thesuse

Hi all - hopefully some good news. I just spoke to Dr. So and he thinks it's premature to call this a slip, since I can still eat and drink just fine. He told me to go on liquids for 7-10 days and take Maalox or Mylanta for a week to heal the inflammation. My doc also prescribed Prilosec, but he still wanted me to take these as well. He seems to think it will go back to normal! He disagrees with my doc about trying a fill so soon (she wanted to do it in 2 weeks). He wants me to wait at least 4-5 weeks. I'll try to go back to the OCC in July while I'm in California anyway. Hopefully that will work out. I'm still a bit scared about whether it will fix itself, but I feel MUCH better now - and it's good to get further guidance on how to give it the best chance at healing. I'll let everyone know when I have an update - hopefully good news! It is so great to be able to call the OCC and speak to a helpful doc whenever you have a problem. Thanks again to all for the support! Susan

Thanks all for the advice and support! I'm waiting for 9am Pacific time to call the OCC. (Actually I have a meeting from 12-2pm Eastern time, so I'll call right afterwards - aargh).

I've never heard that drinking before bed can cause a slip - Diana just mentioned it because it can cause the same symptoms as a slipped band - having liquid come up while you're sleeping - or just after laying down. As long as it's not causing you any problems I don't think it'll hurt your band - of course I'm not a doctor! But I don't think so.

Hi Diana - thanks so much for the support! Yes, drinking right before bed can cause problems even without a slip or anything. Once I started experiencing this I made sure to stop eating about 3 hours before bed and stop drinking 1-2 hours prior. It helped a little, but not enough. My doc explained to me that essentially I have a little overhang on my pouch where liquid gets trapped, and then it comes up when I lay down. Lovely... Yeah, my doc is afraid I'll start regaining if I stay unfilled for too long, so she wants to try adding more fluid fairly soon. But at the same time, she isn't that optimistic that I won't slip again if she fills again. I guess just based on her experience, once a band slips it most likely will slip again. I'm not sure if I'm in fantasy-land, but I'm hoping that perhaps having an unfilled band will be enough to help me maintain, or even lose a bit more. As long as it's not affecting my health and I'm not gaining I'd rather avoid another surgery. Anyway - thanks again for the support! I'm really trying to keep a positive attitude and believe that all will work out one way or another. So good wishes are very helpful!

Hi all, It's been ages since I've posted on this forum - although I pop in every once in a while to see how everyone is doing. Greetings to all! I hope you're all doing better than I am right now. I just found out on Friday that my band has slipped. As you can all imagine I've been terribly upset about it all - but also very confused. I've never been horribly tight - after my second fill I was too tight - it hurt to eat solid food, even just one bite hurt going down, but I just stuck to liquids until I got an unfill and did not PB more than once or twice. All together I've only PBd about 5 times since being banded. I thought that was the main reason for slips, so I have no idea why this happened to me. I started getting heartburn in March and by April I started waking up choking on stomach contents coming up in my sleep. It was never food, either saliva or stomach acid. I went in for a small unfill and the choking thing stopped - although I was definitely a bit looser than I would have liked. After a month the night reflux started again. I called my doc's office and they scheduled me for an esophogram (x-ray with barium swallow). In the last week I also started feeling tighter than I had in a while. I was worried I had a slip, but actually thought that I was being paranoid to think that was what it was. Well that was what it was. My doc gave me a total unfill and scheduled me for an appt in 2 weeks to try giving me a fill again. But she seemed to think that most likely this won't work and I'll slip again and need revision surgery. She seems to think that my insurance will cover the revision even though I didn't qualify for my initial band (thus doing it in Mexico). She didn't tell me to do liquids or anything. Since the unfill the night choking has totally stopped. Strangely, I don't feel that different fill-wise, I feel some restriction still - I guess maybe because my stomach is filling more of my band than it should. I only had 1.6cc when she emptied my band - The most I ever had was 2cc in a 4cc band. If anyone else has had a similar experience I'd love to hear how things worked out for you: - anyone have a slip that corrected itself? - anyone get revision surgery that was covered by insurance? - any opinions as to whether I should do liquids for a while to help the slip correct itself? - my inclination is to wait longer than 2 weeks before trying a fill again so it's more likely that the band/stomach are in a better position. I don't want to do liquids of course, but I might in hopes that it will help - anyone have an experience like this and were able to maintain their weight loss with an unfilled band? I appreciate any and all feedback. I really can't afford more surgery, and I'm also somewhat reluctant to invest more money/risk into the band since I've run into a complication that I thought only happened to those who pushed the limits; I have no sense that I can prevent it from happening again, since my behavior didn't cause it. Thanks so much all. I hope everyone is having better luck than me! -Susan

Hi there, I haven't been here for ages - hope all are well! I've used mederma (but not nearly as often as you're supposed to) since my surgery 9 months ago. My scars have gotten MUCH better as time has gone by, but of course I have no idea if the mederma made a difference or if they've just healed normally. The biggest one is the most visible, but very light. One of the others is very difficult to see - it always takes me a minute to find it to put on the mederma. My sister, who was banded the same day as me, has more noticeable scars, but our skin is fairly different - she's a bit darker/more olive than me, and she also has more sensitive skin. She hasn't used mederma. Who knows if it really helps, but I continue to use it in case it does. -Susan

I'm hardly a band expert - or any sort of medical professional - but my first thought is that you're having a standard reaction to gas blown into your peritoneum during your surgery. I don't know much about prolapse surgery, I'm just guessing that they do that. I know a lot of bandsters suffer from shoulder pain and sometimes chest pain due to the gas. But again, I'm far from an expert, and if you're having more discomfort than your doctor told you you might than definitely call and get their opinion and make sure you're okay. You don't want to take any chances with your health! Good luck - I hope you feel better soon. Susan

This is interesting - thanks! fyi - the antidepressant Wellbutrin (now available as a generic) works in part by increasing dopamine levels. And it is also sold as Zyban to help with quitting smoking - which is thought to work by helping people better manage impulse control. What they didn't discuss as a possibility is whether overeating, or perhaps just overindulging in sugary or fatty foods, can lead to a decreased dopamine response from those foods. It would be nice to think that one could correct this over time, say with a lap band. Interesting stuff...

Wow indeed! Lisa you look amazingly beautiful - and you're so lovely and wise as well. You're truly an inspiration to us all. Thanks Linda for the tip!

Yeah, I'd say a third fill would be a good idea. Good luck!

You look awesome Jann! I just sent you a PM after seeing your new pics on another thread - hadn't seen this one yet. Congrats!! What a difference - total hottie indeed!

Thanks for all the awesome info Jann!!

Glad you had a good experience overall. I didn't get a shot in my stomach - unless they did it after I was out... as soon as they woke me up I asked if my liver was okay and the doc - I think it was Dr. Acosta - smiled and said it was perfect. I was relieved. Funny, I have perfectly happy memories about my surgery overall - how many people can say that? Welcome to the other side! The weather may be less than ideal for a few weeks - but there are sunny skies ahead!

Whoo hoo!! Congratulations! I can't wait for that milestone myself - hoping to hit it by New Years. :lb21:

That stinks! After all you went through an 8 pound loss would have been a nice silver lining. But absolutely a 2 pound loss for a week is awesome - and the most important thing is that you have your health back, and now you've got a good fill level and I'm sure you'll start losing pretty steadily going forward. You passed a big ugly hurdle - and it should be much better from here! Best, Susan

Hi Tara - below is a link to a similar post from just a week or so ago. It sounds similar to what you're experiencing, and from the responses it sounds like it may be normal. But maybe check with the OCC to confirm. http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?show...477&hl=numb Good luck! Susan

Hi Kittycat - I'm not a nurse, but I did have strep about a month ago. Ugh - it was pretty miserable. I did take OTC pain killers like tylenol. I also gargled with salt water every night - I think it helps reduce swelling. I also used cepacol lozenges to help numb the pain when it was really bad. Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest - I hope it's not strep and it goes away soon!

So I got nervous when I could barely drink tea this morning and went and got a little unfill today - just .2cc out. So now I have somewhere between 1.6cc and 2.6cc I guess. The good news is that the full 1.8cc was still in there today - so my doc felt confident that I don't have a leak. I have another appt in a month - so if I need more I'll get some soon. Thanks for the info Julie - interesting that you lost a little bit in such a short time too! It is a puzzle I tell ya! I hope you're doing better now. Kittycat - how interesting that you have issues with water regularly! I'm guessing that you generally are doing okay with solids though - yes? I felt like, if I was PBing on water I'd never be able to handle solids, but maybe that's not true. My doc wants me on liquids and then mushies for a few more days - and then can't wait to see how I do with solids. Thanks for the luck - I may need it!

Thanks Jann! I'm starting to think what must have happened is that there must have been an air bubble, and so the doc couldn't pull out what was below the bubble (finally figured out that option) because I feel REALLY tight! I'm thinking maybe I actually have 2.8cc total now. I had a hard time getting creamy soup down last night, but finally did - and then PBd on water before bed. I may give it another day to see how it goes and then go back for a little unfill. Having a hard time with the few sips of water I just took to take my pills. Ugh!

Also - Hi to Jann! I'm so sorry to hear you've had such a rough summer too! I hope you get better soon too.

Vix - I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through! I can imagine how crushed you must feel after everything you've already gone through. Try to remember that this will all get better. I'm really impressed that you're losing any weight despite your lack of mobility. You're doing amazingly well with all this - and you'll come through stronger and healthier. Hang in there!! Susan

Hi all, I learn so much reading here that I rarely have any questions/concerns to ask - a good time to thank all for all the awesome candid honest and helpful feedback given on this forum - you're an amazing group! Now I do have a concern. I got my second fill today in NY (Dr. Ren at NYU). I was hoping for a lot because I haven't felt much restriction since soon after my first fill. Turns out there's a reason why. My first fill was 1.8CCs, but when she took out what I had today there was only .8CC! I've read a few comments from people who've had similar experiences, but I'm a little freaked out. I asked Dr. Ren if I might have a leaky port and she reassured me that that was very unlikely. She said maybe they really only gave me .8 last time by mistake or maybe there was an air bubble in the band (??). She filled me back to 1.8 since that was still a lot more than I had - and I feel a lot tighter for sure - I think more than I did right after my last fill - so who knows maybe I did just get .8 last time, although that seems crazy... Anyway, I'd love to hear from folks who had this experience at their second fill -- and then everything worked out - either at your next fill the right amount was in there - or you stayed at a good spot after the second fill. It just feels confusing and I can't help but worry that I do have a leak that will need to be fixed surgically. Any feedback would be much appreciated - thanks!! Susan

Wow - that's a pretty awful story. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us - so sorry you had to experience it! I'm so happy for you that you persisted in your search for help and got the great care you needed. My sister just got her 2nd fill at the OCC and got just .4 CC for a total of 2.4 - strange that you got twice as much! I will share your story with her though - she should be wary if/when she decides to go for #3. I would hate for her - or anyone else - to go through what you went through. Glad you got some food and hydration and are on the right track now.

Hi Julie, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through - sounds like a nightmare! I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better, although it does sound like you're still struggling just to drink liquids, and so not quite out of the woods yet. Glad to hear you have those protein bullets on hand - seems like exactly what you need. I go for my second fill Weds. I've been hoping I get a lot - but I guess I better hope for just enough. Take care of yourself! Susan

You look beautiful and healthy - and I think you've got the right attitude. Congratulations!