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There's plenty of people around in Australia who have been banded for 10 years. However it was made very clear to me by my surgeon that there is no longer term data, they simply do not know whether the band will last us our lifetimes. Silicon supposedly does not degrade and is non reactive in the body but who knows.

HI I been concerned about dilation because of what i have read. I think your mind can work overtime sometimes. I was a little hypo at the begining and being a newie i no expert. I be honest i am four weeks post-0p and i begining to worry at the amount i can eat?:hungry: now? So just be strong if there no pain there probably no problem, my nurse explained i no if there wa a problem. i be in pain? :biggrin1: Hugs Lana

It's my own damn fault, I don't know why I can't just stay out of it. I honestly just wanted to let people know of some possible risks... I should know from being in online communities for years that whenever you disagree with people, someone is going to take it personally, and then make it personal. Problem is, I'm not a toughie, and I get very reactive, partly because of my depression. I should protect myself better, and just resist the impulse to type things that might be controversial. I've just put Telly on ignore, and I'll just try to keep a lower profile here, I just wish I had thicker skin, so I could participate in discussion like this, voice my opinion, and -not- go to pieces if someone gets nasty. It just gets tiring living life trying to avoid 'stress', but you don't get to pick and choose your weaknesses. I might take a short break from the forums, not sure, I get such good support and info here sometimes, it's a tough call to make. Don't feel responsible or bad, really. Laying blame anywhere doesn't help anyone.

I've read so many times in various threads about people eating super low calories, and it always worries me. And also high fat, high Protein, low carb diets... I wanted to post about the dangers of very low calorie diets and of high fat/protein low carb diets, so here is some info and the sources it comes from: "When you want to lose weight, a very low-calorie diet can seem attractive. After all, the sooner you lose weight the better, right? Well...no, that's not right. Eating fewer than 1000 calories a day can, at best be a short-lived attempt at dieting, at worst it could be a recipe for long term health problems. Your body is not designed to function well on a very low calorie diet. In fact, it goes into starvation or famine mode and tries to preserve essential functions at the expense of the less essential ones. So what happens to your body on fewer than 1000 calories a day? Your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Your body uses blood sugar, made from carbohydrates, for fuel just as a car uses gas (petrol). Without blood sugar, the brain and central nervous system, as well as other bodily systems, will cease to work efficiently. To try to counteract the lack of blood sugar from carbohydrates in the diet, your body will break down fat, which is what you want, but it will also breakdown muscle and other lean body tissue. Losing lean body tissue can be very dangerous. Even organs can be broken down to use as fuel. Losing lean body tissue can also be counter-productive. Muscle tissue increases the resting metabolic rate. With reduced amounts of muscle, your metabolism will slow. When you come off the diet, increased fat cells will form because your metabolism is slow and so your body needs less blood sugar for fuel. It is also a survival mechanism in case of another 'famine'. With very low calorie diets, an imbalance in minerals and electrolytes can occur, which can be dangerous. These govern the balance of fluids in the body allowing nerves and muscles to function. Osteoporosis can be another danger, especially for women. Often dairy products like eggs, milk and cheese are cut out of a very low calorie diet so cutting out a major source of Calcium leading to loss of bone mass. Anaemia (a lack of Iron in the blood) can also be another risk. If taken to extremes, women can find that menstruation (periods) becomes irregular or stops altogether. A lack of serotonin in the brain can be another problem which leads to clinical depression. You might find that the lack of essential nutrients on a very low calorie diet leads to a deterioration in the condition of your hair and nails. One of the great dangers of this kind of dieting is that you can become acclimatised to it. As your body reduces some of its functions, including those of the brain and nerves, and as depression takes hold due to a lack of serotonin, you can slip into anorexia nervosa - a truly life threatening condition. As mentioned above, when you finally come off this diet, you will almost certainly regain all the weight you have lost plus more leading to yoyo dieting, now believed to be dangerous. Altogether, very low calorie diets are a danger to physical and mental health. They are counter-productive and can lead to long term problems as well as a lifetime of yoyo dieting. It is far better to lose weight safely and slowly on a sensible diet." (source reference: http://www.allinfoaboutdietsnutrition.com/index.php?page=21 ) "Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. [/url]Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, Pasta, Breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential Vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and Water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" (source: http://www.barillaus.com/Dangers_of_LowCarb_Diets.aspx ) Take care of yourselves! and research the effects of your choices!!! XO Leila

This may be a silly question---if your TSH is WNL, but your T3 or T4 is high(toward hypo range) other than raising Synthroid, what can the doc give you? This is me.

Now I know it's true!! :faint: I have a friend that told me a similar thing and I didn't want to believe, but when I would have to resubmit or call several times b/c the insurance company said they didn't have the info, it did raise my curiosity. Like I said in an earlier post, I feel like I have to fight to get my honest claims paid and paid in a timely manner in which does not affect my credit rating. This attitude that so many of us have experienced, shows that consumers are forced into a reactive mode instead of being proactive in most cases. It's no wonder some people feel it necessary to put quarters or sand in their pockets. They are just playing the game that insurance companies create. I'm not condoning these actions and hope that I'm never in a position to choose. What if one of my children needed a life-saving procedure? You can bet the house, barn, AND the land that insurance would have everything they needed to approve any such issue regarding my family. I would walk on Water with the help of the Lord if I had to. Bottom line.....insurance companies hold too much power to determine our health care. The sad truth is that some of these people that make final decisions are not properly trained in EVERY field that they are covering. This is wrong and should be fixed. Anyone have any ideas?

You could always ask for some singular.....it is used both for asthma and allergies. I take it on a daily basis for both asthma and allergies. If it is allergies along with the antibiotic Ketek it should help knock you into shape quickly...... Will say prayers for you to feel better soon so that you can still have your surgery! This is no way professional advise but personal advise from a fellow asthmatic and reactive airway disease person.

I have been fighting a cough since January. Got rid of it before my appendix was removed, and then it came back. Made it thru that surgery ok, but did not have a cough then. My doc put me on a steroid dose pack, KETEK (been on it for almost 20 days now), and Albuterol when needed (using it now). He wants to make sure it does not develop into pneumonia like before. Cold seems to set off my cough. I can breathe fine most of the time, but when the air conditioner kicks on at night I start to cough. Dr. is thinking that I am developing asthma or "reactive airway disease", and says that they may not do my surgery if it does not go away soon. X-ray is totally clear. My hubby says it is allergies because I have a sneeze sometimes. Even though I am a bit scared of the whole surgery thing, since it is so close, I don't want them to cancel it. Anyone have experience with Asthma and surgery? Will they still do it? Should I tell my surgeon? Any advice?

Hi everybody. I'm new to the website so I thought I'd say hi to introduce myself. I was banded in January 2004 and had a lot of success. I lost 65 pounds in the first year. Then, last year I came down with aseptic meningitis and was VERY ill for months. Not only did I get meningitis, but I also came down with pneumonia and several other bacterial infections at the same time too. I was completely bed-ridden for three months (due to dizziness, vertigo and weakness). My doctors were concerned that I wasn't eating enough and had me increase my calories using juice and other high calorie, easy to eat foods. My weight started creeping back on during this time. No surprise - I was eating more and not working out AT ALL (I used to work out 4-5 hours a week). Anyway, long story short, I've continued to suffer from weird symptoms over the past year. I get bad headaches, dizziness, vertigo, weakness and persistent fevers. It seems I might be having recurrent meningitis, and my doctors don't know why. I saw a rheumatologist who said that my symptoms seemed similar to an autoimmune disease, but that I didn't have an autoimmune disease (not enough evidence - mostly normal blood work). She said some autoimmune diseases can cause meningitis (like lupus), but she said there was no evidence of lupus in me. She said that my symptoms seemed more like a foreign body reaction. I told her I had a LapBand, and she was concerned. She was worried that I might be having a weird reaction to the band. I spoke with my surgeon who said there has only been one case of a person having an allergic reaction to the band, but the patient presented with very different symptoms (she had a weird rash). My one worry is that I have a lot of allergies, including allergies to metal. I was assured at banding that titanium is not reactive in humans, but I've heard conflicting reports since. I'm even allergic to stainless steel (I can't wear stainless steel earrings). I recently found out that in addition to the titanium in the band, the band also contains stainless steel in the form of a connector in the port tubing. Could I be allergic to the band? And could this be causing my meningitis? Despite my surgeon's doubts, she felt the band should come out just in case. So I ended having the band removed last Tuesday (May 9th). It's too early to tell if this is the cause of my symptoms. I really hope this helps - but who knows. I'm freaking out now though, over the past year I've gained back all of my weight plus 5 (I'm up 70 pounds). I feel pretty empowered though. I was able to gain and lose all of this weight WITH the band. It really shows me that it was all of my hard work that made me lose weight, and not just the band. I know when I get better, I'll be able to lose the weight again. I'm just not that worried right now - my health is my current concern. I'm wondering if anyone has heard of people having a foreign body reaction to the band or similar complications. I know the manufacturers warn of this in their brochures, but I'm pretty sure this is to cover their @$$#$. I'm feeling pretty alone (if there is only one other person with this complication). I'd love to hear from some of you that have had band complications and removal and who have decided not to have further WLS. JennyJ 298/302/175 banded 1/04 298 - 1/2004 230 - 3/2005 band removed 5/06 302 - 5/2006

C-reactive protein (CRP) - in a nutshell. It is a protein produced by the body at times of inflammation and infection. Other causes can be high blood pressure, pregnancy, being overweight, trauma, stress / mental issues etc (anything that puts stress on the body). Having a high CRP reading can be indicative of increased chance of Cardio Vascular Disease. Continued high levels of CRP cause "Fatty plaque" which lays down in the arteries, increase chance of stroke and heart attack. Good ways to counteract an increase CRP level is with Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Flaxseed, lose weight, and of course, good old exercise. There, now everyone knows what all this darn mumbo jumbo is. I'll be scoffing the E and heading to the gym to continue my light cardio and muscle strengthening. I guess the major reason the doc is putting of chatting about this, is I am already doing the things I am supposed to to correct it. Now, stop distracting me, I'm supposed to be working.

Dawg...tell US what C-reactive protien is and does!!!!!!!!!! Come back! Somebody go get him!!!!

Woo I got my blood work back from my physical... Here's a summary: You aren't dead.... yet! Damn my doctor was right! Actually, and more seriously, my bloodwork is really good except one small aspect. My C-reactive protein is slightly elevated. This reveals my #1 peeve about the medical profession. "Your C-reactive protein is slightly elevated, we will discuss this at your follow up appointment in 3 months time". Fantastic, I'll just go ahead and worry for 3 stinking months about what "C-reactive Protein" does! (Actually, I already know what it does, and what I need to do about it, but still the frickin doc's office could have told me!!) "Fumes quietly and stomps off back to work"

Elektralite Buddy, don't give up hope. Your GP (Aussie-talk for doctor) has already told you that he doesn't know much about the band, but then says he wouldn't recommend it anyway!?!?!? You know from your research that for YOU, the band is the safest way to go, with the option of being reversed should complications (God forbid) arise. As for the bypass being a 'fast' way to lose weight (as your GP advised), did he also mention that studies have shown that after a 5-year period. weight loss for both banding & bypass patients is relatively the same anyway? If you already have your referral, as hard as it may be, you may have to agree to disagree with your GP, and go ahead & make your appointment with the surgeon. He (surgeon) may know of a GP who can see you regarding any banding appointments/issues. (?) I don't have a regular GP so just went to my closest bulk-billing medical centre. The poor old GP I saw there had to ask me 3 times what I wanted the referral for, and even then I'm not sure if he was 100% sure on what it was. He didn't seem that interested in hearing what research I'd done, so I ended up not saying much to him at all about it (had the 'spiel' prepared & everything too, darn it) I used to have a regular GP, who I'd been going to for years. I last saw him 15 years ago about suffering hypos (low blood sugar). He actually said to me "What are you worried about. Diabetes skips every second generation - your mother and sister already have it, so I doubt that you will 'get' it. Stop worrying". :faint: I suppose what I'm trying to say is even those he's your GP & you respect him for all the training/experience he has, GP's are not infallible and don't always have the best/most extensive knowledge on a certain illness/procedure - that's what specialists are for. If you've done the research, and you (& your family) feel that this is the best step for you to take, and are happy with your decision, go for it Buddy. We're all there for you too - that's what these forums are all about, hey?

Hi Laurie, sounds like your insurance is almost exactly like mine, with their requirements. They wanted me to have had meetings with nutrtionists, and physician approved exercise programs. The fact he had councelled me concerning my weight and the morbidities it was causing...high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. was all wonderful....but not enough. Nothing I had was enough, after my 2nd denial, we went to Mexico and went self pay. I wish you much luck and if there is any help I had to offer it would be all yours, but you have learned the documentation importance. So along that line, every time I now go to my Dr. I don't care if it is for a stuffy nose, I intend to complain about heat rash or some skin issue under my belly fat, and beneath my breasts, and if he does not seem to be writing it down in my chart, I will go so far as to ASK it to be documented that I requested help for it. I just got my band this week, and am only down 10 pounds with the pre-op diet and all, but I am prepping for the day the PS is necessary, and hoping this talking it up now helps! I lived....and learned....gonna try it this way now!!! Proactive vs. reactive to the insurance nonsense!!! Kat

The silicone is non-reactive, I've never heard of anyone having a reaction to it. It wouldn't be the material of choice for medical implants if that weren't the case. And just last night at a new patient seminar, someone asked about having an allergy to titanium. The doctors were surprised--evidently it's HIGHLY unusual for someone to have a reaction to titanium. But evidently Inamed makes a band without titanium in it, so if you know you have a titanium allergy there is another kind they can order for you.

You have to go on that new inventors show with the new elbow screw for weight loss Jack, you could make millions!!! HA!! It is just so comfortable to fall back into those old eating habits...it's easier than to actually have to think about what is going into our mouths or to think about it and then throw that thought away because the food is so satisfying for the moment. I am getting on the scale in the morning and I know some crying will be going on afterwards and I hope that will kick me into shape because I am sure to have gained weight this week. Good thing the PMS is done though so I should be less reactive to my cravings hopefully. I'm still not back on track, but hoping to be so soon enough I've still got to lose another 75 pounds and the second half will be sooo much harder than the first half!

I am also hypo and I haven't had a problem at all since banding, EXCEPT when I had an issue a couple of weeks ago with my band being too tight. I couldn't keep anything down, so I was constantly lightheaded, passed out twice. Once I had a small unfill, presto, no more problems. So the Protein definitely helps. leenerbups - I have actually passed out at work - how embarresing is that! They called an ambulance and made me go to the hospital - no fun at all.

Ya know, I often have a similar feeling... but for me it's after I let myself go too long between food. When I eat after that, I crash... and almost always require a short nap to recover. I'm not the most experienced hypo, though, lol, by any means. Hopefully the others will have some advice!

ok - so I have a question for all you hypo's (thats sounds funny) Ive noticed that this strange thing happens to me when I eat only protien for Breakfast (like a meat patty, egg, etc. - when NO sugar/carb's are involved). About 30 minutes after I eat, I start sweating, get all shakey, my energy level drops dramatically(like from a 10 to a 0 in seconds) Im so weak I can barely make it to a chair. Only way to get going is to get sugar into my system. But whats odd is that I always drink 3-4 cups of coffee for breakfast with lots of cream and turbinado sugar. With that much sugar in my coffee, I cant imagine my blood sugar dropping just a couple of hours later... ??? My mom is a diabetic (I know, I know - it runs in the fly) and yesterday I had this "episode". Mike happened to be home and quickly ran to mom's to get her monitor. I TRIED to not consume anything until he got back, but ended up having some Cookies. Approx. 10 min's later is when I checked my b/s level - and it was 83. Im not calling the pcp for this (at least not right now)... cause I KNOW I can control it with diet (which has been HORRIBLE lately). I just wanna know what the heck it is.

Hey fellow hypos, ever pass out (or almost) in public before? And don't you hate the cold sweats? When I have an "episode" it wipes me out for the entire day. It take me 24 hours to recover from it. Havng hypoglycemai has made me afraid not to have sugar or food around just in case. I keep candies in my coat pockets.

3 weeks, awesome!! I'm borderline hypoglycemic (i.e. I never bothered to get diagnosed)... and I use the Isopure Zero Carb RTD Protein drinks extensively (about $3 per bottle, but 40g protein, ZERO carbs & 160 calories). They rock... 20 oz, I can sip on them for an hour or more. (I read about someone taking shot glasses of them every hour, hehe, too much work for me. ) The main thing for me was to be sure I was drinking something every couple of hours, because just after surgery I didn't really feel like it. (You know how that goes....) Paula -- hypo = too little, hyper = too much. Hyperglycemia = high blood suger (not sure how this differs from diabetes, or even if it differs), hypoglycemia = low blood sugar.

What is the difference between hypo and hyper glycemic and diabetes? I should probably just search the net... ?

I've had thyroid disease for many years. I've had more than one Endocrinologist tell me "you can't blame everything on your thyroid". Like being overweight, thyroid disease does run in families so it's very likely that you could have a thyroid problem. If you're being advised to take thyroid medication by a PCP, don't take it! Go to an Endocrinologist and have your thyroid function checked. The biggest mistake people make is listening to a doctor who has no clue what they're dealing with. See a specialist. When you start toying with your thyroid function you are playing with more than just your weight. Your thyroid controls a host of functions in your body that you won't even think of. Over-medication, under-medication, and non-medication of your thyroid can causing lifelong damage to your other glands and organs. If your TSH level is between 1.5 and 5.5 and a doctor puts you on thyroid medication that doctor is a quack. That is a normal thyroid function and medication can cause your thyroid to become hyperactive, which is just as bad as hypo. In all the years I've been on thyroid medication I've not been able to lose the weight I want to lose. My thyroid function has been in normal range for many years. I lose some weight, then it just stops. I eat a healthy diet always and see my Endo every 3 months to have my TSH checked. Sorry to sound like a medical journal. My thyroid almost killed me several years ago and I hate to see anyone taking chances with theirs...I hate even worse to see doctors handing out thyroid medication.

I thought this was a really great FAQ that answers a few more questions beyond the usual what is a band/how is it adjusted type of question. Also, interestingly, the doctor talks about the causes and repair of erosion, slippage, and pouch dilation. This docter says erosion has to do with the way the band is stitched to your stomach. If that's true, it might explain why erosion is more likely to happen with some surgeons than with others. Just a thought. liquids. That said, average weight loss is 50% of excess weight at 5 years. But this includes all patients, including those who have lost little or no weight. How is the Band adjusted? The Band is tightened by accessing the port with a needle. This is most commonly done in the office. Some surgeons do it at the hospital under x-ray guidance, but this is generally not necessary, and makes the procedure much more expensive. For patients with very thick abdominal walls, it may be more difficult to find the port. In our office we have an ultrasound machine which makes it possible to access most ports without need for x-ray. Can I adjust my own Band? In theory, yes. But the answer is NO. NO. NO :confused: (you just know somebody has tried this at home) Why do I have to take Vitamins? The LapBand operation is purely restrictive, so technically you don't need to take vitamins if you are eating a healthy diet. On the other hand, by definition you are eating a hypo-caloric diet, one which will cause you to lose weight. Because of this, we worry that you won't get all the vitamins and minerals you need. This is the main reason we ask you to take vitamins after the surgery. What about the gallbladder? We don't remove the gallbladder unless you already have gallstones that are causing symptoms. Weight loss is slow and natural, so the risk of gallstones is not sufficiently elevated as to make gallbladder removal worth doing. Can the Band be rejected by my body? The Band is made of silicone rubber, and cannot be rejected. Of course it can become infected and require removal, but this is not the same as being rejected like a transplanted organ. What happens after I lose my weight? The Band causes you to lose weight by restricting your caloric intake to less than your caloric expenditure. As you lose weight, your calorie requirements diminish. Once intake matches expenditure, you stop losing weight. How long does the Band stay in? The Band stays in forever. If it is removed you will regain all the weight you lost. What is a slipped Band, and what causes it? There are two types of slippage; anterior and posterior. This refers to whether the front or back side of the stomach slips. There is something else called concentric pouch dilation, but this is not the same as slippage. Slippage or prolapse is when the stomach slides up through the Band, making the pouch bigger. If this happens the Band usually becomes too tight, and patients experience symptoms of reflux (heartburn) as well as nausea and vomiting. This is because the amount of stomach being “squeezed” by the Band is increased, thereby obstructing the Band. There are several causes. Posterior slippage was more common when the Band was placed by the “perigastric” technique. With this technique the back side of the stomach was free to slide up through the Band. These days most surgeons use the “pars flaccida” technique, which was developed to prevent posterior slippage, and has more or less eliminated the incidence of this problem. Anterior slippage is when the front of the stomach slips up through the Band. We try to prevent this by suturing the stomach below the Band to the stomach above the Band, “locking” the Band in place in the right spot. In spite of this, slippage still occurs. It can happen because we haven't placed enough stitches, or they haven't been placed in the right place. Slippage can also occur if patients eat too much and vomit frequently. How is a slipped Band diagnosed? Fortunately, this is very easy. Often the diagnosis is made based on the history alone. A patient who has been going along fine, with no problems, and then suddenly develops reflux symptoms or symptoms of a too-tight Band will most likely have a slipped Band. The diagnosis is easily confirmed with an x-ray and barium swallow examination. Endoscopy is rarely necessary. How is a slipped Band fixed? A slipped Band needs to be fixed with an operation. The Band has to be dissected out, all the sutures removed, and the position of the stomach made right. Some surgeons remove the Band and place it back through a new tunnel. Others just straighten things out and re-suture the stomach over the Band. What happens if the Band slips again? That's a tough one. One could certainly try to fix the slip again, but my personal view is that, for whatever reason, the Band is just not working for that particular patient, and ought to be removed. What is a Band erosion? This is when the Band actually erodes into the stomach. It is a more serious problem, and generally requires removal of the Band. Band erosion is thought to be related to placing too many sutures (or too tight sutures) at the time of Band implantation. Surprisingly, Band erosion is often unnoticed. Occasionally the port will become infected if bacteria track along the catheter out to the port. Other times patients will stop losing weight. Diagnosis often requires an endoscopy. What is concentric pouch dilation? This is technically not the same as slippage. In this case the pouch just seems to be enlarged. Sometimes partial emptying of the Band may help with this. What is esophageal dilation? This is when the esophagus enlarges over time, and is probably related to either too tight a Band, or possibly improper placement of the Band around the junction of the esophagus and stomach. This requires loosening or removal of the Band. What happens if my Band has to be removed because of complications or failure to lose weight? One option, of course, is to give up on weight loss surgery. Another option is to convert to another procedure such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This can be done at the same time the Band is removed, and is generally done laparoscopically. If you have questions that have not been answered by this FAQ, please send them to me and I will try to answer them for you. Mark A Pleatman MD 43494 Woodward Ave. #202 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Phone: (248) 334-5444 Fax: (248) 334-5484 Email: pleatman@laparoscopy.com

Since day ONE of my LapBand surgery (5/11/05), I've been having problems... at first I couldn't swallow spit. They took a Barium Floro and found my esophagus was bulging. The remedy was not drinking anything and walk, walk, walk. It worked but I still have issues. I have a feeling I have reactive esophagus type problems, similar to reactive airway disease (which I believe I also have as an asthmatic). I was wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and, if were checked out by a doctor, what the issue was... Here I go... - Sometimes ... and then other times ... A small sip of hot tea gets stuck (like right now) and I gurgle for hours - nothing seems to unstick it. Then I can eat a whole pizza with the crust and no problems! Then nothing goes down at all but liquids in very small quantities. When I get hungry (physically) I resort to eating chocolate, which unfortunately goes down real smooth... sigh... then I have no problem getting down extreemely small bites of half of a cheese sandwich on high Fiber bread, but it can take over an hour to finish half the sandwich... The most frustrating thing is... I'm only loosing 1 1/2 pounds a MONTH! Grrr! I sure would appreciate any feedback from anyone that has experienced these symptoms and has found a resolution for them. By the way... yes, when I can finally get things down (usually a LOT later in the day) I drink at least 60-80 oz of distilled Water a day and take liquid vitamines in some of that water... and no, I'm not walking enough... but do spend the enitre day on my feet at work, walking, not sitting - ever. Yes, I've had a few fills – and then all the fill taken out when all at once I couldn't swallow spit for 2 days. Two weeks later it was filled again with a very small quantity and I've been in this place ever since then. So annoying! For all of you that haven't had the band installed... truthfully, I'd still have the band installed. I consider it a "speed bump" - no more “binge eating” or “wolfing” food for me... At least I'm down 1.5 pounds per month rather than up and I actually can shop in the petit department, even though I'm on the high side of the rack.