Tristessa

Has anyone developed gastroparesis post-op? I've just been diagnosed (finally) after two years of dealing with pain and severe nausea and having every test under the sun to rule out gallbladder. As I have no history of diabetes and never had any issues prior to banding my GI doctor figures it was caused by the surgery.

It messes with the mind a bit to have to live on liquids and when I do eat solids have to have Water with them after over two years of living by band rules. I haven't seen my band doctor yet (not my surgeon, I was banded in Mexico, but the local bariatic surgeon that I see for fills) since being officially diagnosed, so I haven't had a chance to ask him if I should be having the band removed or not but my GI doctor said that he doesn't see why I would need to.

I'm currently on Domperidone (Motilium) but it doesn't really seem to be helping. I've been taking it for a month but whenever I try a solid meal I end up with nausea and pain, so I'm still living on mostly liquids. Has anyone had a stomach pacemaker put in with their band? If so, how has that been working? I can't tell yet if the pacemakers are approved in Canada or not, I've seen lots of clinical trials here for them but nothing definitively saying yes, this is a standard of care here.

Hi everyone!

I was banded Nov 2008, after my 2nd fill a couple months later I found the "sweet spot" everyone talks about....lost 70 lbs...everything is great...until now. Recently I have noticed that I am not chewing my food up as much as I used to- if I feel something stick it passes very quickly. Is it possible that after this much time since a fill the band has become more open? Is that even possible?

As you lose weight the fat pad between the band and your stomach gets smaller so you do lose restriction as a result. It's possible that you've been losing weight from other areas and had a smaller fat pad to begin with and are now losing more weight from that area specifically, so that's why you're feeling less restriction now.

Have you had a barium swallow or scope done in the last 2 years at all the check band position and health?

Good luck!

Tristessa sorry you have been having such a tough time. I'm surprised that your gallbladder wasn't removed with your lap band surgery.

If it's just an ulcer ask for sucralfate that healed mine in no time at all. Matter of fact it stops the queasy too much acid feeling in a couple of uses. Then you don't feel hungry at all.

We were the closest in weight for the 2008 Notorious Novembers. By the way how tall are you? I'm 5' 10". You are doing great with your weight loss, and I'm sure you will get your toned fit body back as soon as your neck heals the rest of the way.

I have gained some of my weight back since my Dr moved his practice 4 hours away, and I started caring for my mom with alztimers. I'm trying to get back on track again with diet and exercise. So far the exercise has been going good for almost 3 weeks. The diet is much harder, but so far two healthy eating days down.

Please let me know how your tests go.

Well, not the gallbladder and no ulcers.. Turns out it's gastroparesis. I'll be starting on Motilium in the new year and we'll see how that goes. Hopefully I won't have to lose the band and I can find a way to start eating "properly" again. I know raw vegetables are out and a lot of meat, but eating a couple of solid meals and then having to go on liquids for days is starting to suck.

Gastroparesis usually comes with rapid weight loss - the one symptom I don't have - I've actually GAINED six pounds and am back up to 165lbs. But living on liquids is TOUGH!!! I understand now why I didn't lose much during my post-op liquid diet. Those liquid calories really add up. It also doesn't help that I'm so bloated I look about 6 months pregnant. Grrr.

I'm really hoping to find a way to balance this and still keep my band. I'd really like to be able to eat solid food without getting so sick I can't stand it. I'm hoping the Motilium works and I can start feeling human again. I gotta say, I really miss lifting weights. Something I never thought I'd say, hehehe!

2-Lose-Fluff: I'm 5'5" - how are you doing? Getting back on track with the eating? Hope you're doing well.

Happy holidays everyone!

Dr. Phil Mitchell is starting to do Lap Bands in Vancouver I heard. Has anyone else heard about this?

When I was in for a fill in September Dr. Mitchell had said he'll be starting to do bands in Vancouver starting today, Nov. 8.

I wasn't banded in Calgary, I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana in 2008, but I've had all of my follow up care with Dr. Mitchell.

There is a Yahoo group for Calgary bandsters however it hasn't been all that active this year.

Friday will be 2 years since surgery. It's crazy how life has changed.

