldnt be so angry. Way to generate good vibes for your patients.

even if your port is right next to the band, not every doctor trims the tubing. I specifically asked my doctor about that.

wow look at you two and your awesome weight loss- what an inspiration!!! ps i know that has nothing to do with crushing pills but had to be said- you guys ROCK!

*hugs* we are here to support u

did you notice that the slippage rates in the comparison trial are for the first 30 days? There are a lot of confounding factors for slips, not just the mechanics of the band. I wonder what they are 5-10-20 years out. PS there are plenty of surgeons in NY that place the realize band. I did a quick search and came up with 9 right away.

i could only take a week off, i was barely ready to go back- i had no one to help me with my bags so i had to lift them, i drive a stick shift with a tight suspension and that was rough after one week. I made it, but it was pretty rough, I felt so sick the second day they were a little irritated with me b/c i wasnt volunteering to do extra work, but I didnt tell anyone at work so that was that. I am 5 weeks post op and just now starting to feel nearly 100%. I also had a hernia repair so I am not sure how much that impacts the surgery.

I have not gotten any guidelines on this from my doctor so I was hoping to get some information here. I had band + hiatal hernia repair on 2/15. I am dying to get started with exercise and weights. Any hernia repair people out there? How long did you have to wait before doing abs and weights? I think I will start back with cardio now, I am already walking but I want MORE!

I am already banded as are most of you, but I am worried about long term complication rates, if you look at the stats that inamed uses- they refer to a study in 2000 with 299 patients followed over 36 months. realize quotes its complication rate for the first 30 days. I am worried about 10 years from now. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Any one else worried or I should I just go seek therapy? *self pay*

where are you getting your information? If you read Inamed's recs they state that the first fill should be at LEAST 6 weeks after placement, and that is when 3-4 CCs of fluid is placed. putting fluid in right away is dangerous and can lead to an obstructed stoma when combined with post op swelling. Not only that, you bashed the realize band stating that it was older technology, my understanding is that the band itself is very similar but it has a lower profile port.

Before the band I would always be on time, but now it takes me 30 mins to eat breakfast!! I guess I have to wake up earlier :wink_smile:

she sounds entitled and rude! you handled it with great aplomb

i think a stretched pouch is a dilitation of the proximal stomach above the band- and I wonder if at least some dilitation is almost inevitable unless one continues to eat less than the pouch size created or lives indefinitely on liquids. Esophageal dilitation is when the esophagus itself (above the lower esophageal sphincter) is stretched. I wonder if going on liquids for a short while would help. I personally would also want a complete unfill, it seems like if the pouch is distended, you wont get the restriction the band was invented for! Good luck and keep us updated!

I have the AP band- but the realize band sounds good too

Ever watch those discovery health shows on the superobese? like big medicine?

Actually, not everyone can take a shower. Some people are so obese that they cannot get out of bed.

yes but some people have mental illness or other reasons for not being able to take good care of themselves- I have seen people so obese that they physically cannot clean up after themselves after the toilet (and yes the smell makes everyone gag). you never know what someone's situation/mental status is. probably it is the gross slobs that need empathy more than anyone else. on a side note- these people are completely immobile, there is someone feeding them

I am so glad you posted- I often wonder how people do with the band long term. I am terribly sorry about your slip- I hope you get back on track and we are pulling for you!!!

Happy Bday W! I too thought it must be a treadmill or exercise equipment! Men can be such dunderheads! At least a camera is better than some of the other tchotchkes one can get. Plus I just wanted an excuse to use the word tchotchke. *ducking* most men are clueless- either that or they have such genius with expectation managment and keeping the bar low that it boggles the mind. I personally refer to Valentine's Day as BLACK THURSDAY. So enjoy your birthday and everyone else- happy Black Thursday!!

my next gentleman was even more morbidly obese- I had to run and find a chair that would fit him. He smelled great and was very friendly- he was lovely and I had no negative feelings. I think that first man was just so difficult to talk to and smelled so bad that most people would have a negative reaction. Even still, he deserves the same respect as anyone else. I asked about weight loss surgery with male #2 and he told me that he had 75% of his stomach removed in 1980. After initial success, he has slowly been adding weight on over the years. Now he cannot walk without a walker, or sleep without a recliner.

I had a "client" at work today. He was morbidly obese, wheezing, could barely breathe, poor grooming and hygeine, stank of tobacco with stains in his beard and fingernails. I caught myself judging him. I was pleasant to him as I am to everyone, but it was there, in the background- If I am honest with myself I at first found him a little repulsive. This guy needs help, and I am doing everything to help him get it. The fact is- we judge each other- part of the reason I got the band is b/c I am so sensitive to what people are thinking. Please dont bash me too hard, it was hard for me to write this. I think we all need to look in the mirror sometimes. I know I do.

JLYNN good luck to you, my fingers are crossed!!! Please let us know how things went! ps medial does mean towards the middle so the medial side of the stomach in a normal person would be more towards the left. Hope that helps :cursing:

hehe- standard straw! I am in bandster hell btw- 4 weeks post op, very hungry, trying so hard to stick to 3 oz mushies- I cant wait to feel this restriction you all speak of! First fill, Feb 28th.