I Love You Band, But You Got's To Go!

[Cbilstein85 3]

Well I was banded in 2007 and lost about 70 pounds in 5 months. It was wonderful until I slowly got back into bad eating habits and generally lost control. I enlarged my upper pouch too much, which I cannot fix now. The band did slip a little, but not enough for emergency surgery. Now I take acid pills (Fomotidine 20 mg) like they were M&M's and an Omeprizol before bed and first thing in the morning. I sleep well about 20% of the time, but the rest of the time I wind up with a mouth full of vomit at 2am trying not to drown. I spend at least 3 days a week so tired that I can't really function and it takes the better part of the day to clear the aspiration from my lungs from the night before. My surgeon told me it is not savable so out it comes this January the 6th 2014. I would rather learn to fight the battle of the bulge without it especially when it is no longer working than to live like this. One of these days I may not wake up in time to stop from drowning myself.

I know it is my own problem and I caused this by not sticking to small enough portions in the beginning. Now I do eat small meals only because if I over eat I know I will pay dearly in the night. Besides, I can't sleep at a 30 degree angle, I always toss and turn and wind up flat, off the pillows and that is deadly to me. It was a good plan, poorly executed and that's my problem. I just want to be normal again with no devices in me. I want to be able to sleep with 2-3 pillows on my stomach like I had all my life rather than try and prop myself up on 8-9 pillows almost sitting up in my bed to keep from aspirating. I wish all those who get this done great success. If you do get the band, you have to resign yourself to the fact that everything MUST change and you can never go back to what you ate before. Not so much what as how! Small meals ALWAYS and nothing 2-3 hours except maybe Water before bed. That's not as easy as it sounds so be ready to live that way even when life doesn't give you time to do it right. You might have times when it will be too close to bedtime and you have not eaten yet. Trust me, even the quick snack can come back to haunt you. Better to go hungry and sleep through the night than take a chance on aspirating.

Hey, how many of you eat something that instantly forces you to need to vomit? Happens all the time to me. Heck, I can almost vomit on command these days. That can't be good. Yup, Bye-bye band, hello 24 hour Fitness!

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

I am sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing and letting others know what can happen if you stray. Good luck with your surgery.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Your issue is a concern many, if not all of us, shelter in a secret part of our minds.

tmf

[gowalking 10,790]

Thank you for sharing and thank you for your honesty in owning up to your part in needing to have the band removed. Good luck to you.

[Sydney Susan 333]

What about propping up your bed, rather than you? A couple of bricks should do it. You really shouldn't need heaps... As long as you are not flat gravity "ought to" do a lot of the work.

You sound in a really tough place - so very sorry to hear that. When you are constantly exhausted its really hard to sort out health issues.

There are much stronger ppi's than the one you are on - Nexium is the one I was changed to, with 40 morning and 20 night. That would be a good place to start, along with propping up the bed and then using only a couple of pillows (under shoulders and head, not just head).

Good luck with it all. Remember, if India can send a spacecraft to Mars, your doctor should be able to help you get a good nights sleep - hold him/her to that!

[Sydney Susan 333]

OP I did notice you are getting your band out, but my tips were intended for the next 5 weeks or in case the situation isn't fully resolved. You don't have to put up with the sh**t you are experiencing until your op. It's a hazard to your health in multiple ways.

[*susan* 1,709]

I am so sorry you have encountered these problems. It just reinforces how vital it is doctors educate patients and patients educate themselves prior to any weight loss surgery. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the easy way out. Like you said, you have to be prepared to make a life long commitment to it and all of the lifestyle changes involved. Hopefully, this can be a lesson to others.

I wish you good health and wellness.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

sorry about your troubles but wishing you a happier and healthier future