sisterfunkhaus

My port has started sticking out now that I have lost so much weight. I can feel the port very clearly. I would say that there is only 1/8-1/4 of an inch of fat/muscle covering it. I cannot lay on that side any more. It feels uncomfortable. Can they reposition it so it doesn't stick out? If so, is it difficult surgery? I am self-pay, but have insurance. Will they cover the repositioning?

Thanks. I need to go see my doc before my deductible starts over. He told me at one point that he has a way of coding things so that insurance will pay for them. Maybe he'll code this one as a hernia or something.

I would also like to add that food may be coming back up b/c you are eating too much. It took me a solid year to figure out when I was full. If I take one bite too many, my food comes back up.

Your doctor should have set you up to get one. A good doctor will do that. If you have insurance, it should be covered. I have a cpap and I got used to it after about 3-4 nights. A good way to get used to it if it is really hard is to set a goal to wear it for 3 hours a night 1st week, 4 hours second week, etc... Keep bumping it up each week. One day, you'll wake up having slept through the night. I actually had to stop wearing it b/c I have bad, bad sinus problems and it was making me have ear and sinus infections. I have lost wnough weight that I am okay now though. It really isn't bad, it's just something you have to get used to.

It took me a year to lose any weight and get any restriction from fills. I ended up having other issues, but I have a friend who also went a year before she got a good fill and lost weight. It takes time to get it just right. It is not an instant fix.

Interestingly enough, I have not had a vomiting virus in over 2 years since I got my band. I have had viruses where I feel ill, and have massive diarrhea, but no vomiting. It's like the band does something to keep me from feeling like I need to puke unless somethging is stuck. Then, WATCH OUT!!! The band could slip b/c of food poisoning-type vomiting for sure though. Anyone experiencing this might have to have another surgery. It's just a risk you take. My surgery and recovery was so easy that I would not be too bothered by another surgery though. I look and feel so much better that it is a risk I was willing to take.

To answer your question, I am at my sweet spot for sure. I can eat a small amount of most foods without throwing up. Soft sandwiches, bread, and steaks are my big for sure no-no foods. I do have tight days. If it is really hot and humid, I swell. If I am having my cycle, I swell. I am hypoglycemic, so I have to keep my band loose enough so that I can eat enough to keep my sugars up. If it's too tight, I get lightheaded and feel bad. I can eat a cup of food AT MOST, depending on the food. I have to split food with my husband when we go out and usually only eat a few bites or the food will get wasted. If I ordered a whole plate, at most places, it would be 3-4 meals worth. I would guess at most meals I eat between 1/2 a up and 3/4 cup. I stay full for about 5 hours. I cannot snack or I will be unable to eat at the next meal. To me, I feel perfect.

I stay swollen for a day or two after a PB. I have learned how to eat without PB'ing for the most part, so when I do throw it, it's usually a doosy.

It's too soon to give up. I did not have any weight loss for the first year and a half and have now lost 54 lbs. in one year. My good friend got hers around when I did and also lost no weight the first year. It's not all that uncommon from what I hear. Hers ended up being thyroid and not being tight enough. She has lost the same amount as I have now.

I was banded in 2006 and have lost 54 out of 110 pound in more than 2 years. I am still losing but VERY slowly. The first year, I lost practically nothing and then gained due to some meds I was on. My first weight loss actually did not occur until August of 2007. So, basically in one year, I have lost 54 lbs., which I guess is good. Anyway, here is why I did not lose. First, I had an undetected thyroid issue. I kept telling my internist that something was wrong. I was always cold. My neck was really swollen in front, and my hair was falling out (not from the band), and I had great difficulty waking in the mornings. He tested me every few months, and FINALLY in December of 2006, it showed up BIG TIME. I am now on meds and feel great. Also, I was getting my bands filled at the surgery center where I got my band. I NEVER felt tight. In August of 2007, I finally went to my surgeon. He tried to pull fluid out and nothing. There was no leak that he could tell. So, he refilled and I could tell he filled it. While he was filling I felt a tightening sensation that I had never felt. I immediately ate less and began losing. I went back for a top-off in February. All of the fluid was still there. He topped me off. Since then, I have been nice and tight. I could get a fill, but I can only eat such a small amount now that it would make me uncomfortable and make me throw up. My issue at this point is sodas. If I would stop drinking sodas, I would lose the rest in no time. I just need to dedicate myself to it. I am also not exercising right now b/c it is SO hot here. I do well with that in the fall and spring. My point here is that there are many reasons why it might not be working. Don't give up. keep trying to find out why. My issue right now is that my port is sticking out and it hurts when I lay on it. I need to get it moved.

I have mild acid problems since getting banded. It is nothing big though.

I don't know if you know this, but CPAP helps you burn more calories while you sleep b/c it increases your oxygen levels. Lots of people lose weight when they start it b/c of that. I am getting ready to start with one b/c of severe apnea. I am waking up 94 times an hour and stopping breathing 54. My doc said I can expect to burn 300-500 extra calories per day with the machine.