I've been sick for the better part of this year but am getting closer to an answer. The doctor I see for my follow up care here believes I might have biliary dyskinesia and possibly an ulcer in my stomach. I have a HIDA scan scheduled for this coming Thursday and will have a gastroscopy done at some point later this month. If it's the gallbladder he'll take it out and hopefully that will be the end of the constant sickness and pain.

I'm recovering from my neck injury I recieved earlier this year but between that and being so sick I haven't worked out much at all this year. I've still managed to lose 40lbs this year but I've lost a LOT of the muscle I developed and toned last year which has bummed me out a little. I'll get it back though.

Being banded was the best decision I have ever made. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had the choice to make again. It truly has given me a chance at a normal life and I shudder to think of where I might be had I not had the surgery done, or if I'd still be alive.

I hope the rest of you are well and enjoying life. :hi:

Current weight: 159lbs - One pound away from 150lbs lost, 5lbs away from half of me lost.

I'm at 228 and finally out of the size 20s. :thumbup:

What a difference holding up a pair of size 18 jeans next to a pair of size 28s.

Even crazier to hold up the size 10s next to those 28s. Or crazier yet, to stand in one pant leg of those size 28s.

Current weight: 163lbs .. My next minigoal is to get to 154lbs, only 9lbs to go until I've lost half of myself. Woohoo!

Bouncing between 167-169, I blame the heat and Fluid retention. :wub:

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel though. It's crazy, how daunting the thought of losing 170lbs was when I first started - and now, 141 and counting!

I still get weirded out when people comment on how "tiny" I am (I'm still a size 12, I'm not that tiny.. :drool:) - I still see the size 28 fat girl. I'm hoping this will get better as the tummy deflates - it seems to be the last place I'm losing from. I look like I'm pregnant. I've been asked by complete strangers when I'm due a few times this year. Argh!!! Slowly but surely though it's coming down.

I think it's time to start setting goals again. I've been pretty slack with them this year and found I had better progress when I had a plan of attack and a small goal dangling infront of me.

jms462001: 38DD - yikes! I have the opposite problem. Even at 300+ pounds I was still only a 44B. I gots nothing!! Now? 36B, sometimes an A. And well, there's no volume there at all. If only I could take some of my rather ample hiney and put it to use. :cursing:

So so sorry. Do you have any idea why it might have slipped and how did you find out? I sure hope it can be saved.

Turns out that the radiologist read the xrays wrong. My stomach doctor called me on my birthday with the good news, the band hasn't slipped at all.

He had a week earlier suspected it might be a reflux disorder so he started me on Losec. About a week after starting the Losec I was able to eat again after living on mainly liquids for two months. Now that my stomach has healed, the reflux is under control it's time to tighten the band back up to a comfortable level (I've never had it overfilled) and get back to losing weight.

I went to Vegas for my birthday with a mostly unfilled band and indulged a little more than I should have. I've also been in physiotherapy for the last 2.5 months for a neck injury so I haven't been able to work out but I'm healing, so I'm hoping to get back to that this month.

What a crazy year 2010 has been so far! I hope all is well with you, jms462001. :thumbup:

Holding steady around 178lbs but found out today my band has slipped. Don't know yet if it can be saved with how it slipped.

Dr. Mitchell charges $150 per fill/visit. I agree with the above poster and highly recommend him as well. He's fantastic. I have a very tipped port which we're holding off on correcting til I'm a little closer to my goal but he never misses it.

I see Dr. Mitchell in Calgary. He's $150/fill. You can reach his office at 403-264-6720 option 6. I was banded in Mexico and he's a-ok with seeing me. I don't think he'd have an issue with seeing someone banded in Korea. You can also try Dr. Burke at 403-278-3411. She does Mexico patients as well and is cheaper at $100/fill.

Hopefully someone in Ontario will chime in and provide you with some closer choices. Good luck!

Still my favourite thread of all time, love looking at the pictures for inspiration and motivation. Congrats to everyone on their success! :thumbdown:

The first pictures are the dreaded before and then the during at -125lbs and a size 12-14, still have another 40-60lbs to go. The second is the face before and during. Kinda sad that it took almost 30 years, but I had my first Valentine's Day date so I got to get all done up which was a fun process all in its own. :thumbdown:

An average 2 month old horse + an average 2 year old.

