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Ok, so I am new to this forum. My name is Tricia and I was banded at St Vincents Trussville AL on Nov 22, 2011. I quickly lost 50lbs and the loss slowed down to a stand still. I was ok with that for a while and went to have them put more Fluid in my band. I went from a 7.5cc to a 9.5 cc over a few months. I got the restriction I needed, but over time developed the horrid complication of nausea and vomiting just about everything including Water. Went back to their office, ( I live 50+ miles away), had a barium swallow and endoscopy which were both inconclusive. Had all Fluid removed and basically was told my system needed a break and to reboot. I (and I know this is my fault for non restraint!) quickly gained back those 50 lbs plus a few friends. While all of this was going on, I lost the job with the bariatric coverage and now have only my spouse insurance which has no bariatric. Fast forward to early this year, had fluid put back in again and finally got an appointment where I saw the MD and not the nurse practitioner for the first time since surgery in 2011. He recommended starting over and bumped me up to 7.5cc. I explained to him that I am extremely frustrated with the band and the lack of patient care I have received from him personally since my surgery, and that I would like to explore the option of getting this band out and having the sleeve done. He said that he was sorry and basically since I no longer have bariatric coverage I am out of luck.

I have gone to a seminar for a bariatric MD in Huntsville, but he wants $500 up front with no guarantee that he will even take me on as a patient!

SO - here I am needing to start all over on my journey - almost 3 years out. I am disgusted and frustrated. Is there anyone here who has had a similar experience and been able to make the band work?

I have pain that radiates up into my left shoulder almost every time I eat anything tougher than the consistency of an egg. Because of this I end up either not eating or eating "slider" type foods that I know are no good.

Sometimes I wish I had never done this surgery!

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sorry you have had to endure such a trying time

that being said....being upset/frustrated wont solve the issue at hand.

YOU....you have lost weight before and you WILL do it again.

remember how?

the band basics?

eating your Protein first, your veggies, some fruit

(your band allotment should be about a cup or cup and a half)

and just because we can eat a whole pizza doesnt mean we should :)

start right now

get rid of the boxed items..not good for you

think fresh, think clean....drink often (to help fight head hunger and keep you hydrated)

and the most important thing.....MOVEMENT

walk.....even if you just go a half a block..its something

pick yourself up...

right now

whats done is done

the last 3 years are never to return..or get back

but you can change your future.

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If you're relying on sliders, might it be that you are too tight? Maybe stop and breathe and really, really listen in to your body to see what it's telling you. I hope you can find the doctor you deserve -- best wishes and keep us posted on your progress. You are here on the forum and you're seeking help from the medical community -- those are two signs that your head is really in the right place and you're ready to put the band to work for you.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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