jms462001

What causes esophageal dilation and symptoms? Good luck with your new program!

That sounds horrible. I cannot believe your Dr. didn't believe something was wrong and investigate. Do you think the band slipped right at the beginning? I hope you can get past your fears. Everyone gets stuck and has to bring food up occasionally.

Wow! That's very scary. Sounds like it was resolved very quickly. How is the surgery recovery? Did they have to do much? I am self-pay and worry about problems such as that. I can't afford the EGD I am supposed to have. I haven't had any problems but did gain 10 pounds back due to bad eating. I had not had a fill since 9/09 and went to have one finally 2 wks ago, but still no weight loss!! It sure is easier to lose weight with the band in the first year or two!! I am going to keep trying! My downfall is getting protein from brownies and chocolate chip cookies!!! I'm addicted. I'll lose as soon as I stop buying them I'm sure. I hope you get over your fear. I would probably be the same way. How is everyone else doing??

I was on Wellbutrin before and still take it. My depression is much improved after losing all the weight along with all of my other physical problems. Losing some of the body pain helped me a lot with the depression.

"All you can eat". Well, I could probably eat an entire bag of chocolate chip Cookies, a whole bag of chips, and possibly finish the tub of ice cream. But I doubt I would be tempted to gorge on steak in this manner! Nor would I sit and eat a tub of butter or drink a pint of olive oil.

I just heard that Syntrax matrix is really delicious. I must try

Congratulations and best wishes to you!! I agree it's not about money and I was self pay also and in a 1 income household. It's been nearly 6 more months since the posts I made above, over 2 yrs since my surgery, and I still have not had any problems with my band and stand by my decision!

I have read about people who are very happy with the sleeve procedure. I also had a fear of getting a serious illness such as cancer and having my eating so restricted. I liked the idea that the band can be emptied at such times allowing a person to possibly get more nutrition and having an increased appetite at. I do think it would be important that you have a Dr. who has confidence in the band and also one who has tons of experience doing the surgery. I think the expertise of the surgeon in placing the band and securing it might have much to do with a person's success and avoiding problems with it.

Well you definitely will not be able to eat lg amounts of food. I just love to eat and had a big appetite. Combined, I would eat past being full at times just because I enjoyed the food so much. Like most people overweight, I'm sure emotions often played into it. Don't be overly concerned with the people who do not lose for months or take a few years to reach goal. I was unable to exercise until the weight was off due to severe back and knee issues. I still lost steadily at a rate of 8 pounds avg per month and had reached my original goal in 9 months and went on to lose another 20 pounds in a few more months. Definitely exercise as much as you can. I promise if I can lose weight that fast with little effort, the band has potential to help many people lose weight quickly. I was 54 when I had surgery so age was against me as well. I started at a size 22/24 and now wear a size 5/6 jeans and a med. shirt. I had never in my life worn less than a size 12. If you do choose to get the band, after researching some more, and you have the motivation, you will most likely be very successful! Best wishes.

I had lapband surgery in Nov '08. I lost over 90 lbs. My weight is normal and lower than I've ever weighed. I have kept it off without much effort even though I have not had a fill since Sept '09. I found the entire process of losing weight with the lapband relatively easy because even though I got hungry, I never got hunger pangs and I was satisfied with small amts of food as I still am. I am so glad it was my choice. I think people who are big emotional eaters with those challenges to overcome should get counseling first. The band works well for those who usually eat regular meals and snacks but just eat too much. It does not work as well for grazers. Good luck in making the right decision for you!

I am a success story for sure and as some others have said, my only regret is not getting the lapband years ago. I didn't have the usual health problems of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,sleep apnea, etc. that many obese people suffer from. I was very healthy from that standpoint, but my body was breaking down. My knees swelled and ached all the time and I was told I was headed for total knee replacement surgery at 54. I have severe spinal conditions and need a huge surgery and that kept me in total pain all the time unless I was laying in bed. I was at the point where most days just walking from the bedroom to the kitchen caused me extreme pain and I was spending more and more time in bed. I got the lapband in November 2008 and within a year I had lost most of my weight with only 3 fills. 9 months after getting the band, I was diagnosed with early cancer and had to have a radical hysterectomy. I was unfilled for that, but did not regain weight and got back to my "sweet spot" with two fills. I continued losing slowly through April 2010 when I reached my current weight. I am about 6 pounds under what I feel is right for me and I do go up and down those 6 pounds. I keep that as my safety net!! I lost weight slowly and steadily with the lapband with no real plateaus along the way. I averaged about 8 pounds per month after the first 6 weeks and the pre-diet. I did not exercise much at all as it is so difficult with the spinal problems. I did keep up my Physical Therapy exercises at home. I now can walk quite a distance without pain, can stand for longer periods without pain, and need less pain medication. I realize I will need the back surgery one day, but for now I am so much better I am happy. The best part is that my knees never hurt any longer, not ever!! And that was getting so bad that I could not sleep some nights. I have gone from a size 22/24 to a size 6 jeans (first time in my life under a 14) and a med. shirt. I do have a problem with clothing as I had a breast lift with implants 10 years ago and the Dr. went a bit overboard with the size. My breasts still look good, but are really big for my body and I have to wear mostly stretch knit tops. I would like to get some plastic surgery on my stomach, but it is surprisingly not too bad for that much weight loss and no exercise and with a shaper under clothes I look great. I would much rather get a facelift when I get the money to put a younger face with my sexy body! Perhaps one day there will be money for both! I did follow band rules for the most part, but did eat ice cream or a couple Cookies now and then along the way. I found Chef Jay's Protein cookies and brownies and took care of extreme cravings for chocolate with those and got my protein too! I now eat what I want, but do try to keep it healthy. I can eat anything I want because I do not eat too much. I still have to keep sweets and certain foods that are triggers for me out of the house or I would have problems. When I do gain a couple of pounds, they come off easily. I did find recently when I tried to start taking celebrex again that it greatly increases my appetite. It took me a couple weeks and 5 pounds to figure out why I was so hungry and eating so much. Once I stopped taking it, my appetite went away so I think we do have to be very careful about the medications we are taking as they can sabotage all of our efforts and then we blame ourselves for having no willpower. I think that with a competent Dr. placing the band, a good support system, and a great desire and motivation to lose, the lapband will work for most people. I know I am elated with my results and after maintaining for 9 months, I am ready to say I was successful! I hope everyone might have success with their lapband as well!

Most of these posts are old but I still wanted to make a comment for anyone who may come along and read it. Most people here who say they were struggling with being overfilled and then not filled enough are saying they went back and had 1/2 cc removed or put back. It could be that your sweet spot was right in between the two points. At 6 cc, I was PBing practically every meal. I had it reduced to 5.8 cc which was a very tiny difference, but was perfect for me. Sometimes the tiniest amt makes a difference. Also, the band does hold more cc's than the actual size. I forget why this is, but if your band is 10cc and you are approaching that and worried, don't be because it will hold more. I can't imagine being that full, but I guess for some people it is necessary.

I don't visit this board very often any longer. In fact, most successful people go on with their lives and stop coming here often. The people who do have some problems with their band continue to come so that is why it will seem like you see lots of people having problems with their band. My advise is to use this board to it's fullest and you will avoid mistakes made by others, get lots of tips for success, and even lots of recipes and different foods and shakes to try. I used the board daily while I was losing and it was such a help. Just keep in mind that you need to always follow your own Dr's orders and that some of the info you get on the board might not be best for your situation. You will find lots of support here as questions come up and as you continue to lose weight. Congratulations and remember it gets easier after each week and the first weeks before your first fill will be for healing, not losing. Slow and easy and in just one year you will be looking in the mirror and seeing a new body!

I was self pay, I have had very good results with the band with no adjustments in over a year. I am at goal and have had no problems of any kind. What I get from his ramblings is that he thinks problems usually start around 18 mos out due to some conspiracy of the company or Dr's. I have no desire for a war with anyone because I have a life and rarely even have time to come here, but I have seen these posts from this person in the past all with the same bitter venom. Hopefully new members, especially those considering surgery of any kind, see through the venom and negativity due to his individual sour situation, and use the info in a positive way. Other than that, I'm a happy person who loves the band and loves my life!

:laugh: I would add that this is a board that people come to for support with their lapband. If there is not a sleeve board, you should start one. Tell your story in the complications forum here for reference and move on.

Hockeyson You have had good reason for set backs and can't expect the band to work unfilled! When I was unfilled for my hyst. a few weeks Sept '09, I could hardly believe how quickly I was eating my old way (not meaning bad food or huge amts., but big bites and fast chewing lol). And my appetite definitely increased immediately. I have heard people say they have used Weight Watchers for additional support after the band. They don't tell them about having the lapband. I think I wouldn't as it shouldn't be an issue!! WW is a good program. I don't have a big appetite and I don't have any particular diet, but find some days I am really hungry and others not much at all. I still can't eat solids early in the day. I have a skinny latte with Protein and sometimes a muscle milk lite. I often eat a couple TBS of P.B. or some veggies and chicken or nuts in the afternoon. And at dinner meat, salad, veggies, even bread and Pasta or rice some days. I also eat Beans quite often. I can eat bread if I really take my time, but not if I'm really hungry and try to hurry!! Popcorn, protein sweets at night. I have to weigh weekly and if my wt is up, I work on it the following wk. and look back as to why (half a red velvet cake the week of my b'day lol) My wt is up a couple pounds this wk and I know why. I eat a Chef Jay protein brownie or 2 chocolate chip Cookies every night.....so delicious and satisfies my sweet cravings and supplements 20 additional protein grams needed. Well, this wk I had both every night which added too many cals each day thus the wt gain which I knew would happen!!! I won't do it again. I think being aware of everything that goes into our mouths and not grazing is half the battle. You will start losing again when you get your band filled and get it where it belongs. I sympathize with your back and hope it feels better!! Also hope your women problems are solved soon and nothing serious. Hang in there!! You will succeed!

