onthego317

I also had the band for vanity reasons. The only real problem I had prior to surgery was a hurt knee from busting my butt in the gym trying to get the weight off. Most of my life I havent had a weight problem but once I gained I slipped into this hole and could not keep it off. I felt like this was my last resort. I am 14 months out and at my goal weight. However..... Yes I do regret it! I had never been hospitalized (other than to give birth) before surgery. Now I have problems with my digestive tract. Acid reflux had me in the hospital in June and I am having issues currently. I spent all day friday having tests and monday I go in to have a scope put down my throat to see whats causing the severe pain I'm having. I want to feel like myself again! Being thin and sick SUCKS! I was much happier with my health. I am going to have the band removed as soon as I heal from this episode. It has been a VERY expensive lesson for me as I was self pay. Everyone has their own experience. I personally know 3 people who are also banded and only one has not had complications. As far as the food addiction goes, you will be in mourning for a while after surgery. You will be giving up your best friend. Keep this in mind...you need to be emotionally ready to let food go. But also let me say that after being banded a bit you will figure out that you can eat almost anything if you chew well enough and then the weight loss will stop and once again you will feel down on yourself. I also agree with everyone else that you are not ready for surgery. I wish you the best with whatever you decide!!

Here's the latest update. I have had SEVERE abdomen pain since last wednesday. On friday I had an upper GI and blood work that shows nothing. Monday I am being scoped and hopefully thet will figure out whats going on. They think its either gastritis, ulcers or erosion. The pain is so bad that I cannot walk. I feel like hot knives are stabbing me. I am at the end of my rope. Before the band I didnt have any of these problems. If its erosion, the band will have to be removed. If its ulcers or gastritis, I am seriously thinking about have the band removed once I feel a little better. I love my band...dont get me wrong , I look and feel great when I'm not sick, BUT i do not love being bed ridden and in pain. I dont care how skinny I am if I cant live my life. The Dr told me that the band can cause reflux and once the acid backs up that it is trapped if your pouch is full allowing it time to do it's damage. Since being banded, I am now also hypoglycemic and he wants me to eat several small meals a day to keep my blood sugar leveled off so theres frequently food in my pouch. I'm completely unfilled. All of this makes me very sad and depressed! I was self pay and the thought of paying again 14 months later is terrible too! I want to be NORMAL again!

I have had never had acid reflux until 10 months after being banded. You should go to your Dr immediately! My esophagus got so irritated that I could not swallow and ended up hospitalized in June. Two weeks ago it started again and Now I am suffering tremendously. I started the rx medication right away but this time I have severe abdomen pain. Last Friday I had an upper GI and blood work that showed nothing. I am being scoped on monday to see exatly whats going on....they are thinking it is either gastritis, ulcers or erosion. My dr told me that the band can cause reflux and that once the acid backs up into your esophagus it can be trapped there if your pouch is full giving the acid time to do its damage. I seriously think I am going to have the band removed after I heal from all this. I had never before been sick or hospitalized. I'm in extreme pain and its so bad that i cannot walk. I feel like i have hot knives piercing my abdomen. It doesnt matter how skinny you are if you are sick. I want my life back!! I too was self pay and do not know how I am going to afford it. It was only 14 months ago that I got the band. I'm not trying to scare you, I just want you to be aware that this is nothing to play with. I wish you the best!!!

Hey Yall! This is the first time I've been back on here in a while. It's good to see that everyone is doing so well! I added before and after pics to my profile. How many of you have done the same?

Hi Julie, I was hospitalized back in June because I got to where I could not swallow. I was having esophagus spasms. At first they thought I was overfilled so they completely unfilled me and it steadily got worse. I had an upper GI that showed what I was going through so they admitted me and scoped me to check it out. Everything was fine except my esophagus was extremely irritated from acid reflux. I gradually healed and have been fine until last week. The reflux is back!!!! I'm starting to have the spasms again so I called to get a rx for Dexilant. I never had this problem before the band. I am wondering if the band can cause it. Does anyone know the answer???

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I've checked in. I"ve been wondering how everyone is doing and I see that I'm not alone in the "no exercise" department. I've had a lil trouble and ended up in the hospital but I'm now ready to get back on track. I had to be completely unfilled but now am at 3cc which is not enough but better than nothing. I have gained back 6 lbs but will get it off again!! This past year has had its ups and downs and it hasnt been easy, BUT I can tell yall that I DO NOT regret this surgery at all!! I feel great and shopping is FUN! I would like to post pictures but just haven't taken the time to figure out how. I'm 50lbs down from my highest and according to my dr's chart, I have 10-12 more to go. I can honestly say I'm happy where I am. (just need to firm up!!) I bought size 4 Levis today and they fit very comfortably!!! Our 1 yr anniversary is fast approaching. How close are you to your goal?

I had five total. The only one thats visible now is the big one where my port is. The others have vanished. My port site hurt for weeks...in fact it still bothers me sometimes but not like in the beginning.

I'm posting here out of desperation and thought that maybe somebody could help me. My husband and I are going to a surprise 70's themed birthday party on July 23. I have my costume but I cannot find one large enough for him. Does anyone have a 70's mens costume or a shirt in a sz 4x that they no longer need? I will be happy to pay for it and the shipping. I would love to be able to find a button down shirt that's "brady bunch" looking or even a satin or shimmery shirt. I'm thinking it could even be a ladies shirt as long as it would fit him. I'm not sure what size ladies shirt would equal a mens 4x. He's 59-60" arould his middle and he will not wear anything tight. I've searched all the local thrift shops & ebay and have not found anything. THANKS!

just wanted to say thanks for the suggestion!!!! I finally have his outfit complete and its AWESOME! I didnt do tye dye because I wanted him to match me and mine is sparkly. I'll have to post pictures from the party on Saturday. THANKS AGAIN!!

Before my surgery I asked my Dr about having it removed in the future once I was at my goal. He told me to leave it in as long as I wasn't having serious issues. He said that almost 100% of patients who have it removed gain some if not all of their weight back. I think we all eventually slip back into our old bad habits....even if they're minimal, it will make a difference. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

For the past few weeks I have been having "stuck" feelings with food and drink. Some hours are good and some are complete misery and it had gradually gotten worse by the day. I have been to my Dr twice for unfills and still cant get anything down. I just got back from having an upper gi and was told I'm having esophagus spasms thats preventing everything from going down. My surgeon has scheduled an appt this afternoon to remove all of my Fluid in my band. I'm completely miserable and sick of vomiting!! Not to mention starving and dying of thirst. Besides Soup broth, I had half a Protein drink and 5 oz Water all day yesterday. Nothing at all today except the barium they made me drink for the test! I've been vomiting barium for the past hour. Has anyone else experienced this or know what causes it? It had been 7 weeks since my last fill when this started. I did have almost 7cc and was fine...then bam! I'm so confused.

update: When I went to get unfilled last Thursday they admitted me to the hospital for dehydration. On Friday I was scoped and was told that my band, pouch and stomach looked fine but that my esophagus was irritated. They let me go home Friday night and told me to eat soft foods. My Dr was out of town so I was seeing his partmer whom I've never seen before. He told me the next step was to go into surgery to look around for a problem if I did not improve. Well, since being home I have been on 99% liquids and am still having trouble getting them down. I tried some mashed potatoes last night and ended up vomiting. I have an appt today at 2 to see my Dr. I'm scared and worried. I havent "eaten" in well over a week and I look terrible! I never thought I'd say this but I do not want to lose anymore and I'm worried about my nutrition. Bought a sz 4 shorts just to have something to wear to my appt.

Thanks Karen! Thankfully by band hasnt slipped. I cannot imagine feeling this way for another month.

Just wanted to let you know that I just got home from my Dr"s office. He removed another cc and gave me a 5 day rx for acid reflux. He thinks I'm just really irritated from vomiting and sliming. He told me not to worry that I would definately know if my band had slipped because there would be a pain in my chest that stayed constant. I was also told to be on liquids for 48 hrs and if it wouldnt fit thru a straw that I couldnt have it. We shall see if it fixes me!

Yes! I've never had this problem before now. It seems to get better when I dont have dairy or Protein Drinks. I keep gasX with me at all times and that really has cut down on it too. I've also taken beano if I knew I was going to be eating something that may give me problems. I have a very close friend who is also banded and she has the same problem! She's the one who recommended the gasx!!

I was banded exactly one week after you and I am having a LOT of the same issues as you are. I am waiting on a call from my dr today. I got food stuck almost 2 weeks ago and took it easy for the next couple days. Then one night I vomited...really vomited..not just sliming...after eating a few shrimp. My friend and my son also was sick so I figured we had a virus. (we didnt eat the same stuff) I took it easy with liquids for 2 days then the next morning I could not even get coffee down so my dr unfilled me. That was last Friday and I still am having trouble. I have been completely closed to where even water wont go down. I do have a couple hours each day where i have been able to get liquids down but then it seems to close back up! Its crazy!! Last night I could not even get a sip of water or my Protein drink down but this morning I've had a bottled water and some thin grits with no problem. I cannot figure it out. I'm hoping they will check me and remove more Fluid from my band. I have 5cc in a 10cc band . Let us know what you find out. Hope you feel better soon!

I really like Campbells Soup at Hand. Its mostly broth and they have several to choose from. The sippable container makes it easy and portable. The downfall is theyre not low sodium but a few are only 70 calories.

Hello Everyone! It's been quite a while since I've checked in here and I realized I've missed it! I am wondering if anyone else has trouble with cold stuff. Anything ice cold gets stuck! I mean anything....even water! I find myself having to drink room temp drinks. Right now I'm fighting sliming with one teaspoon of yogurt!! I take that back...icecream or popsicles go down fine. I haven't had a fill in 7 weeks and was supposed to go 2 days ago but I put it off for this reason. I have very little trouble with everything else....within reason. Any wisdom on this???????? Shelly

CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you! I began this journey as a low BMI bandster. I started at 175lbs wearing a sz 14 (too tight) or a 16. I am currently at 140lbs and can wear a sz 6 or 8 depending on how its made. I truly thought this would be a lot faster for me but my Dr keeps telling me I'm right on track percentage wise. He says I should be 120lbs but honestly I'll be 100% thrilled at 130! I've only lost a couple pounds a month for the past few months. I'm not complaining because normally I would be back on the uphill climb of the weight rollercoaster I have been on my entire life. Keep up the good work!

I understand your concern and worries. It's a completely different surgery and one that can be scary! Here are my thoughts....if you trust you dr enough to do the lap band then I would think you would trust him enough to do the sleeve. I can tell you that I wish I had the sleeve instead of the band! My Dr's nurse tried to convince me to do the sleeve because she says there isnt as many later complications with it. My dr would not do it because I was not heavy enough. I am a worry wart and am scared that my band will slip someday. With the sleeve there are no foreign objects in your body to worry about which means no slippage or erosion. Its also less invasive than gastric bypass. In my opinion its the best of both worlds. I have 2 friends with the band...one slipped and had to have it fixed and the other had it removed because of erosion. My hubby and cousin both had bypass. I do not personally know anyone with the sleeve but everyone at my support group meetings with the sleeve have really lost a ton of weight. I will say a lil prayer that God gives you the comfort and peace you need to make a decision you are comfortable with!

My Dr has no rules for before the fill but liquids for 24 hrs after. I've actually had lunch with friends right before my appt.

I started wit a BMI of 32. My surgery date was 8/16/10. I was 175 lbs and am now hovering between 140-144. It has been a slow process for me and my Dr is fine with my progress. He tells me it will be much slower than the normal 2lb a week weight loss. I 100% agree with Kim about cheating!! DO NOT START! Once you realize that you can eat junk just fine, all the old bad habits come back. I havent lost much lately and its all my fault. I need to get off the junk and back on the exercise. I just got another fill 2 days ago and I'm hoping I will reach my sweet spot soon! I will tell you that I do not regret it in the least! It was painful at first and my port is very noticible but I would do it again in a heartbeat! I have gone from a sz 14 or 16 to a sz 6 or 8 and I feel great!!!!! It was definitely worth every penny. GOOD LUCK! Shelly