SusanP

Hello, I was banded in late Dec by Dr. Spiegel in Houston, Texas and lost 20 pounds before my first fill. I got my first fill late January to 1.6 cc's. The weight is coming off about 1 pound a week now. I just joined the board yesterday and am curious about some of these terms like: Nutcracher Esophagus Motility Problems Esophagus Dilated Soft food Syndrome I am able to slowly drink a pre-mixed liquid Protein drink in the morning. I am sometimes able to eat lunch (protein, salad, fruit) dinner is 80% the time is a no go. Here's why: My throat feels like it's closing and the food gets stuck. Sometimes food will go down, other times I start salivating (very thick) and cough it up. There was a period of time about 2 weeks ago that I threw up like this once a day.:cry Sometimes I get scared to eat solids. :paranoid I went 2 days this weekend without food. I didn't get hungry until Monday and I never felt weak. I am able to get plenty of Water in me so I stay hydrated. I called Dr. Spiegel's office yesterday and can't get in until April 25th. His nurse says she still experiences exactly what I described. Any ideas if this is normal?

Good morning. I live in Texas, but a lot of my family lives outside of Dillon. I am planning to fly there at the end of July. I've not flown with my lap band, but know that it causes some restriction. I am very sensitive to fills and get 100% restriction quickly, to the point that I have to get an emergency unfill. I am trying to locate a surgeon close to Dillon who might coordinate with my Texas doctor if I get in an emergency situation and need an unfill. Does anyone know of a doctor close to Dillon? CAN'T WAIT TO BE IN MONTANA!!! Susan:thumbup::wink_smile::biggrin:

I don't know what that is, can you share?

Teddy, I feel your pain and fright. I had a perferation, but my doctor was able to save my band. Don't give up on the band. Please let us know how you are doing!!!

Good Morning, Share with me about how soon you can drink or eat and what you can drink or eat in the morning....right now I can't get anything except baby sips of warm liquid and no food until 3-4pm in the afternoon. I am off to do some shopping and will check back this afternoon. Thank you in advance, Susan

Thanks for replying...here's my day so far. I made some hot tea and we took off to go shopping. I took tiny little sips and by the time I got to Target (about 45 minutes and 1/4 cup of liquid) I had to go to the bathroom and slim came up. My throat was burning, so I bought some pepcid. I slowly dissolved 1 pill and about 20 minutes later, I slimed it up. I dissolved one more and it stayed down for about 30 minutes. I called my doc's office to see if I could come in for a slight unfill (had a fill last Wednesday went from .5 in my band to a total of 1.2cc and have been on liquids since then). No one was in, so I told her I would try to slip on warm liquids and see how things went tomorrow. During my call to her, I had to have my hubby pull over and slimed some more. Got home, heated some Water and got a couple of sips down. About 1 hour later, I again felt the pressure in my stomach and slimed some more. I decided to try something cold, so I just had a popsicle and will see how long it stays down. Standing feels better than sitting. Now, I am not new to banding and I used to have up to 1.8 without problems. I had a barium swallow last month and my doc says everything is in its proper place. Thank you very much, Susan

Hi everyone, I am from Bay City, about 1 1/2 hours SE of Houston. I used Speigel for my surgery and switched to Dr. Chang, in Victoria, for follow up and fills. I adore Dr. Chang!!!

This is fantastic news! I have been getting unfilled about every 4-5 weeks because I get to a point where I can't get any food down. When I try tremendous amounts of mucus come up. I eventually get to where I have so much mucus that I get swollen and can't get water down and I have to get unfilled. I am hoping this helps. I gave up soda before my surgery, so maybe this will work!!

I was banded by Dr. Speigel in Houston at the end of 05. I got my first fill around the end of January 06 (1.6)...got another fill at the end of April (he withdrew 1.4 and put 2.0 but I couldn't hold down Water so he left it at 1.8). At the end of May, I went to our beach...came home and took a bite of pizza and didn't chew it enough (no pizza since Dec 05)...kept throwing up until it came out...ended up with uncontrollable vomiting and couldn't keep water down...got an unfill. Dr. Spiegel quit taking my insurance so I found a doctor, much closer and with UCH. His name is Dr. Chang. Got a fill at the end of June of 1.2 felt some restriction, but still could eat too much at a meal and got really hungry afterwards. He withdrew 1.2 last month and gave me 1.6...it was fine. Day 3, after my fill, we went to the beach (I was still on liquids), came home and started throwing up. Learning from my first experience...I called my new doc and got to the ER where he unfilled me. I am now unfilled and have pain in/around the port area. What, in your opinion, might be happening? Is this normal? I miss my fill and do not want to lose my band. My new surgeon says we must take a conservative approach to fills...I just want to know if this is normal... Any input or questions are welcome Thank you, susan

I've found that wine will put on pounds quicker than a mixed drink like whiskey and water. I miss my wine, but know if I do have it....well, I am not going to lose weight. Hope that helps, Susan

Road Queen, I think I am affected by the heat. First, I thank everyone for their responses and will take them to my doc on the 9th. I don't eat at the beach (don't like the grit in my teeth), so food wasn't the problem. Also, I was drinking ice cold water AND, I did my exercise (run/walk) on the beach since I missed it that morning. I actually ran faster and harder than normal. Thank you EVERYONE for your input...it's always sooo appreciated!!! Susan

Once again, thank you very much for sharing and posting. I got a fill on 6/20 with my new doc, Dr. Chang and boy, is he very different than my surgery doc. He spent 40 minutes just talking with me and his fill tech was 100% different, as was his philosophy. I still seem to get a sour stomach feeling every now and again, but it's 100% different. Thank you again, susan

