Dody

I have always wanted to be able to walk my dogs. I would be content with that. I think a treadmill would be awesome, except for the fact that arthritis prohibits the walking part. I so hope that the banding will in some way help the arthritis. I may be reaching for the stars, as there are very thin people with arthritis, but I know mine has gotten worse with weight gain. The thought of buying and being able to use a treadmill would be an ultimate goal, just as walking the dogs would be. I'm kind of scared the banding won't work if I can't really excercise. Someone suggested Water therapy, but the thought of me in a bathing suit is about more than I can bear. I want to actually be able to walk without pain. Has anyone had arthritis that improved with the banding? I would love to someday jump on a threadmill, but the first goal is simply walking 2 little dogs. As for the emotional aspect, I'm not yet banded, but I expect I will go through a range of emotions. Perhaps an anxiety medication would work. I know I have panic attacks and they settle in my chest. It's a very scary and uncomfortable feeling and I take medication for it. I'm not really pushing medication, but I feel sometimes we really benefit from it as a coping mechanism. There is only so much we can fight on ourselves.

I'm from Tennessee. Maybe these two gems are twins. Mine is into showing horses (dressage I think she calls it). I have a riding horse and love riding so we have some things in common too. I'm glad we both get such wonderful care. Although my physician is young and beautiful and talented she also has a nurse that is a sweetheart. I think we just got very lucky to find such caring people. She told me about the lap band actually and told me that is something she would allow me to do and encourage me to do. I was happy to hear there was an alternative to more serious surgery, so I'm saying a prayer that when the time comes it works for me, as well as some people on here.

I love my physician. She is young, talented, beautiful and so supportive of my getting the band. I am 60+ and although she frowns on GB (especially with my medical background) she is all for the lap banding and wrote me a great letter to the lap band surgeon. He told me how impressed he was by her taking time out to tout the praises of lap banding. She thinks it will be excellent for me, so I guess we share something in respect for our GP. Mine is a treasure and never too busy for me or any questions I have.

I am on Nexium (much the same as Prilosec) and it says not to crush it because it is time released. How did you crush Prilosec. If you have a prescription it comes in a capsule. Did you merely open the capsule to take it...and oh yuck it must have tasted horrible, or did you take OTC meds? I am curious how I'm going to take the Nexium, but my dr. has told me that probably she will switch me to Acifed which is as small as a birth control pill for gas. What I really want to know is how you got that Prilosec down?

I am right now having to put off the banding process because of an erosion in my esophagus and a peptic ulcer. These things happen, and they had nothing to do with a band. I misunderstood your interpretation of "innards" because that is not how I look at the esophagus. It is not touched during the surgery, but I surely understand how you could have problems either related or unrelated to the banding with your esophagus. Lord knows I do. I still believe for ME the band is the safest way to go right now. You've apparently been through a really rough time and I sympathize with you. You're incredibly strong to have endured all you have, but I am suffering esophageal problems badly and I have no band to blame for it. Sorry if "innards" was a major bone of contention. I admire the fact that you were dedicated to your weight loss and I so wish the band had worked for you. Erosion is caused at a later date (after the band is placed) and must be a horrible thing to endure. No one seems to know the reason for it, and I surely don't claim too. Now if your surgeon diced or sliced anything during your banding I would really be looking to that surgeon for answers. I know I had my gall bladder removed and was told afterward "I put a nick in your liver but I fixed it with durabond". That made me feel really good to know my liver was glued back together. Fortunately, I never had any repercussions from it, but nonetheless I wasn't very happy with the surgeon and have never returned to her for anything else. I wish you, and everyone here, no matter what their personal choice is the very best of luck with your surgery.

Do they know what causes the port to leak. Is it something that happens at the time of surgery; the first fill, possible poking the tubing; do you have any idea. I would hate to go through that. That is what I meant when I said that my dr. had told me that sometimes (often) lap banding requires more than one surgery. That's been proven on this forum with people who have had to have the band removed for erosion, and people with leaks. I wonder what can be done to prevent this? It sounds like dr. error to me. Can someone help me out here?

I've been on Nexium for a couple weeks now and can't believe how much better I'm feeling. Prilosec is mainly for ulcers (either peptic or duodenal), whereas Nexium is broadscoped and covers esophageal problems wonderfully and also helps with ulcers. I hope you start feeling as well as I am pretty shortly.

Sue, I'm not yet banded but I have erosions in my esophagus and a peptic ulcer that need serious treatment before I can get lap banding. I'm hoping they will clear up so that I can have the surgery within a few mo. The dr. put me on Nexium for the esophageal problems and Prilosec for the ulcer, and within a week I'm feeling much better. I feel so sorry for you that you have had to go through so much. My dr. coated my ulcer with silver nitrate in endoscopy and said the erosion of the esophagus is unexplainable (considering I've never been banded or anything), but I do have esophageal reflux. He thinks the Nexium will take care of it, but wants to wait a couple more mo. before doing surgery. Probably a wise decision, but I'm getting antsy. I hope you start feeling better really quickly. I'm sure not a dr., but I am a retired nurse of over 25 years. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery. Sounds like you have had quite a time of it.

Is there any chance you smoke? That may be the reason you are coughing up lots of junk. Sometimes that happens with smokers in operations. Just a thought. I hope you are up and around and feeling great before long. Hang in there. I imagine the first couple days are tough.

Be kind enough if you will to let me know how lap banding "rearranged your innards". Did they do anything to your intestines? Nope they didn't. They merely put a band around you stomach and inserted a port to fill though. They didn't arrange a single thing at the time of your lap banding. If you had further surgery they may have re-arranged your innards a great deal, but they didn't when they banded you.

"There are risks with any surgery". This statement is true, but in lap banding your main concern is general anesthetic. It can be risky at anytime in any surgery, but the lap banding itself is not nearly as invasive as GB is. The risks in GB are not only from anesthetic, but much more involved. I've seen the worse of the worse, but I also have a wonderful friend who had GB and has lots of problems, most of which come with the surgery, some that do not. She has excessive skin loss, and I think every GB patient should be entitled to having reconstructive surgery to remove the loose skin. Now if you never plan on anyone seeing you sans clothes it might not bother you, but I figure you would lose another 30 lbs. if this loose skin were removed. If you have a choice I hope that first you will give lap banding a try, and if it isn't for you then it isn't, but you haven't gone and arranged your plumbing or done anything you can't change. I didn't mean to come on so strong, but I do worry about people that opt first for gastric bypass. The band is a tool for sure, but people do lose weight on it if they are dedicated. You can screw up a GB real fast too. Anyway, I wish you all the luck in your decision and hope that you find happiness with it.

I could say so much here about GB and all the repercussions, but you probably wouldn't pay any heed to me. As an ER nurse for years I've seen these GB patients by the hundreds in the ER. You've never heard anyone that wouldn't do it again? I hate to tell you the stories I've heard about how they wish there had been an alternative. Not one of them wouldn't have preferred the lap banding had it been available years ago here in the states. I've seen some pretty horrible sites..from the massive hanging skin that needs to be surgically removed (a series of operations should take care of that), to people who never get far from the bathroom because everything runs right on through. Guess how much of your intestines are actually gone and not just rerouted. Then there is always the dumping syndrome which in itself is a major issue for these people, not to mention all the Vitamins they have to take for malabsorption. You should be happy that you don't have to go through this. I'm guessing from your post your don't have a medical background, or I don't think you would have ventured out on a limb as far as you did. How many people exactly would have this surgery again in a heartbeat? The pouch can be easily stretched, and more so now that it is done laparoscopically, because actually they can't get the pouch quite as small. It is nothing to see the staples ripped out and wow another surgery which your dr. probably won't authorize. You are talking MAJOR surgery for GB, so please study all your facts before you tell me about GB. I've spent to many years looking after people that opted for this surgery. Ask one of your friends that "would do it again" to show you their stomach and then see what you think. OK, I probably won't change your mind, but then again this is your body so I guess you are free to think whatever great things you want to about GB. It is an absolutely last resort, or should be. Wake up Call!!

So happy for you and just a little bit jealous:) that you are banded. I'm so happy you are having a speedy recovery. That's what I'm looking forward too and hope all goes that way. Good luck to you on your journey to a healtier, happier you.

This friend of mine paid $500.00 above and beyond her insurance for "literature" for the next year. She never went back to the dr. for any sort of checkup or anything. I don't understand why, except perhaps it was a 3 hr. drive, but she has never, ever gone back. She receives literature in the mail (same junk you could read on line). She belongs to no support groups on line, and is not happy with her body without clothes. Now, this woman is 34 and should be thrilled with her body. She looks great in clothes, but she has a lot of loose skin that she absolutely hates and is looking into the cost of a tummy tuck and having skin removed from under her arms. I don't envy her. I truly think she is almost as miserable as she was heavy. Just my 2 cents.

The post by LaMadam was right on the money. I know my friend has lots of sagging skin. She holds it in right now with panties that have a tummy holder inner in them, but she has showed it to me and it is UGLY. She lost all her weight in a yr. but she wants cosmetic surgery because of all the lose skin. Ask this friend of yours if you can see that tummy. People can cover it up with clothes, but the fact is she has sagging skin big time.

Wow, not sure what can be done to control the arthritis, but my hopes are that with weight off it won't be nearly as painful. I guess that is a bridge I have to cross when I come to it. My neighbor has had GB and she lives on carbonated beverages? What is the difference with the lap banders and the GB's do you know? I don't think she is supposed to be drinking all that pop but she does, and seemingly with no real effects. She has lost tons of weight, but she just doesn't really look good (not physically-she looks very thin, but she looks white and sickish). I think her body has been robbed of Vitamins and she isn't following the regimin she is supposed to. Again thanks for the link.

Isn't it true that with DS they have to cut you wide open and it can't be done laparoscopically? That to me screams I don't want it. I will take my chances with the band. If it works it works, if not I've really lost nothing literally. I haven't endured major surgery with both GB (which can be done laparoscopically) but has horrible side-effects, and I sure haven't had my whole stomach cut open. Now If I've been mis-informed that DS requires a huge incision, feel free to correct me, but this is what my doctor has told me.

A post worth reading. I think I am informed that the band is the right decision for me too. Did you find out anything about the slippage you thought had occurred? Out of curiosity; have you truly required only one fill, because that is awesome. Dody

I was told that due to port problems; erosion; and slippage that very few people just have the one surgery for the band. Now, this is a dr. touting GB, so I don't know how much stock I can put in what he says. He said the same thing; the band has a low success rate, but for me it sounds like the answer. I am happy to lose slower and not have my insides arranged. That is just what I was told; that lap banding rarely stops at one surgery.

I literally live on ibuprofen for my arthritis. No one has said that I won't be able to take it afterwards. I was originally on Celebrex, but heard so much controversary about it as related to the heart that I asked my dr. to take me off it. She did, and put me on ibrupfen. I take over 1000 mg a day for the arthritis. As for beverages, she told me if you allow the pop to go flat you can have it. That doesn't sound very good to me...flat soda sucks. I have a neighbor that has had GB and she drinks loads of pop. I wonder if she is doing something she shouldn't. She literally lives on diet soda. Take away my pop and ibuprofen (and then tell me I can't have coffee with sugar in it) and I'm done for. Do I really have to give up all three of these things. I can't stand sugar substitute in my coffee but don't mind it in soft drinks at all. I only drink diet soda and caffeine free (love root beer). Now I'm wondering if I have to give all this up. I haven't started the nutritionist part of this yet, as I'm working on healing up an ulcer. It sounds like I'm in for some bad news about what I can drink and what drugs I can take. Tylenol for arthritis doesn't help me at all. Another question, if you take liquid percocet or something like that after the surgery, why on earth would ibuprofen hurt you? Pain medications like Percocet are much stronger.

A lot of doctors that offer lap banding don't offer GB or DS. They normally plug their own product. The GB doctors will give you info that the band is not proven; that the success rate is very low; that they don't do it because it requires more than ONE surgery almost always. On the other hand the seminar that I went to for GB scared the heck out of me, and I also learned that whereas I thought DS was simpler it is actually more dangerous. The dr. told me it can't be done laparoscopically and they need a huge incision. That scared me plenty. As for the GB, the drs. that do it rave about it, but they don't tell you all about the horrible "dumping syndrome" that always occurs, nor do they tell you that they are going to completely rearrange your intestines and leakage is a major problem that can lead to death even. Maybe you can't lose 90% of the weight you want in a yr. on the lap band, but it certainly sounds much, much safer and less invasive than having something as permanent as GB. Actually, if you are my age, which is 60+ they don't give you an adequate amount of time to live to enjoy the GB, so it isn't for me. If I need more than one surgery to fix something it isn't the end of the world, but it could be with GB. That's just my two cents worth from what I learned going to the seminars, and the fact that my GP said absolutely NO to the GB surgery because she doesn't think it is safe by any means. Every dr. touts their own surgery.

I'm not banded yet, and I stopped making candy years ago when I lost my husband and the kids had left home, but I still buy candy for my dogs' groomers. I had all I could do to get that box there with a ribbon attached without opening it. I'm not doing this anymore. Next year I've decided I'm giving them something healty. Lima beans is definitely a thought...but do you actually cook them and eat them Chocolate is my biggest downfall. When I'm down or depressed I want that chocolate fix. I don't care much about deserts or breads, but oh I love chocolate. It seems to cure everything except my waistline. Get them all delivered as soon as possible and next yr. think of something else to give besides chocolate

I read all the posts on here, and am always amazed here in cyber space at how very close this forum is. I'm feeling better after a week or so on Nexium and the terrible burning is going away. It's like I said, nights are lonely. I have 2 dogs and a cat, but I lost my husband some years ago, and lonliness and worry set in when the darkness falls. That's when I come here and read how much you all seem to really care about one another, and your posts are so encouraging and sincere. I want so much to have my band, so I have to get better. The dr. seems to think that once the problems are cleared up I will be good to go. It's the darned waiting and trying to not stress over it. Thanks again for all the support you give me and others. It's a pleasure to come here and read your posts. God Bless each and every one of you. It's wonderful to see you reach out to others for comfort and receive it some heartfelt. You are all great.

I won't be having surgery till the spring, but I have to see the nutritionist for 5 weeks beforehand to show I can lose weight and I'm dedicated. Hope I can do it. No..I will do it!! I have to clear up an ulcer beforehand so it moves my surgery up till Spring, but that is a good thing as my daughter is going to come and stay with me for awhile. The weather will be nicer and I might have time to get my garden started first. I'm feeling lots more positive than I was a week ago before I started on meds, and feeling better too, so I hope I'm on the road to recovery. I'm also having my teeth worked on in the meantime and won't be done for a couple months, then they are all getting bleached and I bet I feel like a new person. I'm excited but nervous. I guess it all goes together. Good luck to you.

I quit years ago, but I would be more worried about my heart and lungs if I smoked than the band I think. I don't know the statistics on the band and smoking or if there are any, but you should really try to quit........and I know you've heard it a million times huh?