Nanook

Yes I do but I can't go back in time but hopefully will be able to revise to a different surgery that will work for me.

how do you copy/paste? I cant doooit!

I know you're just venting and that's fine, but remember just because someone has insurance doesn't mean that you don't have to pay premiums and copays, nothing is free.

I had a complete unfill for over a month prior to my lap band removal and I still was having pain from the acid reflux and was still PB'ng on the same foods that I PB'd on prior to the unfill. I just wish the banding experience was consistent but it seems for some it's works great while for others like me and many here not so great. I know by experience that when you want food you're not tolerating "healthy foods" you're going to get in you whatever works and why I ended up gaining during my little 14 months with the lap band and also gained more co-morbs. Good luck and health to you all I'm looking at RNY now! Nancy.

There's also a relationship between carb drinks and acid reflux which can become a real problem for a lot of bandsters.

Susan, After going through all the emotional issues I had dealing with my lap band and it's removal and after putting back 20 lbs I decided my quality of life was definitely suffering and I met with my surgeon's office today to get it rolling and am crossing my fingers that it will happen! Take care Nancy.:thumbup:

Good luck Susan! I just got the ball rolling on my RNY and am crossing my fingers for approval in every respect. I thought of you as I flew into JAX last week, nice airport. Anyway good luck and I'll be reading your postings even though we're doing different surgeries, Nancy:thumbup:

ebar... What procedure did you revise from to the band? I am in the process of beginning my revision surgery process. I've already been debanded but I was too paranoid to revise during my removal surgery. I felt as if since the first surgery didn't work none would work and I didn't want to put myself through it physically as well as emotionally. I suppose your feelings are probably normal and you'll get through it. Good luck with your revision, Nancy:smile:.

Sorry, I haven't read all the threads here but want to share my latest video reviews since my vacation. We saw two DVDs, both with subtitles. The first one was "Mongol, The Rise of Ghenghis Khan". That was a pretty cool flick and one I think most guys who like a bit of blood splatter would appreciate. It's like mixing "Braveheart" with "300". He was a cute little boy and had a tough life and if you like foreign films and historical pieces you might like it. I give it 4 stars. The second one was called "JCVD" It wasn't a Roman flick but a semi biographical film staring and about Jean Claude Van Damme and is in French with subtitles. Now if you were raised in a martial arts family like I was and also found JCVD kind of foxy in the early 90s you'd probalby like this film (although no JCVD butt is shown). Actually if you're a JCVD fan you're more likely to feel compelled to see but it is different than his typical flicks and doesn't have to make up an excuse as to why he has a French accent because it's about his life. It actually got good reviews and if you've followed his career from "Bloodsport" and "Kickboxer" to all the films that were only released on video you just have to see it. I did feel a bit left hanging in the end though. I give it 3 stars if you like JCVD.

I don't know what would have made my experience with the band a better one, one where I actually lost weight. I do know that my band never slipped and if vomiting caused it that would have happened to me. I vomited (pb'd) a lot!! Phen fen worked for me at the time when I took it many years ago but was taken off the market mid-stream. It was basically like the "speed" I took in the 70s when I first lost weight. Metformin also worked for me but I had to go off my antidepressant to take it which was a difficult time but like most people I only lost 10% of my body weight on it before it stopped being as effective. It made me feel nausious, not to be confused with a "PB" which kept me from wanting to eat. I know my endocrinologist told me at one time she had people on this drug after WLS. Just because you're banded doesn't mean we're not going to want to eat. We're all very different so the lap band may stop some people and not others. It's not a sign of weakness or our own failures as human beings but that it's not necessarily the right proceedure for EVERYONE, Nancy:smile:

Wasa, I know the sleeve would be a bad choice for me so I was looking at DS or RNY. Is it true that the sleeve is the first part of a DS? Does that make sense? It seems to me that I've read that on some other sites. There are so many revision combos out there it can get overwhelming at times. I wouldn't want to be too far from a DS surgeon and that's where I gave up on that proceedure. I think my insurance would have covered it though. Thanks Nancy.

