teachkdz0507

Hi Kara- I do understand what you mean. I have shrugged it off to eating things that were "gassy" which gave me the full feeling. No science behind my response just wondering about why it seems that way as well. I think my new tummy (9 years old now) is one big chemistry experiment. Foods change how they react with me. I have also noticed that slider foods tend to go down easier and I can tolerate more. Sound reasonable. Maybe someone will have a science based reply.

Hi Friends- I am so grateful for this community and the friends I made along the way when this journey first started. I should have reached out when all the trouble became serious but I hunkered down and surrounded myself with blame and embarrassment. I am glad I reached out because I have found out WE ARE NOT ALONE! People that I knew from my initial surgery support group (7 years ago) are having the same issues! It is a relief to know it isn't just me on the struggle bus. The reflux and malabsorption are huge for way more than I ever thought. The regain of 50% or more is quite a common story. We all admit that we fell off the ride but we also maintain that our tool wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. My personal opinion is that we all were on the early end of the adoption of using the sleeve as a stand-alone procedure. It used to be a step before RNY for the heaviest of patients. I think they are finding out that many of us need to do the RNY, after all, to meet our weight goal and get rid of those pesky side effects. Honestly, making goal does sound good but fixing the way I feel daily is a much bigger incentive. If I get some weight off along the way then that is a nice benefit. My one "down" side is that my new surgeon is part of a practice that I am getting the feeling likes to do a lot of suggestive selling. I think they make you do things before they will get the insurance done. I am an avid tennis player. Seeing their exercise person is not what I need but they are going to make me lift weights. I would much rather spend my money to buy tennis clinics to help me shape up at something I enjoy doing. They do have monthly nights with local chefs to learn how to cook healthy and bariatric friendly meals. I can get behind that 100%. Teach me how and I can do it. I will try my best to get on board with their plan. The old plan obviously didn't work for me. Finally on the calendar for my first visit on June 6. Wish me luck at the appointment. I did want to ask them about what a functional doc said to me. Tell me if any of you have heard this before. The functional doc believes my issue (and other gastric patients) is LOW acid not too much acid. He said it will mimic the same feeling as heartburn because my food isn't digesting properly due to a lack of acid and breaking down naturally as it should. Thus the malabsorption. He believes that in turn causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines which makes eating even that much harder. Enter the gas, belching, feeling full too soon, diarrhea issues... IF he is right, he wants me to add a supplement that will increase the acid in my stomach. I am so afraid to do that because I feel so awful now. Has anyone else heard this explanation? Did you try this? He said any brand of Betaine HCL Pepsin will work. I might try it this weekend to see if it works. Heads up...we can turn our ships around and be victorious. I am so glad I am not the sole person on this journey. Happy Memorial Day! Teachkdz0507

Interesting...I wonder if this is a long-term outcome that was unanticipated. I had a Lap-Band that slipped within 2 months and I waited almost 1 year until insurance would pay to fix it. It was ridiculous-I had to lie down to eat without throwing up. I had the sleeve revision on 12/27/11. It was actually pretty good for the first 2-3 years although I am now 100% reliant on Prevacid daily. It is AWFUL if I am even a few hours later with the dosage. Some days the 1 Prevacid won't cut it and I need to chew on Tums or something because it feels like a heart attack. Fast forward 7 years out. The GERD is over the top ridiculous and I find myself eating things to just keep my tummy from throwing up the food I eat. Last year I started having huge problems with malabsorption. My surgeon told me I was crazy because the sleeve doesn't cause that. My typical "blame it on myself" alongside my "I am embarrassed I have gained weight back" self just went quietly on while watching my blood chemistry get all jacked up. When I had to get IV transfusions of iron I knew I had to get answers. I have bounced from specialist to specialist. I do not have a disease based issue. It has to be anatomical. I am seeking an opinion from a new surgeon to get a new point of view. Hope she is worth her salt because I am truly sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am starving nutritionally even though the sleeve isn't supposed to do that. I can only pray that answers are found and insurance will pay for a revision. I have been reading quite a few peer-reviewed journal articles about this phenomena. They correlate what I am finding and say what I am claiming is indeed real and a duodenal switch or RNY is my answer. I avoided bypass due to malabsorption but I think I need to stop crying over spilled milk because I am indeed here and the issues need to be addressed. I am currently 33.8 BMI so "obese" but nowhere near where I started. I have read that RNY is a better bet than the switch for my situation. The duodenal switch promises permanent weight loss but GERD is still prevalent in those revisions. All I can say is: NOOOOO! Bad road! Long post to ask if anyone has had similar issues and found success with RNY revision from their sleeve? Is anyone in the same place I am and just trying to find answers? I feel so dumb that all of my initial research was worthless because here I am with basically a self-inflicted life long problem. Add in the "I failed" thoughts and psychologically I have regressed to the blame game stage. Ugh! Would love to hear from you if you can relate to this posting. Please tell me if you are RNY patient and love it. I really fear it for the exact reason I am seeking help-the malabsorption and GERD. Teachkdz0507

It is so nice to hear how everyone is doing! It really sounds like we are all quite happy with our decision to get this tool and make life changes! We'll have to keep checking in from time to time to motivate all of us to MAINTAIN this wonderful momentum we have begun! Good luck to all!

Hi Ravyn, Hold off on that pizza! You've come too far to give up! How many cc's do you have? I have had 3 fills and now have 6 cc's and it is super tight! It actually is working for me being so tight because I'm really not hungry at all and if I force myself to follow a schedule then I get sick. It has taught me to listen to my hunger. Tell your doc about your frustration and perhaps ask them to be a bit more aggressive with your fill schedule. My doc agreed to an aggressive fill schedule (every 3-4 weeks) because I did join a gym and I work out every other day. Maybe your doc will also agree to that so you can see results faster and keep your motivation up?!? I'll be sending you some positive thoughts for a good conversation with your doc and some results to pump you up!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! I was banded on April 23, 2010 and I am very pleased with my progress to date. I have lost 35 pounds and have gone from a size 20 to a snug size 12. :-) I haven't worn a 12 for over 20 years! That's something to celebrate! I have a 10cc band and had fill #3 in early August and now have 6 cc in it. Up until this last fill (5.5 until August) I had only felt a slight resistance but this last fill put me over the top. I considered an unfill because I have slimmed so much since the fill and been nauseous so much. My doc talked me out of it and told me to work with the band NOT against it. I wasn't hungry in the morning anymore BUT I tried to eat to get my protein in and promptly got sick because it was so tight. Now I have a hot drink in the a.m. and have a Special K Fruit Crisp at 9:45-ish and that holds me over until lunch. I can then eat lunch and dinner without issue because I am hungry at that point. Thank goodness-the nausea was getting really old! So, now that I'm working with my tool and listening to my true hunger life is good again-and yes, it broke my month long plateau of a 2 pound loss in July! ;-( I have also joined a gym and actually like it! I try to go every other day. The elliptical and treadmill are my favorite because I can jam to my I-pod and work through any frustrating moments! I use to think I wanted to lose 70 pounds but I am thinking 50 pounds will be a better fit for me- especially if I keep toning myself. I have noticed a bit more shedding on my brush than normal but am trying not to stress about it. I just do my best to eat as much protein as possible. I really feel like I found my "green zone" or "sweet spot" because I am truly not hungry except at lunch and dinner. I hope this will continue! I see that some have lost more since April (congratulations!) but most of us are in the 30's so I think we are all doing just fine! Can't wait to check in with everyone in a few months! Good luck on increasing exercise and decreasing your weight! You can do it!

