You know for someone who proclaims to be a writer, I use the word "incredible" a lot with the odd "brilliant" thrown in. It wasn't until I went back and looked at my V-log again that I realised I did that. EEK! So sorry, guys. If it grated on you like it did me then I'm in a whole world of trouble. I think I will have to find another synonym to use, lol. I'm officially over that one.On the subject of my v-log I wanted to say thanks to everyone for their beautiful comments. The feedback was such a positive thing (as it usually is!!) and it just spurs me on to bigger and better things. I also found messages by a few new people and a couple of those were from guys! That's um... brilliant? Okay, not funny lol.. but it was really nice to 'meet' you all. Can't wait to do it again. I love reading the comments so much, so if you drop by, leave me one if you have time. I will always reciprocate. And if you have a question for me, I will most definitely answer that also in my next post.
So the title of my post comes into play with this: I was dealing with some meandering thoughts the other night and one of those was: You know how there is this (mis)conception? about how when we eat too much, our normal sized stomachs stretch? I wondered, when the Doc's opened us up to put that band in, did they find we had these big baggy stomachs inside? I mean most of us have been eating too much for so long, if this whole thing about stomach stretching were true, wouldn't there be hard proof inside us? And when a person states that their stomach has 'shrunk' because they are now dieting and can't fit in the portion size they used to, does this also mean if - God forbid - we did the worst and stretched our little pouch - it would also have the ability to snap back into it's original shape?
Another thing. You know how our bands are filled with saline? Well, I have heard a lot of talk of the saline that is injected into the band evaporating or being 'absorbed' by our bodies over time. So, my question is this. When our year or so or however long it takes us to get to our goal weight finishes and we are in the maintanance stage.. how often do we go back to the doc and what does he do for us in regards to the band then?
I know Dr Couch told me that once the year was up I am supposed to see him once every six months but I never actually asked how long that six monthly checkup was supposed to go on for. I'd always assumed that the twice yearly appointments would be to 'top' me up again to get my restriction to where it needs to be..... but after bumping into a friend today who was banded almost a year ago and is almost at goal weight and talking to her, I'm no longer sure. She told me (and I was like.. what the????) that once we are at the maintance stage the doc's probably wont put more saline in because we won't need it... which leads me ask...... DO we get evaporation or 'absorbtion' over time of the saline? It makes sense to me that either of these things could happen but she was quick to scoff that it couldn't. The saline is there to stay in it's complete form. Confused now? Yeah me too.
Then she went on to add that the doctor(s) pretty much only have to take care of us until around the end of year two. Year three we are on our own. So, are we supposed to be so fully turned around in our thinking processes in regards to food now that we will never again gain weight ? Could that happen, even after two years? Again, I don't know. The weirdest (and probably most freaky) comment from her was this.... "Did you know you could opt to get your band OUT after four years?" because again.... we are supposed to be used to eating those small portions and it should be as natural as breathing by now. We have supposedly 'tricked' our minds and bodies into eating a certain way. Say what? She was also quick to say there was no way she would ever get her band removed (she's lost 44 kilos in around 11 months or so) and man, am I with her there. No bloody way!! It's here, it's staying and I don't care what anyone tells me.
But I must ask then. You know how these bands of our only have a certain supposed life-span before breaking down - I hear it's anywhere from 10 - 15 years... well, what happens then? If we decide we are going the whole way, say - oh, till death - with it working away inside us, what do we do when the damn thing does start to break down? I mean, plastic and rubbery bits can only last so long no matter what capacity they are working in. Do we go back in to hospital and start this whole cycle over again, admittedly and very much hopefully this time without the weight to lose (because of course we have all maintained perfectly don't you know!!!!!) and get another one put in? Wish I had asked this question at the seminar. I guess like everything else, I will find out in my own good time. But for now, this little bugger is doing it's job and I'm riding the wave all the way to the shore. Which is to say, I'm going to get the most out of Portia while I can. I really don't ever want to be left to my own devices again. Look where it got me in the first place.
Weight loss for me was 1.9 kilos this week. I seemed to have lost the weight quickly at the start and stagnated in the last few days. But today was weigh in day and I guess (or fervently hope) that I will move down again. Everything's still exactly the way it was when I spoke on the v-log. Protein drink in the morning, light lunch, no snacking, just about a cupful of food at dinner and plenty of water. If this continues up till my next Doctors appointment I might just opt to leave things where they are. Things are bobbing along perfectly - why mess with it - at least for now.
Hope you are all having a lovely Wednesday
Till next time
Cara xxx
um....I have never heard that you have your band removed (of course you can choose to have it removed at any time) after 4-5 years. My doctor told me very matter of factly-if you have your band removed you WILL gain the weight back. (Pessimist or realist).
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder about what happens when are bands breakdown or need to be replaced. But really, who knows what alternatives will be availiable for us and for WLS in 5, 10, or 15 years. I figure we will just go with what is next.
Great post!
Great post Cara...I have often thought about what will happen to the band over time, but like you have never thought to ask while at the Dr's. I mean it's inevitable that our stomach acids will break down the band over time, I just hope that some new WLS is developed by the time this happens.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever want to get rid of my band, I don't think I'm mentally strong enough for that, but who knows in 5-10 years where I'll be. Like Amy's post yesterday mentioned I have always been one of those overweight ppl, so it's hard to imagine that without the band I would be able to control my portions. Great job on the weight loss front, I think its a good idea to just play the fill by ear and wait and see how your feeling. If you are feeling this good when you go in then leave well enough alone! :)
Cara my doctor has had the band himself now for about 8 years I think. He told me before surgery " Carla, this will work for you if you do 2 things: Come see me for the rest of your life and chew chew chew " So I have to beleive him that we need to go back forever, maybe not as much after we lose weight and get restriction but we will have a relationship with him forever.
ReplyDeleteHey Mama,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I loved the vlog. Loved it cause it reminded me so much of my time in Australia, but more so because you had such wonderful warm, heartfelt words, and you so expressed how good it feels to be in this place.
Those are also SUCH good questions... Maybe put them on lapbandtalk? I'm super curious, I might even email the nurses at my clinic. Because I was self-pay, I have full care for LIFE - so if I do need a band replaced or maintenance fills for years to come, I know I'm covered. It makes the 16,000 a little less scary when I think about how much more living I have to do!
Congrats on the big loss this week - all I'm down is .8lbs, but hey, I'll take it!
xox
I don't think the plastic breaks down inside of us. I think things go wrong for some people but the plastic will be there perfectly in tact probably longer than we're around! Imagine our remains with a little band still there! ha! And my doctor said we have to visit once a year for the rest of our lives... interesting post!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! and some great things to think about. I know personally even though I have only had my band for 2 weeks, and I havent had a fill yet, that I don't want to take mine out after I am done losing....I know how quickly I can gain weight.
ReplyDeleteLove the post Cara. In fact, I think I was asking Catherine the question about maintenance last weekend. I mean, if we are exercising and continuing to eat little amounts of food, it reasons to me that if we kept getting fills and remained at our sweet spot, we can continue to lose even past our goal. How do you maintain your weight? Eat more....exercise less? It's an interesting question. Maybe I'll throw that out on lapbandtalk for those folks that have been at goal for a while.
ReplyDeleteCarla's doc and mine are one and the same and the thing she didn't mention was that he says those words with a fantastically hot australian accent and salt and pepper hair. I so have a crush on him!!
Hey Cara - thanks for your comment on my blog :-) I appreciate it. As for your friend she sounds very misinformed. What I found from band camp is there are some people that have researched and know everything about their band with helpful information from their surgeon and there are others who don't know much even having their bands for a long time. I think this probably has to do with the level of care increasing as the procedure becomes more popular. I was definately told that I would be going back at least once a year forever - which is not really a big deal I think.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I actually asked my surgeon how long the band lasted and she said forever. She said it's made of the same thing artifical joints are made of, which can last forever in someone's body. Now I wonder though...
