pennreporter

have you tried the Isopure liquid? It's clear,kind of like juice..I drink the Fruit Punch. 40 grams of Protein per bottle, no carbs, no aspartame or preservatives, no fat, low sodium...160 calories...not everyone likes it. Some people say it leaves a kind of dry aftertaste, if that makes sense...Vitamin Shoppe sells them and so does GNC...I wouldn't buy a big case of one flavor ...try to find somewhere that you could buy it by the bottle to find a flavor you like. Like I said, I like the fruit punch. I don't do well with the mixes because of the soy content...gives me gas. Good luck Trisha P.S. also they are a little pricey but you only have to drink one a day because of such high protein...whereas like EAS you have to drink two...so it kind of works out. I take the whole day to drink it so four ounces at a time...each bottle is 20 ounces

I am on my second Realize Band. Had many complications with first one. Had it unfilled and then eventually removed, gained back 40 of my 80 lbs without it but all my own fault because I was so discouraged at having it removed. But changed surgeons and had it replaced. I was at almost full capacity with first band and no restriction but I had had many many slippages, way too much vomiting. I hate to see you consider yourself a failure. I know this time around, now knowing symptoms to watch for, I don't think I was the best band patient with my eating habits...it was tough because of vomiting...I know I didn't eat slow enough and chew enough. But I do know lots of folks that still go to weight watchers. I also will seek counseling to deal with eating issues because the band doesn't resolve the reasons why we turn to food in times of stress or whatever. Please don't give up on the band just yet...I am from a two-generation banded family...my daughter is banded also (successfully so) and is very supportive in the fact that she recognizes that I do need to work on my eating disorder. Good luck!! Trisha

Was just rebanded by Dr. Boorse in Allentown. First surgeon was Dr. Gabrielsen with Geisinger in Danville. Loved both but because of complications wanted a surgeon with much more banding experience than Gabrielsen. Boorse was great, Lehigh Valley Hospital has a wonderful staff. trisha

Just got my new second band, but still thinking positive. New surgeon much more experienced than first surgeon. So I'm back on the liquids again, whoo-hoo. First band was June of '09. Totally unfilled in June of '10 because of multiple slips. Gradually filled again almost to complete capacity with no restriction until it was completely blocked again. Went in for revision in November '10 when surgeon found that my stomach had adhesed to my spleen...yippee. So now I have a hundred little titanium staples, and my band was removed to prevent any infection from a foreign body. His suggestion immediately was the sleeve. Went for second opinion to a much more experienced surgeon. My original surgeon had done four...thank you very much...but lots of bypasses. New surgeon even recommended the sleeve because of complications but at the same time was pretty confident that problems very well could have been from inexperience of first surgeon...of course, he didn't come out and say that in direct quotes...gawd forbid they speak ill of another doctor...Insurance approved either band or sleeve again...I was shocked. Over the course of June to November I had gained 40 lbs, but so much of my weight loss had been from vomiting all the time. So I signed on for the sleeve until the last minute when surgeon popped his head in the door before anesthesia hit me with the Michael Jackson happy juice and doubled checked which way I wanted to go, band or sleeve...so I opted for the sleeve again. My main concern with the sleeve is that I don't have that much more weight to goal...50 lbs and everyone I know that's had it has lost weight very very quickly and a lot. Wasn't sure about the maintenance. So Im a bandee again but it's gone so much differently than the first time around. They did x-rays before I left the hospital and a swallow test...didn't happen first time until much later. Came home last Thursday and just a little sore at this point, no pain meds since I've been back home. So I have a great feeling this time around plus I plan to be a much better bandee this time. I threw up so much the last time that ice cream was my go-to food and not sure if I always ate as slowly as I should have but having been through it once, I feel like I know the signs to look for that aren't normal. New surgeon is an hour closer so easier to get in if I need to quickly. So it's been a journey!!! My daughter is a bandee, of course, without any complications...I never like her anyway...lol Trisha

I realized I hadn't been on here in a while. Did not have revision surgery in July of last year. It was put off to try a conservative approach. That didn't work. Went for revision surgery in October, when the surgeon discovered my spleen and stomach had adhesed together. He separated the two organs, threw in a hundred staples and removed the band as a precaution to prevent infection. It was pretty emotional because going in I had no idea that the band would be removed. It's now February, have gained 40 bls since June of last year when band was completely unfilled. I'm with a new surgeon and I go next Wednesday for either a new band or a sleeve. New surgeon is leaving option open for both as he doesn't know what he'll find when he goes in, since he didn't do first or second surgery. Very disappointed with myself that I have gained this much weight back. I'm a horrible stress eater and have decided after surgery, I will probably get involved with some counseling and try to find a local support group, because clearly I need to still deal with my eating disorder. It's also been a little tough because my daughter has been very successful with her band, (2 years) and has been somewhat critical of my eating habits (like I don't know it myself) but I guess if you've not had any problems with your band and everything has gone along great, it's hard to put yourself in the place of someone else who has had a lot of issues. So wish me luck next week. Loved my first surgeon but he had such little experience with banding and revision banding, I didn't want to chance it with him again. New surgeons has done hundreds of bands. Both surgeons are big sleeve proponents as it eliminates a lot of the complications with all other procedures...before this is all done, I'll be able to play checkers on my stomach from all the incisions..:) trisha

I was supposed to go in for my followup appt today but I rescheduled for next Tuesday. I'm still pretty upset with my surgeon. From what I can read and find on the internet, adhesion to the spleen is not common. I know adhesions can happen after any surgery. So I have my list of questions when I see him next week and then I'll have my 2nd opinion about 2 wks after that. I was about 15 lbs from goal at the time of major slip in June and then when they unfilled the band, and had no restriction all summer, I gained back about 20 lbs. So I'm at 174 right now, a realistic goal is 150-160. So Im not that far off. Since the surgery I haven't been eating much. Incisions are still sore. Slips are fairly common now that I've done more reading on the bands. And whether my surgeons inexperience contributed, I may never know. Just make sure you discuss with surgeons every worst-case scenario before going in. I think had I known it was a possibility of having it removed, I would have been much better prepared mentally. It's horribly frustrating to know how many thousands of dollars I've spent to be at a spot I could have gotten to on my own. Reaching this weight was never a problem. It was getting to goal and maintaining. I'm a horrible yo-yo dieter. So good luck and my fingers are crossed that it all goes well. Trisha

my surgeon is really pushing for the sleeve. thinks he can even get insurance to cover it. My big concern though is the fact that I had all the adhessions and now a hundred staples. With the band and the complications, I still had a chance for a do-over. If I have compolications with the sleever, there is no do-over and not sure what would happen if I again had the adhesion problem. I see him again on Tuesday for followup from the surgery and I will have lots more questions at that time. Most postings I read of people with the sleever are thrilled with it. thanks trisha

I recently went in for a band revision. In my mind that's what was happening. Worst that could happen was that they would have to replace the band. Wake up from anesthesia and hear the nurses talking about the band being removed. Well, needless to say, I was devastated. Seems I had developed significant adhesions to my spleen. Nowhere in the literature or even on here have I seen that as among the more common risks. But while he was in there, he didn't see anythng wrong with the band that would be causing all my slippage problems, he just went ahead and removed it. This from a surgeon who is not a great believver in the band to begin with. While I was still dopey from drugs he's talking to me that this isn't necessarily the end of the world. They could always do a bypass later or if he could get insurance to approve it, a sleeve. I was still in tears emotionally from the roller coaster and drugs. He absolutely is adamant that the stomach adhesing to the spleen could not have possibly cause the band to not function properly. But something clearly was causing the slips. I go for a second opinion in a few weeks and maybe can get more questions answered. After seeing what they do with the sleeve, I'm not willing to take the risk. If a band surgery will cause enough adhesions to have to have 100 mini staples in my stomach, what are the risks of them removing half your stomach and a gazillion more staples. Financially I will be paying for this for the next two years. I wasn't at goal yet...I'm abuot 25 lbs out but maintenance was always my issue. I had hoped that this would be the answer to maintain. So for 10k+ I've got a whole lot of staples and a pretty messed up looking abdomen. Would love to know if anyone else has ever had their spleen adhese to the stomach. Trisha