Current: 189lbs and just.. amazed. It's still hard to wrap my head around being just a plain ol' large and not having to go into the plus size stores and buying the largest size in the store and it still being too tight. Sure is a lot cheaper this way, too! Hehehe.. What a crazy, crazy journey it has been so far!

Hope everyone else is doing well and had a good holiday season. All the best in 2010! :smile2:

Congrats.......a real accomplishment this time of year!!

Thanks! I was just thinking yesterday that it used to be nothing for me to pack on 10lbs over the holidays, so to be losing and to finally be under 200lbs.. Well I'll admit, I cried a little. Good cry though!

Congrats on your weight loss too! Looks like you're doing awesome! :thumbup:

It took forever but I'm finally in onederland. Yay!!

Current weight: 197lbs

After bouncing between 99lbs and 100lbs lost for a week I think I can finally say I'm in the 100lbs lost club at -104lbs and steadily losing, not bouncing. :thumbup:

I'm hoping in the next week to two weeks to hit three big goals; Tied for the lightest I've ever been in my adult life (at 201lbs), surpassing that and being the lightest I've ever been in my adult life (at 200lbs) and somewhere I've never been in my adult life, ONEderland. Here's hoping.

Does anyone know if there is any Dr's in Edmonton that will do fills for people that have had their surgery done in Mexico? I understand Dr. Daviduck will only do Dr. Coburn's patients. I found out that there is a Dr. Lawrence Farries in Red Deer who also does fills, but I am not sure if he does patients from Mexico. Has anyone gone to Dr. Farries or does any one have any other suggestions?:bored:

I don't know about Edmonton or even Dr. Farries in Red Deer, but there are two options in Calgary if it comes to it. Both Dr. Philip Mitchell and Dr. Peggy Burke will do fills for patients banded in Mexico. Dr. Mitchell is awesome, he's who I see, and he charges $150 for a fill. I've heard Dr. Burke has excellent 'bedside manner' as well, and from what I understand she charges $100 per fill.

Just a couple of options for you if you can't find anyone closer to home.

Currently at: 209lbs

The last few months have been a bit of a write-off as far as weight loss goes and the next few aren't shaping up so well. I've developed chronic pancreatitis and may end up losing my band. Ahh well, I guess it has to happen to 1% of us, right? Blah!

I must have mutant boobs. While I've gone down two sizes around, I've gone up a cup size from a B to a C. Makes for good cleavage though. Woohoo! :wink:

Current: 217lbs

18lbs more to go to onederland, somewhere I've never been in my adult life. :bored:

Glad you are back Sistasassy. I'm still at 245 but scheduled for a fill on Tuesday. Has anyone this far along still be getting fills or are your bands already at the right place? Thanks just curious.

I had a fill, went back six weeks later to find out that my band was empty, got filled to 1.8ccs (4cc band) and ended up being way too tight so got defilled to 1.3 and that was too loose, so now I'm at about 1.6 but I've lost a lot more weight since the 1.8 fill and feeling a little less restriction now. I think I'm good for a few more weeks and then I'll need to get in again for another fill.

The way it was explained to me was that as you lose, you lose the fat pad between the band and the stomach, so you need to keep getting fills until you reach your goal. Or maybe I was just high off my ass since it was explained to me pre-op. :smile:

I'm still holding at 228 (fluctuating up and down the same 2lbs.) Gotta love plateaus. Ugh! I'm happy though, I found my collarbones! And hip bones, and chest bones which actually scared the crap out of me when I brushed my arm against my chest one day. (Sorry, TMI, but it was freaky! I thought I had a lump, turns out it's just bone I've never been able to feel.)

I'm at 228 and finally out of the size 20s. :smile:

What a difference holding up a pair of size 18 jeans next to a pair of size 28s.

Current weight: 239lbs

I finally get my first fill later today. I'm hoping that'll help some. I lost the 8lbs that I gained, but I still feel kind of off.

I'm in physio for my leg now, so I still can't do much in the way of excersising. Ugh.

Can't complain though, I was actually kind of excited when I got stuck on something. I know that my band is in there, which while painful, is very comforting to know.. heh