heidib

thx things are finall "MOVING" on there own again and bloat has gone waaay done.

I had band removed less then a wk ago. My upper belly is SO BLOATED. Didn't move bowels for atleast 4-5 days after which is odd for me. finally started taking Miralax and things got moving. I still feel so full and bloated though. I'm sure everything is still swollen ...has not even been a wk ....right??????

Can I ask why you removed the band ? Wasn't it safe to keep it just in case ?

Can I ask why you removed the band ? Wasn't it safe to keep it just in case ?

I wanted it removed eventually. then I started having GERD issues so the time was right. I have maintained my weighloss for 3 yrs atleast.

Heidi, my doctor overfilled my band, to the point that I was having severe upper abdominal/chest pain (I didn't know if I was having a heart attack or what, I just knew that only a few minutes after I left his office, the pain was excruciating). There was a kink in the tubing connecting my port to my band, and he'd kept putting Fluid in thinking he was able to pull some back out, but that wasn't the case. I couldn't swallow anything at all and certainly couldn't function with that kind of pain. Hence the need for surgery for the unfill.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you have your band removed? I'm glad your recovery went well. :-)

If I am correct and the band needs to go, I'm not doing anything else in terms of weight loss surgery. I've made my peace with never being thin. I just want to exercise and eat right so that I can be healthy and strong for my boys, and thankfully I am healthy right now. I don't want to try any other surgical options. I'll swing my kettlebell and take more walks and jump on the trampoline with my kids, and eat more veggies and less junk, and call it good.

oh ok, thx for explaining. Yes, I just had my removal surgery, thursday...only a few days agao. they went through all the same incisions but added another one next to the port. the port area was the most sore spot. I opted for the Lap band because it was REMOVABLE. I eventually wanted it removed. I was banded 2008 and lost 40 lbs in the first year. Since then I have not lost anymore weight though I have maintained all of my loss. I started having bad reflux and GERD symptoms. Felt like i hada constnt lump int throat. I am happy with decision and I would not do anymore surgery. I would still like to lose another 30 ish lbs. My insurance covered it.

My name is Lisa, and I think I'm a lap band failure. I've been banded for nearly nine years, but haven't maintained my band since it was overfilled about eight months after my surgery (which was in August 2003). I couldn't swallow my own spit at that point, and had to have surgery right away to unfill the band completely. I was real leery of any fills after that, and then divorce and life and lack of funds intervened, and going back for a fill never became a priority. I've just started having pain that I suspect is band-related, and if it needs to come out, I'm mentally prepared to do that - the pain started on Friday, and feels kind of like a stitch in my side, with some soreness in my abdomen. I've debated going to the ER, but I'm not sure it's that serious - no fever, no throwing up, nothing like that - and I'm doing some searching to determine who I might need to call tomorrow to get in for a consultation.

I just worry what recovery will be like from having it removed, since I haven't been real good about taking care of the band all this time. I find that my eating has slowed down a lot as I've gotten a bit older anyway, so I'm not worried about that. I'm now married to a man who's interested in eating well and exercising, and honestly, I think I've gained all my weight back over the years anyway. We're planning to move in a couple of months (my job is transferring me, which is good), and we'd scheduled a visit to look at houses in a couple of weeks. I don't want to get behind at work, and I don't want to screw up our move. Anyone who's had a band removed, what was recovery like?

I just want tomorrow to be here so I can make some calls and see what I can find out. I'm tired of worrying that any little twinge in my middle might be something going wrong with my band. It can come out and that will be just fine with me.

Why did you have to have surgery to have your band unfilled? I just had my band removed after nearly 4 yrs. recovery is nothing. :-)

thanks everyone. I'm feeling ok...I dont really have much of an appetite yet. i seem to get full quick...very bloated feeling. i'm sure everything is swollen ect. I feel ok seeing how I have had no restriction for so long and have maintained my weight. Once I am feeling better I would like to start exercising again. :-)

Cocoa, OMG...thats awful! glad your feeling better! :-)

I am home from having my band removed . Glad its over! I am very sore and my throat hurts from tube they put down there. No revision here. I'm done with the band. The reason I got the band was because it could eventually be removed. :-)

_{UPDATE on me.....}

_{Just got back from docs....had rest of Fluid removed from my band. My reflux is horrible! feels like slime lump in my throat ,cant lay down, hard to swallow. went in there and said i was ready to have my band removed. they agreed with no argument. so i am going in this thurs!}

I'm only a bit past two years but having many of these same issues. Part of it is being at a weight that holds some weird memories for me. I've gotten to this point many times on past diets only to slip back up the scale and I do not want to do that with the lap band. Lap band has been a good experience for me and I don't want to sabotage myself. The big hurdle to get over is my sweet consumption.

So I hope you all won't toss me out for not being a three year champ, but just lurking has been encouraging.

Just for the record, I am down from 240 pounds to 163 pounds which is up from 158. The last three months I have been bouncing between 158 and 164. Had to have the Fluid removed for a couple of weeks in January due to a gastroenteritis issue and though I've had a refill, I just haven't been able to get my head back to where it needs to be.

I am actually a bit panicky about reaching my goal of 148 and have sabotaged myself on past diets at exactly this juncture. Don't know why it frightens me to contemplate getting what I want and what I've worked so hard for. I'm certainly old enough to know better and hope communicating with others who are recommitting will be the boost I need.

WOW! sounds like me with self sabotage! i have have lost and gained the same 10 pounds for 2.5 yrs atleast!!! 180-170lbs back n forth! WELCOME! hope you find what helps you here!

Got on the scales this morning and I am up to 51.5kg. That probably has something to do with all the chocolate, biscuits and other junk I have been consuming lately.

I decided I have to get this under control NOW before it gets out of hand. Step no 1 ignore the Cookies in the cookie jar - tick. Step no 2 have a sensible , calorie controlled, high Protein , quick and easy breakfast - tick. Had a celebrity slim shake at approx 7.30am.

Problem. 8.30am and I am STARVING. Trying to decide what to eat that will not set me off on a morning of binging as there is no way I was going to be able to make it until lunchtime. Decided to have some yogurt.

My band at the moment feels like it is doing NOTHING. I have noticed that I am unwittingly eating faster. I was finished at the same time or before the rest of the family at dinner last night, OK I had a smaller portion but that is still not good. I have always been a fast eater and it seems without any restriction I still am. I only go back to see my Dr in about 3 weeks. How do I keep this under control until then? Should I be doing liquids, or low carb or just eating lots of bulky foods like fruit and veg? I'm confused - I haven't had to diet for 3 years and now that it looks like I need to I am finding it just as confusing as ever.

Suggestions appreciated.

i think u should do the "high Protein, lots veg, count cals....

I'm doing ok with only 3cc in my band. I am losing the weight I gained over the winter. Slowly but thats ok....no different then ususal I have been getting acid refux shooting up into my mouth randomly. (GROSS i know). I have NEVER had this before only tightness in my throat. its strange that when i get an unfill this happends. maybe it comes up easier because my band is not so tight?????? my doc said to call if reflux gets worse they will drain band completely & get upper GI sooner. guess i will call tomorrow. hope you are all well!

That's not good.

Saw my Dr this afternoon, he was happy that everything is fine with the band. He said that normally after an episode like this they will let it rest for about 4 weeks before refilling but after I told him I was thinking of eating 1 of my horses he decided that to put 2ml back in should be OK. I have an appointment to see him again in 4 weeks but I will see how I go, if I can avoid having to pay for an appointment I will.

Glad your well :-))

Just back (omg at the 90 min wait) and I still have a fair bit of Fluid around my port site. Normal, he says, it'll take a while to settle. If I develop a fever or am in pain, then come back. But it's likely Alien Baby Belly will be around for a little bit yet.

He also asked about the last fill of 0.5cc and I said it had done nearly nothing, so he decided to go aggressively with this fill and pushed in 5cc (taking me to 10.5cc) then backed it off until I couldn't feel the tightness in my chest anymore. So it ended up being 8.5cc in total.

I'm feeling it alright. I have lost all hunger and am struggling a little with Clear Liquids at the moment but I hope that will settle in the next day or so if I really baby it. If not I have another appt next Friday and he'll take some out then.

hope your at your sweet spot again!

I was banded 1/08. I lost ~125, then lost full, gained a bunch back, had revision surgery 10/09. I got back to a total loss of 110 then got preggers. Had an unfilled and gained most all back. My baby is 13 mos and I finally got a fill again this week. So now I'm down about 60 from original and 100 to get to goal. Exercise....just keeping the faith...that's me

did you get your fill yet??? hope u are on the road to losing again!!! congratson your baby!!!

I've maintained my weight loss the last almost 4 months with no restriction but I think if I lost the band I'd gain some back. Maybe not all but some. I fight hunger all the time. I had hoped the band would have helped re-wire my brain but it hasn't. Even now my tummy is growling. I couldn't even really remember what that felt like before when my band was still working.

Knowing what I know about myself now if I ever lost the band I'd revise to some other WLS. But if you're doing it all on your own heidi then I get why you don't feel like the band is doing you any good. For me the band did a lot of it.

Yes lellow, that is how I feel "you're doing it all on your own heidi then I get why you don't feel like the band is doing you any good."

My band did totally help me with the first 40 pounds for sure. Since being so lose for the last almost 2 years I realize I have had more energy if I eat right. When I went back to being tight on my recent fill I had low energy and Constipation bad! i can now eat more of a variety of healthy foods with my band lose. I feel so much better...energy and bowel wise. :-) My big problem was never my appetite..it was poor choices. which the band can not help me with. so far I'm doing ok :-)

The fact is that most folk will gain it back if the band is removed. But if you've been mostly unfilled for your banded career, then you know better than they do what you can do. Would you not consider a different procedure?

No, I would not try another procedure.

my band changes if i'm stressed or if i am dehydrated it gets tighter. i have had a fill kick in a wk or 2 after i got it. maybe you got stuck and its inflammed???? try liquids a day or two maybe?????

if i have a slip ..i'm getting mine removed. i got the lap band because it is removable.

Well ladies, I had my upper gi done today. The doctor just called me and I have a slip!!!! OMG! Again the only thing I had was being to tight and acid reflux, I have had several fills and unfills. Once I get the unfill I get relief, no night cough no acid reflux. So I must decided to get this repaired. I had gained weight with the unfills but no other symptoms. I heard that if you had a slip you would have all kinds of issues. If I had not had this procedure done today I would have never known. I might have this done I'm not sure what to do.

What do u mean you might have it done? Dont you have to have it fixed? my doc told me in can twist and cause vomitting ect. I'm sorry to hear this...keep us posted.

Oh elcee, what a story! But I am glad you got some relief. I hope your hubby gets his tooth fixed soon. We went out to go for Japanese food today for lunch, but the restaurant is only open for dinner on Sundays. So DH had a fit. I had peperjack cheese for lunch. The man just does not go with the flow at all.

Heidi, I hope the unfill helps. Are you going to look at alternatives to fill/unfilling? It seems the band just might not be right for your body.

Yes, I am weighing my options....I have been thinking of having it removed for a while. I got the lapband because of that reason. If I have slipped and they want to fix it ..i will just have it taken out. I feel it has given my the head start I need. I have not lost weight with it in over 2 yrs. Its all in my head now. i have to do this with or with out my band. pissed me off that when i talked about taking it off...they said you will gain it all back! GEESH THX!

It's been a few days since we've posted here. Elcee? How you doing?

I've decided to go in and talk about a slight unfill. I am getting stuck several times a week. tired of it, and want to rule out a slip. It took me about 15 minutes to get a yogurt down this morning, then I got stuck on gyro meat at lunch.

So, will make a call tomorrow. I just wonder if he will order an upper GI first. My last one was in Septermber. Ugh.

Not good to get stuck on yogurt! Unfill sounds good.

So, I went in and got an UNfill. Reflux is gone and they gave me meds for it. long story short they took out some....i was still gurggling in Water SO she took out more...now I only have 3cc. I think my highest was 6 something. I'm ok with it...not starving...and i can get things down better. Thet scheduled an upper GI....they think ui have maybe slipped. they wait 4 wks for GI though! WHY???? IDK???

thanks! :-)

I'm feeling much better... they prescribed meds too.

glad i got in there this am cause now i am getting the burning with the tightness. Long story short....they took some out...i still had gurgling....they took out a lot and noe i only have 3cc in my band. I'm ok with it though....i can do this! They think i may have a slipped band,,,,getting upper GI in 4 wks. they told me to come in if i get worse.

good luck hun! like the posts said above....relax....have fun trying.....and ENJOY your family now . Live in the now. i am one who is always looking ahead and i have to stop and slow down and live in the "now".

Hi, I was banded 2008. lost 50 lbs still wanna lose 35 ish. Last year i started getting tight throat feeling like there was a lump in my throat. my surgen said it was reflux from band being too tight. had unfill then was fine. went back in after a yr had small fill. going back in tomorrow for unfill again because of tight throat ect.