Just had to post here about my learning curve on the lap band. I recently had a problem with my band crop up - some stomach swelling - and had to have my fill removed. I had reached my sweet spot and had not had a fill for 8 months! Suddenly I started feeling lots of heartburn and had a feeling that something just was not right with my band. I have felt tight before and at first I thought that's all it was. But when the heartburn didn't go away I got in to see Dr. Landerholm. It had been about 3 and a half weeks since the symptoms started. I am SO glad I went in! While doing the fluoro, he found that my esophogus was all twisted and turned and hardly anything was getting through - even liquids weren't flowing through like they should. If I had waited any longer, I probably would have had a slip and been back in surgery. He took my fill out and I waited two weeks, then went back for another fluoro. I was healing up nicely with just a little portion that still needed to heal. I did get a fill - but only .4cc. Could hardly feel it, but my brain knew it was there and that helped me stick to "dieting" for a few weeks. I go back on the 8th and am hoping that all is well and that Dr. Landerholm will give me a good fill. The first two weeks I was without any restriction, I kind of went crazy with the food. My thougts were all over the place and I could not WAIT to get my hands on food I had not eaten for over a year and a half! I also gained 10 pounds in two weeks! That really scared me so have been trying to stick to a healthy diet until my next appointment.

I'm posting this because I don't want to see this happen to anyone else. If you feel something is just not quite right in there...CALL THE CLINIC!!! It's always better to be safe than sorry. I want my band to last for a very long time. It WORKS! It's the only thing that has ever worked for me long term and I love my band. It is a great friend to have with me at all times and for this new year I resolve to TAKE CARE OF MY BAND!

:0) Allison