jenweb@live.com

I really just need to share my story. I got my band in July 2012. I loved it. I loved it until the day I got it removed. In December of 2015 I started throwing up. I threw up everything, even Water. I had an unfill. I still threw up. I went to the emergency room and they did a contrast upper GI and said everything looked normal. I went home and continued throwing up for another 2 months. I finally had an endoscopy, and the doctor blurted out, you need to remove your band it has eroded into your stomach. I was crushed. I saw my weight loss doctor, got insurance approval and had the surgery. Now let me backtrack a second, I had gastric bypass, and then had the band placed over top of it so I could loose the weight I had gained with just the bypass. So on April 1, 2016, I went in for surgery that was scheduled for 1.5 hours, and 5 hours later the surgery was finished. The band gashed a hole in my stomach the doctor said it was gigantic. He wasn't sure if the repair would even work. I had 6 tubes (3 were feeding tubes as I was severely malnourished and couldn't eat through my little stomach)coming out of me and probably a good 50-70 staples. I was in the hospital for 4 days and they were going to send me home, but I developed a leak from the stomach, so they kept me for 11 more days. I finally got to go home but I still had two feeding tubes. One I used to eat, and a back up in case that one failed. I was unable to eat or drink anything by mouth for 40 days. That was 3 months ago and I am still on tube feed 10 hours a day. I can only eat soft foods, but I need 60 grams of Protein a day to get off the tube feed, I don't see that happening in the near near future. But, I am alive, I had great medical care and I found out how many family and friends I really have. All that being said, if you have having problems with your band, please please don't take there is nothing wrong for an answer .

I also had my band removed. It was removed on April 1st, 2016. I still have some issues keeping food down. I had a contrast done, and I have a stricture. I wonder if that is not what is wrong with you. I guess it is pretty common because of the scar tissue and edema. I am also not back to normal. I still have a feeding tube in that I get nutrition from 10 hours a day and I still get so tired. Good luck on your journey.

Last night I did a self defense class for women. That seemed like pretty good exercise and I got a lot of agression out.

I know that when I was first banded, the nurse told me it would not be unusual to gain weight until I felt the restriction. I don't believe I felt it until the fourth fill. Just keep on trying to be mindful of what you eat. You will get there.

I think taking off the additional weight has allowed the real me to come out. Not the stand in the corner, be embarrassed about being the heaviest person in the room girl I used to be, but the fun, out going, sassy person I really am. I think that in and of itself allows me to be happier. It has also put me on an emotional rollercoaster because I am still learning to be that person.