Humming Bird

Keep in mind that over time some of the fluid does escape through osmosis. It is best to get a maintenance fill about once a year or so.

Like others, I would still need some surgical intervention. I know I would gain back way too much weight without something. The band has made my life so much better. If something happened to my band I would first be devistated, beg for another band, and if that wasn't an option then maybe look to the sleeve. For me it would not matter if insurance covered it or not because I was self-pay anyway.

We are all built so different I guess we just have to accept a few things here and there that don't work for us. I will never be able to wear a spaghetti strap shirt or dress in public because my skin is so bad on my arms. I don't really want to bother with plastic surgery and the cost. I have never had calves that were large, but have always had trouble with any style of boots because my insteps are very high so my foot won't even go in the boot. Oh well, such is life ..... there are plenty of other cute clothes and shoes I can wear now!

I used protein shakes daily for the first year and ate quite a bit of chili.

It's good to see this thread pop up again today! We all need to hear some good news!

erosion has nothing to do with the port.

I thought I had read someplace the band could slip up or down. A slip upward would be the worst.

The port could not have eroded into the stomach. I think Shirley may have had other medical issues that this issue with the slip triggered, but we here at LBT may never know what happened (HIPPA and all....). That being said, I can't get it off my mind either ........

LOL....me too

How tall are you? My skeletal remains will be larger than a size 4....lol. I think I'm happy with a BMI of 23-24, but I'm 47 years old and would look sick if I got back to my thinnest weight ever (age20). We all carry our weight different as well. At 150 pounds I would be a size 8.

I don't know if the members here at LBT will ever know the details. I'm in shock after reading today's posts about Shirley's death. It isn't like I knew her personally, but geez.......

So sad.

Yes, and that is the point. It forces the body to use it's storage for energy to maintain life and because it is using what is stored we lose weight. I'm not sure if you are talking "starvation", "starvation mode", or "malnutrition". I do think I went through a long period of some malnutrition even with taking many vits. and keeping my protein levels up. I also think it's par for the course.

Like B-52, I have not counted calories since day one. With a properly adjusted band I lost 100 pounds in the first year. I never have understood why sometimes people would go by what the different tracking sites say about how many calories a person should be eating. These sites do not take in to account that we have had weightloss surgery do they? It is a whole different ball game after WLS.

The coated feeling on your teeth and tongue and the bad breath can all be caused by ketosis. The cavities can be caused by vomiting. Even what bandsters call Pbing can be very acidic and cause decay. You should not brush after vomiting because the abrasion only makes it worse. What you should do first is rinse with baking soda and water to reduce the acid attack on your teeth. Then you should learn how to avoid vomiting (and Pbing) quickly so you can avoid drilling & filling with the dentist. Even if you do not get decay quickly, it can make weak spots on your teeth that will decay in the future.

Anything even close to carbonation causes great discomfort for me. It feels like a trapped burp. I stayed away from all alcohol for the first 6-7 months. Now I drink a glass of wine or margarita now and then.

I suspect your port has been missed with some of that fill. At your next fill ask that the fluid be removed and measured.

I had a hiatial hernia repaired when they placed my band, so it's a bit different timing than yours. I was suffering from almost constant reflux. I can happily say that after the repair it cured my reflux problem 100%. If it were me, I would repair the hernia and keep the band.

I'm not sure who here at LBT has been banded the longest. Many people who reach goal never return to the site because it is mostly talk for newbies like pre-op diet, constipation, fills .........

hey! we were banded on the same day is it correct on your post that your last fill was in 2010? I say go get a fill and use the band

OMG Shirley! I'm glad you are alive. Keep us posted...... OMG

I am a huge fan of Vitafusion brand fiber gummies (Target). I eat one about 5-6 mornings a week and stay regular. This brand is very soft, easy to chew and tastes great.

I would say ....no. I'm a dental hygienist....... you should go see a dentist and make sure about the teeth. Are you asking about your teeth or someone else?

Most types of bread give me trouble including pizza crust and tortillas. If I crave something that is like bread I do ok with reduced fat wheat thins.

Thanks Alex!