jbrod2616

I guess I need to talk about this to get it straight in my head so writing this is helping me find closure and also maybe it won’t happen to someone else if they recognize the same symptoms. My lap band story condensed: I had my initial consult in early 2008 at “loose weight seminar” that was a seminar held by a local surgeon selling the idea of getting a lap band procedure to help people like me loose weight. Back in 2008 the procedure cost me 25K (Out of my pocket) I went thru the whole get ready process and had my lap band surgery 6/2/08. The surgery went longer than anticipated and the surgeon said he had some problems with the size etc. (details were not discussed) The lap band was a source of pain from the time it was put in. The pain was a nerve like throb that was constant in my left shoulder and neck. The pain was more severe if I ate something that got stuck or drank too fast and put pressure on the band. If I got a fill the pain would be severe for a few weeks and then it would become less or maybe I was just ignoring it better. The fills would only restrict my intake for a week or two and then it seemed to be less restrictive as time went on. Even with little saline in the band I still had some real definite restriction. I discussed this pain with my surgeon and he had no real answer as it seemed to be unexplainable. I lost a bunch of weight to start but as life went on I found that my eating habits became very poor. I found that I would eat all the wrong things making it go down easy. I ate lots of fatty foods, dressings, liquids, soups, pasta just too many carbohydrates and calories and not enough lean meats and vegs avoiding any pressure on the band. This was real bad for me because I have diabetes and my blood sugar was a constant battle. I struggled with the thought that I made a poor decision and had no real confidence in the lap band working for me. In about 2 years I gained back the 120lbs I initially lost with-in a few pounds of were I started and I struggled with the shoulder pain off and on every day. I knew if I had the band adjusted it would cause pain so I avoided it. I spoke to my surgeon about the band not working and he started to discuss getting a sleeve? I did not want to hear about another high $$ procedure to fix one that was not working. I knew I was gaining weight back and that made me feel bad so I avoided discussing the lap band and it not working or me just not doing or eating the right things. This was bad.. On November 16th Friday other than having no appetite that morning or the night before with a sore stomach and feeling gassy the day started like any other. Even thought I’m a large man I’m active with a busy job and a busier lifestyle. Mid day on Friday I started to feel unusually fatigued and I contributed it to my blood sugar being a bit higher than normal even with no food intake and perhaps a stomach flu. That afternoon my wife and I were traveling and while sitting in the truck I felt fine. I stopped at a Sam’s Club to pick up some supplies and found that I could not walk more than 20 feet without becoming extremely short of breath and very fatigued. I made it back to the truck and it became very apparent that something was wrong. I was not getting oxygen to my body, muscles, organs, etc. even gasping for air I had the sensation I was suffocating. I was convinced by my family Dr after a short phone call and some soul searching to find the nearest emergency room. I was rapidly declining and after a short time in the ER it was determine that my hemoglobin level was extremely low and almost simultaneously I starting passing digested blood at a large uncontrolled rate. The smell of digested blood is unique and it became apparent right away to the doctors working on me that I had blood in my stomach. A scope put down my throat confirmed that I had a bleeding hole in my stomach with a piece of the lap band sticking thru. The ER doctor showed me the pictures from the scope and showed me that the part sticking thru was not the saline lined inside of the band but some other part of the band like the fill tube or thick part of the fill tube. The ER doctors put a pick line in my neck and started giving me blood as fast as they could however it was going out my rear as fast as they were putting it in my neck and my blood PSI was going down fast. The bariatric surgeon on duty told me the lap band had to be removed and he had never done that before. They initially planned to transfer me to another Hospital to have a lap band specialist get the band out and fix my bleeding stomach however I was loosing blood too fast and that option came and went. They did emergency surgery 6 hrs long removed the lap band, fixed the hole in my stomach and stopped the bleeding. I took 6 liters of blood and spent 4 days in intensive care and 3 more days in the hospital before I checked my self out and went home on Thanksgiving. I’m not mad at the way things went just disappointed in the whole process. I’m still recovering and getting better each day. The pain that was always there in my shoulder is gone like a switch was turned off. I think I lived with the pain so long I just ignored it. It’s like a weight was lifted off the left side of my body. I know I still have to loose weight if I want to live to see my grandkids and I have to find a good way to do that. The surgeon that removed the band and fixed the hole told me that he was not an expert on LapBands but it should not have been put in the way it was in forcing a part of the device thru my stomach. Who knows really what happened but I’m not upset or feel like blame needs to be placed to make me feel better or move on. I made the decision to get the band and quite frankly I’m glad to be alive so thoughts of pursuing a legal resolve are confusing. It seems my case was a bit unusual because a typical erosion problem with the band results in symptoms that don’t result in excessive bleeding. My stool that morning was very black and that is a tell tail sign of internal bleeding in the stomach or thru the stomach but I did not recognize it. I hope this information is relivant (Jimmy 42 years old)

I got up at 4:15 AM and my wife drove me to the hospital and I checked in at 5:00 AM. They got me in a gown and started an IV. All the typical stuff you should expect. They wheeled me in at 8:00AM and I was knocked out by 8:10 ish. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p> I woke up in recovery with my nurse talking to me. I was very sore and tight in my lower chest. When I looked at the clock it was 10:45. I was told the surgery was approx 1 hr long. <o:p> </o:p> I was rolled into general recovery at 12:00 where I was observed until about 2:00 PM. I drank about a cup of water and ate some ice. I did some walking with the nurse and all went well with that. I was home in my chair by 2:45 <o:p> </o:p> Its 8:00 and I’m getting tired and I’m still somewhat sore but not too bad. It looks like they closed me up with superglue. No stitches that I can see, <o:p> </o:p> Anyway I’ve been drinking water all day with no problems. I’ll try for some soup Wednesday. <o:p> </o:p> I’ll post again tomorrow

YEEHAW CT Scan is good NO LEAKS Dr. said I look nice inside???? what ever that means:) Anyway he said he would leave a scrip for pain meds so I guess I have to live with the shoulder pain for now. It comes and goes and today has been OK.

My incissions were much higher than I expected. (lower chest) It may not be a problem

OK Dr scheduled a CT scan to see if my shoulder pain could be related to a leak. This has got me frazzed because if a leak is causing this problem by band will have to come out.... WTF

One week Post Op All is still going well. I can eat yogart and cottage cheese & cream Soups in small amounts with no problems. I still have some pain in my left should bade and left shoulder. It comes and goes. My incissions are almost healed up. The super glue has pealed off and it looks like the only scar will be on the big one where the port is. I have no pain in my stomach only if I push where the port is. I cut my blood sugar meds in half and I'm in the 110-125 area most of the time. I have had lots of gas (lots) Will this go away? I rode my bike every day twice a day since Thursday. I'm going about 2.5-3 miles and taking it easy but it makes me feel good thru the day. I do the ride in about 30 min. I will most likely move it up to 45 min on Wednesday. Jan 25th 495 lbs (I made the decision this day) / Pre Optifast 2 weeks pre surgery 464 lbs / Day of banding June 2nd 444 lbs / This morning 431 lbs..... 64 dropped and I still have 156 lbs to go.....:tongue2:

i hope i dont have this pain for 2 months

I'm back I am doing good I do have alot of pain in my left shoulder (feels like pinched nerve) It really sucks I have had some shakes and some yogart with no problems. Almost no pain in the port area now. I have lots of gas and lots of rumbling in the stomach... so far so good. I rode my bike this morning about a mile. no problems! weight is 437 this morning down from 464 2 weeks prior to surgery on June 2nd.

i was banded june 2 the pain in my lft shoulder neck area is very bad... it seems to come and go.

good luck Ronda The third day on opti-fast was the worst for me. I did not cheat but I think it would be easy to do if you don't have some help. I just stayed busy and my wife and kids were real cool with not eating around me. After Monday week two the hunger pains wnt away and I didn't even want to drink the optifast. Good luck GO GIRL.

Strike up Hey I'm back at work today again and I'm a bit low on energy. I feel kind of sleepy. I'm not sure why but I have alot of pain in my left shoulder and upper left back (almost like a pinched nerve?) i was told that air in the body can cause that? I don't know if I should worry about that. :thumbup: For the most part all is good. I got on the scale this morning and I was 441 down from 444 on Monday and down from 464 2 weeks before surgery and 495 back in January. This has got me feeling good. I still don't think I could eat if I wanted to and I've been drinking (kellogg's Special K protein waters) about 2-3 a day along with plain water. I had a sugar free popsicle last night before I went to bed and that was refreshing. I am looking forward to the weeks to come.

I was banded on Monday and I'm at work today (light duty) I am doing good today but it felt like Mike Tyson gave me a punch to the body on Tuesday. I'm on clear liquids and I have not had any problems getting any liquids down. Anyway all is well here so far.......

sugars back down today 115 thanks

Lap band time line. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p> Feb 1, 2008 489 lbs All Time High Very Depressed:unsure: <o:p> </o:p> Started low carb diet and researched tools to keep the weight off. <o:p> </o:p> April 29, I went to Lapband presentation last night with wife Michelle. <o:p> </o:p> April 30, I decided to have the LapBand after office consult with Dr. X Weight 469 <o:p> </o:p> May 19, I saw the Phyc today and that went good no problems, started opti-fast today.:thumbup: Weight 464 <o:p> </o:p> May 22, I saw the Nutritionalist today and that went good with no problems. <o:p> </o:p> May 23, Still on OPTIFAST it SUUUUUUCKS:cursing: Weight 456 <o:p> </o:p> May 27, Pre-op testing at the Hospital it was a cluster cause they could not find orders from Dr. X but got it straight finally all went well. Had final consult before surgery with Dr. X all is a go for Monday AM. Filled scripts for pain and nausea meds. Wrote all the checks $17Kish. Weight 449 <o:p> </o:p> May 30, Last day here at work before operation and still on liquid and optifast. Optifast is getting easier. Have a big weekend planned with wife Michelle baseball game and Trace Atkins concert out of town. Weight 446:thumbup: <o:p> </o:p> Next time I post I’ll be banded.:tt2:

woke-up wide awake, not sure why its 2am:confused: I'm sipping lots of water and i seem to have no problems with it passing thru. My blood sugar is high ????210.. it could be from the meds they gave me in the iv? I'm not sure what to call the feeling i have.. it feels like i'm just real sore in my upper gut. They told be they used a larger band due to the size of my stomach? anyone know anything about that?

Banded today and doing good so far! <HR style="COLOR: #d9d9d9; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d9d9d9" SIZE=1> I got up at 4:15 AM and my wife drove me to the hospital and I checked in at 5:00 AM. They got me in a gown and started an IV. All the typical stuff you should expect. They wheeled me in at 8:00AM and I was knocked out by 8:10 ish. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I woke up in recovery with my nurse talking to me. I was very sore and tight in my lower chest. When I looked at the clock it was 10:45. I was told the surgery was approx 1 hr long. <o:p></o:p> I was rolled into general recovery at 12:00 where I was observed until about 2:00 PM. I drank about a cup of Water and ate some ice. I did some walking with the nurse and all went well with that. I was home in my chair by 2:45 <o:p></o:p> Its 8:00 and I’m getting tired and I’m still somewhat sore but not too bad. It looks like they closed me up with superglue. No stitches that I can see, <o:p></o:p> Anyway I’ve been drinking water all day with no problems. I’ll try for some Soup Wednesday. <o:p></o:p> I’ll post again tomorrow

All Aboard This morning I started with a Optifast drink. My Dr. has asked me to drink five of these per day for the next 2 weeks in prep for my banding on June 2. He said I can have all the Water I want but no food or any other fluids. I can only have the optifast and water. I was told this will cause the fat to reduce around the liver making the banding easier? I know I don't get banded for two weeks but it still seems like I just got on the buss that has no stops.....It seems like the point of no return has been reached....I think I feel good about it.:wink_smile: I just hope I can make it thru these two weeks with out letting my-self down by cheeting. I don't think I will and I am determine to get on with it. I sure do appreciate this forum! I started at 6'4" and 495 lbs I am now still 6'4":redface: and 464 lbs My goal is 275 lbs / Thats still almost 200 more to go. :tt2:

Only 4 more days to go I get banded on June 2nd I did all the pre-op stuff yesterday with no hic-ups yet. I'm a self payer so they sat me down and made me write the checks. They all came out to about $17K. I'm into my second week of opti-fast and I am doing OK now. Last week sucked:angry:. I can honestly say that I have not cheated on the opti-fast. I feel good about that and the hunger pains have gone away. I have a nasty taste in my mouth so I'm chewing alot of gum. I guess gum is not a good idea after the band. I have dropped about 18 lbs since Sunday the 18th. I'm getting anxious about Monday. Ok moving on I sure do appreciate this site

I haven’t cheated yet!! It’s Thursday and I think yesterday was the hardest so far. Today I don’t feel hungry just have that pit in my stomach and not much energy. I started on Monday and I have dropped weight every day. My Dr gave me no options for any other food other than opti-fast 5 times a day and clear fluids. (Sugar free Jell-O, fat free & calorie free broth once a day) and all the fluids I can drink. June 2 can’t get here fast enough. I have made my-self busy so I don’t think about food much and my wife thinks I’m a freak. I mowed the lawn again last night only after I mowed it on Monday. I just lowered the mower deck and just cut it shorter. (Kept me busy for 3 hrs) I think I will start painting the house room by room tonight. We (wife & two boys) are going out of town for the weekend fishing and I know that’s going to be a real test.

OK I'm half way thru the third day of Optifast and Water. I saw the Dr. and the nutrion Dr. and all is a go for June 2, 2008 (Blast Off) I have to admit I feel a bit wooozy with no food but not too bad. My performance here at work has fallen off a bit. The nutrition Dr. called me to check on me this morning and told me I could add some chicken broth to my diet once a day. I guess the salt will help me retain fluids. Also sugar free Jello? (dose this sound right to any of you). Anyway it sounds almost unbelivable but this morning I weighed 455 down from 464 on Sunday. I am going fishing for the weekend with my family. That will be a test... First Major Break Down (I'm a Jeark) I came home after work and the back door to the house was wide open and I bitched up a storm about a/c ing the outdoors.:eek: Nobody said a word they all just looked at me like I was a freek. I went to my room to change cloths and my 12 yo son came in and told me that mommy made them eat dinner before I came home and she wanted the smell of food to be gone before I came home and thats why the door was open. (I brook down cried for a bit after that one):sleep: I guess its obvious I have some support at home. I just did know.

Andy You think your alone, NOT I'm 6'4" 464lbs and very active for my size. I was 495ish before I started this journey. I'm two days into the opti-fast and my surgery is scheduled for June 2, Monday. Congrats on your success! It sounds like the weight is falling off. I'm in Central Florida $17,000.00 out of the pocket Jimmy

consider the source Men just don't think to say things like that. Also they may be concerned that you would consider a simple comment an advance and not just a nice thing to do. Us men just don't think like you girls Anyway just some ideas.

Thanks for all the support I have a appointment with my general Dr. today in an hour for final check-up and then with the hospital for pre-op clearance Tuesday. Thanks for all the good words.

I'm getting banded june 2, Florida $17,000.00 includes a year of follow-ups & fills.

I go on optifast Monday for two weeks and I get banded on June 2, I'm not looking forward to the two weeks on liquid. I just ate a small steak and 1/2 baked potato. (last meal) Anyway I'm glad I found this site.