wish412

I have been banded since June of 2006, so I am working on 7 years. The first six were a breeze, maintained my goal weight for five, after reaching goal almost within a year,,but now, here I sit, 40 lbs heavier in the last six months due to 2 complete unfills lasting 4 months all together. One due to to severe reflux, the other due to a life threatening episode with multiple pulmonary embolisms, which also led them to see that my esophagus was huge during a ct scan, so again, another complete unfill. I have had 1cc put back in, and the next fill is Wednesday, so I feel as though I am starting all over again too. So I will also take suggestions along with you, and maybe we both can get ourselves back on track,,maybe we can be of help to one another !!

Congratulations on your wight loss and upcoming tummy tuck,,,,having read your post I thought I could offer you this advice, having gone through the surgery after a 100 lb weight loss,,,,,,,you will not be able to sleep laying flat for some time after the surgery,,I slept in a recliner first then graduated to a bed with my legs propped up on pillows to take the strain off of my lower stomach,,so I suggest you figure out exactly where you intend to sleep, and go ahead and start sleeping like that for a few days prior to your surgery,,,if you don't your back will hurt so much from the change in sleepin position that you will not be able to really get any rest...my back hurt me worse than my front did till I got used to the new sleeping position. I had to sleep like that for about three weeks till I could actually lay straight out again....good luck, and post before and after picks,,if you have any questions feel free to ask!!!!

Run jmunk run!!!!!!

I am right at four years out to the day,,and have always been called the model band patient,,lost my hundred pounds right off the bat,,the next year got tummy tuck for all the skin issues,,and always stayed the same weight give or take 1 to 2 lbs, for the last 2 years. Back in March I was traveling, and either food or something else caused me to have the worst night of nausea and vomiting,,the shakes, and inability to sit up for about 12 hours,,that hard vomiting from the bottom of your tummy, and this is the first time I have done that since my band. I don't know why, but I just felt something had gone crazy inside, but when I got back in town, I called my doc,,talked to the nurse. She said since I was so far out, that I had enough scar tissue to hold it in place,,but since I could eat and drink,,she didn't suspect any trouble. Well,,,,boy can I eat,,,,and eat and eat!!...I stay head hungry all the time,,my stomach growls again after years of not,,and I have gained nearly ten pounds. I felt I should get it xrayed, but she said it didn't sound serious, so I am just waiting it out. I can eat foods I haven't eaten in years, and haven't pb'd but once since the incident,,but my stomach wakes me up at night with pain if I lay on my side very long at a time... Sorry this is so long, but I need to hear from folks that have had serious vomiting incidents and how it all went after that,,I really am scared to go to the doctor in case I have to lose my band..my insurance won't pay for another one,,any help out there......:eek::thumbup::cursing:

Well, that could also depend on whether or not you come home with drains or not,,they are hard enough to deal with under sweats and baggy stuff,,I could not even attempt to put on regular clothes till they came out, and it was still a bit before anything tight went over that incision,,,but you just have to follow what your doctor recommends for your individual type of incision,,all seem to have different approaches to the healing process..best of luck to you, and enjoy that new shape!!!! Miz-boo

If I may throw my two cents worth in here,,,I travel quite a bit, flight, and by car,,and have never had to have an unfill, or even noticed a problem except for two occasions. Once while in Maine I went to an ice cream place, and forgot that I had one of those tummy trimming undergarments, and could not even get icecream to go down,,so while eating, don't wear restrictive clothing,,will squeeze what may already be a tighter than usual band go crazy,,,the other time I was in south Louisiana and had way too much shrimp and cajun stuff, and threw up for two straight days,,thought I was gonna die alone in a hotel room,,so alway make sure you travel with the liquid phenergan or some other anti nausea meds from your doctor so that if you do get sick away from home you can get some relief before the vomiting causes a slippage. Your doc will gladly give you something to carry with you when you travel. I got patches when I went deep sea fishing, but did not need them. Hope that helps some,,and have a great time catching up with friends, don't let the band even be an issue!!!!!!miz-boo

This is just a thought, but after my tummy tuck, when the drains were removed, I too continued to swell, and actually developed a rather uncomfortable pocket of fluid below my belly button. My surgeon took a huge needle(looked like a turkey baister to me), and drew the fluid out. It was a LOT!! After that, no more swelling,pressure, and the recovery finally moved right along. That was at about three weeks out,,so you might have them check you for a fluid pocket...Again,,just a thought,,,,,,

So you are saying that anything you can puree will be ok to do while going on liquids for a streched pouch? I was reading and when I read the post about the bra feeling uncomfortable, I knew why I have been really hungry, can eat a LOT at one time, and only get hung up every blue moon or so.. I am going full liquids for a while, haven't had a fill in a year, but have 3.2 in a 4cc Inamed and want to control this thing without running for a fill all the time. How long should it take for your pouch to stretch, cause all this eating makes my back hurt between y shoulder blades and is quite worrisome....MIZBOO

I am about 2 and 1/2 years out, and I can say that this has not been the easiest thing I have ever done, but it certainly has been the most satisfying to my heart and mind. I am so pleased with my success, haven't had any problems, had a tummy tuck after I lost 100 lbs. and never regret it for more than a few minutes while I wait for that too big a bite to go down. Best thing I ever did for myself to improve my self respect. Never looked back,,,,,miz-boo

Have they added some new people there, I only remember Tammy, Deb, and Betty. Deb was Keilins nurse, Tammy was Hekiers. This nurse practitioner thing is new to me, but I haven't been in quite a while now. I am sure they had more patients than two nurses could keep up with. Let us know how your fill works out for you.

I paid 7000.00 in Texas for mine, planning on getting the boobs reduced and that will be another 6000.00. If it goes as good as the tuck did,I won't miind dishing out for it.

Just to add my two cents worth,,I also had a bad experience with Dr. Hekier, resulting in my not EVER wanting him to see me again, I ask only for Dr. Keilin now, and it seemed ever one in the office seems to tiptoe around him, because they never would bring it to Dr. Keilins attention as we requested be done. My husband was furious, went to the clinic, and was told something would be done to let him know he overstepped his bounds, but nothing ever was said to him or anything else was said to me about it. I really have a wierd feeling about going to support meetings now because I do not want to run in to him, and am really dissapointed in the staff for not standing up for me when they agreed with me that he was very out of line. Oh well, that is my rant for the day. By the way, now that St. Micheals has taken over Wadley , what will that mean for Lapband surgeries , and Wadleys center of excellence status . I think that was some big deal in getting approved for Medicaid payment for lapbands. Also, since Keilin went to St. Micheals, and Hekier stayed at Wadley, how will all of that play out. They are still the only doctors that know anything about lapband patients who may wind up in the E.R. for something. Again, I ramble on.......

I am with you aligamamma(sp?) I need to try to make it to the meetings more often, just went through a time of sort of being bored with it all, but I need to get my head back in the game and lose another 10 lbs. I haven't been since after recovering from a tt and just sort of got my mong on that and off the band. But had a small fill in Febuary I think and am still very tight, but not losing any weight, not gaining though so all is still good. Hope to see you there next month. Mizboo

I gues it has just started since my last fill in January. I also had a tummy tuck last November too, so I really thought it was due to that, but that is all healed and it got worse when I got just a tweak fill in Jan. Some days it is better than others, but I have only lost about 2 pounds since that fill. I am lower than my goal now, but still not satisfied with the shape of things, and a bit too much fat still.