General up date and band update...

Well, first of all I miss all of you and I am anxious to catch up with all the new people!  I'm especially excited to see many more bandsters!  I've been off the boards for such a long time because of school.  Well, I am DONE with school!!!  YEAH!  Graduation is officially May 17th at the Meyerhoff.  BS in Finance COMPLETE!

Now for the band update.  Let's remember I am 18 months post op and have lost 80 pounds.  I am as compliant as a bandster comes and my doc has asked me to speak at support group meetings and info meetings for new band patients.  I finally got my second upper GI done.  The first films showed that I was VERY tight but nothing else was clear enough to clear me for a fill.  My docs protocol is to do an upper GI at 9cc level in a VG band.  Because I was so tight on the first films and because of my prior complaints (see further in this email) they removed 3ccs.  

On the second set it showed my esophagus is dilated and I had to have a complete unfill today.  For months I complained about smelly FART burps (too tight didn't let the food pass and digest, instead it rotted in my pouch), occasional vomiting thought to be from some foods not being chewed well enough or being newly untolerated.  Reflux was maybe every few weeks and was scratched up to eating too close to bed time.  My doc has emptied my band and has told me to eat normal foods, concentrate on proteins, avoid carbs and to have another upper GI in a month and if my esophagus is back to normal I can start fills gain. Now for FLOYD's update.  He went in today for a MUCH needed fill.  We just had NO idea HOW badly he needed it.  His fill level was supposed to be at 9ccs.  Turns out he only had 4ccs in his band.  No wonder he's gained weight and could eat just about anything and DID!  So, the NP filled him a litle up to 7cc fill level and he has to go back when I do in a month to see if he still has the same amount in there.  If NOT then we will assume he has a leak.  Equipment can become faulty, but we are hoping it's not the case.

Congratulations in completing your BS in Finance!   I am glad to read that your dr has found the problem and now it is being  corrected and soon you will be back to your normal self. I am so glad that Floyd is also getting taken care of.  I want to wish you both all the best and I pray that in a month your esophogus is fine and you do not need anything done to correct it. Also that Floyd does not have a leak.  Please keep me posted. Kiss Kylie for me!! hugs,

Yes, CONGRATZ on school.  You shoul dbe proud of yourself.  ---- I'm suffering through my Masters right now.  After I finish my current class, I only have 4 to go!! Sorry to hear about the band problems for both of you.  Does this experience change your opinion of getting the band?   Are you going to speak at the support group? I never heard the term "smelly FART burp" before.  I hope you don't mind if I use it.  --Eric

Eric, thanks for the congrats!  Good luck with your Masters :)  People keep asking me if I'm going to go for mine and I just have to say I AM TIRED! hehehe  Need a good break.  I will go back for another Bachelors though.  I want to finish my Fine Arts degree eventually. No this experience doesn't change my opinion on the band AT ALL.  It's an easy fix.  I know too many people who had RNY that have serious issues that cannot be fixed.  LOVE my band!!!  It does what I need it to.  I was a volume eater and it controls my intake. I would LOVE to speak at the group meetings, but they begin at 5pm and I am not willing to use vacation time to go speak.  I think they need to make the meetings a little later in the day to accomodate patients.  They would get a better turnout! As for fart burp....I swear to God when I burped it smelled like someone farted a big one!  SO embarrassing!!!  I happily no longer have that issue!!!

Heather-     Congrats on graduating! What an amazing accomplishment.  I am unfamiliar with all the numbers on the band, sorry, but that is great that you are doing so good and your DR wants to use you as an example. Whohoo!