Baba Wawa

With the average EWL expected with gastric banding being in the 50-60% range, so many variables among WLS patients and doctors' pre and post op protocols, how do you measure your success? For me, it's pretty cut and dried: I followed my doctor's recommendations for diet (exercise, not so much), was cautious with fills and let my band do it's job. Weight Loss) year 1, 60 lbs, year 2, 10 lb (lots of problems), year 3, 20 lb so far. Clothing) starting size 26 4x now 16 bottom, L/XL top. Shoes 9.5 now 8.5/9. Bras 42DD now 38G(!) I don't need seat belt extenders on airplanes! I can walk a mile I walk by mirrors and wonder...who is that person? My knee and back hurt LESS... There are some areas where I haven't reached expected goals...I'm still on all my meds + 2 new ones :-/ My band and I may not be suited for a long term relationship...I go to the doctor tomorrow to determine next steps. I want to lose at least 30 lb additional and 50 would be ideal. I don't measure my success by anyone else's yardstick...how do you define success?

Are you getting your fluids in? Drinking constantly at 6 days out should keep you from feeling hunger "like small heart attacks". If you're in real pain, you need to call your doctor. The pain from Lapband surgery is primarily incisional and managed with liquid Tylenol at this point. What are you allowed to have at this stage? If you're on full liquids, you probably aren't having your meals often enough. You can have your shakes, other liquids throughout the day, as needed. Once you're on purees and solids, you'll begin to space out your meals more traditionally. Hang in there and call your doctor, today.

Get a new primary physician.

With the wide variety of pre-op and post-op diets and food progressions required, you should still follow your doctor's orders. The most important part of the preop low carb diet is avoiding carbohydrates. The chicken cheat was fine, the potato, not ok. Low carb reduces glycogen on the surface of the liver, making it easier to hold up and out of the way (it's over your stomach) so the surgeon can access the stomach. Glycogen is slippery and as the name implies is derived from carbs (glycemic). If the liver slips out of the instrument, the surgery CANNOT be done laparoscopically. Many of the same people we see posting about cheating on the preop diet, end up posting that they cheated on the postop diet...there is a connection. Many "test" their bands, eat slider foods, graze and wonder why they're not losing. It's very important to understand that WLS requires a permanent lifestyle change. To succeed you must adopt these changes willingly, accept that you should never eat the way you did as an obese person and commit to these changes permanently. There's a saying, "If you want to look like a thin person, you need to eat like a thin person." The band supports that by keeping hunger pangs away between meals. You control how much you eat... As a successful banded person who is most likely losing my band very soon, due to an autoimmune disorder, I can tell you, it works, but only if you use it properly. Like any other tool, if you leave out one component, it will not help you...imagine an electric saw you don't plug in...not much good. You are the power source for your tool.

Great post! I too am scared sh***ess to lose my tool and risk regain. You do what you need to do, rely on your team of medical professionals to guide you...you're doing great!

Please call your doctor. This isn't green zone.

Copied from Allergan: Your surgeon may consider whether the LAP-BAND ® is right for you if your BMI is at least 35 and you have a health problem that is related to obesity. Your surgeon may also have other criteria he or she uses. Ask him or her to discuss the criteria with you. Contra-indications The LAP-BAND ® System is not right for you if: You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohns disease. You have severe heart or lung disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. *You have some other disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (a dilated vein). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel). You have portal hypertension. Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance you might have a narrowed opening. You have/experienced an intra-operative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement. You have cirrhosis. You have chronic pancreatitis. You are pregnant. (If you become pregnant after the LAP-BAND ® System has been placed, the band may need to be deflated. The same is true if you need more nutrition for any other reason, such as becoming seriously ill. In rare cases, removal may be needed.) You are addicted to alcohol or drugs. You are under 18 years of age. You have an infection anywhere in your body or one that could contaminate the surgical area. *You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment. You cannot or do not want to follow the dietary rules that come with this procedure. You might be allergic to materials in the device. You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device. *You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. I put * on the potentially applicable contraindications. Talk to your rheumatologist about this, please. Best of luck!

Almost 3 years, Kime Lou...I posted my band history in my blog. The last 15 months have been problematic, though. They were very impressed that I lost 20 lb since my band was emptied last June.

It would be great...I have peristalsis, though. The valve just won't open in response to the contractions. In the esophogram, the barium sloshes around as the esophagus contracts attempting to push it thru. The distal esophagus was ballooned out. The radiologist and PA were visibly alarmed by what they saw. The other issue is the palpitations I get as food passes through the LES, once it does open are cardiac irritation. Once the barium landed in my stomach, my band sort of flopped and tilted to one side...it's so loose. I'm terrified of life without the help WLS has provided. I'm also tired of doctors, tests, surgery...my husband is stressed over all this as well.

The thought of that scares me. but how do you know? and can it be fixed? I have had a couple of episodes of vomiting due to eating too fast. I have a pain in my stomach now that wasnt there before.. banded 11/29/12 sw 226 cw 200 To the OP: From what I understand, a slip can have many different symptoms. The only way to find out is to see your doctor, have a barium swallow. I've had 3 stomach viruses since being banded and it didn't cause my band to slip. #3 brianb Member Joined: Mar 4, 2013 Posts: 21 posts Topics: 2 Gender: Male Patient Info:View my profile Posted Today, 5:29 AM Six days of post op and had a long night of uncontrollable dry heaves because of alcohol and over eating. Of course I'll not be doing either again. From what I read, it's pretty unlikely that a band slipped. But a quick call to your doctor might make you feel better. Like This Absolute must see videos for anyone that has or is getting the lap band... Some of the misconceptions that the series of videos covers: * The lap band should not restrict, but instead trick the brain into thinking you ate much more than you did. * food goes through the band in less than a minute and does NOT sit above the band (unless food is stuck or you eat too fast) * The band causes food to rub against nerves in the stomach as it passes through the band. This causes a feeling of fullness. * It should not be necessary to fill the pouch above the band to achieve a feeling of fullness. http://www.lapbandta...dr-paul-obrien/ Quote MultiQuote Blog This Report As far as Brian is concerned...generally alcohol isn't allowed for 3-6 months post op. The attitude that "everyone does it" is not going to get you anywhere and is an adolescent excuse. Sorry, but that's how it comes across. Line-dancer was replying to the OP, since she recently was Dx with a slip...not saying she overate and drank to excess.

Are you on Social Security disability? After 24 months you're eligible for Medicare coverage and bariatric surgery is a covered procedure. BTW, my starting BMI was 48, I'm at 33 now...thrilled to be obese...4 pts to overweight! Losing 15 points on my BMI has made a huge difference.

Good luck!

Check out the sister site to this one at http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php? One thing I notice is a lot less complications posted and a lot more success stories...when you're self pay the aftercare and any problems resulting from banding can be very expensive. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!

I was doing better...medication for IBSc is working, I was able to eat without issue and Friday night without warning I found myself having a hard time. My daughter made lasagna, I took a small piece, didn't eat the noodles, so probably had a half cup of sauce, cheese and lean chicken Italian sausage. I stopped eating because I realized I was uncomfortable. Not full, not stuck, just slightly uncomfortable and a bit nauseous. After about a half hour, up it all came. By then I was in real pain...a burning feeling and I started having pain at my port area. Since then, I've had continuous discomfort and I'm on a soft/liquid diet. I emailed my band doctor and requested an appointment to discuss my options for removal/revision. I feel defeated...I really thought I was going to get to keep my band.

I'm not quite there...size 16 pants, large/xl shirts congrats!!!

My Surgery Was On January 11, 2013 I Started With 233 Pounds. As Today My Weight Is 200 Pounds, So I've Only Lost 33 Pounds. I Feel That Not Much Progras And Really I'm Following All The Rules. I Eat Evrey 5 To 6 Hour Small Portion .Drinks 8 Glass Of Water A Day I Have My First Fill In2/26/2013 4cc Feel No Difference And I Feel I Can Eat More Than 6 Ounces Per ,Meal ,But I Control Myself Not To Eat Much Or Over Eating. my Question Is You Think I'm Good Or I Do Not Have Much Progress? After The Fill And Only Loss 2 Pounds. I'm Very Confused And I Have Much Fear Of Failure In My Weight Loss Attempt , The Truth Is That I Feel No Restriction With 4cc And I Can Eat Anything Bread, Rice, eggs, Almost Everything That Everyone Says You Can Not Eat. Like Bread Or Rice I Dot Eat But Is Because I Do Not Want. So Please ,Please Need Opinion Of You And Let Me Know If Everything Normal Ho No Tank U I had to copy and paste + punctuate to read your post. It can take a few fills to make a real difference. Are you 1) measuring 1/2-1 cup food that includes 4 oz lean Protein and a small serving of fruit or veggies? If not, then you're really not eating a band friendly diet and you're not going to be satisfied. 2) after this meal, do you feel hunger, real hunger, not "head hunger" or cravings, for 4+ hours? If you can go 4 hours between meals, you're good. Just have to deal with head hunger, go for a walk and try not to think about food. 3)Are you eating white carbs at all? White carbs contribute to cravings, cravings cause head hunger. Keep some raw carrots on hand, make ranch dip out of ff Greek yogurt and ranch mix, dip your carrots in it...high protein, low fat and satisfying snack. Even if you're hungry, eat only band friendly foods. Even eating 6 oz protein and a salad with ff dressing, you can lose and meet your nutritional needs. Hang in there...

If he can't eat the foods he should and relies on sliders he won't lose. He'll lose more with less fill that allows him to eat a variety of nutritious foods and get his protein requirements in, I became too tight (not because of fills) and ate whatever I could to get by and didn't lose an ounce in 6 months. After getting my unfill (100%) I've lost 20 lb... Being too tight also brings the risk of a slip and erosion. Tattle.

It is frustrating...have you tried boneless, skinless chicken thighs? They're a lot more moist. Scrambled eggs are problematic for me and a lot of others. I poach eggs, 3.5 to 4 minutes and they go down much better. Pork tenderloin is a good alternative for pork chops. When eating, try to finish your Protein before having any of your veggies or toast (with eggs). Bread can be a difficult food too. I love soups...I eat the broth first, then the solids. You might be a bit tight...don't know how much fill you got, but just getting .25-.5 cc out can make a huge difference.

I emailed them an appointment request over the weekend. Fingers crossed they have a solution.

I really appreciate all my band has done for me. Not that it's been easy, I did the work, stayed focused and exercised discipline. Unfortunately, my heart (and GI tract) are telling me its time to quit fighting and wave the white flag. Time to see my band surgeon and seriously discuss my options for removal/revision. I've lost 90 lb, but my digestive system just isn't working correctly, 9 months after having all fill removed. Time to make the call and determine the next step.

Cut and pasted from your profile: Age Age UnknownBirthday Birthday Unknown Height 5 feet, 2 inchesSurgery Status Pre Surgery Starting Weight 66 lbsFirst Dr. Visit n/a Current Weight 66 lbsSurgery Date n/a Goal Weight 50 lbsHospital Stay n/a Weight Lost 0 lbsSurgery Funding n/a Current BMI 12.1Insurance Outcome n/a Exactly what are you trying to accomplish here?

One of the issues with WLS in general is there are unscrupulous surgeons out there willing to take our money, rush people thru the paperwork and not fully disclose the risks. This seems to be especially true of Lapband due to the $$$ to be made with aftercare. I think Jackie's intent was to inform those who might be taken advantage of by these types of surgery mills...

Call your doctor. In the meantime stop "bringing up" your food...eat less. Every time that happens you could be damaging your band or your stomach/esophagus.

Sorry, I didn't mean to put words in your mouth. Just having a rough day