Is it me or is it close to impossible to find other Lapbanded people in our area?

I've met others with the band, but they are from California, Florida, Indiana and Michigan. My surgeon's support group for WLS are all gastric bypass folks. Our needs and experiences are so vastly different, I want to meet up with other people going through the same stuff!

I know I can NOT be the only person in the nation's 15th largest city to have had this procedure.

Reply if you're local!

Juli

Ok guys... I'm scared! I have not had a fill since April. However, in the last several weeks my restriction has been getting more and more pronounced and lately it's been to where I can't eat much, if anything, until nearly 8pm. I've been sliming and getting stuck quite a bit...especially if I attempt to eat anything earlier in the day. That said, I have even been having discomfort, at times, when drinking Crystal Light or protein drinks early in the day.

So yesterday my hubby made everyone breakfast and I decided to try a little bit around 11:30. The day before I was ok food wise so I thought if I took itty bitty bites I'd be ok. Well unfortunately I think some potato got stuck on about bite 3 so I quit eating immediately and waited it out. Unfortunately it took 3 hours and a major (TMI alert) retching vomit episode to get any relief. This was a true from the gut flu like vomit. No food of course except little teeny bits of potato skin (why I think this was the culprit). After this I tried to stay on soft foods the rest of the day, but nothing would truly go down and I was in agonizing pain in my stomach and my back and each episode lasted for 2-3 hours. I ended up vomiting again late last evening... big time deep retching vomit again and lots of mucus and slime came up (no food of course). After this last one I was feeling much better, but just thirsty so I had a few small sips of water and I was back to being miserable again and in major pain. I ended up sleeping most of the night on the couch. Putting a cold pack on my stomach soothed it somewhat so I was able to sleep, but it was not good.

I woke up this morning feeling better, thirsty, and determined I would only drink liquids today. I made a big cup of Poweraid Zero and took it to work with me. At lunch time I decided to try to settle my growling tummy with an Atkins shake and three sips in I was heading back into misery. It took 3 hours at work for me to get through this one. I spent at least an hour of that locked in the bathroom spitting into a cup. Thank goodness I work for my parents because I'd surely have been in bad shape if I was unable to leave my desk and suffer through this.

I did call my doctor's office and scheduled an appointment for tomorrow at 3:30... but then it got so bad my mother called to try to get me in today. I was given my Dr.'s cell and left him a message... it's now nearly 10 so I'm sure he's not calling me back tonight. I'm cool with that cause I'm feeling "ok". I'm still working on the Powerade from this morning very slowly and telling my grumbling tummy to hush up. I've only had one small episode this evening so I should be good to go through tomorrow if I just stay this course.

Here's my big fear... the pain is bad when I'm having an episode. I should not be having an episode with just liquids so I'm fearful that I've slipped my band with all of my slimming and vomiting the last several weeks.

I'm going to have him completely remove all of my liquid tomorrow and let my band and stomach rest for a few weeks before starting through the journey again.

As of tonight I've lost 74 pounds. This is not the way I want to do it!

Please pray for me. I love my band and do not want to lose it. I want to keep losing and working with it. I just feel so stupid... like I should have seen the signs that I was too tight before it got here, but I figured if I was still able to eat 1200+ calories a day that I just couldn't be "too" tight.

*sigh

Edited August 5, 200817 yr by HeatherA

Wow Heather,

I sure hope you get some answers. Maybe the doctor will be doing a fluoro check. Maybe just an unfill until things settle down a bit. I'm sure everything will be okay! Hang in there and take it easy like you've been until you know what's happening.

~Carol

Thanks Carol, I'm trying to hang in there... I'm heading to bed so I can forget how hungry and thirsty I am for a few hours :-)

I sure hope you make it for some of the time on Saturday. It's been too long since we were last together!

Heather - I'm so glad to hear you are going in to see the doctor. Definitely keep us posted and I will be praying for you.

Thanks Kathy, I'll make sure to post tonight after my appointment. :cool2:

Heather--You are in my prayers today! I hope everything works out for you! Let us know how things are, sweetie.

Heather-

You won't lose your band! I just know it. You might need to have a complete unfill so you can heal something. Many folks do that. There are steps between having problems and having it removed...

Hang in there an let us know what transpires.

Juli

Columbus, OH (2008) - Home

Check it out...I think I'm going to sign up for this walk if anyone else is interested to walk too.

Kathy, I'll be doing it too! Fresh Start is sponsoring it and I think all of the major bariatric programs will be helping out. I will share more at the meeting Saturday. :-)

Also, there is another fashion show coming up in October... this time it will be held at Macy's Easton and is being put on by Fresh Start. I've applied to be in it but haven't heard anything yet. Either way I think we should all try to make that a special outing in October (I think it's on a Sunday) I'll post more as I know it.

Here's my update... tried to post it earlier but LBT wouldn't let me:

Well I'm home. My doctor doesn't think I have slipped but he was

concerned about esophageal issues such as a possible esophageal

stretching. He said we can only find that out through a test (I'm

blanking on the name right now). However, he did go ahead and take out

.25cc to see how I do with that and wants to see me in a month if

things improve, otherwise I'm supposed to call him.

I am already feeling better today. I've been able to drink (sip early

in the day, larger swallows later in the day after the unfill) I am

actually working on a medium smoothie from Smoothie Planet right now

and having no problems.

After two-three days of not eating I was not in good shape today, so

I'm glad things are going down a bit easier. I will stay on liquids

today and tomorrow and then work my way back to mushies and soft. I'm

not taking any chances :-)

I just hope this .25 is enough to do the trick and get me back to

eating throughout the day rather than just at night. I also hope that

there is nothing more serious to worry about.

Heather,

I am glad to hear that you feel better. Hang in there!

Melisa

Heather,

I'm glad you saw the doctor today. I hope the slight unfill is enough to give you relief and get you back on track. It's scarey to think that things like esophageal stretching can be happening to us without us really knowing about it. Ugh.

I am really hoping to make it Saturday, but like I said I'm not sure. The Highway Patrol's 75th Anniversary Celebration is on Saturday and I need to be there to support my husband. I don't think I need to be there for very long, but I don't know if I can get away. Just not sure. Besides, I hate to go so far for only a little while. LOL

Everyone: I am in the market for a new surgeon. Can any of you recommend someone to me?

~Carol

The unknow is such a scary thing. Your mind starts going all kinds of places. I am soooo sorry you experienced this ordeal and am glad you are better . Good luck tomorrow, go slow.

Heather--Sounds like things are heading in the right direction! Hope all of your troubles are behind you!

Thanks you guys! I truly appreciate the support. :-)