I had somewhat kind of similar problem. Had a major slip in June of this year. Even saw it on fluoroscopy Most of my stomach was above the band. Once fill was removed, it dropped back down and evverything was where it was supposed to be. They then took the next five months to slowly refill it. It was up to 8.5cc with still no restriction. Do a fill under fluoro and they take it up to 10 (in an 11cc band). Well that was all well and good until I actually ate solid food and I was blocked again. So surgeon decided to do a revision. That was last week. When he got in I had a major adhesion to my spleen. He separated the took, did 100 micro staples...didn't see anything wrong with the band and didn't feel the adhesions would have been tthe cause, so he removed the band. So I've spent 10k bucks for nothing. I hadn't gotten to goal weight but I'm only 25 lbs out but mainteannce was always my issue. He is more than happy to go back in and do a sleeve or a bypass...NOT. So I'm going for a second opinion because I'm just not sure how the adhesions could not have been an issue. But after the major slip in June, getting restriction was a joke. So you would think that something does change. Good luck

it's not so much that your band has slipped ...it's that your stomach has come up through the band so that you have more above the band than you should and it causes you to be really tight. I've had two major slips...first one, unfilled and everything dropped back into place (done under fluoroscopy). Slowly refilled band and once I got to any significant restriction I was then completely blocked again. They went in to do a revision surgery. As it turns out my stomach had adhesed to my pancreas. Not sure why...still lots of questions...this just happened on Thursday. good luck to all

I just had my band removed and have to say it was very emotional, since going in didn't expect that it would be coming out. Surgeon wanted to go in and revise the band, but when he got in he found a lot of adhesion of the stomach to pancreas. Plus, I found out by hearing the nurses talking, not from my surgeon. So I'm really in a quandary what to do next as I don't have answers as to what is the long term effect of having my stomach stapled where the separated it from the pancreas. And not sure if there are no long-term effects, whether I trust my surgeon at this point. Still kind of on an emotional roller-coaster but surgery was just two days ago trisha pennreporter

I posted her under this topic awhile back as not having had any problems. Since then had a little bump in the road, but not sure if it's the band or the surgeon... I think I may have been overfilled and not sure if this is the surgeon not being as accurate as possible on how much he takes out before adding more. I ended up in ER after throwing up for five days. Initially had all fill removed (or so we thought). Was scheduled for revision becuase they thought the band had slipped. Surgeon had a scheduling conflict so surgery was postponed but I've been dealing with PA lately. We decided to go ahead and refill partially. As it turns out I still had over a cc still left in the band, which if you include the 8 ccs they took out in the emergency room and then 1 cc I had taken out the month before, would bring me up to at least 10. so I'm really wondering if the throwing up was just because I was overfilled. So I've had 4ccs in for about 3 weeks with no problems (no restriction either thank you very much...agghh...I've gained 10 lbs ...but it's been a great summer...lots of pina coladas...so I've had my summer sojourn...lol) I go Monday for another fill. I'm sure they won't do more than maybe 2. But the PA seems to be better at getting more out of the band than my surgeon was. So we'll see how it goes. I personally think it will all be okay but if it's not, it probably won't rear its ugly head until there's some real restriction on the band. But I'm am so not discouraged. What being unfilled has done has made me get up off my lazy butt and join the gym and also to get out more often to the pool in my housing development and swim as much as I can. So even with my weight gain, I'm not discouraged. I know that as soon as I start getting restriction the bread will be back out of my diet. sorry to ramble...but I don't fault the band. My surgeon is very very inexperienced when it comes to the band, like under 20 total. My daughter had the Lap-Band, no problems, but her surgeon had done over 4k and had told her that the biggest issue with the bands is port placement and stitch placement for the flap that holds it in place. So worse case scenario, I've been approved in case I need it for the revision. Good luck all. Trisha pennreporter

My daughter has a friend that she kept losing her fill. So they were filling her with something else that was thicker than saline. So this might be what you're speaking of but I don't know what it is. As it turns out, she actually had a leak and is having to have hers redone. trisha pennreporter

