Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Looking for 2004 Banders who are struggling!?



Recommended Posts

I got my band in 2004, and lost 50 lbs and kept that off, but REALLY need to lose another 50 lbs. I got complacent. With the band, I would just never know WHEN I would have a bad experience with food, so I stayed with what I knew was ok. Believe it or not frozen pizza was (is) the mainstay of my diet! I could eat anything crunchy so crackers and Cookies were always a good bet! Potato chips and torrtia chips were ok also! However, I started getting GERD. Bad. Then my brother died very suddenly (6 weeks) from esphogal (sp?) cancer. Scared me! I had an endoscopy to be on safe side. It showed Barrett's esophagus! Which are bad tissues that COULD eventually turn into cancer cells. So I decided to have my band totally emptied - get my body well, and then start over SLOWLY -smartly, and listening! So I am going to go another month with no fill, start walking, (since I NEVER exercise) and start over with as much enthusiasm as when I started this journey.

I bring up GERD, for you to be very aware that left untreated it is very dangerous.

Need to exchange ideas and encouragement with others!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Howdy:

good to hear you are on top of a management plan for your situation....

I've had 'issues' now & then I've discussed here before but no GERD.

Had multiple barium studies, band placement studies & endoscopy for recurring slimes/PBs/kak up something that didn't fit.

All that was resolved when reducing fill. My best point was around 1.6/4cc band. 1.7 always gave the 'too tight' scenario. Have been somewhat deflated to around 1cc the last 8 months, with almost zero BP issues.

Of course, I've managed to eat more and have gained a few pounds.

Amazing how easy the Old Bad Habits of "Sport Eating" return.....although I have yet to return to my old habits....so SOME Good Habits remain.

"Only the Game Fish swims upstream"

cheers on your NEW journey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks for the info, good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother.

I also feel like I'm starting over with my band (2005 surgery) so hope we can give each other support.

Julie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

been a while since I've visited here, any body home???

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi jack. Yes I am hear, but just retread my January post, and except for a small fill nothing has changed, except I have gained weight, have not walked and am thoroughly disgusted.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

always search for updates, guess the Old Bandsters have gone on to some other project!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm still here, jack. Just finished my 9th year... I'm a 2006 bander... But I agree, not many of us left here...

The sleeve is the new standard I guess.

Glad to be healthy and happy for 2016????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×