kizzie

I am so sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope you are feeling much better now. I'm really not sure why you haven't had any replies about your condition. Erosion is one of the main causes of having the band removed. Maybe you could re-post in the section of October 2009 (maybe there are others in your month who've had the same troubles) or in previous months.. It is odd they haven't replied here.

I hope you manage to get everything sorted. I have had MAJOR troubles with my band in my first few weeks.. from port flipping 180 degrees to infection to inflammation of my oesophagus ..and all in the first 6 weeks!.. I've been banded for 18 months now and have lost 50 pounds. not as much as I'd like but it is easy to stray and forget the rules.. I was offered to have my band loosened so I could enjoy my vacation last summer.. I was MORTIFIED.. NO WAY!.. I told my doctor.. "you don't understand.. my friends and family.. they EAT!.. and I have no willpower.. I NEED my band! '...

So as you can tell.. with all of my complications.. I love my band and it has certainly helped me from GAINING anymore weight.. I just need to refocus on my goal and start following the rules again.. otherwise my dear band may have to be taken out due to neglect and abuse!..

take care and let me know how you get on!.. :thumbup:

Hi L2BT and thank you for the welcome!. it is good to be back. I want to get on track again for good and use this tool to the best of my ability!

I am actually english. I work with a family who live between the US, Caribbean and Spain. We are headed back to Marbella in a few weeks!.. I haven't seen much of Barcelona outside of the airport!..but yes you are right. Spain is a wonderful country with great people!. A wonderful culture.. actors, musicians etc.. My surgeon in Spain is very firm! ha.. but sympathetic at the same time.. he doesn't sugar coat anything!.. ha.. pun intended!..

thanks for the tips!.. I know that at my 'stage' of fullness/emptiness! I would still be hungry on 3oz of anything.. so I do need a fill ... I would be SO grateful for your refrigerator notes if you don't mind!..

I am just back from my hour long walk =3.6 miles. I am pretty tired today though. jetlag after a week in Vegas...going for a shower.. and then decide if I am hungry for dinner or not..!..

my email address is louisah2@mac.com....

Hi Allie

Wow. what a great memory you have!. I did have many many complications after being banded.not to the fault of my surgeon.. just my body!.. and yes I had a port revision after the port ripped out of the muscle and flipped..that caused a severe infection.. so I had a hard time the first few months!..even needing a complete unfill as I was so swollen from infection that I couldn't swallow a sip of anything. ANYWAY!!.. all in the past now!.. I can't wait to get back to Spain and get some FILLS done!. Thank you for your support. I hope to lose LOADS more.. I just need to keep focused.

Your weight loss is INCREDIBLE!.. 135 pounds! WOW!. I WISH WISH WISH that was me too. you must feel amazing..what is a regular day like for you?... do you count calories? or do you measure your food? .. How much exercise do you do?.. and do you stick to all of the rules?.. I actually forget the rules.. It wasn't until yesterday when I logged back in again that I remembered we aren't allowed to drink when we eat!!!.. eek.. ..I really need to get back on track!..

thank you again Allie..

well done to you!

Hey all..

June 18th will be my bandiversary as they say.. I had a great start.. and lost a lot up until September.. then I really started to slow down. Unfortunately for me.. my surgeon is in Spain and I am in Miami.. I have been here since Sept.. but going back to Spain in a few weeks.. I am down 50 pounds.. but really wish I had lost a lot more. I know I haven't been sticking to the rules. in fact I have forgotten most of them! Serves me right I guess considering I haven't logged onto this site since November!.. I do throw up a lot.. I get stuck a lot because I don't chew properly.. then I find myself filling up on the 'easy' foods.. ie.. soups.. ice creams etc.. How come the bad stuff goes down so easily yet the veggies, eggs and meats get STUCK!?.. I battle with this everyday.. but really want to get focused again.. I want to lose another 10 pounds before going to Spain at the end of the month.

My exercise is good though. I have been averaging about 20 miles a week walking.. some days I will walk up to 12 miles throughout the day..as soon as a break time comes I walk for half of it.. then turn around and come back to work again!.. I would be LOST without my ipod! it keeps me going through the walking.. I can keep on and on as long as the battery holds out!.. I have even downloaded the Twilight Saga's (I read the books first) and believe me.. Edward Cullen keeps me WALKING!! ha..

anyway. .just wanted to say hi!.. well done everyone!. I hope to get going again now!.. Might put myself on that liquid diet again.. to calm down my poor stomach!..

x

Hey all..

June 18th will be my bandiversary as they say.. I had a great start.. and lost a lot up until September.. then I really started to slow down. Unfortunately for me.. my surgeon is in Spain and I am in Miami.. I have been here since Sept.. but going back to Spain in a few weeks.. I am down 50 pounds.. but really wish I had lost a lot more. I know I haven't been sticking to the rules. in fact I have forgotten most of them! Serves me right I guess considering I haven't logged onto this site since November!.. I do throw up a lot.. I get stuck a lot because I don't chew properly.. then I find myself filling up on the 'easy' foods.. ie.. soups.. ice creams etc.. How come the bad stuff goes down so easily yet the veggies, eggs and meats get STUCK!?.. I battle with this everyday.. but really want to get focused again.. I want to lose another 10 pounds before going to Spain at the end of the month.

My exercise is good though. I have been averaging about 20 miles a week walking.. some days I will walk up to 12 miles throughout the day..as soon as a break time comes I walk for half of it.. then turn around and come back to work again!.. I would be LOST without my ipod! it keeps me going through the walking.. I can keep on and on as long as the battery holds out!.. I have even downloaded the Twilight Saga's (I read the books first) and believe me.. Edward Cullen keeps me WALKING!! ha..

anyway. .just wanted to say hi!.. well done everyone!. I hope to get going again now!.. Might put myself on that liquid diet again.. to calm down my poor stomach!..

x

thanks Allie.. and well done you.. I had my band two days before you, so you are an inspiration..... getting over my heartache.. slowly.. day by day... still in total shock.. but life has to go on.. I have walked between 3 and 8 miles everyday since last Thursday (Sunday -the day he dumped me- to Wednesday I have no memory.. )... so hoping this is it now...

Good luck all.. everyone is doing so well..

Kizzie

I was at 30 pounds off in September..I left spain (and my surgeon) and haven't had a fill since... I gained 10 pounds up to Christmas.. and wondered if I would ever get back into this whole thing. I go back to Spain in June and wanted to show my surgeon what I have achieved... still looking for a fill dr who will take me... very hard ...

BUT... I have just lost 14 pounds in 5 days.. and it isn't band related.. My boyfriend and I broke up one week ago... my life has been turned upside down... and then 3 days ago I found out that I may never get my Australian Permanent Residency visa even though I lodged it a year ago and have been trying to do it for 13 years...

..... no appetite... I didn't eat for 5 days.. and only have just started on a slim fast can a day.... just can't face food (maybe my breakthrough.. the first time I haven't turned to food in a crisis).....

not a healthy way I know.. but hey.. am 33 pounds down now..and want to keep it going now I have had the kick (in the heart) start that I needed again...

well done all..

I am the SAME as you. I think there are a few of us out there.

I can't eat ham and thin sliced meats (turkey, chicken) but CAN eat STEAK! and roasted turkey/chicken sliced a little thicker. I can also eat crunchy streaky bacon but not soft back bacon.

I can't eat soft bread, but I can eat a crunchy crust, well done toast and crackers.

For me the crunchier foods go down much easier.

Sometimes though I get stuck with EVERYTHING!.. and silly me I will carry on with solids at my next meal and still get stuck instead of going back to liquids.. I also have a bad habit of forgoing Breakfast (like many I get stuck on everything first thing in the morning) so have a soy milk coffee or soy milk ht chocolate. Not good I know. I get so hungry sometimes and just can't face anymore cottage cheese!! lol

But the weight I gained back (7 pounds) is now slowly coming off again.. thank the LORD!.. so hopefully be a few pounds lighter before I go to New Zealand next week for Christmas...!! (and will be thinner for my New Year holiday with my fiance in Hawaii!)... all this to look forward to!.

Happy Holidays

I have trouble with meats, bread, and tortillas. I can totally get why someone would turn vegetarian. When I fix my plate, I eat the meat first because I am "supposed to" and chew chew chew. It still gets stuck sometimes. By the time I get to the other food, it is usually cold.

Some friends of mine think i'm fibbing when I say I can't eat bread but can eat toast or I can't eat tortillas but can eat a tortilla chip.

Hubby is wondering what you have had for your liquid diets during the first two weeks. He has been drinking slimfast, SF carnation breakfast, (I've added sf ice cream to this). Also, Water of course...juices he has drank. Anything else?

hey there and welcome!!..

I got through my first two weeks by making different Soups and just drinking the broths... I made french onion Soup, chicken broth (and changed the herbs, one day with ginger, another with cilantro etc)..

It doesn't have to be boring!!..

I have had to say goodbye to some favourites too.. some obvious ones..

Bread.. (I can eat very crunchy toast though.. 'sometimes'

eggs , all forms. I get stuck very quickly with them

Ham all thicknesses.. turkey and chicken slices too..

