adorkbl

I had to reschedule my hiatal hernia surgery with band repositioning. I am bummed I have to wait another month... but it was a choice I had to make. The hospital where I am having my surgery called for presurgery registration and advised me I would owe my co-insurance upfront since it was considered "cosmetic". Pffft. Whatevs! So they wouldn't let me make payments or get billed. "Normally we do, but your surgery is cosmetic..." Bullhockey!! Anyway... my FSA funds reset July 1st... and Melissa, the AMAZING wonderful and oh so patient insurance coordinator at my surgeons office (she ROCKS... I owe her a HUGE thank you card), was able to reschedule my date to July 9th... WITHOUT having to resubmit all my paperwork!!! YAY! Very happy! We were hoping they were not going to say we had to resubmit for authorization! I just had this feeling that insurance would not approve the surgery again (fluke they did the first time!)... and Melissa agreed... would be risky to have to resubmit. So I have another month to continue to make myself as healthy as I can for this operation. I have lost 15 pounds now since I recommitted myself 2 months ago. I am VERY happy with my results. My heartburn is still daily... but I am doing everything I can to minimalize it.

Sorry. Just saw this. My surgeon pulled all the fluid out of my band and several cc's was missing. We did it a second time to be sure, and cc's were missing again. Some people will get their leak diagnosed under fluoroscopy. Good luck!!

Do you have seasonal allergies? I live in AZ and it is pretty freaking hot here. I don't notice the heat affecting my band... but I do notice I feel tighter when my allergies kick in. For instance today is super windy and that makes my allergies flare. I wasn't able to eat as much for lunch. Just a thought. It is possible the heat does affect our restriction. My fingers swell more with the heat and my rings become tighter or looser depending on the season. Maybe the same thing happens internally?

Zoloft would give me horrible heart burn. Every time. I eventually stopped taking it. I would rather be on it... but I simply cannot take pills with my band. Half of it is mental... and I know it. But between the heartburn from Zoloft and a stuck episode once... I gave up. What DOES help is hot tea. I would cut my Zoloft up into smaller pieces and then wash them through with hot tea. Make sure to take with an empty pouch so you can flush it through. eat something after to fill the pouch and help move through any remaining. Good luck!! Be careful with crushing pills. Some pills can absolutely NOT be crushed. Always ask a pharmacist first.

What do you mean by "keeps slipping"? Have you had more than one slip? Some slips can be remedied with an unfill and then slowing working your way back up to restriction.

Pretty normal. I usually can only do Greek yogurt or protein shake in the AM.

You can absolutely start over! I lost 100 pounds... had some difficulties and re-gained 50. I bounced around there for awhile. Have given up and started over. More than once. 80% of this is you. 20% is the band. (That is what I feel.) Soooo much of this journey is between our ears. You have to get your head back on track. Sometimes it is just a matter of doing it. Fake it until you make it. Start over. Go back to your Dr... get your band checked out. See how much Fluid is in there. Start back over with fills. Come to the boards. Support is HUGE. One day at a time. You can absolutely do this!

I am so very sorry for your loss. ((GIANT HUGS))

I had my port replaced last year and it hurt way worse than my initial surgery. I used a bag of frozen peas. Lol. Seriously felt sooo good. I was on my pain meds for 3-4 days before I started feeling better. Hang in there!

Welcome to bandster hell. Don't beat yourself up!! Hang in there. Make the best choices you can.

I paid $9950 in Colorado... but my surgeon has since retired. I have had a lot of expenses come up over the years, including a port replacement surgery and now and upcoming band repositioning and hiatal hernia repair. All told I am most likely $20K plus at this point. Just be aware of the follow up costs, and the possibility of complications that will not be covered either. I knew complications were possible... but you never REALLY think it will happen to you. So make sure you budget for that as well! Good luck with your decision!!

Congrats!! What an inspirational story for those struggling. It took me longer to get on board mentally. I lost 100 initially, then regained 50 of it. I have had some complications along the way, but I was mentally NOT READY when I had this done. I am FINALLY there myself. I recommited when I was thinking about band removal, and I am now losing again. Unfortunately I do have to go in again for another surgery to fix a hiatal hernia and reposition the band... but I am treating this like a NEW START. I hope in 6 months I will be just as successful as you have been. Keep up the amazing work!! Chobani is one of my new drugs of chouce as well!! lol. It is kinder to me in the waist than ice cream ever was.

Looking good!!

I had to have a complete unfill when I had my port replaced last year. I did really well afterwards, losing approx 25 pounds in 3 months. Had some personal stress that knocked me off track at that point... but I am back on track again now. I don't know if it will help with your plateau... but who knows. It depends on the reason behind the unfill? Are you having restriction issues? Complications of some sort?

I just got the Jack LaLanne juicer at costco for $89. I was so siked to try juicing after watching Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead... but now I am freaking. Haha. Seems so intimidating! Going to try a cleanse pre-surgery (hiatal hernia/repositioning on May 30th). Thanks for the ideas on blends!

AWESOME job!! Congrats on your success and hard work!

I have horrible reflux as well. I was not too tight. My Dr ordered an EGD. A hiatal hernia was discovered under scope. Next week I go in for surgery to repair the hiatal hernia and reposition the band. I hope it will alleviate the reflux. I had an EGD done around 2 months post -op back in 2008. I had a hiatal hernia at that time but was never told! I didn't discover this until my new gastroenterologist saw it on my old test results. I am not happy that I have suffered with this for almost 4 years! I hope this will finally give me relief and get me fully back on track. I have had a few complications along the way and am ready for some calmer winds and smoother sailing. I would talk to your Dr... tell him what you are experiencing. I would try backing out some fill level first to see if maybe you are too tight? Good luck!

I am having surgery on May 30th to fix a hiatial hernia and have my band repositioned... just curious how you are doing? What kind of post-op diet did your surgeon require? I know it is early... but was your reflux "cured" or has it gotten betteR?

Actually an egg and bacon isn't a bad choice at all. Both high Protein... the bacon is high in fat though, so I would limit that. Sausage biscut from MickeyD's... not a good choice. I would avoid. Bread is not easy to eat for most of us. I avoid it. Cereal, depending on the kind, is also not a great choice. High in carbs and sugars. Have you tried Greek yogurt? Stick to the outer rim of the grocery store. Fresh is key. Stay away from processed and packaged food.

I had to bring my CPAP for my band and gallbladder surgeries. They never used it. I was told it helps in recovery sometimes depending on how you recover. Also it is important for the anesthesiologist to know what setting you use.

Congrats to the bandbaby moms! I am insanely jealous. lol. That was one of my reasons for getting banded... however my fertility did not change. Nor did my PCOS.

I have horrible luck with pills. I avoid taking them... and frankly... it pisses me off. I am suffering from pretty bad allergies this spring and I am afraid to take medication for it. I had a horrible horrible stuck episode on my anti-depressant meds once, and have not taken a pill since. Everyone is different. I know several bandsters that can take pills with no problem.

Oh what a bummer. I would be heart broken if I lost my surgeon. Hopefully his replacement gets better at finding your port.

I had to have my gallbladder out 6 months after banding. Horrible pain. Nausea, sweating, and pain. Lots of pain. It would come and go. No rhyme or reason. Didn't seem to matter what I ate or drank. I would have your gallbladder checked out. Good luck!