I've already lost half from hypothyroidism and Depakote (which I just went off of) I dread the thought of losing anymore. Yikes. I'm glad I have a wig.

Naysayers are either 1. Jealous b/c you are about to lose weight. 2. Those hateful ignoramuses who think you can just buck up and lose it on your own with will power. 3. Or just fat haters period. People should do what is best for them and forget everyone else. No one else is in a position to say anything about how someone loses weight if they have never been there themselves. I find it so interesting how much thin people criticize something they don't understand.

My doctor says insurance will always cover problems. I don't know if it has to do with the way they code it or what.

My surgeon has started doing his own fills. I had always gotten fills done at the surgery centers by NPs and have never felt tight and have lost no weight in a year. The surgeon however made me nice and tight. I haven't felt like this ever since I got my band. I'm hoping the weight loss will start now. With such a big difference, I will be going to him from now on.

I've had FIVE fills as of today and this is the first time I have ever felt tight at all. I was going to a place closer to my house with a shorter wait room time and after four fills I had lost zero pounds in one year. Today I went, my actual surgeon looked at my band for leaks, etc, then took the liquid out. He said there was very little in there. Then he filled me. OMG I felt it fill. I feel so full and tight now. I can keep liquids down, but yikes. I've never felt like this. I think my other fills were no good for some reason. I know it sounds strange, but he said the same thing. He said I should feel the band tightening around my stomach and feel tight after a fill if it's done right. My doc is the top doc in Dallas. <br /> <br /> I'm very upset at myself for letting it go this long. He told me I should of come sooner too. Anyway, aside from my personal story, I think you should feel restriction after three fills. I didn't. I'm still not sure why. But I sure feel tight now. We'll see how it goes in a couple of weeks.

I have had my band for a year. I was getting my fills at the surgery center where I got the band (my doctors office always has an hour + wait) and after four fills I never felt restricted. I went to my surgeon's office and he looked at my band with a barium swallow and filled me and I am really tight. I could feel the band tighten around my tummy. I had some mild shoulder and chest pain and now it's gone after two hours. I assumed it was just something to do with the band tightening. I had never felt anything like it. It made me feel like maybe this fill would work b/c I actually felt tight and felt a bit of pain.

I am not positive. My guess is that they would be different with everyone. I have had a feeling for close to a year that something was out of sorts for my band. I have had it over a year and have lost 7 lbs. I have had 4 fills and nothing. Today, I went for an abdominal CT for something in my lower pelvis (an abcess) and the radiologist said my band was at the bottom of my stomach!!! I don't know if that is a slip, but now I get to go have surgery all over again to have that fixed. I have had no symptoms except gas and no weight loss.

I am going through the same thing. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and can eat almost any thing and lots of it. My next fill is AUGUST 12TH. I can't wait. I am hoping it will tighten me enough so that I can lose more weight.

I've had a few sodas with no problems, but I am not filled yet (getting it tomorrow.) I burp like crazy and have to go slow. I can't imagine drinking them after a fill. I'm not even trying it.

I was banded May 26th and am having my first fill a week from Saturday (July 1st.) I can't wait. I have very little restriction. I can eat less (I get shoulder pain when I feel full and sometimes hiccup) and stay full MUCH longer, but I can eat ANYTHING and plenty of it. I originally went down 20lbs. I gained 4.5 back one or two days after starting back solids and have stayed steady since. My running total so far is about 15 lbs. I am still having minor port pain on occasion. It finally is "untender" enough for me to press down and feel where it is. I couldn't do that before. If I get really full, It sometimes hurts a little. If I move those muscles a lot, it will hurt a bit too. I am feeling pretty back to normal at this point. I burp a lot and have some major "gas" coming out the other end. But, other than that, I feel fine. No PB's (although I did have a rough patch with a sandwhich yesterday. No slime, just a small golfball.) Christy- I can totally tell a difference!! WTG!!!!

I would make sure I could stay on the pre-surgery diet before getting the band. It's very hard for the first three days. After that, you get used to it. You also have to KNOW in your heart that you can do it for at least a week after surgery and mushies for 2-4 weeks after that. I can honestly understand some very mild cheating, like maybe eating 2 noddles in your faux chicken broth or something like that, or maybe eating a bean or two in your veggie broth, but beyond that you have to be very serious. You don't want to get cut open and then end up with no band. You also don't want to PB a few days after surgery while you are really sore and healing.

I went through that the first time I planned to get the band and I backed out. I was back a year later getting it put in. I am glad that I waited until I was sure and had weighed both sides. I think that you should look at both sides and be positive it's what you want. I felt like it was worth the risk. There are tons of people who get it and have no problems.

I had mine put in on a Friday and went back to work on Tuesday keeping three children plus my own. DH was around to help me though thank goodness. I would say to allow a week or so if you can.