Update on revision. Temporarily postponed. After discussion with PA and surgeon and what they were planning on doing, (and also surgeon was having to postpone due to death in the family), we've decided to refill and slowly bring it back up, assuming no problems. All he was going to do was either put in another stitch or undo the flap of stomach that the pull over the band to hold it in place...undo that and possibly change the location of the flap. They believe everything is still in tact. So PA put in 4ccs today and I will see how it goes and if all goes well, in a month I will go back and have them do an X-ray and if band looks llike it's where it should be, they will slowly over the next few months bring it back up to restriction level. But I have a strong feeling that I may have just been overfilled. and then with the throwing up, forced the band into a position it didn't need to be. I had the option to go with the other surgeon, but I think I want to try this first and use revision as my last option. But I am going to stick with only the PA doing the fills, so that at least there's consistency with who is doing them. I don't think the surgeon does as many and the PA says that he usually is able to pull more out than the surgeons. Because if I count all the ccs that were in there, I thought I should have only had 7 inserted...well somehow or another I ended up with 10cc, unless my body is mysteriously producing fill all on its own..:) Right now feeling okay. Staying on a soft food diet for a few days to get it a rest after getting the fill. Neither one lectured me on the 8 lb weight gain. I've read some users on here that just by removing the fill and letting everything rest and get back to it's proper location that it can fix the issue and PA even said they're had some patients that that has done the job. So we'll see. I'm just glad to have at least part of my buddy back :) I know it's probably all mental but just knowing that there's fill in there, my food grazing/craving cycle is non-existent right now. So onward I go...whoo-hoo :) trisha pennreporter:thumbup::confused::thumbup::thumbup:

Michelle, good luck to you!! I've already been through it once...lol. Already approved for the revision and hoping this week flies by so I can get this next part of the journey started again. You will do good and if you're like most folks the only regret you'll have is why you didn't do it sooner!! Trisha (pennreporter)

Michelle, you're about where I was when I started my whole procedure. I was 137 and then had to lose 10 lbs to even get approved...so I think I was like 127 on day of surgery. I sooo miss having the restriction. Can't wait to do it all over again. I never thought I'd say I'm so sick of eating...lol. What you'll be amazed at, once you start getting fills, and even before then, is the loss of appetite. I just never got hungry before. Also, the slip, it's hard to say what causes it...it could be a combination of everything, including a surgeon who had only done less than 10 bands before me and I was his first Realize band. But whatever it is, I'm hoping this is the one and only slip. Good luck on your journey

michelle, it is one of the risks for banding, but my daughter is 2 years out and no problems with hers at all. So I'm not disheartened, just a little bump in the road. I didn't make my goal of being at goal at one year but I'll take gold at a year and a half. Works for me!! good luck and you'll soon be on the loser's bench!!

Katy, sorry this post is a while after your surgery but just so know, in case you didn't do much research on Dr. Spivak, he's one of the top top guys in the U.S. My daughter opted for him and she lives in NYC. Fabulous doctor. You are in good hands!! Trisha

Your preop diet really depends on your surgeon for what kind of diet and how long. I think it also depends on the experience of your surgeon. My daughter who went to Dr. Spivak in Houston (one of the top surgeons in the country) doesn't do any preop diet, just the day before. And after it was just liquids for first few days and then right to soft foods (jello, pudding, yogurt) and progressed quickly to food as tolerated. His belief is why would he put you on a diet that isn't realistic since we've all done so well at dieting to begin with and afterwards he wants his patient to start living with the band as soon as possible. I had to do two weeks of liquids before and after...but I did have an occasional salad and thicker Soups during the preop and I didn't beat myself up over it. For how long you need to take off afterwards, I had mine on Monday (had to stay overnight because of sleep apnea/cpap machine) and went to work the following Monday. I could have went back sooner but I had written myself off the books for that much. My daughter had hers done in Houston on Tuesday, flew back to NYC on Friday and worked on Saturday and she's a hair colorist and was on her feet all day. So it depends on what type of job and also knowing yourself and how you deal with recovery. They will give you some good drugs but seriously I only used those for the first day and a half. I would highly recommend get an elastic binder which is just a wide stretchy elastic that you can wrap around your mid section. If you're a side sleeper it helps keep your belly from flopping over. For most people what it feels like post op is that you've done a gazillion situps and you should have only done 2..lol. It's not really pain-pain but soreness. If you're lucky enough not to have gas pain the first day postop then that's a big hurdle. My surgeon sucks back out the expansion gas. So I had none of that. I would also ask for a script for anti-nausea. Because I stayed overnight I was able to get some right away, which helped a lot. But barring any complications, you will be surprised at how easy it is and boy what a difference it will make in your life. You will lose pretty good the first few weeks after surgery because you won't feel like eating anyway...but then once swelling goes down eventually you will be able to eat anything because you have no fill. So you just have to watch your eating. I'm going back in for a revision. My band has slipped, so I know to ask for my antinausea script this time, since I won't be staying overnight. I still have my binder from last time. So good luck all!! You're on your way. The pre-op diet seems like it will go on forever but truly when you get to the last 3 or four days you'll be running on adrenalin...before you know you'll be getting the Michael Jackson happy juice..:thumbup: Trisha

Did your surgeon give you a script for reflux? Sometimes even something as simple as allergies and drainage can affect the band because it's thicker than saliva. If you're weak, just keep your fluids up. There's a liquid clear Protein called Isopure that you might try as the weakness maybe not enough protein in your system. The Isopure is 40 grams of protein and fruity flavored. I have a slipped band but I still will not give you any negative feedback...the vomiting isn't the best thing for the band but sometimes unavoidable. I will definitely be more intuned to my band with my revision. I just thought vomiting was part of the game but if it happens a lot that's not normal. But yours sounds like nothing to worry about. Just keep liquids and protein up. Good luck!! Trisha

Isopure is another option. It's a clear type of liquid, 40 grams of Protein, low on calories, no carbs....it's not the cheapest thing but GNC the first week of the month always have a sale. It's a large bottle and will take you a while to get it down and you'll have to try out the different flavors to find one you like but I couldn't do the soy based creamy type of Protein drinks. they gave me gas. So I did the Isopure and the EAS Edge that you can buy at Wal-mart, which one of each gave me 57 grams of protein and throw in a greek yogurt when you can do yogurt and you got it. Good luck all. I'm headed back for a revision so I will be right there with you guys again.... :thumbup: trisha

thanks all!! Can't wait to get this on the move again. I so miss my buddy. although not having the band filled and being ms. piggy has forced me into the gym...so there is a positive outcome to all this. Now my incisions from the first procedure, except for the port incision, had finally faded. So guess I get a new set of incisions...but at almost 60 years old, it's not like I'm wearing a bikini anyway...lol. I will find out more on Tuesday at pre op consult as to how long before they can start the fill process...if I had my way, they'd leave some in at surgery..but that's not going to happen...although some surgeons do leave fill in at surgery time, but my guy is sooo conservative. So I will be a the gym a lot over the next month..lol...but with free tanning booths, I'll be oh, so tan..:thumbup: trisha

Revision surgery is July 9. Can't wait to get this over with. I miss having the restriction and my buddy (the band) reminding me to stop eating. Trisha

Well, my revision surgery is just one more week away. Yeah!!! I've been Ms. Little Piggy the past three weeks...lots of social stuff going on. Finally had to break down and join the gym today and get over the food pig-out. Can't believe I'd ever say that I'm sick of eating but I am. Can't wait to get my band functional again. I'm assuming it will be at least four weeks before they will start filling again. But I really felt so much better with the smaller food amounts. So I've had my summer fun :thumbup: Trisha

Lucy, I would either have them fax the approval to you or if you can see it online, print it out and then ask to speak to an office manager at your doctor's office and find out what the issue is. I believe in being very proactive in following up on stuff like that otherwise sometimes things can sit around for a while. There's absolutely no reason it should take that long. Then try the I'll take my business elsewhere routine and see how that goes over..but just out of curiosity how comfortable do you feel with your surgeon and how quickly do they do their fills? I would also ask what their procedure is for fills. Because if this is even a problem for scheduling the surgery I would want to know how long it takes to get appts for fills. I have Geisinger Ins here in PA and I knew the day after submittal it was approved and then was told to wait a week to hear from surgeon. I gave em two days. So stay on em and talk to the office manager or billing manager, whoever will answer questions. Good luck trisha p.s. unfortunately my band has slipped so I have to sort of go through the whole procedure again. Except the revision surgery is included as part of the original surgery...it should, they charged enough :thumbup: