XPOST: Hello from an older Bandster and a story about a slip (w/ pics)!

Hello there! 

I still see some familiar faces on here and MANY MANY new faces!  For those that don't recognize my name I am a 2.5 year banded gal.  At my lowest point I was 82 pounds down and within sight of my goal.  A lot has happened in the past 6 to 12 months though.  I rarely post on OH anymore and I have migrated over to Facebook.  I do see a lot of you over there though.  I have also had some band issues of late that I thought would be good material for over here! 

What is that you ask?  (you did ask didn't you?)  LOL....well, I STOPPED losing weight and slowly started gaining weight regardless of the last 3 fill adjustments that I have had this year.  I am now up 22.8 pounds from my lowest which was about 12 months ago.  I started having symptoms that SOMETHING wasn't right.  acid reflux, night time cough, nighttime regurgitation (not actual vomiting), portion sizes increasing during the day.  Tighter in PM versus AM when the opposite was the actually the norm for me for well over a year.....

Guess what it was??  Yup....you got it.....a slip!

Six weeks ago I had a swallow study that showed this:



Well, as is par for the course my surgeon took every last drop of fluid out of my band, said a blessing, told me to go home, not gain weight (yeah, right) and come back in 6 weeks!

Today was six weeks!  I had the follow up swallow study this morning and my prayers look like they have been answered (the radiology doc and I think so at least) and my films looks NORMAL!!  This is what we saw today:



Now, I actually have to wait for my surgeon to give me the final verdict when I see him next week BUT it looks like my Sybil Bandster (yes, I named her) is going to get a little fluid next week!!!

Lessons to learn?  FOLLOW THE RULES your surgeon gives you!  Be smart!  Keep an anti-nausea med with you if you doc will allow it.  Go see the doc at the FIRST sign of something not being right and INSIST on testing even if they don't think it's anything.  Oh yeah, prayer (or chicken swinging and crossing fingers if that's what grabs ya) couldn't hurt either.

Not sure how helpful this will be for other but thought y'all would enjoy the pics if nothing else!

TTFN!

Sorry to hear about the slippage and unfill.  Glad everything seems to be going in the right direction now.  Let me know how much the swallow study cost since I am now self-pay. 
Wish I could tell you that I have reached my goal but I can't.  Still trying to lose those last 30 lbs. I get close and then go the other direction.  Take care and tell all the other Babes I wish them well.
Z

Z!!!!

We miss you!!  Did you know that there is an OH thingy in Cinncinati in August?  Many of us are planning on going.  Any chance you could too?

I'm the same way concerning the pounds.....about 30 pounds away from my goal right now.  I was within 7 pounds of it once....alas, that was about a year ago though.

OK, the swallow study looks like it would be about 700 (the test itself and then the radiologist fee for reading the report) if not for my insurance.  My insurance doesn't cover bariatrics so it's kind of a gray area here but so far they have paid for things like the scope and upper GI.  They won't pay for my direct fills and office visits though (although every once in a while the goofy office staff submit it and it gets paid!)

What kind of issues are you having?  Maybe your surgeons office would alllow a payment plan?
 
It's a good thing Sybil decided to straighten up on her own because had she not she would have been coming out and gotten replaced with a sleeve (VSG).  I love my band but being self-pay I simply wasn't willing to put a second apparatus in my body with the same potential to slip.

So, when are you coming over to facebook???

Becka, What a difference a year can make.    The good thing is I look the same as when you saw me in Chicago.  The bad thing is I shouldn't.  Regarding Cincinnatti, I will be free of most of my obligations in August so I will try to work it into my plans.  Had not heard about it.  Sorry to say, I have issues with the whole facebook idea so I'm staying on the porch.  So glad you checked in.  You have my e-mail and Dawn has my cell.  Just like my weight, nothing has changed with me.  LOL  Please keep in touch every now and then.
Z 

Hey Becca!
Glad to hear that your slip "fixed" itself! I have signed up for the OH event in Cincy in August...hope to see you there...I don't get to the support group @ Norton much...just too darn busy! I did have my arm reduction surgery on April 1st....and am recovering...didn't have much problems with it & am very happy I had it done. My "bat wings" had bothered me for years! Take care & be easy with Sibyl.... Pat

Great seeing you on here and glad you are doing  better!

Leslie