The nightmare never ends!

I was banded on 3/19/09. I had researched and studied the banding process and where to get the band, so I knew the problems that could occur afterward. I felt pretty good, only had to have two fills to get to my "sweet spot" and was losing pretty consistantly (about 10 lbs./month). In July, I started to become very consitpated and not having a movement for like two weeks. I would take stuff to help, but nothing really happened. The thing was that I didn't feel like I had to go at all. I just thought that maybe since I didn't eat so much with the band that I was metabolizing all of my food. Well, on July 24th, I was eating dinner with my husband and started to have a pain on the lower right side of my abdomen. I no longer have an appendix or gallbladder so I knew it wasn't that. It continued to get so bad that I went to the ER. They admitted me immediately and took a CAT-scan of my stomach (I first got a much needed pain shot). They watched over me for the next day and the doctor couldn't figure out why I was in so much pain and why I had no waste (they had given me three enemas that produced nothing). The doctor kept coming in and looking at me like I was a puzzle and would occassionally tell me they might have to do exploratory surgery. On the evening of the 25th, I was alone in my room and all of the sudden I had the worst pain of my life hit me in my upper abdomen and in my shoulders. It was like fire and pain so intense I could barely push the nurse button. By the time the nurse came in I looked so bad that she ordered a crash cart immediately. My room was filled with people and they gave me an x-ray in bed, a few minutes later my doctor came in and said he has to operate. I broke down and told him I was scared and he told me if he didn't, I wouldn't survive.

So, what he had found out on the x-ray was that my band had somehow moved and killed off the blood supply to my stomach which in turn killed almost half of my stomach. In the process it wore a hole in my stomach the size of a silver dollar making most of the food I ate go through the hole and into my abdomen and organs and not my stomach. That was the reason for no bowel movements, there was no food to digest, it was contaminating my organs. The surgery removed the band (of course), removed almost half of my stomach and the surgeon had to clean my organs of debris.

He had to leave the 16"suture in my stomach open and stapled in two places so the wound can heal from the inside out for fear of infection and contamination, so my husband has to change my bandages and pack gauze into my wounds every day.

I went to a very nice, respected and knowledgeable hospital that does this procedure. It just shows that anything can happen to anyone. I had no reflux, no vomiting, no problems whatsoever until July.

I am posting this so people can know that even things that don't seem possible can happen. Never feel afraid to ask questions and be proactive in your case. I never thought anything would happen to me and I almost lost my life.

Not trying to scare, just inform.

I am so sorry that you had to experience that. I know that is extremely rare. Erosion isn't "common" but to have the complications you had are just about unheard of. I wish you hadn't had to hear about it either. I hope you are recovering as well and possible and I will keep you in my thoughts!

I have seen patients who have had perforated ulcers or perforated bowels and they are in the absolute worst pain imaginable. I am sorry you had to go through all that. Thanks for giving everyone the "heads-up" and hope you continue to improve daily. God Bless.

I'm so sorry you have had such pain and suffering. I thank you for sharing your story. Although highly uncommon it's always good to have as much information as possible, about the good and the bad. Good luck and I pray your healing is continuing.

Thank you for your kind words. I am still recovering a month later, not able to drive yet because my outside wounds don't allow me to turn easily, but I am sooo much better. I know that it isn't common for something like this to happen ( I am still in shock that it happened to me!), but I needed to get it off of my chest and maybe help someone in the process.

oooo, that is so scary. Now that I am banded I wonder abbout ever having it removed. I hope you have a full fast recovery.