At nearly 18 months out, I began with the reflux out of the clear blue…..never had it in my life. I would wake up choking on stomach acid. I did notice a couple times when I ate, I had a gurgle or two or a feeling of something going down as if to make more room, etc. I only allowed the reflux to go on for about 4 days before I called my doc. I just felt I should have it checked out. Then when I was in his office I started second guessing myself -"what the hell am I doing here - it's probably a simple case of reflux". Doc came in, we talked, he asked a series of questions and I did mention that I had a panninculectomy (tummy tuck) 4 week prior (during which I lost 7 lbs. of skin and fat). He said I needed a barium swallow just to be sure all was well and nothing was "migrating" out of place. He said to never second guess anything I think may be out of sorts, always get it checked. I stressed for a week until the surgery center could get me in for a test. As soon as I took the test I could see the larger than normal pouch. Tears streamed down my face as the x-ray tech explained that I had a dilated pouch. :crying: I got very emotional. :frown: PMS didn't help things but knowing I had contributed to the stretch made me feel awful. I kept apologizing for being so emotional and saying I just had plastic surgery and couldn’t gain any weight back. I spent all this money as a self-pay patient and then had the other surgery and on and on…total pity party. :mad: I was told it was caught early and that I had done the right thing by having it checked out early. He said these things usually fix themselves depending on severity. Thank God, :smile2: I realized something was off and was smart enough to have it looked at. So, half my fluid was removed :glare: :thumbdown: and I wait……………………for about 3 weeks. I did a second swallow before I left, as I’m standing there still bawling, and the tech was very reassuring and said the band had already moved back in to place; however, I still had swelling so I have to wait to start my series of fills over. I am paranoid to say the least of gaining any weight, especially since I just had a tummy tuck. :bored: As I look back on it and think about habits and such, I feel like I become relaxed to things I knew I should and shouldn’t be doing. :blushing: I was obviously overeating. I know of several times I overate because I loved what I was eating. :drool: I sit here and pray each day as I try to retrain myself with protein shakes and smaller portions that my swelling continues to go down and I can get a fill in a few weeks. I am also now motivated again to get my but in gear and get moving in hopes of not gaining while I'm partially unfilled. The moral is – always listen to your body. :wink: Don’t second guess it – if you think something is wrong – there probably is even if it’s minor. Just because I’m 18 months out doesn’t mean I can relax and not pay attention to what I’m putting in my mouth or how much of it for that matter. It has to always be a conscience effort and I know that now. Good luck to all and do yourself a favor and pay attention to your body! :thumbup:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Thanks for sharing your story....I am only three months out and I worry every once in a while that something could go wrong...