imagine923

Hi everyone! Happy Holidays!!
I am looking to start a topic with bandsters in the Grand Rapids area.
My surgery is scheduled for Dec 30 with Dr Beane. I am starting my liquid diet this Thursday.
I had to go through the 6 month diet with Dr Beane and I have lost 19 pounds since May 2010.
I'm very excited to get to this point and can't wait to begin 2011 with a new me!!
Check in and introduce yourself and say hello!
Chris

I hate fat pictures but sometimes they are part of an important memory. I do not want to delete the special memories so I cannot delete the photos. Hopefully there will be lots more memories with pics of me in looking slim and happy, these days I am more than happy to pose for the camera whereas before I used to hide as I hated how fat I had become.
The next problem is wrinkles but at least it's easy to delete those before you upload them!
Sad isn't it that we can never be 100% happy with ourselves.

When I compare fat pictures to current pictures, I think, "You've come a long way, kiddo. Hang fast."
If pictures from the past upset you, put them away and don't look at them. Beating yourself up over what used to be is a waste of time and energy that can be spent on more positive things. If you can't quit torturing yourself with the past, find a good counselor and talk it out. You've accomplished an amazing physical transformation and deserve to enjoy the results.

I am just very thankful that this forum is here for me to be able to talk to other people about things that my "unbanded" friends wouldn't understand.
I don't want to scare anyone and discourage them from getting banded, but I think it's important for anyone considering the band to know everything about it and possible complications. I don't think anyone on here would not agree with that.
I'm sure we all did a huge amount of research and soul searching when we made the decision to be banded.
I never in a million years would have thought this would or could happen....I've never even heard of this before my UGI. I have learned so much in the last week.
I am eating only mushie foods and Protein smoothies because I don't want anything to happen and end up with an obstruction before my doctor is back in town.
I appreciate all the comments, and in my honest opinion I don't think anyone was curt.
My take away from this is that people were concerned. Thank you for that.

Hi Imagine923,
Thank you, good luck to you also, I will be updating as time goes on, I look forward to hearing your surgeon has returned to look after you. take care xx

Hi Elcee
My surgeon verified with me that it is not a slip. I was very worried about this and he said that everything up to my band is fine. My pouch is fine and normal size. I have a very minimal "angle" to my band but he said it is not unusual since I've been banded a year and a half.
I got a copy of the UGI study on CD today, and you can watch the barium as I swallow, see it pass through my band and go back "up" into my stomach that is flipped up.
My surgeon and I had quite a long talk last evening, and I've googled gastric vulvulos and read some interesting articles about it.
He told me that it's most likely caused by adhesions and is not common but happens mostly to women that have a significant weight loss and are "older". (gee thanks Doc!) LOL
When I eat, the food goes into my pouch, and through the band like it's supposed to. Once it goes through my band it just sits there because gravity is not doing it's job in helping with the normal digestive process. As I continue to eat, the food is pushed up into my stomach, but my stomach is most likely not emptying as it should, causing the nausea and pain. He said it can happen if you are banded or not.
Sometimes this flip resolves on it's own, sometimes surgery is needed to clean up the adhesions and put the stomach back in place. I do think that my port has moved, it seems to be up higher.
If I had a slip my pouch would be either be enlarged or have stomach up through the band. I am very thankful that it is not a slip. No danger of losing my band at this point.
I go on monday for an EGD so Dr Beane can see whats going on from the inside, and we can come up with a plan of action. I have no obstruction at this time, but that's not to say something couldn't happen that would turn this into an emergency. I am praying that my body behaves until my surgeon returns from the Lapband conference in California. I trust him with my life, and don't want anyone else messing with my band or stomach.
I am now on soft mushies until he comes back.
Hey Julez....sorry to hear that you went through so much to get a diagnosis.
I have never thrown up, just had a lot of nausea and reflux after eating along with pain.
Good luck with your surgery.

Today (12/30/11) is my 1 year Bandaversary!! I can't believe how fast the year has gone! I've lost around 79 lbs and I am thrilled!
It is easier to move around, my ankles don't hurt anymore, and it always amazes me when I can just "stand up" from a sitting position without holding on to anything, or grunting on the way up. Buying clothes off the rack without going to the Plus size section, is pretty cool too. I can cross my legs again, fit, with room to spare in a movie seat, and ride rollercoasters with my grandkids again.
I am often asked if I would do the band again. My answer is ABSOLUTELY!! It hasn't always been easy, but keep your eye on the prize and realize that the band doesn't DO the magic, YOU do the magic. You have to work the band, and follow the rules. The most amazing part for me is the food choices that I make now. I used to go into a restaurant and choose off the menu whatever I thought would "for sure" fill me up and how much can I get for my money.
Now I look at a menu and think, gosh..I'll never eat all of that. Never in my life thought I would order a cup of Soup at a restaurant or eat 2 to 3 pieces of popcorn chicken and feel full. Sure, there are times I have my own little pity party about not eating things that aren't healthy for me, like bread, pizza, and popcorn! But then I think to myself that eating those things are what got me to 254 lbs! I am at 175 now, and I feel great!
Keep your eye on the prize and instead of thinking "I can't eat this" change it to "this isn't healthy for me". "can't eat this" is a negative. keep your thoughts positive and Celebrate yourself everyday!
Best wishes to you all.