so – here’s a little more on what happened. back in January I was at the sundance film festival for work. and something got stuck. really stuck. to the point that i couldn’t even swallow my own spit. but i was at sundance. and there aren’t any band doctors in park city. so i was miserable. and i pushed it. and it was bad. so when i got back they tried to take out all of the fluid to see if the pouch (which should have been the size of a walnut but was now the size of a tangerine) would go back to normal….but it didn’t. he said it was lap-band dilation (continually overstretch your pouch by overeating, eating too fast, taking bites that are too big etc), you can cause your pouch to dilate or stretch out.) and my lapband was not the same. i did not have the same restriction. i could eat just about anything no matter how tight it my band was. so i waited – hoping it would go back. and waited. and ate. and waited. and ate. and gained. so then talked to the doctor again and decided to have him go “in” and move the band up a bit to make it the size of a walnut again. however, this would cost $12k. now – fortunately, my insurance should cover it this time – but as you all know, insurance takes a while. so i had to wait several months to get insurance approval. once it was approved, i had to wait to get a surgery date. all the while, gaining more weight….so here i am – at 178 lbs. when 6 months ago i was at 122. a size 4 to a current size 14. surgery was 2 days ago. they replaced the band b/c i thought as long as they are in there, why the heck not! but – now i have to go through the whole liquid/mushy stages again and wait a month for my first fill, etc. lesson learned – follow the rules. on a side note, my husband got his lap-band in march and has lost 40 lbs and is doing great. hope everyone is doing great. anyone else had this happen?
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Wow. That really sucks Lise! I’m glad you were able to get that fixed though and that you’re back on the road down. I had a similar problem where I must have been eating too much too, because my band started to slip a bit. I had to go over 5 months without real restriction, 3 with none at all and then two more with barely any. I gained about 10-12 pounds during that time. It sucked.
Good luck with the second time around, and keep up updated!
Hi Lise! It is good to see you back, I have been wondering about you!
I am sorry to hear that you have been having problems with the band. I am glad, however; to hear that you have had it replaced.
I can understand your frustration about having to start over again, but I know you can do it. You were so successful the first time. This time you know things that you didn’t the first time around. Good Luck! <3
I am really sorry to hear that you have had a problem with your band. Your blog was such an inspiration to me when I was making the decision to have surgery. I hope the new band treats you well and that you are back on track soon.
You are back….sorry under these conditions. I read your blog when you were first banded, and I lurked and watched for the year. Finally I got banded and you were long gone…however, it has been hard for me to get people to leave me any comments. So, in order to compare my progress and what I am going through I go to your old posts. So your April 08 is my July2010
Anyway, I hope you choose to keep posting, and I wish you and your hubby all the best. 2 bands in 1 family should make it way easier to keep to the program. As for me, I was banded May 20 by Dr. Chock at NWWLS.
Lise,
How did you know that the band had slipped. I am in week 5, and although I am not super hungry I feel as if I can eat more that I did when I was on liquid/mushy stage? please advise.
Hi Lise-
So sorry to hear your problems but glad insurance is paying for your replacement. I just had my 2 yr anniversary and am just maintaining at this point. I have lost about 113lbs…i would like to lose about 5 more, but I am at the point now that if I tighten my band anymore I will have all kinds of issues. People say the lap band helps with reflux, but I never had reflux prior to my band but do now…also, if i eat anything after about 7:30, I feel like it stays in my esophagus all night.
Also, I feel like I ate healthier foods before…just way too much of them! Now, I don’t eat much, but have HUGE sugar cravings, and find myself eating things I know will go down even though they may not be the healthiest.
I am however very happy I made the decision to have the surgery, because I couldnt have done it on my own.
Best wishes to you, and hope you get new restriction soon!
Nancy
Lise, So sorry to hear about your ordeal! I have thought of you often. Be encouraged and keep posting, as you can see everyone REALLY wants to read your blog.
I have gained about 6 pounds the past month since I had some of my fluid taken out because of reflux. I am now at 154. The reflux is better but I can eat lots more than I did before the unfill, and this has me concerned.
I am like “Nancy” in that I used to eat good real food, but too much of it! Now, I am eating tiny amounts of good food, and too much sugar! I even ate pizza tonight and then a big Ice cream coffee drink…the only reason I haven’t gained more is that I work out about every day…
You post has been a wake up call for me…Starting right now, I am going to start to eat better and limit my sugar intake. I will take smaller bites and chew my food well. I could not afford to pay for any future surgeries, so I am going to watch myself more closely! Any more do’s or don’ts??
Take care, Robbie
So glad you’r back, but so sorry you’ve gone through so much. Yours was one of the blogs that most inspired me to get banded. My sister has experienced what you have and I’ve spent the past 11 mos. (banded 10/2009) worrying about it. I don’t blog, but I’ve requested from a few long-time bloggers to post or write about how long they expect theirs to last. I really didn’t go into this expecting my band to last more than a few years, but that makes me sad. Hope this one works better for you – you’re lovely all the same.
Lise,
Glad to see you are back, but sorry you had to go through this tough ordeal. Happy to hear your insurance covers it and that your hubby has it now too. Now you both can support each other
.
There is no doubt in my mind that you will get back to goal in no time. You were my inspriation to get the lapband at NWWLS (11/11/2009). We have a lot of similiarities (self pay, low starting BMI, goal weight, age, I’m a PNW girl, work place, and current weight). Been waiting to write you for a loonnngg time but assumed you wouldn’t be back. Email me if you’d like to talk. Would love to chat.
Hoping everything goes smoothly and that you’ll post more often
. We’re here for you.
Update Please
Lise, so sorry to hear about your setbacks. I’m with you in spirit. Selfishly, I must admit that I’ve missed your blogging girl!
Hi, Lise! I hope things are going well for you now! I was sorry to hear about your set back, and am hoping all is going really well for you and your husband on the band front!
So sorry to hear about this unfortunate turn of events– but thank you for sharing this cautionary tale. Your blog is one of the first blogs I started reading when I decided to get banded (had surgery 1/4/10.)
I wish you the very best of luck– and I am sure you’ll drop back to where you were– you were SUPER successful the first time, and clearly very motivated.
Please share the journey if you have time– definitely want to root you on!
PS: please come visit my blog at any time!
Seriously, didn’t you learn ANYTHING? You didn’t learn how to eat, you went back to how you ate before?!!! I’m assuming since you ‘haven’t again posted in months that you’ve screwed it up again. Well, good luck to ya!
Anonymous-
Why so bitter and judgemental? I guess if we all learned our lessons the first time we wouldnt need to be banded. This is Lise’s journey and if she doesnt want to post, it’s really none of our business.
Nothing like a Monday morning quarterback. . .
Wow, the lap band is super dangerous and you really have no willpower.