I took a bite of pizza and tried to eat it like I could pre-band. Before I realized my mistake, I gulped it down. I spent the next 30 minutes puking, getting bits of it out. I woke up this morning and took a couple of drinks of water and some of it came up. I heated up some soup for lunch (cream of squash) and was able to get about 3 spoonfuls downs. Do you think I am just swollen from throwing up or could I have blockage? Also, I am due for my period and usually feel more restriction around that time. This is miserable!!! Thank you in advance for your help. Susan:help:

I searched the forums, but didn't find an answer/recommendation for eatting before a fill. I am completely unfilled right now and am scheduled to be at the doctor's at 2:30 to get a fill. (had irritated stomach and needed an unfill about 3 weeks ago) I am starving right now (8:51). Thanks, Susan:help:

Thank you very much! I am starving!!! I didn't eat dinner last night and am very hungry right now. I am thinking of mushy food.

I experienced that as well and called my doctor. He apologized because he said his staff should have told me the following... Take a very small first bite and chew until it's mushie! Wait up to 3 minutes before taking another identical bite. Wait another couple of minutes and then you should be fine. It relaxes the throat or something like that so that you can finish eatting. Hope this helps, Susan P.S. I also got a great (and even better) idea from someone on this board. She said she sips hot tea before eatting and it has the same effect. I tried it and it works.

Teacher to teacher....I think it's a good move!!! I teach in a chapter 41 school, but we get lots of grants so I have more than enough materials/resources. It sounds like you are already excited about the new position!!! Hope you enjoy it! I envy anyone with artistic talents!!! Susan

Spiegel's office also told me that the rest of the year I wouldn't have to pay anything since my follow-up and first fill were included, and future fills would be paid for since I met my deductible. What happens if you have slippage or a need for additional surgery. Since he's not taking UHC, how would that monetarily effect you? I am curious because I recently had a scare and if I hadn't been able to make it an additional day to get into Dr. Speigel...I would have had to go to 12 Oaks for him to help me. Since he's no longer with UHC, would his costs been out of my pocket? I'd love to stay with him, but after that scare...I realized my family can't take a financial hit like that from an emergency or additional surgery with a doctor who won't take UHC. food for thought. Susan

I just went through something like this but it was on the down side of a bad pb'ing. I found that prilosec, going on liquids/mushies, and drinking only water (cold was the best) helped. My irritation got worse before I followed those 3 rules to a "t." I ended up puking up blood and getting very ill before I called my doctor. Hope this helps, Susan. P.S. You can read about my scary ordeal under Lap Band Complications "Swollen or blockage."

I just went through something like this but it was on the down side of a bad pb'ing. I found that prilosec, going on liquids/mushies,

If you are talking about Dr. Speigel...find a new doctor. I have an idea that he's in trouble with UHC for fraud. I have been called by UHC 3 times in the past month about him and the documents they are sending me are outrageous. Yes, I am afraid of leaving him because of his expertise, but there is something definetely going on with him and UHC. I have only had wonderful experiences with his bedside manner, but I need an in network doctor who doesn't conflict going on with major hospitals or insurance companies. Just my experience with the situation and it's unfortunate because I enjoy his staff and one of his staff members saved my life last week when I was vomiting lots of blood. They didn't charge me for the visit. After experiencing such as scary situation, I decided that I needed a doctor, in network, to treat me. It wasn't fun puking blood and trying to figure out how to get help. Hope this might help, Susan

I just want thank everyone again for the support! I went ahead and went on vacation and hurt most of the time. I hardly get sick and when I do, I work through it. My stomach burned most of the time. Today is the first day that I feel back to normal. Is the band worth it? Oh yes!!! The pain of being overweight for so many years is nothing compared to a week of stomach irritation. I am looking forward to meeting my new doctor this Wednesday. I also feel better finding a surgeon/hospital that can help me in emergency. I felt so lost and alone when I called the 2 nearest ER rooms last week and no one would touch me! The nurses had heard of the lap band, but no one could help me. I think all ER staff should be trained on emergency procedures like an unfill for us. I sure miss my old stomach. I can tell the difference. I am hungry and the food that I do eat, doesn't stick with me. Once again, thank you all for your help and support! Susan

I made it to Dr. Spiegel's office by 7:45. I was puking pure black stuff and it was horrible. A nurse unfilled me quickly and I was never so thankful. I don't know how I made the drive because I puked constantly into a cup. I did the barium swallow at 12 Oaks and everything looked good. Although I love Dr. Speigel, I have to change doctors because of the cost per fill. I picked Dr. Chang in Victoria. CCBSTX, if you can tell me how your experiences have been with him/the clinic, I'd appreciate it!!! Any idea on how long until I should wait for a fill? Thanks again, Susan

My doctor just called and said I was irritated and the dark flecks are blood. He said to be at his office at 8am for an unfill, no charge. Or, if I got really bad, to go to 12 Oaks hospital in Houston (2+ hours away) and he'd find a doc to unfill me. Until then, no liquids. This is miserable!!! Susan

OK, I need your help again. I was feeling better, much better, yesterday (Tuesday). I got out and did major yard work, including mowing with a push mower (I mean PUSH). I woke up at 5:30 this morning feeling fine, but by 10am, I was hurting and starting spitting up. I can get little sips down, but a 1 tbsp of malox gets stuck and I have to spit it back up. Have I just agitated my port/band? When I spit up it's lots of mucus. My doc is over 2 hours away, especially since he's in Houston and I am sure that it's going to be hard to get to him because of flooding. How do I know if I need to go to the ER? Help again, Susan