Positive people unite! This thread is being created for the sole use of positive people to give positive reinforcement to others in the group that we care about. We know that we may disagree on some issues but we will offer constructive criticism, objective suggestions, we will always give kind support even when delivering the occasional (but necessary) kick in the pants.

Well, $1100 for the gum surgery and bone graft To better secure the tooth. Oh yay! Started on antibiotics. Waiting for surgery date and time. Wah.

Feel so soory for you, I hate dentists. The problem with dentistry is that it is expensive as well as painful. If they made it more affordable people might get over their fear and actually go.

The other problem with dentists is that their work never lasts. Most of the teeth that i have that are filled have been filled more than once. Is that because they do a bad job, they just need to generate more income and cannot justify messing up another healthy tooth or what?

I also have 1 tooth that has been crowned twice. At great discomfort and great expense. I got told that it was not done properley the first time. Guess what , I have bleeding around this crown again.

The rest of my teeth are fine!!!

My phobia of dentists is so bad that I figure I died at the hands of one in a previous life. And in another life I think my chariot crashed over the side of a windy mountainous road as I can't stand those either!

Hummingbird I love your email.

Elcee...I hate dentists sooooo bad I went 7 years in between appointments in my much younger days!

I feel your pain. I have a crown that the gum has receded from and now needs a filling. Yeah, fun.

Well, I am now the proud owner of 0.25cc more saline!

The nurse practitioner did the fill this time. That was a first for me. The Upper GI showed good restricition. No dilation. She said it cannot determine an erosion, but I have no signs of one. So we are not going to do a scope. The band is at a perfect angle.

I am down 10 lbs on their scale for the last year.

My record said I had 4cc, I thought I had 5.5cc (which I did not say because I wasn't sure). She said she'd draw all out before filling to be certain.

So, no trouble accessing the port. She drew out and found that with the .25 there was a total of nearly 6cc!

We were both shocked! Was glad I did not ask for .5!

Her rules for post-fill are different than my surgeon's. Clears for today and tomorrow, creamy liquids through Sunday, mushies Monday, and regular diet Tuesday.

The good thing is, my mouth hurts and I do not really WANT to eat!

My surgeon does liquids the day of fill and normal the next day as tolerated.

She said she is more "aggressive" than he is. I am not exactly sure what she meant by that, certainly not the amount, maybe the rate at which she draws out and puts back in?

I asked her about my methods of getting unstuck, and learned I am comfortable with what I do.

She told of a band patient last week who got stuck on pizza, tried to ride it out, couldn't, they tried to scope him to remove the pizza, no luck-too much swelling; unfilled the band, no luck. Finally had to remove the band.

Object lesson for me, remember to chew, chew, chew, and take little bites!!

Betsy,

I am so sorry to hear you're going through this. You are a strong, positive person and I know you will get through this. I am glad to hear that you're in the angry stage right now though. The thought of you being sad makes me hurt for you. I agree with Leigha-- you are a very smart and strong woman and I have no doubt that you will see this through and and on your feet. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I will be thinking of you.

I have a question. I noticed Denise's post about not having dilation. I was told when I had my UGI that I had a very small dilation. I asked if it was because I ate too much or did anything else I shouldn't of. I was told no. I asked if they were going to remove fluid and was told no, everything was going down fine and that it was very slight. I wasn't even told to go on liquids...just that I was progressing nicely and my weight loss is good and that in fact the fluid was moving through so well that I probably could actual use a slight fill (but they wouldn't do it because of the heartburn and reflux). To this day, I still struggle with heartburn and occasional nightly reflux and lots of burping (most of this is the week before my period...sorry if TMI, but I get alot tighter then). Do you all think I should press this issue?? Is the dilation getting better/worse/the same? Am I hurting myself? I don't want to have any fluid taken out, but I don't want to hurt myself and potentually lose my band! have you ever heard of doing nothing for a slight dilation? Just any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

I think I am going to post this on the main board too...I'm just curious if doing nothing is ok.

Stac-I have heard of mild dilation turning to more serious dilation. Given your symptoms it would make me paranoid....(but then, I'm already a little paranoid with this little bugger). Are they planning on monitoring you occasionally and recheck or just wait and see?

I'm starting to get a grasp on the PMS tightening thing I'm just going to have to be extremely careful the week before, meat is not my friend! Now that I look back on my little obstruction event, I started having the discomfort and throwing up/PBing/whatever the week before my period and it just progressed. So, I think it was all hormone related. Damn that mother nature!

Stacie, she said today that overeating can cause dilation. Also that reflux can be a sign of being too tight.

I'd want to know more about it, myself. I'd also want to be sure that it will get better.

This is not meant to scare, it is most likely a worst case thing...

This is from my surgeons site:

Lap-Band® Complications | LAP-BAND® | Weight Loss Surgery | all-pages

Dilation or stretching of the esophagus is an uncommon complication of adjustable gastric banding. It usually is caused by prolonged presence of an overly tight band. Dilation may be more common in patients with preexisting motility disorders of the esophagus like severe reflux (gerd). One should consider evaluation of esophageal motility in patients with severe gerd before surgery. Treatment of dilation is release or removal of the band. Some patients may need to be converted to gastric bypass.

ME TOO Christie...I worry about everything, and now that the reflux is coming back I am worrying again. They didn't say anything about monitoring it. The dr didn't really seem concerned. Just hey you're losing weight at an above average pace...keep doing what you're doing...good job

Stacie, she said today that overeating can cause dilation. Also that reflux can be a sign of being too tight.

I'd want to know more about it, myself. I'd also want to be sure that it will get better.

This is not meant to scare, it is most likely a worst case thing...

This is from my surgeons site:

Lap-Band®® Complications | LAP-BAND®® | Weight Loss Surgery | all-pages

Dilation or stretching of the esophagus is an uncommon complication of adjustable gastric banding. It usually is caused by prolonged presence of an overly tight band. Dilation may be more common in patients with preexisting motility disorders of the esophagus like severe reflux (gerd). One should consider evaluation of esophageal motility in patients with severe gerd before surgery. Treatment of dilation is release or removal of the band. Some patients may need to be converted to gastric bypass.

Thanks Denise. My surgeon makes everyone get a motility study before surgery. I actually do have what is called a "nutcracker" esophagus, but was told that the condition should not affect the band.

This is one of those "you get what you pay for" moments. Keep in mind I'm in family practice, not a GI specialist but all I know about a nutcracker esophagus is that you have increased pressure in the esophagus and can cause hellish chest pain and swallowing problems...it IS technically a motility disorder and seems to have an increased incident of GERD associated with it...but can't tell ya if it could cause an increased risk of dilation (hopefully your specialists knew best and it doesn't and this is all a fluke). But again, with the amount of GERD you've had, I would think they'd want to recheck you occasionally and see if things are progressing/regressing/etc. Again, after my little incident this summer I am PARANOID but I think I'd be asking if they intend to check you again or just wait and do it if your symptoms worsen. (Okay, so I would lay awake at night imagining my band prolapsing until I knew for sure but that could just be my OCD flaring up!) The good news is you've done great and aren't having horrible problems so at worst it's probably still just a small dilation.

IDK whether to believe him or not...but the specialist told me that the nutcracker esophagus was a not progressive thing and that what it was like now would be what it's always like and for the most part I am asymptomatic (is that the right word or spelling??lol). I have always gotten slight reflux, but it was actually kinda rare, and occasionally it would feel like something got stuck (pre band), kinda like a lump in my throat, but thankfully no crushing pain or really bad relux or dysphagia (sp??) like some people have. Since my case was so minor, I was assured that I shouldn't have any problems. My surgeon did say I would be his first patient with that condition, but then again I know that it's a majority 60-70yo problem...not a 20 almost 30yo

Karen! Your FB says you went to a Coach outlet? What did you get?? Pictures, woman! I want pictures!!

Ok, so I've nearly made it through today on clear liquids. Getting sort of hungry..or maybe bored. Went into the pantry to look for some protein shakes. The only ones I had left were best by Oct 2008. Yeah, they are in the trash. Must have gotten them around the time of my surgery! They were way in the back.

Still waiting for the antibiotics to kick in. Was fun facilitating a meeting with a sore mouth!

Tomorrow is the third day on them, hopefully I'll really start to see a difference. Gum surgery scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon.

Woopie!

Denise, I'm glad to hear they can save your tooth with the bone grafting. I'm sorry it costs so much. Any time you go to a specialist it's cha-ching. When you open the door to enter their office it makes a cash register sound.

I spoke to my PA today and she wants me to come in tomorrow and get a very small amount of fluid taken out (she said like 0.1 or 0.2 cc's). This kinda freaks me out. I don't want to hurt myself in the long run, but I really have worked so hard and don't want to see any of the weight I've lost again. And of course right back into bad habits I fell because I was feeling sorry for myself. I went to Panera and actually ate 1/2 of a Sierra Turkey sandwich, most of a cup of soup, and a french baguette...and I am going for an UNFILL!! I really hope that the dilation is causing the heartburn/reflux and once that is cleared up I can go get what was taken out put back in and then some! It's so weird...there are times I am lucky to eat like 4 oz's and then I have moments like tonight that was full of bread and no problems! Jeez though I can't believe how much my mind is flipping just thinking of that teeny tiny 0.2cc's being gone. It's like I went from obsessing over food to obsessing over my weight. I need to throw out the scale now. I already step on it every time I'm in the bathroom (and trust me I wish this was an exaggeration). GRRRRRRRR Thanks for letting me vent...hopefully didn't scare you all with my craziness lol:tongue_smilie: