wheeler

some do and some don't, at least for me. I had mine removed four years ago after having it for 2.5 years, my reflux is still bad and i'm on nexium and looks like i will be forever, though i never had any digestive issues b4 my labpanding. i dont feel much hunger, probably the nerves have been damaged. i get unexplained pain around my esophagus, specially at night, swallowing is normal but i remember it took a little while, weeks rather than months. hih wheeler

The "band" is not the answer for everyone, I am sure she has thought of it and researched it and for reasons only she knows is not considering it. And I will say it again it is not the answer for a lot of people, many many bandster regain some, most, or all of their weight. We should not throw rocks while we all live in glass houses!

Good luck to you froggi, and to the rest as well, who do not wish to hear any negativity said abou the LB. To make an informed decision you need to weigh up the good, the bad and the ugly, and this is the place to do it. There may be a lot of whiners out there, I dont know, but some of us have some real issues, I have been banded for four and a half years and had three surgeries and lots of problems, my fourth and final (hoping) surgery will be on 6/9 and that's when this band is coming out for good.

Please do yourself a favour and read the unseccessful stories as well,, I know we dont always want to hear the negative side, but it is very important to learn everything about this band before you go ahead with it

I was banded in Jan.2004, a year later had a slippage and had to have my band replaced. After the new band I found I had soooooooooo much gas that I could go into a farting competition and win hands down. I could not belch, no way I could bring the air back up most of the time and it will end up in my bowels. I had such bad pains, the docs. kept saying that it has nothing to do with the band, that it's most like something like IBS or some allergy. Had so many test/xrays etc, finally it was found through gastroscopy (sp?) that my band was too high up, basically had no pouch and it was sitting on top of my oesophagus. So I went into surgery again and the band was lowered. That was last year in Sept., for six month everything was fine, no gas, felt quite good BUT this April, alll my symptoms have come back and with a vengence. Most times I feel I have a baby kicking around in my tummy and I am in so much pain. Few times I nearly fainted, which is not uncommon if the intesines/bowels are constantly stretching and contracting. Once again I had umpteen tests with all negative results. My theory is that the band has slipped back up onto my oesophagus, and making my life a misery. Early october I am seeing my surgeon and I am having this band out. I had enough of this awful existense. Reading on this board and on others, I truly believe that for every happy bandster there are two others who suffer with their band.

Gas pains are quite normal, and can last anything from one week to three or more. Where are your pains? Have your tried pain killers? Dont worry about your weight at this stage, the first 5-6 weeks is about healing, the weight will drop off after

The band is only a tool, and one can learn to sabotage it, it looks like you have. What you have described as a small meal above in fact is a huge meal, you should be looking at cutting it in half. In the meantime if I were you, I would be going on liquids for 2-3 days to give your bruised stomach a rest.

It sounds like you have too much in your band, and may need a bit out

Have you consulted your doctor? I dont think it's anything serious, but you should be talking to him/her, you should not be uncomfortable

Oh Vedrana I feel for you, I suffered from reflux a lot and it's horrible! Your doctor is a lunatic, doesn't he know that it can cause other serious health problems if you get gastric juices into your lungs etc. I would go to him and insist that he should take some Fluid out straight away, he can't refuse it's your body:der::boxing:. Let us know how it all went By the way, originally I am from Vojvodina, so "zdravo komsija":Banane59:

The pain is the least of your worries, heck you're a woman and had children...lol! But I would do a lot of research if I were you, and dont just read the good parts, read all the trouble people have and weigh it up. I was banded in Jan2004, and had problems from the word go, terrible reflux, slippage, tremendous amount of gas, so much so that it intefered with my life, could barely go to work etc. etc. I had three ops in as many years, the latest is that I am not digesting my food properly, that is, food is sitting in my stomach for too long causing terrible discomfort. I was big before but never had any digestion problems , now the list is a mile long, at the moment I am at a cross road to decide whether to have my band removed. Was it worth it, I dont know, to tell you the truth I think sometimes, I need a band on my head rather than my stomach Good luck with whatever you decide!

You should avoid PB-ing at all cost, it can cause a slippage, ask me how I know

Last year I've put up with the same kind of pain for months, together with a lot of gas going on, felt like I had a washing machine in my stomac. This stich like pain under my left ribs was sooooo painful that it took my breath away. I complained to my doctor and he didnt really have any answers, 12 months later it was discovered through a gastroscophy (sp?) that my band was in the wrong position and it flipped, with a lot of adhesions and had a large hiatus hernia. Had to go into surgery and have it repaired

Mark, I hope things are better by now, if not you should ring your surgeon right away. Its too soon for you to be doing anything about unblocking, your surgery was only two weeks ago, you are still healing and should not be pb-ing, or it could cause a slippage or other damage.

Hello Dr. C. Back in June'06 I have asked you a question on gas and belching , here is the link if you wish to refresh your memory http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=20125 and you have suggested that it could be a missed hiatal hernia. YOU WERE RIGHT:clap2: I had my op four weeks ago and Prof. O'Brien found and repaired the hernia, another problem was a flipped band with a lot of adhesions. So now everything is fine, I am back to being a normal person, and have none of the horrible gas, I can actually lead a normal life. Thank you Dr. C for your advice, I am just gobsmacked that this was not picked up or even suggested until you did, YOU ARE GREAT:first: :thankyou: THANK YOU