Anyone remember me

[deb]

Hi all, I was never much of a poster but I do lurk a lot. I am the other Maryland patient of Dr. Von Rueden, the same doc as just jess. I have been around a few years but lost my band 6 months ago.

I feel like I know all of you regulars from following your stories for so long. Just wanted to stop by and say hello instead of just lurkin. I had my band for 2 years, lost about 80 pounds,so far have kept it off but I must say it is a daliy struggle.

Oh one more thing, I hate that old fat pic but as just jess once put it ,I am not very computer saavy, so I hope I posted this right.

deb

[chrispygal]

Hey Deb! I certainly do remember you! I'm so sorry to hear you lost your band! What happened? You've done amazing with your weight loss and I'm so happy for you maintaining! And I'm glad you've posted again. :)

[Charity]

Glad to know you are there in the shadows! Welcome back!

[PhotoNut]

Who are you? *snicker* Just kidding! Of course we remember you, Deb! I'm glad to see you back, but very sorry to hear about your band! What on earth happened? Did you post about the issues you were having? If so, forgive me for not remembering!

I'd love to hear more about your situation. Are you planning on being rebanded?

[deb]

Hi everyone, I did post about some of the issues I was having but I am not sure where.

I was never really hungry till five months out from surgery and thats when I had my first fill. I only reached 1 3/4 in my 4cc band over a year and a half.

About that time I started having trouble swallowing, felt like something hard was in my throat and nothing would go down right. The dr. looked at my band under flouro a few times and nothing was wrong. I went in had a total unfill and he had me start the after surgary diet, liquids mushies etc. The food was going down better but I always felt bloated and had constant belching for weeks, hard to be in public or work, I had no control over it.

Finally he said he didnt know why this was happening and suggested removing my band, it was my choice. After 6 months of this I was ready for it to be gone. Long story short he removed it said it was fine and sent me to a gasto dr. That doc did a upper endoscopy and said my trouble came from a severe case of GERD and a very irritated esophagus.

It took a few months after the removal before all the issues were resolved. I am thankful for the weight I lost in the 2 years I had my band but Im also not sorry for the choice I made to have it removed. I take each day as it comes,try to make good choices and so far things are going good, no gain in 6 months.

Life is good right now my 3rd grandbaby is on the way and my middle daughter only has 2 years of medical school left and she will be a resisdent surgeon.

Thanks all for listening
deb

[MoOrLess]

Hi Deb! Yep I remember you too -- sorry you lost your band but it sure sounds like you are doing great! Keep up the daily good work!

[chrispygal]

Deb, you should be very proud of yourself!

[Want_2_B_Free]

Hey Deb, sorry about the band being removed. Just curious, did any one mention anything about your gall bladder (if you still have it)? My DW just had hers removed and her symptoms were the exact same as yours. Like I said, just curious. Hope you post more often. You have a lot of valuable info to share with the newbies and the oldbies as well. People can see that they can keep the weight off, like you have, if they ever have to lose their band.

[deb]

Thanks all for your kind words, I had my gall bladder removed about 6 years ago.

Yes, I have kept the weight off but I also know if I go back to my old way of eating I will gain it all back like so many times before. The funny thing is I cant eat neary as much as preband ,if I wanted.

[Charity]

Hi There! I am now Unbanded after only one month with my band. I had complications due to erosion into the stomach resulting in infection. We can support each other!

[deb]

Wow,one month is very fast for erosion, does the doc know what happened? Is it possible to get a new band or are you thinking about another type of surgary?

[Charity]

The Dr. didn't recommend a new band since there is scar tissue completely around where they would put it. They have no idea of what caused it other than I suspect it had to do with me being high risk due to taking Remicade which lowers your immune system.

Even with that it normally doesn't appear until along time out.

I was sick for a couple of weeks prior to being hospitalized and was calling and visiting the Dr. to see what the problem was. They suspected that the port was laying on a nerve, then decided it was a muscle pull over a rib. One week after I visited the Dr. last I started having a fever and was close to not being able to get about with the pain. When I contacted them again and told them of the fever, they said to go straight to the hospital where I stayed for 5 days. The Endoscopy didn't show the erosion, but they picked it up with the Upper GI. The leaking was directly under the band and was all around the stomach area. Yes, Very rare!

["Just Jess"]

another one bites the dust............. sorry to joke - it's not funny.

deb - i am so sorry to hear you lost your band too. i'm SO glad you've kept your weight off though. i've gained most of mine back :(
i'm on track for GB now... we'll see.

[deb]

Hey Jess, is DVR doing the GB and do you have a date yet? I continue to have issues without my band. I get stuck but in a different way, it goes down but just lays there for a while. I'll have a good week and then it all starts again

I went to a gastro dr. for a upper endo and was told it is GERD and Gastroparesis,( part of the stomach is paralized and digestion is slow) which can be from diabetes which I do not have. Other causes are stomach surgery and damage to the vegas nerve.

Oh well, enough whinning, I still get on here and check to see how everyones doing about once a week. I am sorry to hear you gained some weight back but you will do fine with the GB.

["Just Jess"]

i'm so sorry to hear that you've had such a rough go at it, deb! your journey is certainly much different than mine.

yes, dr.VR will be doing the surgery... i may not have had the best go at it with him - but his reputation behind the OR doors speaks for itself and i cannot ignore that. i just hope i get approved and get on with it... bc it isn't a "few pounds" i've gained - it is much more than that aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand i've also gained a lot more insecurities and depression. it hasn't been good. i wish i had the foresight to ask if we could do a CONVERSION instead of just lapband removal back on that fateful day. :(

["Just Jess"]

deb???? you still out there? how are you doing? give us an update!

[JoyceGA]

Hi Deb! I remember you too. Sorry you had to have the band removed, but the same principles for living with a band work for living bandless. I am amazed how much I learned at B2G and was able to put into practice, since I can't get a band because of my heart.

I agree that the gall bladder could be part of your problem. My health improved once mine was removed.

[deb]

Hi everyone, yes Jess I am still out here. I have been checking in to see how people are doing and following your journey. Well I have gained some weight back since last year. I quit smoking AGAIN last christmas and by spring I was up 25 pounds.

Now I have been making better choices and going to an exercise class twice a week for the last 6 months. I feel better but the scale is not moving much, down 5 and up 5, you know the drill. Its been over a year and a half since my band was removed and I do continue to have digestion issues. My diagnosis is GERD and gastroparesis, I see my stomach doc for a checkup in 2 weeks. Thats pretty much my update, how have you been doing?

[Rini]

Hi deb glad to see you are still around!Sorry about your band. can you eat as you did before the band? I noticed in a previous post you said you couldn't. is that still the case?

["Just Jess"]

so good to hear from you deb! i am back at dr. vr's office. i miss ya!!! update us some more!!!!!

[deb]

Hey Jess, glad to hear you are doing good with dr. vr office.

Hi Rini, I can eat a bit more now but still not as much as pre band. I get full faster but I also get hungry again 2 or 3 hours after I eat. I try to keep healthy snacks to hold me over.