Baba Wawa

No, but I have heard of many developing swallowing issues, fibromyalgia, etc. I was just tested for gastroparesis. It's a mild case, not severe, but it sure make life challenging! Hope you have negative results from your testing (no crest). Keep us posted

Everybody's different

I think the cracker was some sort of "test" to see if she needed a fill, not after the fill. The eating/drinking thing is for meals, not for medical tests. This might be an ok way to avoid over filling??? I had a test the other day that involved eating eggs, toast, then drinking 4 oz of Water. Now I've been instructed to drink with meals to help them move out of the stomach faster.

I've had ban for nearly three years and lost 100 pounds and hit my target weight I've had no problems with my band up until 6 months ago where I prolapsed and have had to be emptied three times since then. This is my third prolapse in 6 months and it does not seem to be fixing itself so must get it removed. I have three questions. 1 has anyone had repeated prolapse and if it does fix itself can I just keep the band and not have it filled and attempt to maintain my weight lost? Probably not. I've not heard of anyone with 3 prolapses being successful refilling the band. I know of a couple of people who had their band repositioned/resutured into position. 2. I'm only 3o pounds over ideal weight is it worth getting another band because I would not consider getting sleeve or any other stomach cutting procedure I wouldn't. I know of a few who have gotten a second band, but they had theirs replaced because they had the older 4cc bands. 3 what problems should I consider after getting band removed short and long term? Regain would be the most obvious. Not knowing your entire history, I can't really say more. My band was unfilled almost 9 months ago and I've lost 20 lb since. I would do continue to follow band rules, eat my band friendly food, etc and see if that works for you. Hope this helps... BTW, one post per topic is advised.

Betsy, I checked out Bella's FB page...you have a beautiful family. Please give yourself and your band a chance to work together. Like any other surgery, results can vary...some lose quickly right out of the gate, others not so much. Some lose all EW, some 30-70%. We're all different. Average height for American women is 5'5", you're 6 ft tall...are you defective, NO. You're an individual, with some pretty unique stuff going on in your life. I got my band at age 60. I lose slow. I'm thankful for any weight loss. You've got a 23 year head start on me. Use it wisely, my friend. Hugs((()))

You're in "Bandster Hell" stage. It's normal to have buyer's remorse in the first weeks post-banding. This is normally something that is discussed with patients preop so you're prepared. You were probably given a food progression to follow post op. Have you followed it, exactly? This is important. In the first weeks and months following WLS following our diet and exercise "rules" helps to establish lifestyle changes (measuring food, logging intake, exercise, making better food choices) which become habit. Most people don't lose quickly in the first weeks...I think I lost 10 lb in 10 weeks post op, before my first fill. I also noticed you're a lightweight with a BMI of 38...you're not going to lose as fast as someone with a higher BMI, generally speaking. Someone who weighs 300 lb and is 5'5" is going to lose faster, since more of their body mass is fat. I'm going to give you some feedback on how you're perceived based on your posts(all we have). You sound a bit frantic. Anyone with 5 kids and has had surgery is going to feel overwhelmed, and that's the impression I got reading your posts. Your doctor sounds like an ass. Telling you that you should be down 20 lb in a month is absolutely incorrect. 1-2 lb per week is the expected weight loss once your fill is optimal. During surgery, we're pumped full of fluids (I gained 6 lbs) and it takes time to get rid of it. Your tissues are swollen and it takes time to heal. If you lost 5 lb the first month, you'd be doing fantastic. I think it's time to step back from the situation, take a deep breath and get out your preop paperwork, read it again. Make sure you're doing what you should. Also, I'd find a new doctor, stat. Hang in there!

I'm hoping to revise to VSG, having too many complications with my band to continue like this. I'm on Medicare with Regence medAdvantage. My band surgeon is Dr Jeffrey Hunter at Virginia Mason. I live in Snohomish County.

Thanks, I appreciate that.

Yes...if I revise, it will be to VSG. My husband is afraid of this, but his only comfortable options are another band or nothing. I can't do malabsorption due to other issues. We're still trying to figure this out. My GI doctor didn't think the band was at fault, but will be interesting to hear what he has to say in two weeks.

All of the above, biopsies, etc...more confused than ever

I think it just breaks up the dense consistency. Right now, I'm not supposed to eat fiberous foods, but can't eat the yogurt without the kashi, so I just do it anyway. I get a lot of my Calcium from the yogurt, at my age that's important, lol. I find that if I try to eat 1/2 cup of kashi with milk, it's problematic as well. A year ago, plain yogurt or the cereal alone was no problem. Then my band had 3.5 cc, now 0 cc. Go figure!

Thanks Missy, I've put my history on my blog. Yes, had EGD in December. I am very frustrated. I'm thankful that my GI doc is exploring every option before recommending band removal/revision.

May 2010 Realize Band implanted, hiatal hernia repair, uneventful recovery Aug 2010 fill 3 cc March 2011 fill .5 cc Summer 2011 began to have epigastric pain at night. Sept 2011 stomach virus Sept 2011 pain upper right quadrant, duration 2-5 hours increasing, then subside quickly Oct 2011 barium swallow, band fine, slow esophageal emptying Oct 2011 upper abdominal ultrasound positive for gallstones Oct 2011 gallbladder removal Feb-May 2012 increasing GERD symptoms, nighttime epigastric pain radiating to shoulder, neck, jaw, back. Palpitations gradually increasing in frequency May 2012 had cardiac work up, stress test, echocardiogram, negative for heart disease. BP was elevated, so new drug Rx, resolved palpitations/hypertension. Epigastric pain persisted. June 2012 upper GI with barium shows stoma at band is nearly closed. Barium drips through, but no stream. Barium is backed up into esophagus. PA removes all saline (3.5 cc confirmed, clear, no sign of infection). Under flouro, barium is still in esophagus, emptying slowly. PA and Radiologist are concerned, but decide after I drink 8 oz water to schedule me for follow up 5 @ weeks. July 2012 follow up, lost 4 lb. still having problems eating anything fibrous, but able to eat, at least. Barium swallow shows smaller than expected stream thru band, but also shows slow esophogeal motility, but not so slow as to require follow up. PA states that since I'm tolerating food, losing and have a bit of a motility issue, she won't fill me, but cautions me to stay on the band diet and if I'm able to eat everything and quantity increases over 1 cup, to come in for another evaluation. Oct-Dec 2012 In early October, became very intolerant to most foods and started having nighttime pain again, GERD symptoms. Symptoms subsided for two weeks, then returned. Taking PPIs for GERD, probiotics and experiencing extreme constipation. BMs only every 8-10 days. Bloated miserable, having pain, feeling like food is stuck. November, saw GI doctor and he ordered EGD, soft low fiber diet. December EGD negative for Hpylori, celiac, erosion, Barrett's. Prescribed Amitiza for constipation. Antispasmodic for GI spasms. Symptoms improved. Feb symptoms (intolerance of meals, feeling stuck, etc) returned. Consult with GI doc, schedules GES. Results normal gastric emptying times, but abnormal esophageal retention. GI doctor follow up in 2 weeks. March 2013: barium swallow:Dx achalasia, severe esophageal dilation due to LES failure to open in response to swallowing. Discussed options for removal/revision and further testing. April 2013: esophageal manometry test to determine if achalasia is primary or secondary. If secondary, band IS the problem and it will have to come out. If primary, surgery may exacerbate the condition. Update: GI doctor has done all he can for me. I'm scheduled in late May for evaluation with one of the top esophageal surgeons in the nation to discuss band removal, redoing my HH repair and looking to see if my vagus nerve has been damaged. High weight 290 lb Surgery weight 281.5 Band emptying weight 225 Current weight 202 Goal weight 170 At all times my PCP, Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist and Bariatric Surgeon were in communication. Procedures, records and test findings were shared. Preexisting IBSd. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, GERD. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction/Spinal Stenosis Left knee osteoarthritis-replacement recommended Still taking all medications I was taking pre-band + amitiza, antispasmodic and additional hypertensive drug

Gastric Emptying Study showed my stomach is emptying within normal parameters with one abnormal result: Immediately after consuming 4 oz eggbeaters and one piece of toast (no crust) and jam followed by 4 oz Water, the first picture showed the food backed up in my esophagus! The time they gave me to eat the food was 10 min, I ate half in 10 min, felt like I was done and the tech came back and told me to eat the rest of the eggs and another half piece of toast. So what does this mean? The GI doctor says I have mild gastroparesis, but isn't sure why food is getting backed up, especially since my band has been empty (EGD showed stoma open 12/6/12). I'm more confused than ever. I'm to stay on the amitiza for constipation and on the low fiber/low residue diet (which has helped, I'm able to eat) for two more weeks, then make an appt for follow up.

