Baba Wawa

Those I know that revised from band to sleeve had reflux in the form of heartburn for 3-6 months and were able to gradually wean themselves off PPIs.

The other 25% revised to RNY or DS. 25% of bands need to be removed per Allergan, those aren't great odds. My point again, is that we shouldn't endorse the band 100% to a person who clearly states they have an autoimmune disease or disorder. My thread should have been less absolute in the title, but the basic message is valid.

My concern in posting this is that we shouldn't encourage someone to get a device implanted just because we've had a good experience. Many people with ONE Autoimmune disorder often have other undiagnosed autoimmune issues that are found after a device such as the band, is implanted. My post isn't meant to be an alarm, but a word of caution when replying to a thread about which surgery to choose. On the other site I frequent there are multiple boards for each surgery, including revision. Literally hundreds of posts are made by people monthly who are having band troubles and needing to revise. About 75% revise to sleeve and are very pleased with the outcome. Shouldn't these 75% have just had the sleeve to start with and avoided the risk, pain, scar tissue, aftercare and expense of a second surgery?

And this.... You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohns disease. Many GI inflammatory diseases are autoimmune disorders. There is also this disclaimer: There have been no reports of autoimmune disease with the use of the LAP-BAND® System. Autoimmune diseases and connective tissue disorders, though, have been reported after long-term implantation of other silicone devices. These problems can include systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. At this time, there is no conclusive clinical evidence that supports a relationship between connective-tissue disorders and silicone implants. Long-term studies to further evaluate this possibility are still being done. You should know, though, that if autoimmune symptoms develop after the band is in place, you may need treatment. The band may also need to be removed. Talk with your surgeon about this possibility. (Also, if you have symptoms of autoimmune disease now, the LAP-BAND® System may not be right for you.) The last sentence, my parenthesis. Why take a chance?

Actually, I've been told by my band doctor and GI doctor that they will not recommend banding for those with autoimmune disorders. There are so many Lapband patients whose conditions flare up or who are developing them post band that they just don't see that the risk outweighs the benefits. The support groups for those with failed bands are full of people with long term problems due to their body rejecting the band.

Per Allergan's website for medical professionals. http://www.lapband.com/hcp/en/risk_information/ Before encouraging someone with an autoimmune disorder to get Lapband, please read the contraindications at the link above. There are many unscrupulous band mills out there that will ignore the contraindications, take the money and leave the pt with a lifetime of issues to deal with. Here's a link to a list of autoimmune diseases: http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.cfm

Autoimmune disorders are not compatible with the gastric band, per Allergan's own disclaimer. The sleeve will work similarly to the band (portion control) but won't fire up your hashimoto disease. Someone said they didn't want to give up ice cream for life? I assume it was due to dumping? It's pretty unusual for a sleeve to cause dumping. It's not nearly as severe as with RNY and for most, diminishes with time.

Have you tried papaya enzyme?

Old woman here with hopefully some helpful advice; the band isn't capable of "tightening" on its own, it's our body responding to the irritation of the band that causes random tightness. I had a complete unfill 9 months ago, still get tight. It's spasms of the esophagus, stomach and intestines that cause the tightness. I take an antispasmodic for this. Another thing that helps and is safe is essential peppermint oil in tea. 10-15 drops in a cup of Zen tea relaxes the stomach and helps with digestion,

A marker...here's the website http://shininglord.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/ireland-photos/

Paying attention might be the greatest skill a Bandster could have, good job!

Call your doctor, NOW.

So true! Congrats on your loss!

First off, congratulations on really weighing your options! Here are some of the pros and cons of each. Both surgeries are done in the less invasive laparoscopic procedure. In both surgeries there is cutting of tissue. One implants a device, which can fail. In VSG, the fundus of the stomach is removed. Lap Band cons: long term complications are becoming more and more frequent, and per their own website for professionals, http://www.lapband.com/hcp/en/risk_information/ 25% of bands needed to be removed. More and more, motility disorders, auto-immune disorders and nerve damage are occurring. This is information that you won't find in a study, but all over other WLS sites and on FB pages dedicated to assisting and supporting Lapband pts with complications. VSG: true, the immediate post-op period is a bit riskier than with Lapband, but the re operation rate is so much less. The biggest risk is a leak on the staple line (1%). The recovery from VSG is longer. Bear in mind that most of the 25% of band pts who have their band removed, revise to VSG. Why not just get the VSG in the first place? There are some who will tell you that if you follow all the "rules" you won't have complications. It's simply not true, you can do everything right and still fail. There are too many variables with banding. Things like surgical skill, individual anatomy, post op diet protocol, pt compliance, and the skill with which fills are given are all factors all factor into how you'll do. You only control ONE aspect of your experience...compliance. Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FailedBands/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/548645781829528/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/ResearchingLapBand/

I have an image to share with you!

Great post Terry! Those little voices are hard to ignore. We must, as we lose and succeed, replace them with positive affirmation.

Lmao!

If you only take half, then go back for the second half, only the first half counts!

So, how did the scope come out?

Chances are, you need a fill. If you're taking large bites and eating quickly, though, you may be setting yourself up for trouble. Practicing good band habits even without restriction reinforces the behavior changes that help ensure long term success. Measuring, cutting up your food and stopping when you've eaten your allotted amount consistently is important, whether you're in the green zone or not.

Sounds like it could be a motility issue. Try some tea with 10-15 drops of essential peppermint oil. It's a natural antispasmodic.

Maybe this will help: with my first child, back in the dark ages, I started at 141, lost down to 112 and ended up at 136 when I went into labor. When I was discharged I weighed 117. It's BABY that accounts for your bulk, not you. Relish this time and eat properly. Your baby will gain about a half pound per week the last 8 weeks...so should you. Congrats on your new baby and for your incredible weight loss!

So, you're going to have weight loss surgery. If you've never had surgery, the experience might be a bit more traumatic than it was for those of us who've had multiple surgeries of varying types. Here's what to expect:Usually, the first thing is the IV. The IV tech will start a line with saline, to insure you're hydrated and there's a vehicle, so to speak to carry the drugs you'll be given before, during and after your surgery. It doesn't really hurt...I've had them in the back of the hand and inside the elbow. Each bag of saline is about a liter (over two pounds) and this weight will show on your scale for some time. Don't freak out about this... Usually the anesthesiologist will come in and introduce themselves, ask some questions and tell you what they're going to do in the OR. This person is fully responsible for keeping you alive during surgery. They ventilate you, regulate your BP; this is the most important person to you in the OR.The surgeon usually comes by too, to reassure you, ask a few questions, before going into the OR. Once you go to OR, they'll usually have you scoot onto the table off the gurney, make sure your comfortable and then proceed with anesthesia. First, you'll be given 100% oxygen and told to take some deep breaths. Take as deep of breaths as you can, since this O2 is what sustains you while being intubated. Once you've taken the breaths, you get another drug to make you "sleep" followed by a drug that basically paralyzes your abdominal and breathing muscles (pretty much all muscles, but the heart). You'll quickly be intubated and put on a ventilator for life support. The entire process is completed in less than a minute. When you wake up, you'll be very groggy, want to go back to sleep and you may be uncomfortable. Tell the recovery nurse if you're hurting. You might be nauseous from anesthesia. Tell the nurse. Anti nausea drugs can be given thru the IV. After your vitals are stable and you're alert, you'll go to another room to recover. Sometimes, if you're doing great or if your hospital has this protocol, you'll be discharged straight from the day surgery recovery without being moved to a room. For the trip home, you should have loose fitting pajama bottoms, a warm top, robe or sweatshirt, socks and slippers. You'll also want a pillow to put under the seatbelt in the car. You'll want a barf bag too, just in case for a day or two. Once home, you'll be most comfortable in a recliner, though I slept in my bed the first night, on my side facing the edge of the bed. Practice getting in and out of bed without using your abs before surgery. It will hurt, it won't kill you. I've had open abdominal surgery and lap surgery, while still painful, cannot hold a candle to open abdominal surgery. You will live. To get up do the following: Roll onto your side Use your elbow to push upHave someone rotate your legs and feet to floor Push off with your hand to get fully upright...wait a minute to make sure you're not dizzy Stand with assistance. Wait a minute to ensure you're not going to faint. Reverse to get into bed. Always, for the first couple of days, have someone with you whenever you get up or down and while walking. I cannot emphasize enough that your discharge orders and doctor's diet, hydration and exercise orders should be followed EXACTLY. If you have a question, call your doctor. Don't post here. If you get a fever or can't drink water at all, call your doctor immediately. Nausea should subside within 8-24 hours. If it doesn't and you need a medication for it, call your doctor. Do not post here until after you've called the doctor and please state that you have called so we don't all tell you to call your doctor. Another thing...definitions: Clear liquid means you can see through it Full liquid is things like runny cream of wheat, puréed cream soups, protein shakes. NO LUMPS. Mushies or Purees is the consistency of baby food. No chunks., no lumps. Smooth is your friend. As you progress to solids, remember that babies don't go from puréed baby food to a NY steak in one day. Hopefully you practiced your new eating habits for a couple of months pre op to establish them as your new lifestyle. Transitioning from purees to solids is a gradual thing. Add a little finely ground turkey to a puréed food at first. Add ONE new food per day. After you tolerate ground meat, poached eggs, tuna salad, egg salad, etc, you can try cutting your food into 1/4" pieces and chewing 15-25 times per bite. Initially you won't get many calories in...500-700 calories, focusing on protein. You'll gradually get up to 900-1000 or more depending on your needs, per your nutritionist or doctor. Drink your water as directed too.The first weeks post op aren't for losing weight. You might not lose anything, but most people will lose the IV weight and a pound or two a week. Once you're on solids, your weight will go up a pound or two...filling the intestinal pipeline . This is normal. Fills are not the goal with the band...they are another tool to use when your weight loss levels out and/or you're hungry less than 4 hours after eating a meal of 1/2 cup to 1 cup of dense protein and low glycemic veggies/fruits. Go easy on the fills. Being over tight is the #1 identifiable cause of band erosion and slips.Many with the band are so focused on getting fills, they don't realize until they have a little unfill, that their band can work better with less fill. You can go out to eat with your band. Sharing works great. I ask for a small plate and put my food onto it immediately. I cut up everything before taking a bite. I eat very slowly and if my companion is having a glass of wine, I'll have one too, to sip as I eat. I don't do this at home, most of the time. Alcohol was not permitted for 3 months post op by my doctor. You'll get a little more tipsy on less due to abstaining for months. Your band has no affect on alcohol absorption. You probably shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, ever, band or not. I hope this is informative and helpful!

It's amazing how our perspective on food changes within a few months of being banded! Congrats!!

PPIs should be taken on an empty stomach at least 4 hours before bedtime. I have a reminder set on my iphone to take mine between 3 & 4pm so I'm not eating for at least 2 hours after taking it. Also if taking antacids, avoid Tums, Rolaids, etc. gaviscon is ok. I got this info from my band doctor and as soon as I started following this regimine, my nighttime reflux is very much improved.