I guess I was one of the lucky ones who steadily lost without much effort, many fills, or much exercise. I thank God for that because I thought it would be a great challenge especially at my age. I am thankful for the physical activity I CAN do now. Being able to go to a mall and hold up for an hr or more is a real treat.Before the surgery, walking from my bedroom to my kitchen brought tears to my eyes because the pain was so bad. I really should get surgery on my back but I am scared plus can't see myself totally dependent on someone else for 3+ months. I know the day will come that I will have to do it! I eat anything I want now and don't seem to gain weight or if I do gain a couple pounds, it comes off quickly as my appetite fluctuates so much. It amazes me how different people are with how their bodies react to the band and a lot of it seems to be sensitivity. Maybe because I always could eat anything (stomach of steel!!), never vomited in my life (except a couple x's overdosing on tequila LOL), and never suffered from heartburn, indigestion or any of that stuff helps too. I don't know. I try to figure it out sometimes by reading everyone's individual experiences and problems with band

I have never read all the statistics of the sleeve because I have no interest in having most of my stomach removed. The one thing I do like about the band is that the fluid can be removed and the appetite return. I worry about getting cancer or some disease that decreases the appetite and then need to have more appetite. This is a big plus to me and eases my mind a lot.

I guess I misunderstood. I thought your band leaked from the beginning, not after one yr. So, maybe all those fills by an incompetent Dr. did have something to do with it. Why in the world would anyone need 13 fills the first yr if their band was not leaking is what I would wonder? I could not have tolerated it. One would lose all their weight from the swelling in those days following the fill!

Well you still have the band and anytime can change your mindset and try again!! Unfortunately, my physical condition along with lack of ambition made me lose all of my weight with practically no exercise so it can be done (not recommended, but attainable!!). I stayed on about 1000 cals a day and lost consistently. I still do not exercise much at all other than physical therapy done in bed for my spine and occasionally getting on my exercise bike, but I am maintaining. You can do it!

Glammaw, You are a success, not a failure!! Damn, I remember all the struggles you had to lose any pounds and there you managed to lose and keep 50 pounds off. What a difference that must make. And I bet you managed to change a lot of bad habits along the way. The band definitely is not for everyone. Some people's bodies just will not tolerate it. That does not make you a failure. I wish you more success in continuing to your goal weight! Check in here now and then!

Dr's vary on many things with the band from the pre-op diet, post-op, pills, how much to eat, and most everything it seems!! We have to listen to the Dr. we chose and then use our own common sense plus what works for us I guess. I think certain meds, such as anti-inflammatories which we should avoid if possible anyway, should not be allowed to sit in the pouch. My Dr. does not even prohibit 800 Ibuprofin, but I seldom take it due to all the other professional views I've read about it not being good for the band. At any rate, lots of water should probably be taken with pills to be sure they go through as quickly as possible. If I had to crush pills and take them on a spoon with water or yogurt, I would probably vomit and never take any meds!!

I wasn't implying your band leak was your fault. It's not unusual for any product to have a few with defects and there are indeed Dr's who are not competent. People, however, may bring many problems on themselves. They think the band should take away all of their hunger and they should not have to be responsible for any control over what and how much they eat (and the band will never control head hunger). They get fill after fill, but never will lose weight because they have never dealt with their psychological problems related to overeating. After a fill, they try to start eating regularly again rather than going on liquids for a day and easing into regular eating. They get stuck, PB, and go right back to eating, rather than allowing swelling to calm down, thus resulting in more PB's and possible band damage. They get overfilled and rather than go back and get a tiny bit removed, they eat slider foods or stay on mostly liquids, PB alot and think being anorexic or bulemic is band success. Many of these people still may not lose their bands because they are very durable. However, some will have problems and then will blame that damn band or the Dr. who placed it. I'm just saying that people have to take responsibility for their actions and how they deal with their emotional eating problems and the way they use their band. This would have nothing to do with your band possibly being defective starting out with a leak!

I take all my meds the same as pre-band unless it is a huge pill which I would break in half. Always follow your Dr's orders. My Dr. said I could swallow any pill or capsule that would fit through the top of a small water bottle. It has worked for me so far.