It's good you found a revision doctor who can do the removal/revision/plication take down at once. Recovery is a bit more difficult and longer than implanting your band, but once you are there, the aftercare is minimal. Just want to warn you that I know several whose tests showed the band placement was fine and once they got into surgery, they found the bands had eroded, adhered to other organs, etc. barium swallows, even endoscopy showing a healthy stomach can be a false negative for slips and partial erosion. They just can't tell for sure, until you're opened up. Best wishes for a quick surgery and speedy recovery.

Just looked at your profile. You're 17 days post op? I'm not in a position to tell you to eat something your doctor says no to, but I can offer up some ideas to help you with wanting something solid. I make protein pudding using sf instant pudding, adding a couple of scoops of protein powder (I use bariatric advantage vanilla) and nonfat milk. Instead of getting 4 servings I get 5 this way and use them for snacks. It's semi liquid and if you take tiny bites, it should be fine. I was on solids by day 15, per my plan.

What's your progression plan for food?

Sorry, misread your original post.

First off: You're not obese. 140-170 is a very healthy weight range and 168 puts you at a 25.5 BMI. You're only .5 into overweight status and with your high Protein diet and working out, your body fat is probably very low. Second: anorexia nervosa isn't a physical condition, it's a psychological disorder. If you feel that you are compelled to lose weight, though you're at a healthy weight you might have body image dis morphia, causing you to obsess over your food. Anorexia Nervosa usually is manifested in an individual who feels they have very little control in their life. Please see a counselor for an evaluation. Third: since you're under the care of several physicians for those health issues, we can't really offer advice. The main thing is that you are being 100% honest and accurate with them about your diet/exercise and lifestyle. You've done an amazing job at losing, but 700 calories is too few at this stage. Like I've told many others (including myself) you need to treat your body like a newborn baby and your head like an incorrigible teenager Keep us posted, please.

Your new clinic should be doing this too...

First off, it's unprofessional. Secondly, when prepping for a fill, it's proper procedure for all Fluid to be removed from your band to determine if any fluid has leaked, see if it is still clear (if not, it's a sign of infection) and how much fill you have. If your new clinic didn't do this, they aren't following Allergan's fill procedure. At your next fill, ask about this...glad you're doing better!

This is a common misconception of banding. The band doesn't stop you from eating and if a person depends on it to stop them, they're going to suffer from it. The band's purpose is to keep you from feeling hungry for 4-5 hours after eating a 1/2-1 cup meal made up of lean, dense protein and healthy carbs. The food, when eaten slowly and chewed well (15-25 times per bite) passes through the small opening in the band to the lower part of the stomach, where it is digested. Things like ice cream, chips, cookies, candies break down quickly to pass thru the band and are called slider foods...they also cause spikes in blood glucose, leading to the production of insulin and storage as fat...these foods won't keep you feeling satisfied, and should be avoided while you're losing.

Thanks, I have my moments! I think we get too wrapped up in "the rules" and in a sense, become overly concerned with following them. Once you understand the reasons behind the "important" rules* and eating that way becomes habit, it's ok to go off track occasionally. I personally think 80/20 is great and keeps you from feeling deprived. Another way to look at it is 30/30/30/10. Say your eating 1200 calories and follow this plan, your calorie goals each day would be as follows: 30% Protein = 360 calories or 90 grams 30% carbs. = 360 calories or 90 grams 30% healthy fats: 360 calories or 40 grams 10% whatever you want = 120 calories You can see that this offers a balanced approach with a lot of wiggle room to cur calories if you are trying to lose. There are more than enough nutrients here, if you eat fresh, unprocessed foods to allow for adjustments for individual needs. We all need to remember that we got fat by deprivation, eliminating entire food groups from our diet and GUILT when we went off track. Right now, I'm on a low fiber/low residue diet for a motility disorder. It's so foreign since I'm eating things like white bread, Pasta, potatoes, etc. It has helped a lot, so it's the right thing to do, but I cannot wait until I can have salads again! *important rules for me are: 64-80 oz Water per day 60 gr protein per day, eat protein first at every meal Veggies are important, choose low glycemic load veggies, when possible Avoid liquid calories (avoid, not abstain )

Are things going any better for you Nana Price?

Just remember, they didn't band your brain everyone, so you can still make informed decisions about your food, drink and occasional indulgences.