Re: Band has not been successful for me.....

[Guest guest]

Charline <charliwe@...> wrote:

>I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

>I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill before

the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did this,

the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was put in

during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

>Thanks for reading this

>Charline

[Guest guest]

Hi, Charline - I'm sorry you're having trouble. There should not be bubbles in

the band if fills are correctly given - but even if there are small ones, they

are not affected by flying. Planes are pressurized. Bandsters can and do fly and

dive like anyone else without trouble.

It's more likely your trouble after flying was from allowing yourself to get

dehydrated. This is common with flying, when we don't remember to drink the

minimum 80-100 oz a day. We have to take a lot of extra liquids with us and

drink them regularly on the plane. The 3 oz glasses we might get occasionally on

the plane are very inadequate.

It's also likely it was harder to keep to good band foods, and this caused even

further stoma swelling and irritation.

However, Whenever we are in trouble, NO matter where we are, we just MUST get

help - not wait a couple weeks as you did in the UK, and as you're trying to

again now. The band is very popular in the UK, and there are many band docs

around that could have helped you.

Radiologists and ER docs are not band surgeons, and have no training in fills or

unfills. All Radiologists can do is get the needle into the port with the same

fluorosopy used for access of chemo ports as they do often. All they can do is

take out the fluid.

We can't and should not guess what the trouble with your " band " is - only a

fluoro will tell. But it is your stomach that is having trouble, not the band.

Ongoing reflux is never a good thing, and every day you have it is another day

of stomach/esophagus damage.

I'd very strongly urge you to get this fill out NOW, no matter what it takes. Go

to the ER, drive to see your doc - whatEVER is needed. Waiting another 3 weeks

could mean the difference between keeping and losing your band.

I just cannot recommend that anyone who does not have quick local access to a

band doc ever get banded. We used to think this was ok 5-10 years ago, when many

of us went to Mexico and then came home to having no band docs anywhere around.

Time has shown what a terrible idea that was - a great many people without fast

access to band docs during times of trouble have lost their bands.The band docs

trying to get business often minimize this risk and do us a very great

disservice.

It's not the bands that failed, I'm afraid. It's the CARE they got that was

lacking.

Good luck - please let us know how you are.

Sandy

>

> I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

> I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill before

the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did this,

the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was put in

during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

> Thanks for reading this

> Charline

>

[Guest guest]

Charline, sorry u r having trouble. One of the things I learned is that if I

throw up, even once, you should do a couple of days of liquids. The more you try

to eat after that, the more irritated your esophagus gets and the tighter and

tighter you get.

Once, I got a bit tight and kept eating small, easy meals, and continues not to

be able to hold it down (some but not all) and got to a point where I could

barely drink water, over a week's time. I got a small unfill and was fine.

Interestingly enough, mine was also after a flight. I also heard that our band

cud expand on a flt (due to the pressure), maybe its not true and I am

psychologically effected, but I am always careful w/ what I eat when I fly now.

I don't have the reflux, so I'm not sure its the same thing, but I think even

mushies after a throw up, might be too much.

Good luck 2 u!

Gail

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Band has not been successful for me.....

I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill before

the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did this,

the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was put in

during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

Thanks for reading this

Charline

[Guest guest]

Thanks Moon shadow,

I have told you about the situation where I live in Canada. There is one doctor

who does bariatric surgery plus he does general surgery. I have the choice of

waiting or going to the ER & having to deal with doctors that don't understand

the band. I have had good & very bad experiences at the ER.

As for not seeing a doctor in the UK, I have been told by my doctor, that if

anyone but his team or the ER at his hospital touches my band, he will no longer

treat me, Since he is the only game in town, I didn't go see anyone while in the

UK. He may have understood, the position I was in, but I was going to chance it.

It was my doctor that said that must have been a small bubble in the band,

possibly from when it was out in. Pressurizing a cabin does not stop gases from

expanding at altitude. If you doubt this, take a bag of chips on your next long

distance fight.

I am booked for a flouro on Feb 24, I can't get in before that.As it is I am

being fitted in. I have had flouro several times since my troubles have

started, but nothing was ever noticed. Why would this one be different?

Since I have to wait so long to see my doctor, I was hoping someone

could tell me what the possibilities are.

Charline

> >

> > I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

> > I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill

before the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did

this, the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was

put in during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

> > Thanks for reading this

> > Charline

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have been on liquids for at least a week. I always go on liquids if I throw

up. But I have been on them for the last week because nothing else would go

through the band. I was able to have barley soup & oatmeal today. I am going to

stick with mushies as long as I have to. I know I need an unfill. I am not

trying to avoid one. I live in a starcely populated area in Canada, & there is

but one doctor that does bands within in hundreds of miles. He can't see me now,

& I refuse to go to the ER & deal with doctors that do not understand the band-

unless I have no other choice (nothing goes through the band). I know that my

stomach is inflamed. All I can do is take my medications, keep my food bland, &

eat ant-acids.

As for the band & flights. Do not believe that pressurized cabins prevent

problems with the band. My doctor said that occassionally there can be a tiny

bubble in your band- it does not need to be more than a speck. Gases expand in

flight- take a bag of chips on a flight & see what happens. I didn't have a

proplem with the bubble expanding until I flew overseas. That is a very high

altitude flight. Intestinal gases also expand in such flights & don't contract.

Fortunately (or not)that gas has a way out, not so with the band.

I know the bubble is not the problem any more & I flew to Italy this year but my

band was wide open at the time- I had no problems..... other than being able to

oiver eat on my cruise! I am wondering if it may have caused a hernia, or band

slip that resulted in my current troubles.

Charline

>

> Charline, sorry u r having trouble. One of the things I learned is that if I

throw up, even once, you should do a couple of days of liquids. The more you try

to eat after that, the more irritated your esophagus gets and the tighter and

tighter you get.

> Once, I got a bit tight and kept eating small, easy meals, and continues not

to be able to hold it down (some but not all) and got to a point where I could

barely drink water, over a week's time. I got a small unfill and was fine.

Interestingly enough, mine was also after a flight. I also heard that our band

cud expand on a flt (due to the pressure), maybe its not true and I am

psychologically effected, but I am always careful w/ what I eat when I fly now.

> I don't have the reflux, so I'm not sure its the same thing, but I think even

mushies after a throw up, might be too much.

> Good luck 2 u!

> Gail

> Sent on the Sprint� Now Network from my BlackBerry�

>

> Band has not been successful for me.....

>

> I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

> I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill before

the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did this,

the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was put in

during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

> Thanks for reading this

> Charline

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Charline, I have in the past (sadly) taken lots of bags of chips in planes.

Since the cabin is pressurized, there is no change in the inflation in the bags.

similarly, no matter how high a transatlantic flight is, the cabin pressure

remains the same - at the pressure of about 1000 feet altitude.

I've flown all over the world in the 8 years since my banding, and have not had

a bit of trouble if I remained very well-hydrated.

I've been in the OR to see lots of bands placed, and there is a procedure the

surgeons are to follow to carefully remove any air that might be in there,

before the band is inserted. This " flushing " is very important.

Then, there is a check to be done with fills to again be sure there is no air in

there. even though there still may be a tiny bubble, it does not expand or

contract enought with pressureized altitude changes to make a difference in the

band. THis was discussed at a recent Bariatric conference I attended.

Good luck with your fluoro - I sure still wish you would be seen sooner than

weeks from now.

Always your choice, though -

Sandy R, RN, MN

group co-owner

banded 8 yrs

> > >

> > > I was banded 2 years ago this month. The first 6 months went very well. I

reached a very nice level of restiction after 3-4 months. Weight loss was a

breeze. I ate all I wanted (because I was easily satisfied) & exercised more &

mors as I lost weight. I love getting outside & being active. Then in Sept we

went to the UK. Apparently I had a very small bubble in my band and it expanded

in the flight. It stayed expanded & for the entire 2 weeks away I was only able

to eat mushies. I had an unfill as soon as I got home. Since then I have had 3

major unfills. I would have small fills, but as I would be closing in on

restriction, I would get too tight after a few weeks. Before getting the fill

that ends up being too tight, I am wide open. Just after the fill I don't feel

much restriction but 3 weeks later I get tighter. But it does not stop there. I

keep getting tighter until I can only drink liquids. It has been about 10 weeks

since I had a 1 cc fill. I have been on liquids for about a week. The acid

reflux does not allow me to lie down. I have slept in my lazy-box for the last 5

nights. I have a floroscope scheduled for Feb 22. What do you think my problem

is ? band slip? hernia? something else? Have any of you experienced something

similar?

> > > I have been in close contact with my Dr's team, but if I want an unfill

before the scope, I have to go to the ER. Forget that, one of the times I did

this, the radiologist completely drained my band, including the prime that was

put in during surgery. I live in a rural area of Canada & I can't go to another

doctor, so please don't suggest that. There are short comings to social

medicine, just different ones from an HMO system.

> > > Thanks for reading this

> > > Charline

> > >

> >

>