Baba Wawa

I apologize if I offended you. I was concerned about you having an unnecessary surgery, that's all. I'm 63, I hate to see a young person with the problems I have... The complications forum is the right place for me to post my issues, relevant information and frustration. There's no need to read my posts or comment if you disagree, but I'm stating the experience of myself and others who are having an awful time. It's really disheartening to constantly be criticized. I'm truly near the end of my rope.

I think that I'm just tired of this. So either I tailor my posts to be less negative, more band friendly and less truthful. Sorry...

My favorite is Dannon light and fit Greek.

There are tags, it's in the complications forum and I'm having the very complications Dr Keshishian speaks of...it's relevant if you're having complications, if not, you don't need to defend a device that is working for YOU. Just my $.02

Maybe this would help: Click on the recent topic, look under the blue navigation bar to see which forum you're in: Lap Band Talk Forums → Lap Band Support Groups → Lap Band Complications

The worst thing is that it may be permanent damage, and progressive.

Perhaps looking up at the top of the page, under the blue banner after clicking the link would help in determining the context. There are a lot of forums here.

Yesterday I posted some links with helpful information for those seeking revision published by a very well respected revision surgeon along with his comments about Lapband. So often we who have complications are told its our fault, the band doesn't fail, you overrate, ate too fast, didn't chew enough, ate the wrong foods, didn't call the doctor soon enough, etc. Dr Kesheshian's opinion of the band gives those who have complications some relief that the band can fail, cause lifelong complications and its not our fault. This forum should be a safe place to discuss complications, free of criticism, judgement and bullying. If you are having no complications, by all means, read the posts, but please abstain from telling anyone they shouldn't post negative threads. I'm in need of some support too. I'm also trying to help others like me reach out for help with their band troubles. They're not going to do that if every time someone posts on here, everyone joins in, attempting to discredit them. Right now, I'm scared, anxious and trying everything possible to keep my band. I don't want to lose the tool that helped me lose 90 lb, but I also cannot in good conscience recommend it to someone investigating WLS. My story isn't unique. Motility issues are more and more common in long term band patients. Most of the people I know who encouraged me to get my band have had complications and have had their bands removed/revised. It's scary when it happens to you, especially when you didn't cause the problems by noncompliance. I hope none of you ever experiences this misery...

I haven't had recent surgery, just a buttload of miserable tests. I have another one this morning. I haven't forgotten that the band worked for me, I've been trying everything possible to keep it, in fact. I posted this on the complications forum, why isn't that ok?

As I said in my response to the criticism, this post is on a complications support forum. People with complications need support and information too.

Since I posted this on the complications forum, my intended audience is those having complications and perhaps looking into revision. The links I posted have some very relevant information for people like myself who are contemplating which surgery to revise to. This was in no way intended for those of you who are currently banded and having no problems. I think the absolute intolerance of this sort of post is ridiculously immature. Dr Keshishian is one of, if not the most respected revision surgeon in the country. Context is important here...I posted on the COMPLICATIONS forum.

Dr Keshishian is a well respected bariatric surgeon who is well practiced in all types of WLS. In his own words : Adjustable Gastric Banding The adjustable gastric banding was approved and became widely used in the United States starting in 2002-2004. The early resulting data was acceptable in regards to the excess weight loss and the complications rate associated with it. As more and more scientific data was published, it became clear adjustable gastric banding was not as benign or effective as initially thought. The associated weight loss was significantly less for the majority of patients. This information was even present in the literature provided to the patient by the manufacturer. Additional patients started developing Delay complications associated with the band, which includes esophageal dysmotility, a worsening of reflux, and continuous nausea and vomiting, in addition to inadequate weight loss. In my opinion, the adjustable gastric banding procedures are inferior to the alternatives available. The specifics of different surgical outcomes are outlined on the poster available on our website. Adjustable gastric banding should be considered as a last resort, if at all, as a surgical procedure for treatment of morbid obesity and its associated comorbidities. Other complications that continue to plague adjustable gastric banding include slipped band, erosion, esophageal dilatation, and the required need for frequent adjustments. The LAP-BAND AP® System http://www.dssurgery.com/procedures/adjustable-gastric-banding.php?subnav=2 http://www.dssurgery.com/images/weight-loss-surgery-poster-large.jpg

This is why a supervised preop diet and psych evaluation are necessary. Her band worked, she lost 10 stone (14 lb = 1 stone) or 140 lb and blew up her band. In this case it's a real waste of British taxpayers money.

Hope you feel better soon Donna. I had both types of influenza in December, A and B...knocked my socks off both times.

3 days clear liquids, 4 days full liquids 7 days purees and mushiness Day 15 start introducing solid foods one per day as tolerated. No raw veggies for 3 months

According to the CDC, flu season can extend into May. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

Have your family wipe down every surface in your house with Clorox wipes, confine the sickies to one area of the house and keep them, their trash and all the potentially infectious stuff away from you. If all else fails, go to a friend or relatives house till this passes.

Lifetime partner???

That's too bad, but it is a very fixable problem. I'm sure it will be fine now that it's fixed. I've heard of people needing the entire band replaced because of a leak or other defect. I hope you heal quickly and are back on track soon!

In a couple more days if its still bothering you, you can scrub it off with one of those facial scrubby things that have loofa on one side. Check with your doctor first, but I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive that drove me nuts with itching and my doctor gave me the ok to gently scrub it off in the shower.

Benefiber comes in single serving packets at Costco, dissolves completely in coffee, tea or just water...2-3 per day adds about 10gr fiber. Getting your water in also helps with either problem.

I'm going to throw my $.02 in here...a very loose band is more susceptible to slipping according to my band doctor. At my last Esophogram a couple of weeks ago, as the barium literally dumped into my stomach, the band was just bobbing around, up and down as the fluid settled down. The radiologist and PA were both concerned that under certain circumstances, my lower stomach could prolapse up through the loose band and get caught. When I had a complete unfill last June, I was also warned that loose bands are more easily slipped. I don't believe it's a huge risk, but just thought I'd share.

I cut it into 1/4 in slices and it goes down fine.

I wouldn't recommend the band after experiencing severe complications despite keeping my band loose and and being completely compliant. Here is my history with the band, copied and pasted from my blog. 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. 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

That's great to hear! Will continue to pursue VSG revision.