Mushrooms unless they are diced

yoghurt.. just produces too much slime and I throw up!!..

Pasta but that is not really too hard to say goodbye to! I gained a lot because of pasta!!..

Thanks so much for writing back so quickly!!.. you are really motivating me to get back on track and start losing. I think I might join a gym!!.. I love the machines and rowing machines etc..and it will give me a chance to get out of the house for an hour!!.We have a great island to walk around here and a pool.. so I try to do both. but don't always..

I am thinking of trying biking again, since losing some weight my knees aren't so painful anymore.. (no cartlidge left)..

gosh.. I feel excited again.. I haven't felt this for a few months!!..

(your food diary is a great help thank you!..and hey. I LOVE chicken nuggets and love the tenders too!!)

Congratulations you guys!!.. in the 80's is bloody brilliant..you are inspiring me!!..

you have no idea.. I have avoided this site like the plague since I have been in the US.. because I know I have STOPPED losing and haven't lost for 3 months.. which is devestating as I had lost so well in the beginning.... I really want to make this work and I know it does work.. so I have put myself back on liquids this morning.. and am going to start scheduling my exercise again..

Long2bthin.. I think my band is fine.. I put my throwing up down to stress I think.. I have been flying a lot lately too and I know I have a few days of being tighter when I fly.. and just as I am calming down again I am flying again!.. I am eating too quickly but I am still trying to find foods that work for me. I can't eat eggs in any form and so many foods cause me to 'slime' and produce a lot of mucus. (gross sorry!).. Funnily though I am fine with chocolate! and meat!.. I can eat meat in any form... and steak goes down very well!.. strange how we all react to this thing..

Thank the lord I got my period this morning and will now stop craving chocolate.. I haven't craved it like this since banding!.. I had gone off of it for a while but the days I was eating it I tried to adjust my calories elsewhere...

but I do want to reach my hand out to you both and say a huge thanks for motivating my butt into action. you are doing so well that I am going to give myself mini goals... !!!..

would you mind emailing or messaging me a typical days menu and exercise schedule?.. this might help too!!..

thank you !!!!

Hi kizzie,

How have you been my long lost pal. Don't get discouraged. It is not good to get on the scale everyday anyway, it only makes us more discouraged. Are you losing any inches? Although, I am not losing much weight, I have noticed things are fitting looser than before.

I have missed communicating with you. Hang in there and keep in touch. I am still here for you anytime you need someone to lean on.

hugs,

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie!!..

How is the cute golf outfit!???.. great to hear from you.

I was doing so well until I left Spain and the security of my doctor being there whenever I needed him (almost once a week because of my complications)..I haven't had a fill since Sept.. and I do get hungry BUT I am pb'ing and sliming A LOT.. and will raise my hand and say I have CRAVED chocolate like crazy these past three or four weeks and eaten far too much. I am lucky I haven't gained any weight.. but then the chocolate I have eaten has really been all I have been able to keep down!.. (not good I know!!.. thank the lord for vitamins)..

I probably should have done this weeks ago but I am going back on liquids tomorrow. I think my poor tummy needs a break. I haven't had any losses even with all the throwing up.. (well not really throw up just blocked feeling and bringing that up).. .. anyway.. I am not particularly hungry but I am head hungry and need to keep motivated to not eat for the wrong reasons. I had a great routine in Spain and would like to get back on track. ..

I hear what you are saying about the scale.. but now i have my scale back again I am weighing every day and it is helping me mentally to make the right choices.. even if it is to not GAIN! ... It keeps me positive and motivated..I guess it works for me and not for others..

HOPING to get to 40 pounds off by Christmas. I see so many 'Junesters' are at 60+.. and they had surgery AFTER me !.. quite disheartening for me... (Wonderful for them and crikey I would LOVE to be so motivated!.. hats of to them).. but I am mad that I haven't been able to do more.. I know I had many complications but that excuse is a few months past its sell by date! lol..

anyway.. chat soon and keep in touch!!!..

Louise :thumbdown:

Hi! I am an "MIA" Jazzy June!... Needing to get on track.. now that I am finally settling down since constantly moving around after leaving Spain in Sept...

Have been throwing up A LOT.. I haven't had a fill since Sept.. but feel myself tightening.. sometimes even throwing up after yoghurt.. really could do with some motivation and stay on liquids for a few days.. (well until I can find a fill doctor who will take me!!.. have had trouble finding one)..

anyway.. please adjust me to your list Snuffy.. ( I think you were doing the updates!)..