Hi Joey Lynn, I was banded on April 23, 2010. I have lost 35 pounds to date so it sounds like we are on track with one another. I have noticed some hair loss as well and I was told to watch my protein intake carefully. So, I religiously eat my protein first to help with the hair issue. I have a friend who didn't listen to her doc and she lost so much hair that it looks like she is a chemo patient. She refuses to believe her protein starvation can be the problem. Anyway, be careful about being too aggressive with fills. I am going to get an "unfill" because 2 weeks ago my doc added .5 cc and I have been throwing up multiple times every day for the past 2 weeks. Enough of that foolishness! That is NOT a healthy way to lose weight. Keep up the good eating habits and exercise and the band will do the work for you! Good luck!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! YEAH! I just had my first fill an hour ago! It was a piece of cake! It's hard to believe I was so very nervous about that! I was able to easily tolerate the Water they asked me to drink but can tell that something has definitely changed because the tummy isn't quite "right". Not sick but definitely not as free as before. I feel just like the rest of you. I lost 20 with the pre and post-op diet but it dwindled down to NOTHING the past 2 weeks. No gain but no loss! :-( As my doc said, its time to put the band to work! I hope he is right and we scheduled fill #2 in 4 weeks. I started with 3 cc as a prime at surgery and he added 1.5 cc today. Best wishes to all of us for SUCCESS this month! Keep us posted! Smiles, Tammy :tongue2: Banded: 04/23/10 Starting Weight: 209 Current Weight: 189

Go MountainMama! You are doing fantastic! The changes and comments at work are great, aren't they? I feel better about myself and my friends/coworkers said they can feel a happiness about me and my new self-image. I think this was a great choice, don't you?

Thanks for talking about the fill. I am nervous about it and the size of the needle they use. I will be sitting at my docs on Monday afternoon waiting for the much anticipated fill. I now have a boost of confidence that it will go smoothly!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! I'm so glad we have this forum. You can read posts and find that what you are experiencing is totally normal! I was banded April 23rd and I am scheduled for my first fill on Monday, May 24th. YEAH! I only had the luxury of not feeling hungry for a few days post-surgery. I have been fighting the hunger pretty much since before surgery. I have lost a total of 22 pounds since starting the liquid diet. The past two weeks the loss has been SO SLOW-1/2 pound to a pound per week. My surgeon told me to expect the slow down but it hasn't made it any easier to accept after the drastic loss the first four weeks. He claims the hunger and urge to graze combined with the slowed loss simply means I am in need of a fill. He sounded confident this will jump start things again. I have found that transitioning to regular food has been a breeze. Too easy in fact. I'm worried that if I get depressed about the SLOW loss that I'll revert to my old ways and make bad food choices. So, I'm hoping for some restriction and the feeling fuller longer. BTW-hasn't it been nice to have people notice the "new" you emerging! That part has been great for the self-esteem for sure. The new clothes in smaller sizes has been nice, too. It is amazing what a difference 20 pounds makes-even on a bigger person. Hope everyone is well and that we will all post successful fill stories soon! Have a great weekend! Tammy (teachkdz0507) banded 04/23/2010 (Huntersville, NC)

Greetings Fellow April Bandsters! I hope everyone is doing well as they recover from their surgery and start on this new phase of their life. I was banded on April 23rd and I have to say that a week and a half out, I am back at work full time and I feel great! I have my post-op on Friday so maybe we can schedule a fill SOON! It is amazing how we are all on this journey and yet we all have different experiences. I am envious at the amount of weight some people have lost since starting their pre-op diet. I am down 17.5 pounds and pretty happy with that, however I know it is strictly because of my food choices. I am not lucky enough to have that full sensation some of you talk about right now and I find that I want to graze for a snack after about 2 hours post-meal. I've been beating down the urge and I just hope it goes away when I finally have my first fill. Hope all is well with all of us April Bandsters and that we continue to win this battle with food! We CAN do it! Smiles, ~Tammy:thumbup:

Hello Friends, I am inspired by your posts! I was banded yesterday and my experience wasn't quite as rosy. The anesthesia really made me sick and threw me in for a loop! I slept almost continually until 10 pm after an 8 am surgery! The good news is that I think I am over the hump. I don't feel nauseated anymore and I was able to eat and drink SMALL amounts! I am suppose to report back to work on Tuesday morning. If I continue to improve, that's a reality, too. Let me know how your first day back is! Smiles, Tammy

Hi Mesmom! Welcome to the April Bandsters Club! By all means join the chatter about our upcoming life changing event! We'll be thinking of you on April 22! Let us know what to expect! Good luck!

Hi Lakeside, I am laughing at how small our world can be. I am very familiar with Auburndale as I lived by UCF in Oviedo for 15 years. We've only been in Charlotte just shy of 2 years. Auburndale is where Fantasy of Flight is with the dummy hanging out of the crashed plane off of I-4. Anyway....we all need to support one another for sure and warn each other about any pitfalls! I wonder if what happens at weight watchers will happen with you? Men ALWAYS lost the weight faster. We had husband and wife teams that ate identical food and yet the husband would beat the wife every time. We may be very envious if you can eek out better weekly losses! LOL! Seriously, good luck with your liquid pre-op diet!

Thanks for the heads up about work Yatin! I have already requested Monday but I might just show up if I am feeling well. Time off is precious and I don't want to waste it if I am ok for work! My surgeon tried to tell me to take the whole week off and that sounded drastic. I guess we'll see! It's almost here! Woo hoo!

Hi Yatin, I'm the opposite as you. I found it much easier to deal with this diet while at work than at home. I had to watch my family enjoy some good tasting foods while I had liquids. YUMMY, right? Let's keep up with one another. How long are you taking off from work for the surgery?

Hi Lola'smama, So far my doc has only asked that I start taking a supplemental general Vitamin with this pre-op diet. They told me we will be adding a chewable Calcium in the post-op phase but to not worry about it. I have loaded up with broths (chicken and beef) as well as weight watcher smoothie mix. I just can't get past the whey Protein additives. Up until Wednesday I can still blend versions of bean Soup for protein but Thursday is Clear liquids. I'll be happy to give you a heads up as I forge through the road ahead! PLEASE do the same as our dates are SOOO close. Do you work? How much time are you taking off? I'll add you to my friends list so we can keep up!

Good luck hayo0ona! I hope things went smoothly today! Keep us posted on how your recovery goes!

Good luck Neesha! Post your progress so we can know what to expect! :-)

Good question Monkeymama, I am getting banded on April 23rd. So far I've only asked for the surgery day (Friday) and the Monday. I can make my job sedentary if needed. My biggest concern is nausea. Did you get some good replies? BTW- Good luck with your surgery! I'm predicting that April 2010 Bandsters will enjoy the BEST results ever! Keep us posted!

Hi MSLADY, I am getting banded April 23rd. I am feeling good about the pre-op diet-what about you? My best wishes for a successful surgery on Thursday! We'll have to check in on each other next week as official bandsters! :tongue_smilie:

Hi MSLADY, I am getting banded April 23rd. I am feeling good about the pre-op diet-what about you? My best wishes for a successful surgery on Thursday! We'll have to check in on each other next week as official bandsters! :w00t:

Hi Stacey, I have just finished week one of my required 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I have been true blue to the diet because I've heard they can NOT do the surgery if the liver doesn't look healthy. Anyway, I have lost 7 pounds for week one. It hasn't been fun at all. I can't handle the shakes well but have found that Weight Watchers Smoothies are pretty palatable. My surgeon allows me to buy low fat/low sodium soups with beans and to blend them. It is tastier than protein shakes and the weight is coming off. Make sure your surgeon is good with that before you make your own rules. I have also had egg drop soup at the restaurant as my family enjoyed their regular meals. That works, too. Good luck on your surgery. We are all about the same surgery date so we need to share tips and support one another. ~Tammy (surgery date: April 23)