girlinnyc

well, went for the esophogram--it wasn't clear enough to tell. next step--an endoscopy. not feeling real positive that this isn't going to lead to more surgery. oh my...what a mess. i don't feel bad--my restriction is gone--i can eat anything now--since i had terrible vomiting (sorry) incident last thursday--very violent spasms. i think that's what did this. the dr. is out of town until may 1---so i'm having the test apr 19 (this thurs) and probably they will not tell me anything until he returns....so.... that's the latest. the p.a. at the dr's office did not mention "taking fill out" to see if things go back to normal....wonder if that's an option? he was mostly saying "the dr. will be able to fix anything that's wrong." great--just ANOTHER (unplanned) surgery--and more time off from work (unplanned). this is not my year. on the other hand--have lost 23 lbs--so am pleased about that. but anyone who says "oh this is the easy way out" better watch out for me--i will not take kindly to that statement! -girlinnyc

i'm sorry you're having such terrible problems. i think if you fight the insurance co--they may have to pay a surgeon to take out the band. you might need to hire a lawyer to fight the insurance co--but it might be worth it. having my own problems at the moment--i think i have a slipped band--am having an endoscopy on thurs--then i see the surgeon may 1. i think this happened due to extreme spasms in a vomiting incident (sorry to be graphic) last week.... there is never any guarantee with surgery---is there? (no). best wishes for a successful outcome. -girlinnyc

you might not feel much the first time. if not--go back and get more! give it a few days to make sure you don't feel any restriction! good luck! -girlinnyc

Well--the esophogram was not clear enough to show if the band slipped. I have to have an endoscopy--though i'm not sure what it's going to show, exactly, from the inside of the stomach to know if the band is slipped or not. but that's happening this thursday. then--my dr. is on vacation until may 1--which is when i'll see him and find out what's what. if the band is slipped-i'll have to have it repaired. another surgery. just what i'm looking forward to. not. :think :think

Well--the esophogram was not clear enough to show if the band slipped. I have to have an endoscopy--though i'm not sure what it's going to show, exactly, from the inside of the stomach to know if the band is slipped or not. but that's happening this thursday. then--my dr. is on vacation until may 1--which is when i'll see him and find out what's what. if the band is slipped-i'll have to have it repaired. another surgery. just what i'm looking forward to. not. :think :think

I just found out that i MAY have a slipped band. i had a violent vomiting episode last week--and afterwards--i felt no more restriction. Today i had an esophogram--and it wasn't clear enough to see if the band had slipped. it MIGHT have---so i am having an endoscopy on Thursday to get a clearer picture. What does an endoscopy show that will make it even clearer than an esophogram? does anyone know? this is depressing. i really don't look forward to another surgery.

Julie, Take the pain meds your dr. gave you--you JUST had surgery!!---and don't worry about the port (hopefully it's a low-profile one). the dr. will know where it is when you go for the fill. (hint--it's the biggest incision). try to rest as much as possible--maybe you're doing too much, too soon! i found the pain meds VERY helpful. If you don't have any--call the dr! best wishes for a quick recovery! (i'm 3 mos out--and i feel like i never had surgery at all [well, except for a slight complication that i'm having checked out today]) you'll be back to regular very soon! -girlinnyc

Thanks for the infor! i'm off to my esophogram---hoping that it shows all is well (but not confident that that's the case).

Look how cute you look!! NICE!!

Thanks for that tip--i'm going to try it. i always have a terrible time not drinking along with eating. makes me pretty miserable. gum--why didn't i think of that??!

i did hear back from dr's p.a.=--and i'll go get esophogram tomorrow. yes, if it's slipped--i'll have the surgery to fix it. oh well. what a sad thought. (and what am i going to tell my boss??) were you able to "recover" better the 2nd time? how long after your original surgery was this? hope you're doing well now and are all healed! -girlinnyc

Can anyone tell me "definite" signs of slippage? i had a very bad vomiting episode last thurs, on a business trip--so i drank only liquids for 2 days. then, starting back on regular food--i don't feel the same restriction i had before--it seems i can eat more than i could before this happened. has my band slipped? i am going for an esophogram tomorrow morning. but i'm getting kind of upset now...what do they DO for a slipped band?? i have the 4cc type of band. i am not having problems eating any kind of food (of course, i've been VERY careful since last thursday--but still--i managed to eat, i think, more than i was able to. i feel like i might have just BURST the band off my esophagus==or popped the inside expandable part of it--who knows?? thanks for any insights or comments... =girlinnyc

I put it in the blender with several ice cubes and crush it all up--it tastes MUCH better that way--than drinking it straight out of the box!! good luck on your surgery! =girlinnyc

it's really so much LESS "awful" than you think it will be. good luck~~!!