My numbers aren't as great as some and I really want to be a success story!.. I have lost 25 pounds so far... I was 241 now 216... 35 in all

THank you and here's to the band.. (still love it even after ALL my complications!)

thank you

(the kids here have "Lil Critters Omega 3 Gummy fish".. more of a softer consistency and not at all like the 'gummy' "Lil Critters Gummy Vitamins they eat (which are like the gummy worms)

.. try those .. I think we get them from costco.. not sure though.

Hi, anyone know what to take to replace the big fish oil capsules??? I found kids chewy gel ones, but was afraid it would stick. They have the consistency of gummy worms? Wondering,, they say to eat solids, not mushy things, but then to chew till they are like liquid. So what is the difference to have applesauce with a meal or apple slices? Other than chewing longer. No support group in our town and we need one. Thanks to all of you for your support.

ME TOO!!!

I have been avoiding this support group totally for months. thinking I would see all the June bandster losing heaps.. I see some are .. but I haven't had decent weight loss since leaving Spain in September (that is where I had my surgery and where my surgeon is).. I am in Miami and haven't really gotten into a good routine like I had in Spain with my eating plan.. and I have also not being weighing myself every day.. I didn't bring my scale with me and only just got one this week.. I really found in Spain that weighing everyday kept me on track and helped me make the right choices.. I am lucky that I haven't gained anything.. but I have stayed the same since the beginning of September.

I hope now I have my scale and have the guts to get back on this site and realise that I am not a complete failure that I can get motivated to use my band properly!!..

good luck ALL!!!.. we CAN do it!!..

I think we all go through the paranoia.. I know I would bug the hell out of my doctor for every little thing.. although I did have heaps of problems.. but then I have never had any surgery go smoothly ( I wonder if this is why my boyfriend is so against me having my boob job and Tummy Tuck !! mmm??lol)... you have every right to be paranoid and question EVERYTHING.. don't leave it.. We have lived so many years knowing our bodies.. then we put a foreign object in there and expect to still know how we function.. we really don't and it is a total learning curve for understanding the new us's!.. ...

I am going through some tricky times. I am almost 5 months post op and had practically zero weight loss since the summer. have come to a complete stand still.. but my doctor is in Spain, I am in Miami and not due back in Spain until next summer so frantically trying to find a new doc.. .. so my weight is staying the same and I am vomitting almost everything!.. (ironically milkshakes and ice cream stay down.. well I have to eat SOMETHING am starving!!.. and I throw up all my 'menu' foods!).. never mind.. will get it sorted out too and email my doctor in Spain..

bug them!! that is what they are there for.. and if you do need port repositioning.. don't they pay for it??.. as it is a complication arising from their surgery?. I guess I was lucky and had it all under the original cost.

let me know how you get on!!

Kizzie

..Hey there Jaccie..

First of all.. if you are really worried go and have your doctor look at you. It could be simply that you are losing weight so the port will stick out a bit more.

I had trouble with my port flipping right from the beginning. I KNOW that my bra wire constantly pushed on my port as I was in a lot of pain and would walk with my hand cupped over the port and partially under my bra wire.. looked great!!..

I hope you feel better soon!.. and well done with your weight loss!!..

take care

kizzie

My Lord.. I haven't been on this forum for a few months.. and was about to post stating the EXACT same problem!!!..

I lost 30 pounds in the first 8 weeks and then NOTHING. I have been so good and trying my best (exercising religiously and eating carefully).. UNTIL THREE WEEKS AGO!.. I moved from Spain to the Caribbean and then to Miami and haven't really settled into a good eating programme. I thought once I was back in the US I would be taking advantage of all the lovely high Protein goods you have here.. but no. I have been stuffing my face (and my band) with all the wrong carbs. I get up in the morning with all the good intentions in the world.. lots of fluids and a Protein shake.. by mid morning I am hungry and have a thick high carb Soup or hot chocolate!!!.. WHY WHY WHY???... I just can't get out of the mindset..even when I have my head in the cupboard or in the fridge I am screaming at myself inside my head 'stop it!!!!!'...

I have no idea what my weight is right now but I know for sure I am NOT my lowest 213!!. I may have even crept on another 10 pounds. (can feel it in my new jeans!!). I went to OLD NAVY last week and was happy to find that I could fit into the 1XL and the size 18 jeans etc.. (instead of my usual 22/24) so I am happy about that.. but now the waist band is tightening!!>> EEEEK..

I DO desperately need a fill. I am pb'ing a lot though. I had sushi last night and brought most of it up.. I can't eat eggs in any form..but you can bet that I can get down steak, chocolate (why did I even have a square!? which leads to so much ) and white nasty carbs!!..

Thankfully I can't eat bread so at least that is something.

I just have to find a doctor who will fill me!!.. so hard and so expensive!..

KEEP WRITING ON THIS FORUM! We are here for each other!!!..

much love

Kizzie

(and if you find out how to get out of that mindset please let me know!!! and we can publish a million dollar book!! LOL)..

Hi Willow

yes I did. I was one week post op and my port pain was very severe. I had read that it could be bad but didn't think any more of it. The port was right next to my bra wire so I walked around with my hand cupped over it or a big wad of guaze tucked under my wire. ... at week 2 post op I was extremely ill. I had a raging fever and had to stay overnight in the hospital with an infection. They thought it was either a chest infection as I was coughing a lot or liquid around the band. It transpired it was liquid (blood) around the band. Just before I hit the 4 week mark. I had the attempt at a fill... which was when they realised I had done a '180'!.. Between us (the surgeon and myself) we think that my bra wire pushed on the port too much and caused the excruciating pain. That I shouldn't have been in that much pain. (his stand in told me to get a non wire bra or go without for a few weeks.. with 38HH at the time I just laughed in his face!)... so the tearing of the muscle caused the build up of blood around my band area and led to the infection...

hope this helps..

What are your concerns???

take care and best of luck to you

Kizzie

I manage to walk up and down a big mountain (that I live on top of.. ) so lots of ups (and they are really steep ups).. and downs.. would always take the golf cart before.. but now I see them as a challenge. I just put my head down and march up them!...

... heart pounds like a son of a cow.. and my breathing gets really shallow to the point I think I can't breathe in any deeper..

.. but hey! I haven't dropped dead yet!!... I must add I only do this two or three times a week. I do a lovely NY Ballet dvd the other days. Well I can imagine I am graceful in the privacy of my own room! ha.

Thanks Jack!

I had a rib 'pop' out a few years ago under my shoulder blade.. the pain was in my clavical and shoulder joint and not under the scapula. I had an adjustment and it was 'popped' back into place and the pain relief was instant!. I had suffered TWO YEARS!!!.. .. so I guess I am prone to that kind of injury...

didn't think about it being a rib!!... all this "band' stuff makes me forget it could be something else. It is uncomfortable in my back (directly behind the pain in the front).. the pain in the front is a bruised feeling when breathing in!.. and sharp in my back..

thanks again for your expert advice!..

Hey there. (posted this on the complications area too)

Could do with some 'advice' from the long time bandsters here.. or anyone with similar symptoms this long post op.

Had a 2ml fill 2 weeks ago..didn't really feel too much so doctor put 4mls last Friday.. feeling some restriction but not too much.

Last night after dinner.. (small dinner.. had thrown up lunch.. didn't chew properly and down it went. and back up it came!!.. so PB I guess rather than vomiting.. ).. I started to get pain under my rib cage.. not quite on my port area but literally near the bottom of the rib cage where they meet in the middle.. and only painful when I breathe in. It is more painful when I am sitting down and breathing in (shallow breathing is fine so far.. slightly deeper is painful). if I walk I can still feel some pain but not as much.. I took some ibuprofen last night and my sleeping pill. (have had terrible insomnia post op).. and slept well.. woke with very little pain until I started moving again.

Could it be bruising from adding more fill??..

any ideas??...

thank you

Kizzie.. (I will contact my surgeon tomorrow. poor guy hasn't had anyone with as many complications as I have had!!!)

Hi..

YOu have lots of replies but I thought I would tell you my port repositioning op experience.

Surgery 18th June

1 week post op: pain in port site.. extreme pain

2 weeks post op: hospitalised-infection around band site (haematoma)

3 weeks post op: port pain

4 weeks post op: unsuccessful fill.. port repositioning surgery.

So my doctor had me go back to the hospital that evening at 8.30 he had me dress in scrubs and wheeled me to surgery. he said he was going to try and fill using the fluro. He knew it had flipped as the operating room was buzzing with people already. He tried many times with local anesthesia and couldn't access it.. So at 9pm I had my entire port repositioning surgery under LOCAL anesthesia. They put up a curtain in front of my face so I couldn't see.. I felt some pulling and pressure but no pain. They kept giving me locals.. all in all it took an hour to reposition and finished by 10pm. I was home by 10.30 pm at school and teaching at 8am the next morning.

for me PIECE OF CAKE!!. I actually ENJOYED hearing what was going on. The nurses were telling me what was happening and holding my hand.. it was quite an experience actually!.

The only pain was similar to first surgery.. the being 'pulled' feeling. but that subsided after a few days..

hope this helps