I chiming in on this one as I've noticed that many people have to travel far or choose to travel far to have surgeries. I'm speaking of all WLSs not just LB. It might be me but there is comfort with knowing my surgeon and his team are only 45 minutes away from me. With my daughter's RNY and my LB (now gone bye bye) and my revision (hopefully in my future) and the few times we've had emergency situations that could only have been dealt with a team familiar with WLS I could or would not choose a surgeon much further away than that. This of course has limited the type of surgery revision I choose but I suppose I'd rather them be close than have to worry when something goes wrong and who would treat me in that situation. Nancy:smile:

Wow that's pretty traumatic. Erosion seems to be a pretty tricky thing and it's amazing to me that something like that can be happening inside you and you not really know. Glad your friend insisted and I wish you a speedy recovery, Nancy.:thumbup:

I posted about it a long time ago. Mine were sharp and quick but came back and they put me in the ER to rule out heart. It ended up being acid reflux which I suppose can be stress related too but mine was related to the band. They put me on protonix and I had my band removed because of it and the fact the band didn't work for me. I never had the reflux that went up to my throat and felt like heart burn so that's kind of why the reflux thing flew me for a loop even though I knew it wasn't my heart. Get it checked out, you know you should, take care, Nancy.:smile:

Does she seem to have good self esteem? I know it's difficult when you want the best for your daughter, all moms do but you have to be careful not be too critical about her weight. It's a difficult time for her. There are books out there about dealing with teenage girls and their bodies that you may want to read. I always thought if I wasn't critical of my daughters' weight they would grow up loving their bodies as I had not. But they still picked up my hatred for my own body even though I didn't verbalize it. She is tall and if she's athletically inclined encourage that so that she's enjoying herself. As you said she's a different body type than many of her classmates but explain to her that everyone's body types are different and that's OK. My daughter was 6 feet tall and well over 300 lbs and ended up having RNY surgery but that was because she wanted it not because I ever, ever suggested it. It was really important to her. I think there must be a way to sit down and discuss your surgery with her and find out how she feels about it also. I wish there was a book out there I could suggest for you but basically if you search on Amazon.com for those types of books so many will pop up. I'm a believer in therapy when needed but that's something we used in our family and doesn't mean it's necessary for yours. Good luck with your surgery and with your daughter, Nancy. PS you can find her a good sports bra in her size on line at JMS.com, Lane Bryant etc...

Can't share anything about a revision surgery but having the band removed was a breeze for me as it was OP this time and had none of the gas pains as I did prior. I thought the port would be an issue but it really wasn't. It's the looks the same as all my other scars. We're all dif but that's my story, Nancy. Good luck to you.

I was offered RNY about 4 years ago, the only surgery my surgeon did a the time but had to put it off due to some famliy issues. Then I went back to my surgeon when the time was right to go through the surgery and at the last minute I chose lap band over RNY because I was afraid of the dumping syndrome and the drastic nature of RNY. This time lap band was part of his repertoire. I finally did have my surgery in 8/07 and as most of you know who have read my posts it did not work for me and it was removed last October. My daughter had her RNY the following 5/08 and has since lost over 140 lbs. Not without a few complications which to me were always tragic but she got through it and I got through it and the change this has made in her life has been remarkable. I don't know if she'd still be with me right now if she had not had the surgery. She was that distraught. She also had to decide which surgery to choose and it seemed easy to her as she wanted one that she could be a success with. So far so good. She's never had "dumping syndrome" and she is young which I suppose is a good thing and may make a difference in her success and health. I can only hope she'll continue to be healthy. I know it's not an easy decision and sometimes it's easier to pick one for the wrong reason like I had. I'm now in a situation where I'll be meeting with my surgeon again this time discuss having the RNY. I had to decide will I be happy with myself in a year if I do not do anything even if I risk complications due to my age and drastic side of this surgery. At this point in my life I'm more afraid of being miserable in my own skin one more year than having RNY. Go to as many sites as you can and read as much as you can and I wish you luck on making the right decision your first time! Nancy:smile:

Don't know your story but sorry it ended up not working out for you, did you chew your food and exercise, it's only a tool you know, jk! I had mine removed last October after 14 months trying to get it to work and figured out it in the end it was just not the right procedure for me. It can be very emotionally taxing on you to go through such a dramatic experience so make sure you realize that it's not your fault and it happens to many, many people just like you! Take care Nancy.

Go up to the top right corner where it says "Welcome" and your screen name and there will be a number where there's a private message press on that number and see if you can read the private message from me. I sent it so look where it says up at the right corner under your name "your notifications" and a number and click there.

Had my band removed because I never lost weight with it and developed acid reflux. My daughter had the RNY about 9 months after my lap band and has lost over 140 lbs since May 08. She did have two strictures which caused the vomiting but had two endoscopies to open her up. This was in the beginning stages which I think if you're going to have strictures is when they happen. Since then she's been fine but she's still shy one year post-op. I haven't made up my mind yet of whether I will revise or not but if I do it's likely it would be RNY as my surgeon only does that or lapband. Good luck on your search I didn't vote, Nancy.

Go to the left side of the top of your screen where it says "userCP" and press on that then go to "Control Panel" on the left top and go down to "Settings and Options" where it says "edit ignore list" then I believe you can put in the name of the person whose posts you want to ignore. I hope that helps! I can't imagine you and your husband going through cancer at the same time. I remember flying down to MD to be with my sister when she was having chemo and the nurse was not very good at getting the needle into her port. This was before I got the lap and and at that time I remember how much pain she was in with the jabbing and afterwars how I worried what a fill would be like. But her port for chemo was placed over bone so I think it was much more painful. So far she's clear and it's going on five years so that's a good thing, you're on seven and that's good too! You really don't hear much about EC, PC yes and I knew that was a death sentence. I wonder if certain people should just get the endoscopies if they are at risk, like my husband's older brother who still drinks and smokes very heavily but he's not likely to listen. Anyway if you ever have a problem you can email "Alex" directly for an assist. Take care, Nancy.

Was this her initial gastric bypass or a revision type surgery, I'm a bit confused.

I think she attempted to get them eating healthier but I can't remember. I think I remember she had them all go on a walk and of course they suffered. Aren't they the family that had the ATVs and that's how they exercised. They do this on purpose though, they take people who are total opposites and place them together just for the shits and giggles. The other show similar to this is Trading Spouses but on that one they are each given $50,000 and each told the other family how they were to spend that money. I have no idea how much money the get on Wipe Swap though do you? Also the "superior" family acted like they were so well to do but they did this for the money even though they pretended they were teaching another family how to live a better lifestyle.

I looked at my results from the endoscopy I had done and they only took tissue from my stomach polyps. They didn't make a big deal about the esophagus but put me on one of those standard reflux plans and on the medication. I had an irregular Z line but I suppose that's not a problem and redness in the first part of the duodenum. I mentioned to my husband today about it and I'll have to work on him. He'll be 49 this year, his dad died when he was 46 and like I said everyone on his side died young of heart attacks but they tend to smoke and drink a lot. My husband quit smoking many years ago and doesn't drink often but I know when he drinks a beer in the evening once in a while that's when he gets reflux issues at night so it makes sense. Did they test your kids to see if the gene for that specific cancer? I know my sister, her breast cancer was about 4 years ago was thinking her daughters should get tested to see if they had that gene but then there was a scare that if that information was in the insurance/medical system they might have a hard time getting insurance. They never had the test. My sister isn't really what you'd call overweight like I am but like I said had smoked for many years, probably since she was 12. My mother died when she was 51 of lung cancer which metastasized into a brain tumor. Scary things to have to worry about. But my husband always thought he'd die of a heart attack just like his dad but to me this is more worrisome. When I was in the hospital for the chest pains the woman next to me was there because of chest pains also. She had a heart attack about 2 years ago and wasn't over weight at all. Her husband had died of one 4 years ago. So they had her there for precautionary reasons like I was but I thought it was odd how they both had heart attacks like that. Anyway thanks for warning people of something that most bandsters seem to brush off but also that most seem to suffer with. I know I read somewhere that just where the band is placed has something to do with the acid washing up abnormally. Take care and hope you all stay healthy, Nancy.

Thanks for the info, that's really awful what you and your husband went through! It's good that your children are seeing doctors to prevent it also and I hope they are well. Everyone on my husband's father's side of the family has died of a heart attack, his older brother and sister both have had either heart attacks or some blockage but both survived. My husband and his younger brother have both been seeing cardiologists for years to prevent any problems. This has been a real relief for me. I think I'll heed your advice about getting him to see a specialist. Often when he has a bad attack of acid reflux he'll end up sleeping sitting up. The man can sleep through anything so even though it looks awful he can still sleep. I also have to look into Barrett's as I'm not familiar with it but will check it out on line to learn what it is. My younger sister was a smoker and quit about a month before they discovered she had breast cancer and also had the acid reflux problems and has been treated for it. I think it had something to do with smoking and coffee. I should make sure she gets that looked into also. I knew that Maureen O had two brothers that were in the film. I'll have to look up her house on the internet too and see if there are any pics. Take care and thanks for the info, Nancy.:sneaky: