Maryland

If you have a big overhang, you will need to have surgery to get it corrected at some point. It's not urgent, but you are probably are not feeling full and are experiencing heartburn because the food can sit in the overhang. At least, that's what happened to me.

Dr. Pinnar in Reston, Va. He's very good.

I have a slipped band, and am scheduled for surgery later this month (finally). My trouble started over a year ago, when I had a band adjustment that was a little too tight. For the first time, I started having reflux at night, and some heartburn. I ignored it because the reflex only occurred when I ate late at night, and I had read that heartburn was pretty normal. Wrong!! The pouch was slowly dilating above my band, and also pulling up some of the stomach from below the band. I started popping antacids, and found that eating more often helped me feel better. For a long time I limped along, but a few big meals only helped stretch the pouch more. Now I have a big pouch overhang above my band -- the band has essentially slipped down my stomach. We tried emptying the band and going on liquids for a week, but nothing helped. It was too far along. And yes, I am gaining weight steadily. I did not realize ANY reflex or heartburn can signal that your band is too tight. And a too tight band will result in slippage. So please warn people to take ANY symptoms very seriously and don't wait to go to the doctor and get it checked.

You are in the period known as "Banders' Hell." You have not had a fill yet, and as your stomach heals you get really hungry. Just remember: the most important goal right now is for your stomach to heal with the band in place. Don't worry right now about trying to lose weight. That will begin after you get restriction with a fill. It looks like you are one week out from surgery? You probably have one week more to go before you can start on mushies. That helps a LOT. Yes, you can have plenty of liquids right now. And don't worry about calories so much. If you get too hungry and then eat something, that will be really bad. Before you had lap band surgery, the point of the liquid diet was to shrink your liver and make surgery safer. Now, the point is to let your band heal in place. So you can drink different kinds of things, since the goal is different. You can even drink milkshakes. Again, please don't stress yourself out trying to lose weight during this difficult phase. It will be over shortly, and then you will really begin your new life once you get a fill.

I was unfilled about 12 days ago when my doctor discovered my pouch was dilated. Hopefully, it will shrink back down and I can be refilled. I ate liquids and mushies for a week, and am still eating very small meals, but the heartburn I had been experiencing previously has not gone away. Taking Pepcid and some Mylanta. I am sleeping much better at night, though. Is this normal? Does it take some time to go away? Or is the continuing heartburn an indication that the pouch is not shrinking? Or band slippage?

You are going thru Bandsters' Hell. Yep, we've all been there, so hang in there -- you can make it! Try a baked potato with ranch salad dressing on top. And some of those "hearty soups" are quite filling. I also ate Hot and Sour Soup (has lots of soft stuff in it, but you have to like spicy). You can also make deviled eggs. They are nice and soft, but filling. Don't worry about trying to diet at this point. Just get thru it, and let your stomach heal. After you have your first fill is the time to start eating right.

Bonnie, we all go through plateaus. It is perfectly normal and to be expected, although of course it is frustrating. Why don't you revisit your agenda, and see if there is anything you can do? Look at what you are eating. Change your exercise around. If you are having acid reflux, I would suggest you examine what and when you are eating. Since I had my last fill, I will get it if I eat after 7 pm. So guess what I am changing? Yep, now I avoid eating after 7 pm. The acid reflux may suggest that you are eating too much or the wrong things, which may also explain the stall in weight loss.

Yep, I can't believe the silly myths that go around some of these message boards. If you call INAMED, they will tell you that soda/carbonation will NOT stretch your stomach, or cause band slippage, blah blah blah. Think about it. How would this happen? I drink diet soda every day -- no problem. Also coffee. I've lost 85 pounds in 14 months. I have few problems, just a little heartburn. Eat a couple of Tums a day. I would suggest that everyone just relax and do what is comfortable for themselves. Just use common sense, OK?

If you call Inamed they will tell you that drinking soda will NOT cause band slippage or erosion. Don't know where these crazy stories came from....

Some of you may be interested in my experience with esophageal spasms BEFORE I ever had the band. I was in a job with an enormous amount of stress, where a lot of people were complaining of physical ailments caused by the working environment. I began to have trouble eating. I would eat a piece of meat or something, and all of a sudden my esophagus would just clench up in a knot and the piece would be stuck. It was very scary. Sometimes the feeling lasted for over an hour, then it would gradually subside. Well, this would happen periodically. I realized at some point that it was related to stress, and would happen especially when I was thinking about something negative, related to work, or just rushing. When I left that job it started to decline, and slowly went away. I would consciously work at relaxing while I ate, which helped. It took a couple of years for it to go away completely, but I haven't had any problems for a long time, and none at all since being banded. It was very clear to me that the esophageal spasms were triggered by stress. It's amazing how much the mind and body interact.

Wow, that's got to be frustrating. I think you're wise to see your Endo now.... Hang in there, though. This summer I upped my exercise routine and was very frustrated because the weight didn't change. I kept at it, though, and all of a sudden, after two months (aargh!), I was down about 5+ pounds and into a new clothes size!

My first question is what exercise are you doing? Since you have some metabolism problems, you are going to need to fight to keep your metabolism burning fat. Or are you doing a lot of weight training? That will add on pounds of muscle, which will offset any fat lost. If you are losing inches (but not pounds), you are doing fine. On www.obesityhelp.com there is a new exercise and fitness forum which has a great article (in the aerobic exercise section) on walking to burn fat. NASA ran some tests to figure out the best way to keep the astronauts fit in space, and found that the most effective way was to walk two continuous miles seven days a week. This ramps up your metabolism, reduces fat, and builds muscle.

I can't understand what all the big fuss is about. I drink diet soda every day, with no problem. Granted, I find drinking it from a cup easier than from the bottle, because it reduces the fizz a little, but that's all. I just had my 4th fill, and no problem. I'm down 84 pounds in 14 months and still going....

And I agree 100% with vlb11752. Some people magnify things all out of proportion. It's important to remember that hyping things up, magnifying problems and stress can cause your stomach and stoma to tighten up. For me, if we start discussing politics at the dinner table I immediately start having problems, and end up in the bathroom. My stomach just cinches right up. So I know how the mind has a great effect on my body. The more you worry, the more problems you may have. RELAX. Having an occassional PB or foamie is not going to cause you problems. The body is a remarkable instrument. And the band has been used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Just.....relax.

You know, you could give some people a piece of cake and they would moan and groan that the icing was too sweet and the batter too lumpy. You, on the other hand, might find it just fine. That's life. Do some people have complications with their bands? Of course. But the great majority of us are doing just fine. We're thrilled to have this 2nd chance at life. One of the best things you can do is just relax. Read up on the band, but take most "instructions" with a grain of salt. I think there are several critical rules: 1. let your stomach heal after surgery for those 4-6 weeks. Don't worry about losing weight. Don't try solid foods. Let the band heal in place. 2. Eat small bites and chew thoroughly. Swallow small amounts. 3. Sip, don't gulp. 4. Relax when you eat. Don't rush. You will find that different people can eat different things. Once you get your first fill, you can start trying different things and see what works and what doesn't. At first, I invariably ended up in the ladies room spitting up foamies (your body produces extra saliva and stomach fluids if you eat too much too fast). This was because I was unconsciously rushing myself to try to keep up with the rest of the group. Now I sip a glass of wine and eat a little, and take the rest home in a doggie bag, and have a delightful time. I drink diet soda every day, but have trouble keeping shrimp and lobster down (they don't dissolve easily). I can eat spaghetti, no prob, but have trouble with the larger size ziti. The most important thing to do is: work with your body and your band. Find out what you can tolerate and what you can't, and eat healthy foods, not junk. Keep your Protein intake up. Exercise. This is a lifestyle change, not a free pass. But I think you will be very happy with your band, overall. I know I am! And best wishes for a new future!