barbara465

No problem Jlynn, although I wanted the band you had that helped you lose a 100 lbs in 2 months. As a group we have had very few slipped bands, 2 I think. No erosions and no removals. That is not to say that there haven't been some, but they didn't report them to the group. There may have been one that had their's removed. Does anyone remember if that was from our group or just a member of lapbandtalk? The biggest challenge is the amount of restriction - too much, too little, and the results of each. That is PBs, acid reflux, no solid food to too much eating, too many calories, and no restriction.

Sorry to hear about all the problems. During the conference maybe you can take some junior baby food with you. Not glamourus I know, but you can eat in the privacy of your hotel room. If you must eat out then have the best kind of soup you can. Most always have a cream soup. I've noticed that if you talk and don't make a big deal about things no one really knows the difference. Moving food around the plate works real well. I've also been sick in a hotel before and have asked for soups, etc. The chef fixed me up special. I didn't care if they heated me a can of campbells, but they were real nice. This is a few years back and I had stomach ulcers. Didn't know that was what it was, but I was a mess. There seems to be a rash of slipped bands and extended pouches. I do worry that I have that as well as I can eat too much. If I have all of my fill on the 10th I might really believe that. I feel like most of it is gone, but it wasn't the last time so maybe just some more restriction. Good luck and hopefully it will correct itself.

Hope everything is OK with your pouch and you get it back to normal. You never seemed to be complaining about being too restricted so I still wonder .... Are we on for Monday night at La Villa? Will you be back from KS by then BetsyJane? I'm still doing curves and liking it. I've strained my weak left knee so I laid off it tonight. Last night I went to Spiegel's support meeting. They had the chef from University General. He was interesting, but deals more with bariatric patients. He is on The Zone diet and passed it out to us. It doesnt gel with the band, but you can get some good ideas from it. I'm 8 months out and find I'm more willing to try things that have scared me in the past. I had the edge of a piece of toast and felt the wonderful golf ball. I was able to recover after about 15 minutes. I have also enjoyed those 100 calorie bags of popcorn. I would never have touched that a few months ago. I don't think much about the food anymore, but I still think about what I'm eating. However, I really don't have restriction so I'm not the average bandster.

Poodles maybe try relaxing first. Maybe some Yoga or good thoughts. You might just get yourself so wound that it happens easier. I don't think I'm anywhere near any of the restriction you guys talk about. Except for the fill before the last unfill. That time I couldn't eat until 11:00 am and was only open until about 3:00. I was losing, but then the big PB episode and I couldn't recover. I just haven't had any of this so I don't think I've really experienced restriction. I am really wondering if Dr. C was right about the hiatal hernia. Maybe it is not bad until I get some restriction. Once I have it then I close up. I forgot to ask him about muscle relaxers at my last fill. I'm going to ask this time to see if there is something I can do or take to recover.

or try something warm. new rule from doc - first bite chew 20 times, get up and walk away for 1 minute. second bite, do the same thing. 3rd bite and after 20-20, chew 20, wait 20 seconds. Maybe you are having trouble with the first couple of bites and you're not used to that.

So sorry everyone is having such issues. I, however, can eat house and home right now. I'm starting solids tonight so we'll see. I have had some solids, but its meat tonight. I don't think this fill did anything so I've scheduled another one on the 10th. That will put me at a fill level I've never been. I'm only going to let him give me .2 We heard last night at our support meeting that our doctor has decided we should lose all our weight in the first year instead of two. I think they are hyping such great results that they want to attract more people to the lapband. I'm afraid that is going to lead to aggressive fills and more PBs, slips, and dialation. For the most part, except for times after a fill, I haven't experienced these daily problems others have. I've had a reasonably easy time of it, while losing 54 lbs. I would have liked to been further down this road, but I'm still content. I wouldn't be this far without the band. There are so many of you know near or at goal. I'm so proud of your success. I look at the pictures and its just amazing what has been accomplished. We're almost at our 1 year anniversary. What a journey this is. Along the way I've had the privledge to meet some really neat people, in person and in hyperspace. Let's pat ourselves on the back and continue on. We have some more road to travel.

Happens to me quite often. It is my signal that I've eaten too much. I'm out 8 months and it still happens. I start getting twinges sometime that tell me I'd better stop eating. Other times its just full scale pain. It's always after I eat too much. Heating pad does the trick.

This is only my 2 cents: A stretched pouch happens for various reasons - NOT always your fault. First of all there is pouch packing. That is when you consistently eat and eat and eat and fill the pouch up. The restriction is still there so it takes longer for the pouch to empty. If you put too much in then it stretches. This just doesn't happen with one meal, it happens over time. Sliders help the food to go down the esphogus and then it takes the same amount of time to through the opening. The slider would go through first, just like liquids do. Sliders, in and of themselves, are not necessarily bad. Liquids like Soups, Protein drinks, milk, etc are not necessarily bad. You just have to count them. They are going through the pouch faster than solids because its easier for them to get through the opening. Thus, if you have a couple milk shakes a day you could be having well above 3,000 calories a day. That's why they say no liquids/mushies. Eating protein, hard protein, stays in the pouch longer. This makes you feel fuller longer as long as you don't wash it down with liquids. I would think you would have to be eating well above 8 ozs a meal, then snacking, for it to be your fault. Technically we don't have a pouch because we didn't have gastric bypass. We all call it a pouch, but its still the upper stomach that has a band around part of it. Now having said all this, I would be more concerned that your band is slipping. When this happens, most doctors do a complete unfill and have the patient go on liquids/mushies for several weeks, even months. The band sometimes goes back in place and fills can begin again. Some have to have them surgically repaired, and some have to have them removed. There are too many variables here, but I would a. watch it closely, b. measure all food, liquids, mushies, solids, and c. make sure spivak looks at the x-ray. I'm sorry this happened, but some things are just not making sense. How could it instantly go back to shape after they took out the .2? We can't be talking many days in between since we just saw you. I'm just not convinced that a stretched pouch is what happening. Heaven knows if that is really what it is, I must have the same thing. I've been really hungry since my fill and already scheduled my next for just after Easter. Spiegel is going to be out of town for a week so I didn't want to get into trouble and have to have a complete unfill at the surgicenter. Keep us posted to your progress.

DId you go to surgicenter or to Dr. Spivak's office? There's something going on that both spivak and spiegel are doing all their own fills, etc. now. We can still go to the surgicenter, but only can be filled with spiegel. I wonder if they had too many slips, overfills, etc. Spiegel just said to me he gave them a year and they couldn't get it right so he's doing all his patients fills. Take it easy and hopefully you can get filled again. It does make you wonder what is going on since you were OK then not. Sounds like a slip. Just got back from curves. I'm starting the week off well. I called and got my next fill appt. It will be after Easter. He was going away for a week and I didn't want to take the chance I would get into trouble and then it would be a complete unfill. I guess I'll just take it a little slower than I planned. So far this fill is good, but still way too hungry and can eat way too much. Hope everyone else is doing well. Laura I saw your pictures everywhere. You are really looking great. Job well done!!!!

Tomorrow will be the 7th day since fill. So far so good. I'm still hungry, but I'm taking it slow. I'm still on mushies mostly trying to keep stomach from swelling. I hope this hunger is not a symptom of something else. The last weeks I've been really, really, hungry. Went to curves 4 times last week. Goal this week is to make it 5. I'm a little sore, but not bad. I'll just do it. It's got to be helping. Most people should be back to work this week after spring break. It was really boring without everyone. Looking forward to a busy week. Hope everyone is doing well.

I'm really quite happy with my progress. Although I want to lose more, I am happy with where I am. I've lost slow, or average, but I've lost. I've had a few setbacks, but nothing really major. I just can't get fills or feel restriction. My problem now is that my will power is nil. I've suceeded this far on it, but as with any long term dieting, it just goes over time. I'm now trying very hard to stay positive and get fills. I'm going to call on Monday for my next one in a few weeks. Maybe I can sneek up to it. So far so good. Bikergrammy, PM me directions to your house. I'll pick you up around 5 if that is OK. That will give us plenty of time to get there and get a seat on Tuesday. The meeting starts at 6:30.

Randi so sorry to hear your news. Please take care of you. That is what's the most important. Did they tell you won't ever be able to have the band replaced? I know some have the hernias repaired as part of their lapband surgery. Did it do damage. The good news is you now know why you were suffering. You are not a failure. Your body was the cause of the pain, not you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

It makes some sense. I do chew, chew, chew, but i still use a slider to help me chew it up. I also don't like just to swallow. I get too scared so a slider helps me adjust. I think the emotional issues are definitely ones that have to be dealt with. I think the band helps with the hunger, sometimes. I am hungry and still able to eat more than a normal bandster. I don't eat in between, but I still get hungry. Whatever works for you is OK. You still need to learn to eat like a normal person. I don't think that means "diet". I think that means moderation. Just my thoughts.

Sending good thoughts and vibes to you and your family.

There are at least two threads about him. Do a search and find them. You will get lots of information. I used Dr. Spiegel. I believe he is the best surgeon. However, his aftercare is not good, his office staff is not good, and his support are not good. There are other doctors in town that have a better reputation. It just depends on what you are looking for. Aftercare is a big part of this procedure. You must rely on your doctor for fills. Dr. Spiegel just changed his process and I, for one, don't like the new rules. I don't want to go to his office and be treated like one of the herd. Good luck to you and your wife

We buy thin crust bobolli (sp) in the supermarket. I put lots of veggies on it with some pepperoni and low fat cheese. Yummy. I usually don't eat the crust except for around the top. I just scrap off the pizza fillings and eat them.