ReplyDeleteI certainly didn't choose to do this so I could opt out in 4 years- kind of weird. I know things happen and they need to be removed but that's a fear of mine.
ReplyDeleteReally good post - my impression is that will always have to get some small adjustments as time goes on to keep us at sweet spot. I'll have to ask next week at my appointment.
I was told what Robyn was told by my surgeon. I think it will last. I hope it will anyway. :)
ReplyDeleteYou said
ReplyDelete"[once at goal weight/ in maintenance] how often do we go back to the doc and what does he do for us in regards to the band then? "
That is the million dollar question (let's say US dollars for Catherine's sake :-))
I dunno
I dunno when or whenever or however I may need the band out
I dunno if I could keep up my weight loss (90 pounds ish) without a band
I dunno where and when and if I might need a replacement (I was 41 when I was banded; I expect, God willing, to live for another 40+ yrs)
I dunno the answers.
These are good questions. I love to hear from long time bandsters (like 5+ years) since five yrs of maintaining weight loss seems to be the "holy grail" in weight loss circles (not just WLS circles)
My surgeon (who is very well respected in England and Europe and who personally got out of bed to save my life) warned me before I committed to gastric banding that my band was NOT a life-time article.
Sometime, he said, in the next 15 - 20 yrs it will fail. I might be able (he thought 80% likely) to live with that, but have a 20% chance of needing surgery to get rid of the band which has collapsed/died/fallen apart etc.
He assumed (I don't) that by then I would have my weight under control, and that any issues with the band would be purely physiological.
Hmmmmmmmm
Lots to think through. Am not yet 2 yrs out. Best thing I ever did for myself was to get a gastric band. I never go a day without being thankful (lol and sometimes I hate it; but only for a few minutes here and there)
I love my band.
I don't want it to die
I realise it will prob die before I do
(this sounds like I am talking bout a kitten!)
If and when it does, I'll re assess the situation.
Sorry to ramble on
Hx
Cara, you are truly a thinker! One of the reasons I was told never to drink soda (fizzy drinks) is that it make the stomach swell. I can only imagine the size of my stomach as I was addicted to diet coke before "bandland". My doctor told me I would see him every six months the rest of my life and his assistant told me that sometimes the saline does absorb or whatever and that is why when she does the fill, they always take all the saline out before they fill to check that function. Get blog as always. Take care. Sylvia
ReplyDeleteCara... wow - not sure I have much more to offer than everyone else, but good things to think about! I'd like to think I'll have my eating under control by the time my band starts to break down. God I hope so!!! I think that it is intended to be in there a long time, and my doc said that there can be a slight decrease overtime in the saline, but to keep coming in at least once a year after getting to goal and all will be okay. Knowing me, I'll be in there at least once a quarter!
ReplyDeleteHi Cara,
ReplyDeleteInteresting Q's. I was told I was banded for life and it was a done deal. I also have silicone clips on my falopian tubes... if they break down I am preggers! They have to last at least another 20 years seeing as I am only 33, and they have been in there 10 years already! Silicone is near on indestructable, and the band doesnt come into contact with our stomach juices, unless its eroded.
The rest of the questions, no idea. Would like to know though. cool.
Hi again Cara - How did I miss this post?
ReplyDeleteI think no one really knows how long the band will last because it has not been around that long. Only time will tell!
My view, from the beginning, is that when and if my band starts to fail, I will either get a new one or expect to have some other procedure. It is pretty clear to me that I would immediately gain all the weight back without the band. I am committed to a life time of either the band or some other surgery.
I do wonder though...Breast implants only last like 10 or 15 years before they have to be replaced...seems likely the band will not last a whole lot longer than that - or that it will not stay in proper working condition, and in the right spot, for much longer than that.
Lots of good questions!