just put in a call to the dr's office. god knows when they'll call back. last week i was on a business trip to houston (from ny) and had lunch out with business associates. after only a few bites of food--small, tiny bites, chewed well--i had to excuse myself and go to restroom--to THROW UP. that happened twice. then--this was the worst--on the way back to the office -- i KNEW that i was going to get sick--but we were in the STREET--what could i do??? i held it in and ALMOST made it to the 28th floor--but as the elevator doors were opening--i had to open up my little PURSE, and THROW UP INTO IT. god, how embarrassing. everything happened really fast--and then i RAN to the restroom (thank god it didn't require a KEY). what a mess. THEN--i vomited VIOLENTLY. much worse than any previous time, where the food just popped out. this felt MUCH MUCH WORSE. Well--i stayed on liquids thereafter--and they went down ok. but when i went back to food--it felt---different. i had NO pb's (not that i WANTED any), the food went down--but the restriction feels off. i was VERY careful after this happened. i have been extra EXTRA careful to eat small bites, chew 15-25 times, and WAIT between mouthfuls. also, what i take to eat is much MUCH smaller than i used to take. but--i'm worried about my restriction now. and the band placement. i wonder if i blew a hole in the band? or slipped it?? i don't know. so i'm waiting for a call back from the dr's office to see if i should come in for an esophogram or something. i really hope all is well--i certainly didn't WANT this to happen. :think

just put in a call to the dr's office. god knows when they'll call back. last week i was on a business trip to houston (from ny) and had lunch out with business associates. after only a few bites of food--small, tiny bites, chewed well--i had to excuse myself and go to restroom--to THROW UP. that happened twice. then--this was the worst--on the way back to the office -- i KNEW that i was going to get sick--but we were in the STREET--what could i do??? i held it in and ALMOST made it to the 28th floor--but as the elevator doors were opening--i had to open up my little PURSE, and THROW UP INTO IT. god, how embarrassing. everything happened really fast--and then i RAN to the restroom (thank god it didn't require a KEY). what a mess. THEN--i vomited VIOLENTLY. much worse than any previous time, where the food just popped out. this felt MUCH MUCH WORSE. Well--i stayed on liquids thereafter--and they went down ok. but when i went back to food--it felt---different. i had NO pb's (not that i WANTED any), the food went down--but the restriction feels off. i was VERY careful after this happened. i have been extra EXTRA careful to eat small bites, chew 15-25 times, and WAIT between mouthfuls. also, what i take to eat is much MUCH smaller than i used to take. but--i'm worried about my restriction now. and the band placement. i wonder if i blew a hole in the band? or slipped it?? i don't know. so i'm waiting for a call back from the dr's office to see if i should come in for an esophogram or something. i really hope all is well--i certainly didn't WANT this to happen. :think

congrats on being banded! now the next 6 wks are just about healing--don't worry about eating properly or anything--just follow dr's orders and take it easy! don't go back to work until you feel like it (if you can stay out longer, do so)...good luck!

buy a copy of weight watchers magazine--or see if it's at your library (or read it at the bookstore). there are LOTS of healthy eating ideas and recipes in there. plus--once you get your band tightened--you're not going to be eating much--i can tell you that--as i have just had my 2nd fill and i am really struggling with eating. but if you want to learn ahead of time--weight watchers magazines, or cookbooks--will really help you.

yeah...i've been recently introduced to all this---after my 2nd fill. i'm waiting until my next dr. appt (4/24) to talk about a slight unfill--or to see if i can manage to really unlearn my life-long habits of eating too much, too fast--which is trickier than i thought it would be.

i think you have hit the right place--maybe. i got my 2nd fill last Tuesday (3/20) and have thrown up numerous times--because food got stuck or whatever. i really have to adjust my eating--because the BAND wins--i can't win when i want "just another 2 bites" or whatever--then i really get into trouble. but--i just realized (duh) that i am more "open" in the evening--the food is NOT getting as stuck. have tried the warm tea, warm Soup, etc....whatever--in the morning and afternoon--food is more of a problem. i have been sticking to Optifast for Breakfast and Soups for lunch--and dinner i can get a little more adventurous. on the +++ side--i am losing weight!! so, it's not all bad.

Had it last week. Went much better this time--no chest pain afterwards (probably had a heart attack last time, incidental to the fill, but ignored by me, b/c now i feel fine). but THEN--i WAS, and AM, REALLY restricted now. this is 2.2 cc's in a 4cc band. i am learning--the slow, hard, sliming, throwing up way--you CANNOT fight with the BAND and WIN!! the BAND wins!!! if you keep eating after the VERY FIRST SIGNAL that you've had ENOUGH--you're in trouble. the very first signal can be a burp, a hiccup, a runny nose---something....and if you ignore it and keep shoveling food in--you're gonna pay. i have had to THROW UP more than i ever thought i would feel comfortable with. the food is stuck in my esophagus--never gets to my stomach--so is not acidic--but boy--this is NOT terribly fun. it's bearable though. i am not sorry i had the surgery--i am just a little frustrated that i can't do better, more quickly. am trying to reverse a LIFETIME of shoveling food into my stomach as fast, and as much, as i can--not an easy task. finally it has dawned on me--i can only really eat SOLID FOOD--at night. NOT at lunch. stick to soft things at lunch--thank god my office sells 3 diff kinds of au bon pain soup every day--that has been a lifesaver. and, if i'm hungry after the cafeteria shuts--i can get more soup at the little cafe they keep open til 4:30. so i am lucky. that is a good way to get protein down--and not have to RUN TO THE BATHROOM and THROW UP. i am seeing what bulimics must see--that it's NOT so hard to throw up --but in my case--not to lose weight--but to stop CHOKING on the food. ugh. anyway--on the upside--am losing weight!! must be getting enough vitamins and calories in to sustain me--not dying of hunger either. i take a flintstones vitamin (when i remember) and am eating good protein (meat or poultry) vegetables and fruit--and optifast shakes for bfast--those go down easy and i like the taste (blended with ice). i am hardly eating any bread at all. i miss it--mentally--but not the taste or the texture. it's just too hard to deal with if it gets STUCK. so it goes. next fill--or appt wth dr.--scheduled for april 24. i wonder if they'll fill me up any further--or maybe this is the right level for me. i continue on my search to know what i can eat, and when, and most important--HOW MUCH. it's a delicate balance.

Had it last week. Went much better this time--no chest pain afterwards (probably had a heart attack last time, incidental to the fill, but ignored by me, b/c now i feel fine). but THEN--i WAS, and AM, REALLY restricted now. this is 2.2 cc's in a 4cc band. i am learning--the slow, hard, sliming, throwing up way--you CANNOT fight with the BAND and WIN!! the BAND wins!!! if you keep eating after the VERY FIRST SIGNAL that you've had ENOUGH--you're in trouble. the very first signal can be a burp, a hiccup, a runny nose---something....and if you ignore it and keep shoveling food in--you're gonna pay. i have had to THROW UP more than i ever thought i would feel comfortable with. the food is stuck in my esophagus--never gets to my stomach--so is not acidic--but boy--this is NOT terribly fun. it's bearable though. i am not sorry i had the surgery--i am just a little frustrated that i can't do better, more quickly. am trying to reverse a LIFETIME of shoveling food into my stomach as fast, and as much, as i can--not an easy task. finally it has dawned on me--i can only really eat SOLID FOOD--at night. NOT at lunch. stick to soft things at lunch--thank god my office sells 3 diff kinds of au bon pain soup every day--that has been a lifesaver. and, if i'm hungry after the cafeteria shuts--i can get more soup at the little cafe they keep open til 4:30. so i am lucky. that is a good way to get protein down--and not have to RUN TO THE BATHROOM and THROW UP. i am seeing what bulimics must see--that it's NOT so hard to throw up --but in my case--not to lose weight--but to stop CHOKING on the food. ugh. anyway--on the upside--am losing weight!! must be getting enough vitamins and calories in to sustain me--not dying of hunger either. i take a flintstones vitamin (when i remember) and am eating good protein (meat or poultry) vegetables and fruit--and optifast shakes for bfast--those go down easy and i like the taste (blended with ice). i am hardly eating any bread at all. i miss it--mentally--but not the taste or the texture. it's just too hard to deal with if it gets STUCK. so it goes. next fill--or appt wth dr.--scheduled for april 24. i wonder if they'll fill me up any further--or maybe this is the right level for me. i continue on my search to know what i can eat, and when, and most important--HOW MUCH. it's a delicate balance.

Sliming happens when you swallow something too big to go thru the band right away---your body quickly manufactures a thick saliva to try to help the "object" go thru. if the saliva builds up too quickly to get thru the band--well--it's gotta come out somewhere--you get it in your mouth and you feel the need, quickly, to spit it out! it's gross--but it's manageable. really, sounds worse in writing than it is when happening. but--if you're not near a bathroom--then you're in trouble!

yes! losing a lot of weight will even be reflected in your shoe size!! another reason to go shopping!!! (like you need another reason??) yayyy!

try immodium. it's over-the-counter. they have chewable tablets--but you can probably just swallow the little pills, if you can't find the chewable kind. the pills are TINY. take with lots of Water. you should be fine! good luck, girlin nyc