Have a great trip Melissa. Will you be back to Houston or is this the final move to LA? Get some rest. It will get better. You are off on a new adventure. How exciting. Hey Barbara12, how are you? We haven't heard from you in a while. I'm going to sit down and watch The Secret today. I also ordered some DVDs from Abraham-Hicks and the book Laws of Attraction. On our road trip last week we were able to hear a tape. Put a few things in different perspective to me. I think I'll work on the inner me and the weight will take care of itself.

Poodles that's great. I had a fill on Monday and I'm still hungry. I'm stll on mushies. Have to be until Saturday, but may stay here a few extra days. I want this fill to work and if everything goes well get another one in 3 weeks. I don't have restriction, but I'll wait until 15 days to be sure. Been to Curves twice this week and will go another 2 times. I like the exercise and find it is easy. I go on my way home from work so its not too bad. Hope everyone is doing OK. I miss catching up during the day. I feel so left out. :success1:

I have cereal for breakfast now and then. Of course, it is several hours after I'm up, but no problems. I eat soup for lunch and try to add some hard protein now and then like a slice of meat or hard cheese.

Unfortunately, Spiegel's support group meetings are nothing like that! He is having a chef from University General in after someone suggested it at the meeting. He does not attend and I don't think has much to do with it other than to say we must attend 4 a year. His staff handles it and with that enough said. Lana glad you had a good visit. There was 3 of us. We had a good visit, but missed you. We'll catch up at La Villa the last Monday of the month at 5:30. I'm looking forward to it. Had my fill on Monday and so far OK. I am still hungry, but taking it real slow. Maybe, if all goes well I'll get another small one in 3 weeks. We'll see.

I had a fill on Monday at Dr. Spiegel's office. My appt was 3:00 and I saw him at 3:50. The room was filled with about 30 people. He makes you drink a bottle of Water, which you bring with you, before you can leave. I had asked for an extended office visit, but of course that wasn't in the cards. However, I just had my say. I have very difficult fills and don't react for 6-10 days after a fill. He thought my case was unusual and looked to me like he was just tollerating my story. Anyway, he decided to give me only .2, like I was going to let him give me anymore. Unfortunatley, if you want to get anywhere with him or his office you just have to be tough. You have to take charge of your own care. I hope I don't have a reaction to this fill, because an unfill for me would spell disaster. Since I can't tollerate much more than .2 or .3, it would take me a very long time to get back to where I was before the complete unfill. I will definitely fight that. His office staff are just overworked and not knowledgeable. I don't think he has a clue how bad his office staff really is. At least I want to believe that. Well, we'll just have to see how this goes. He said he gave the surgicenter a year to get it right and they couldn't, so he isn't letting them touch his patients. That's all I know for now. Good luck everyone.

Omnipaque or omnipack is a thicker saline. It is used in people who lose their fills. Some bands absorb the regular saline. So far so good. No problems yet, but still on liquids. Went to Curves on my way home. Everything is going good and I have a renewed start. I must say though I am very hungry.

Had my fill yesterday. I got .2 so we'll see how this does. It will be a few days until I know. A little hungry just having liquids. I'll have liquids most of tomorrow and maybe a little mushie for dinner. I don't like the new policies of my doctor. I now have to go to his office without about 30 other patients of his. We must bring our own bottle of Water to drink. If we don't return within 3 days of being overfilled, we will be sent to surgicenter for a complete unfill and a barium swallow. That really upsets me because it has taken me about 9 fills to get to 1.9 with omnipaque. Can you imagine if I have to have an unfill and get filled at .2 or .3 each time. It will be a year before I'm back. So wish me luck and I'll do my best to hold this fill.

Survived the weekend. Had a great time. We drank too much and ate, but the shopping and friendship was terrific. I got some really nice outfits and was so surprised and happy at the smaller sizes I could fit into. I still find myself looking at the larger sizes. Pinkylee got some really nice stuff, including a mauve jacket to die for. I get it when she outgrows it! I go for a fill at 3. I am really apprehensive about this fill. The doctor has changed his rules and now gives them at his office. I've heard if after 3 days you run into problems he does a complete unfill. I don't want that. I hope to have a talk with him so we'll see. Weather was really ugly this morning with big thunderstorms. I decided to work from home and not get out in the weather. Sounds like most of us are doing well and good to hear from some of you who don't post very often. Its great to read your progress and to know you aren't alone in this journey.

I really think his problem is too many patients. I believe he is a good surgeon. Its the aftercare that suffers. I coined the phrase "cattle call" to refer to his office. Its herd em in and herd em out. They don't give good information and they are not helpful. If the fill policy gets to be too much for me then I'll find someone else for aftercare. Its a shame, but that's reality.