Jax

Hi there I need to find details of a fill doctor in Johannesburg. Can anyone help please? Many thanks

Hi there I had my first band a year ago last November. A slip was diagnosed almost a year to the day later and the local doc took me in straight away and replaced my band. The old band was a VG and placed around my stomach. Apparently the new one (the 10cm/4cc size) has been placed around my oesophogus. In fact, I have even been able feel the difference when I'm eating. Yesterday, after a couple of hours in front of my pc, I stood up and stretched. At the peak of the stretch something popped in my chest and I've had a feeling of discomfort there ever since. It's worse if I put my chin on my chest when the sensation becomes stronger and spreads around towards my back. I had such a battle with the doctors here last year when I was having fills in the old band, and then the slippage. It's making me reluctant to go back and ask them what they think might be wrong. I'll be absolutely devastated if this band has slipped too. There's no change in restriction for things but I do feel different - almost like I'm about to burp. I started writing this to ask for advice, but I know what I must do. I'll leave the post up though - incase anyone has any advice. I'm going to email the doctor now.

Just a quick comment on waiting to repair a slipped band... I don't exactly know when mine slipped but things changed for me in Sept/October and I eventually went for an xray when I was in pain at the end of November. My surgeon said it was vital that I get it replaced straight away as food sitting in the pouch begins to rot and - well I can't remember his exact words but we all know that rotting food isn't intended for humans! I paid for my first band, I followed the rules without exception and it still slipped after a year. I didn't pay for the replacement (odd, but I'm not complaining!) I hope this one stays put. xx

It's almost certainly post-op swelling. I've felt/looked like like a barrell for the last week since I came out of hospital. In fact I had to keep my pyjamas on for two days because all my trousers were too tight. I wouldn't worry about it, it's just your body doing what it needs to recover.

Replaced - with another band because the first one had slipped. In Italy - moved here from the UK a little while ago so nothing to do with the military base. Was self-pay for the original surgery and have received good aftercare here in Italy. Obviously the language barrier is the MOST difficult thing. I speak Italian on the street, in the shops and bars etc. but talking about medical things to doctors and surgeons who are not particularly chatty in the first place is a killer. Especially if you think something is wrong. Which of course I ALWAYS do!

I know! It's crazy isn't it? The banding op is the least of my worries! Deep breathing seems to help now the pain has calmed down a little. I found a website that said to practise deep breathing (that moves the diaphragm) followed by the best cough you can muster. It helps to relax the complaining diaphragm and release the offending gas). Also I'm now able to find a position that eases the pain when I get an attack. This has helped for the last two days.

You have my EVERY sympathy. I've been crippled with this since Thursday. Yesterday was the worst day - it made me cry twice (and I've never cried over pain before). I collected advice and tried the following... Peppermint tea Wind-eze/Gasx Massage Heat Pad Nurofen gel Stretching I can't say that any of these was better than another - but all of them seem to have worked for other people. Today the pain has lessened and been tolerable for me and I just hope it stays that way. I wish you better very soon. xx

I was banded in Europe with a BMI of 35. I had a hiatal hernia and other minor related issues. One surgeon I went to turned me down and offered the BIB balloon but I knew that would be no better than the last extreme diet I had been on as the balloon must come out after 6 months. The problem there was that he had mis-weighed me and was looking at a number 10kilos less than reality. Anyway, that's in the past and I contacted many surgeons who accepted me for banding. I wouldn't encourage everyone with a weight problem to have this operation; it's surgery afterall and it's not a magic wand treatment. It should only be considered as a last resort - where, without it, the alternative is sickness and a general downward spiral for the years ahead. Your situation sounds simialr to mine in that you are at that last resort stage but I just wanted to balance the scales for anyone who maybe thinking of banding purely for aesthetic reasons. Best wishes and good luck.

It's a really difficult question to answer because the symptoms seem to be the same for people who need an unfill to those who need to just be more careful. If you are throwing up every day I would say that's not a good thing and you should have a little fluid removed, even the tiniest amount can make all the difference. But of course, it's just my opinion. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I just noticed that you've both done really well with your weight loss! It's almost the same weight loss as me but you've both done it in much less time - complimenti !! Jenna - our stats are similar. I started at 210 and am currently at about 154.

Thanks both. I checked with the pharmacist who said not to worry. Also had some advice from an English speaking nurse so I'm feeling all info'd up at last. Turns out that the injections are one a day so I'd only missed one. I appreciate your responses. Thank you very much.

I've had my band replaced here in Italy and have some difficulty with the language when talking to doctors and nurses. I was discharged from hospital on Wednesday evening. The doctor gave me an envelope and said ring the number on here to make a follow-up appointment for 2weeks time. Anyway, I've been feeling a bit rough with post-op gas pains so it's only today that I've taken the letter out of my bag. It doesn't just contain the number for the follow up appointment but is also a presecription that I should take to the chemist for Clexane 4000 UI. I imagine this is to help avoid DVT (as they didn't give me anything to bring home with me). My husband has just taken it to the pharmacy so I'll start straight away - but I'd like to know how much of a problem it might be that I've missed a day and a half. Obviously, most of you will say to contact a medical professional and I'm doing all I can on that score but if there's a nurse or similar out there, perhaps you can help?