stella

Halobabe, What are you going to do? Mine slipped and I had to have it removed in June. I have gained almost all of my weight back and don't know what to do. The band worked but I was never able to eat so not sure I want to go back to that.

Wish - I find myself chewing and afraid to swallow certain foods too. In the first couple of days I was spitting the meat out , out of habit and that was really hard to stop. It really has been a surreal experience this whole lapband thing. Just glad I lost the weight and hoping its not as hard to keep it off!.. Excellent that you have lost weight! I just have to remember that 3-4 bites used to fill me up and I dont need to devour the whole plate of food. I've been reading the "Eat Clean Diet" and will try to follow. Mummy - thank you for the compliment. I'm sure you've had your surgery by now and see that it is not that bad. My biggest issue is feeling bloated and even more bloated after I eat.......

Mummy - I had my band removed on June 5th and I cant tell you how great it feels to eat and drink without vomiting! But also scary being out in the real food world again.

Hare, I had surgery yesterday to remove my band. I've always had problems with my band but last week I was unable to keep Water down and that was it for me, I didnt want the band anymore! I had the band put on in Mexico and was afraid my insurance would not cover the removal but it finally did this last go round in the ER! I had to go to the emergency room 3 times and to one that had a Bariatric doctor (I also had to ask to see him specifically). Good luck to you!

Faithstep - we have exactly the same problem. I went to the emercency room (unable to keep water down) an they wouldn't touch me but after 3 days I finally got to the lapband doctor who said he would remove it for me so now I'm going through the steps to get a referral to him via my insurance. I am absolutely miserable physically and mentally. Maybe you should try the emergency room where a lapband doc practices. good luck. ps I do hae to say it's not because of my dr that I dont want to go back to mexico it's the money and the travel.

Not sure if he will take anyone but Dr Ortiz (Mexico) charges $3500.00 to remove it. I cant get down to mexico and am tryng to get a surgeon here locally do it but not sure my insurance will cover.

I'd like one for a friend! Thanks

You guys are really giving me something to think about. I am just like you all, can't eat good clean food, nothing wrong with band body just rejecting it. Now I dont want to go through surgery to have it removed if I still can't eat. This reminds me of the Stephen King book "Thinner", or be careful what you asked for.......

Mummy - I definately know what you are talking about. I have been unfilled for 18 mos and still cannot eat "good" food. I am in the process of having the band removed although it does scare me a bit but I cannot go on eating this junk food and sacrificing my health. "Since the unfill, things have been better but I still find things get stuck and I spend time over the sink regurgitating saliva etc." Good luck to you. Cheryl

Wishing - You may be like me (I have all the same symptoms you have and have since I got the band 06/06) and your body is rejecting the band. I'm trying to decide if I should remove it now. Could the reason you are not losing is because of the calories you eat when you can keep food down? I know I eat a lot of sugar and creamy buttery Soups and that keeps me from losing anymore..... Good luck to you. Go see your doctor and have all the test so you can make sure everthing is ok.....

Hello Junbies, It's been a while since I posted and since it's coming up on our 2 yr anniversary I thought I'd ask this question. How many of the original members have reached our goals? How many of the original members had problems and had to have the band removed? I'm having problems and may need to remove mine (nothing wrong with it no slippage etc, body is just rejecting it). Tough decision to make.

Yes they do have to treat you in an Emergency if you CANNOT swallow (i couldnt so they hooked me up to an IV which made it no longer an emergency) and the way they do that is the only way a General Surgeon knows how; a vertical cut to remove. I had a friend that happened to. If you do not have a Lapband doc in the hospital (ER) you go to you get a general surgeon. In my case, the surgeon had removed a lapband before but he did not accept my insurance (in the same hospital that took my co-pay). Go figure. And the Gatro doc FLAT OUT told the Pacificare Hospitalist that he would not see me. Got lots more stories about docs and mexico ; just wanted all to know. Wasa - I am curious about the sleeve? Who places those and where could I get more info? As I sad before my local lapband doc will take me as a patient for a $3,000 retainer fee. I live in Las Vegas Nevada.

There are a lot of good doctors in mexico but word of advice before you do it; see if doctors in your area will treat you if you have problems and cannot get back to Mexico. Also that your insurance will cover band removal prblems etc.... I recently had to go to the ER here in Vegas and I could not get any of the specialists to take me because I was a Mexico patient. The Baratric doc said he will take me as a patient with a $3,000 retainer fee.

Everything Dress and Byebye writes is exactly the same things I have been going through since I got this band. I'd post some of the issues here and get some responses but it seemed like lots of folks are having issues so I thought it was "normal" and to just get used to the pain, pbing, etc. I went to the ER last week because I was vomiting everything I ate or drank for 4 days. They ran a CT and Barrium swallow and even had a lapband doc look at it and they said everything is fine. No slippage, erosion etc, but that 1 in every 500 bodies reject the lapband and I am probably that 1. So I need to decide if I can continue to live like this (never eating healthy, clean food instead of sugar and soup) or if I want the band removed. I'm waiting for a referral to a GI for an Endosopy to make sure all looks good and then make my mind up. I fantasize about eating a real meal and being able to cook again but on the other hand I'm terrified of gaining weight. Im also curious if smoking and alcohol has a negative affect on anyone? I was drinking the night before I had to go to the ER and started smoking after I was bandd. I've quit smoking to see if that was a problem and did have a few glasses of wine last night and have not been able to keep ANYThing down today. Glad that I found this post and that there are others like me! ps - Because I had my surgery in Mexico, I could not get the GI doc or General Surgeon to see me when I was in the hospital. They kept me there for 3 days trying to figure out what to do....... Bariatric and Mexico = doctorless patient in the ER :thumbup: I was finally transferred to a hospital that performs lapband surgery and as a favor the Doc came down to see me and tell me he would remove the band if I wanted...

I take Trader Joe's Chewable Multi and am going to try to get a shot of Wheatgrass daily.

I have been banded since June 2006 and have been un-filled since last year because of restriction problems. I have not been able to eat a "real" meal since my surgery, which I am ok with, but I would like to be able to eat something nutritious other than mashed potatoes, Soups and candy. I have been checked by my doctor and all looks good. I've had the fluro and it flows but there are times when I cannot even get coffee to go down easily. I know the band is finicky but mine seems to be more so than others. There are times when I can eat bites of a salad and the next day can't get past the first bite. Wondering if anyone else is having these problems and what they think the issue is? The only think I can attribute it to is stress? I do drink Maalox or Mylanta on a daily basis and that does seem to help. Stella

ndbee - I know isnt that terrible, I would do it all again as well! I've got an appt with a Gatro doctor on 3-11 to see if my esphogas (SP) is swollen or what. I hope it's just this band being finnicky and if so will learn to live with it. But it's almost a constant concern that is only relieved when I see the doctor. I hate the lack of vitamins thought as my hair and nails are in bad shape. I did start drinking greens to go which I hope will help and isopure for protein.

Socal, I recognize you from the June Bandster group! Yes I am PB'ing almost daily. I have not tried the 3 day liquids (forgot about that) but I will now. I drink coffee everyday if I can but will also cut back on that. I'll try the aloe vera juice as well. That's interesting that you are too tight with a fill too! Did Dr Ortiz tell you that it was too high or just something you've figured out from his other patients? Do you go to Mexico for your fills? I'm making an appt next week with my Primary so I should be able to find out what's going on. Thanks for your reply!

Nonad, Yes I'm below my goal now :tt2: I did buy some protein drinks (isopure) and am drinking Greens to GO and Naked juices. For whatever reason, warm liquid is not working for me right now. I have to ice my coffee to drink it. The food when I can eat it just seems to sit there and I have to end up pb'ing to get rid of it. I am definately going to see my Primary doctor! It is starting to scare me. Thanks for your advice!

Jack I've been back several times and when they give me the fluro it always looks good. Problem is now I dont have a passport so can't go back to Mexico. I wasnt sure if my insurance would cover this but I do think I need an upper GI like you suggest. No I haven't had one but someone else told me that's what I should do. I've never been able to eat meat (unless it's very very small and chicken) or eggs, bread or Pasta. Green vegs are a problem as well. i was curious if anyone had any problems like mine as I am unfilled almost 2 yrs out and still having problems. I was able to eat after my surgery and before my 1st fills. But never again after my 1st fill. Kristin - I would LOVE to eat Protein or any kind of meal for that matter; oatmeal a sandwich., steamed veggies! I just can't doesnt matter how much I chew. I can take 1 bite, but that's it. Jack - may I ask what were your symptoms and how was it detected? Thanks for the advice!

I don't know if this helps but I have been banded now for 20 months, have no fill whatsoever and still cannot eat meals. I go through periods of not being able to keep anything down. I am in that mode right now. Coffee doesnt even want to stay down. I think mine is stressed related, can;t figure out what else it could be. However, wouldnt change a thing. Not having to worry about clothes and being comfortable is al worth it even if I cant ever eat a hamburger, steak or Italian food again!

It's been a long time since I posted and see that you were looking for updates from the June 2006 crew. I have no fill whatsoever and still have a difficult time with most food. Every so often (yesterday) I am able to eat and keep the food down. I've been back to Mexico to have it checked and all looks good. Weird, I wouldn't change anything as I am below my goal but would LOVE to eat something other than ice cream sandwiches, yogurt and Soup. These foods change as I used to be able to eat mashed potaotes and cheetos but not now. It's difficult to find a food as you end up wasting money on it because you can't eat it. Someone mentioned chewable Vitamins, what kind are they? I need to start taking vitamins and possibly drinking unjury drinks. Anyone else having the same problem? Cheryl

Yes. Call Fill Centers USA. I think the center is on West Cheyenne. Don't think they use Fluro though.

Wow! This is all very interesting. I like Socal (I think) cannot eat "regular food" . It would take me all day to get down a lean cuisine meal and then I probably would pb at least once. My frustration is the amount of junk food I can eat and those stupid mashed potatoes that I live on. I know I am not geting the Vitamins I need in my diet so I have resorted to cooking some of the recipies on the Mushie food thread. I wouldnt change anything but I have to say it is very frustrating.

Same as the others: meat Most fresh vegetables eggs (any kind) Bread Snap Peas (the cracker kind you put on salads-clogs me on the first bite) However, I think if I slowed way down, stood up and walked about, took a bite every 3-4 minutes I might be able to eat almost everything. I've noticed foods that I just took a small, quick bite of and kept going will stay down. But, who has that kind of time and microwave access at work!