So... I had to get a complete unfill yesterday...

Dr. Acosta at Dr. Ortiz's practice, is their fill specialist, he said I've stretched my pouch quite a bit. Apparently, I had been over-filled for some time.

He said that was causing my reflux, feeling of no restriction, and lack of weight loss in some time. He said: "Reflux is NOT okay, and not something I have to just 'live with'. If you have chronic reflux, something is WRONG. It usually means your band is too tight." I could have hugged him!

The good news is that he said I was smart to come see him when I did. He removed all the saline from my band, put me on a liquid-only diet for a week, and said to come see him in 3 weeks.

He said that the issues I had, and the enlarged pouch, were just a precursor to a slipped band. Man am I ever glad I went to see him.

He said that it'll probably settle back down to a normal size, then I'll have normal restriction again, and no reflux! This is going to sound a bit silly, but I think it is returning to a normal size already. Gravity must help. I felt like things were rearranging themselves in there even as I sat in the car waiting to cross the border.

A bowl of Soup gets me full again! Can you believe that?

I just thought I'd share my scare (lesson) with you all.

--Mike

P.S.: I think it's very cool that OCC has a doctor specializing in fills. He is VERY good at it, and can spend more time with you that Dr. Martinez could.

P.P.S.: Sorry if this sounds like a commercial for OCC. It's not. I am just so darn happy to be getting these problems taken care of finally.

I am still defilled, running on empty, because I am still kind of reflux-y. I sure do miss my band although I don't have anything like the appetite I used to have and I do continue to eat carefully. I know that I will miss my band even more now that I am in the process of quitting smoking. It was being an oral grrl which got me into difficulties with my weight and now my other favourite oral activity is gone, too. Oh, ugh! :phanvan

I sure am chewing a lot of gum. I don't like chewing gum. It's a lousy substitute for a good meal and a smoke. I sure do miss my band.... It's gonna have to be willpower for Green at the present. :tired

Haven't heard from Mike in awhile. Mike, tell us how you're doing?? :bounce:

StephM: Great information. I am sorry you and Green have been having those problems and are having to go through a healing process. I do hope that all is well when you're finished with the liquid diet.

Green you're sounding better. I know how much you're missing smoking. I still have one or two occasionally. It's a bad, nasty, tough to beat habit. And it sure wreaks havoc on a hiatal hernia! You're smart to give up those stinky ole fags.

This is the 4th day of my non-smoking regime. :tired Man, do I miss smoking! :omg: Man, do I miss a filled band! :phanvan And I don't feel as calm or as intelligent as I used to, either. I still have that creepy little reflux cough. :rain:

green: The cough is the last thing to go. Hang in there. You'll start feeling so much better, you're gonna want to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Hello all. Just thought I'd check in. I'm doing great. Just 23 lbs from goal. I don't recognize myself in pictures anymore. :-)

If anything, I probably need a fill. I think I've lost a lot of internal fat as well. I'm trying to wait to go back to see Drs. Ortiz and Martinez until I'm at goal. Then I'll get myself a maintenance fill and start learning a new normal.

--Mike

Edited April 27, 200818 yr by MIKEinPWY
Typos

I was banded 8/07. Things were not progressing until my 4 th fill in December - now losing weight consistently, down 37 pounds. BUT...this week some thing has changed. I can drink liquids (all be it slowly), but I am not able to hold the usual volume of solids that I was able to only 2 weeks ago. I am running to make myself vomit almost evey meal and usually more than once. I guess I'll go to soups only for a few days and see what happens. I love the fact that I'm losing weight so well now, but should I get my band opened?

Hi! It sounds like your band is too tight. The same thing had happened to me and I went back to the doctor and he took some fluids out and I starting eating good again. I've had my surgery last March of 07 and I've lost 115 pounds. I feel great! Keep up the good work. It is certainly worth it.

Hi Everyone!

I've had my band put in last March of 07. I've only had two adjustments the whole time and have lost 115 pounds. I feel great most of the time, but sometimes I get reflux so bad that at times it burns the back of my throat. I went to see the doctor back in December and he opened the band all the way and said that I should feel alittle better. Well, like I said, I have good days and bad days. Does anyone else have bad reflux conditions?:huh2: