swiley

Hi all, mine is quite a long story but I'll do my best to keep it short. I was banded at the end of July this year, and after a few initial problems I recovered quickly, and progressed from liquid to mushy to solid with very few problems. Then after 2 months my Mum and I left to fly overseas, and after the first 8 hour leg of flights I was nauseous & dizzy. This stayed with me for weeks until I was in Boston and had to visit an ER because the nauseousness was so bad, I also had diahorrea and retching/vomiting. The did a CAT scan and X-rays and couldn't find any problems with the band. They also removed the 3mls that were in my 10ml band and told me to go onto fluids for the following week or so. I did these things and recovered a little, although I was still nauseous most of the time and couldn't take in anything but Water during flights. Since we got home I've been stuck on liquids/mushy foods with no improvement. I've been to my GP and my surgeon, neither can find any problems with the band, and cannot explain why I am nauseous or why I'm feeling restriction with an empty band. I've been on liquids for almost 3 months now and am going crazy. I've lost a lot of weight in a short time - my total loss from surgery date is 70lbs in 4 months.

I have an appointment next week with a gastroenterologist, hoping he will do an endoscopy, but I'm worried he won't find anything else wrong either. I'm getting really desperate for food now, I'm in tears a lot of the time. I never have any energy, and I'm getting dizzy all the time too from the lack of food. It's worse than it was post-surgery, and there's no sign of it ending.

To be honest I don't want the band in me anymore, it feels like my body has been invaded by this thing that's keeping me sick & starving.

Has anyone else had anything similar happen to them? I'd appreciate any similar stories or a bit of hope.

I was banded on 12/5/08. I got my first fill 1/12/09. It was too tight . I was in the hospital twice for dehydration. They found nothing wrong with band everything was still in place. they unfill me completely. They did say my esophagus was inflammed. now i have restriction from what i dont know i can only tolerate solids 2 days a week then i will feel sick again so i go back on Soups. I feel the same way u do. so u are not alone. I am trying to figure it out myself. I have lost 60 lbs since the surgery. It feels like i can only hold 2 ounces of food . Anything more i will vomit. I am not hungry i am concerned i am not getting enuff Protein and my hair will fall out. I am really thinking of can i do it without the band now. I dont want to, but the thought keeps crossing my mind. I just keep thinking i can do this. I work so hard to get this done. We all have.

Hello all! It's been a long time since I posted.

I quit posting because I have a stalker friend and she will probably get this because she is probably linked on to me but what the heck ~ She is SOOOO psycho ~

Sarah you are a PSYCHO!!! Mind your own business...:thumbdown:

Anyway

I think I may have a slipped band.

I was banded 8/6/05 by Dr Ortiz.

Thoroughly happy with him and everything until recently.

Things have been good up until the last 2 months.

Lots of bping because I can never tell if it will let me eat or not and so when I try and it won't then I have to throw up.

Sometimes it would let me eat, other times not but if I had the band set any looser it would let me eat all day anything.

(I had about 1cc in it)

So I decided to leave it tighter rather than looser.

When it's tighter, I could only eat or drink between noon and 6pm. This was working great for me. I was losing about 3lbs a month. It could have been more had I cut out the carbs that I love : )

I got sick around Christmas twice and that was bad. I think that THAT throwing up screwed my band up.

After that I could only eat solids occasionally.

Now it's worse.

The past two weeks it's been only some types of mushies and Protein drinks. Still just between noon and 5 or 6pm to avoid reflux as much as possible.

I got very dehydrated the end of Dec - early Jan to where my eyesight was blurry and my eyes were sunken, I was weak, dry mouth, thirsty, my urine was very dark, and I was literally dreaming at night about drinking lots of water!

But I eventually figured out how to fix that.

Get all my Water in through watered down Protein Drinks eating no mushies or solids until after I have had ALL my liquid, otherwise the mushies or solids would plug me up for the day.

During Nov till just a couple weeks ago I would joke that I was like a snake. I could eat solids and have a regular meal and then not be able to eat much for a couple of days. The band would just tighten up a lot. The bad part about that is that when I would try to eat I would throw up if it wasn't ready for food that day and so it began to be a lot of bping. Sometimes 10 times a day or more. I was hungry though.

I have also had bad reflux the past 3 mo.

I had all my fill taken out 3 days ago and rather than feeling open, it felt more swollen in my esophagus. I thought this would fix it but NO!

My reflux is worse because whatever is in the lower stomach comes back up into the upper and then sits in my esophagus when I lay down to sleep until I have to throw it up. Even when I havent had anything after 6pm. I still cant eat ANYTHING.

I think I have a slip. The only thing I can keep down is watered down Protein drinks.

I tried eating after the fill was taken out and it went down but some came back up. I was so thirsty I drank a lot of Water and while I was asleep it came up and even came out my nose! I tried one more time to eat soft solids yesterday and all of it I thew up.

So I only dare drink the watered down protein drinks. It's good enough to keep me going and I feel really good as long as I don't eat.

I can't drink water alone.

I need to know what I should do or who to see to get it checked.

Someone said get an upper GI. Who does that?

I'm not worried if all it is is a slip.

I am worried if there is erosion.

I started out at 179 and now I am at 156.

If I have to take it out, I'll just have to lose that next 20 myself.

I have loved the band though and I will be sad if I lose this tool. But I don't keep ALL the rules. If I did, I wouldnt be here in this situation.

Who do I call?

Have any of you experienced anything like this and it just been an inflamed stomach?

I don't think I'm gonna be that lucky here.

I'm pretty sure it's slipped.

Anybody know how much it costs to have it taken out?

Here in USA?

Mexico?

I just experienced the same thing I was in the hospital , but the band did not slipp. It was still neatly in place with all the pb and dehydration. The dr. said it was too tight. and when he took all the feeling out. But if u r still sick, and weak please go to the ER , The IV they give u will make u feel alot better.

My 1st fill was on 1/12 on 1/15 . I had some taken out. On 1/19. My doctor was to take all of it out. Because it was too tight and I was vomiting all day since 1/19. On 1/21 I went to the emergency room becuase I could no longer hold down my own spit. In that 3 day period I lost 12lbs. they told me i was very dehydrated and my potassium was very low. so i spent that nite getting fluids (IV) put back in me. My thing is my Dr. told me he took it all out, but in the hospital when he came to see me he withdrew, some more Fluid from my band. (OH i had x-rays so my band did not slipp through all the sickness.) He said it was swelling from the band being too tight that was making sick and for the extra fluid that it was some left in the band . So now back on liquids was out of work a whole week. The only good thing is down 36 lbs.

surgery 12/5/08-237

now 201

I had my third fill in 17 months. I don't really tolerate them well. The last fill I had, the doctor could only put 0.25ml of Fluid in my band about 6 months ago. I hadn't lost any weight, so he put in 0.5ml last friday. I did ok for the first 3 days, then my band slowly closed up and I couldn't even swallow my own spit. I went Wednesday night and had 0.75ml, my last 2 fills removed. I feel much better now, but I feel like I've taken 2 steps back. I don't want to put any weight on. Has this happened to anyone else, not tolerating the fills?????:wink:

yes this is happening to me right now. my surgery was 12/5/08. i got my first fill 1/12/09. it was 2.5 cc. on thurs 1/15. he had to take out .75cc. i thought it was better until i had to eat something. now i wish i had not gotten a fill because i was still loosing pretty good.

Why does it take so long for a fill? I was under the understanding that as soon as you can eat regular food for one week you get your first fill....Please explain I am getting really depressed here..

I was told by my Dr. The first fill a month after the surgery so my tummy could heal. Then every 2weeks depending on the fills .It does seem like a long time . I had to wait a week longer because i was trying to schedule my appt. around work and my kids.

Hi everyone, I had my surgery on Dec 27th and I am HUNGRY! How long till this goes away? I have lost 21 lbs already but then again a liquid diet would make ANYONE lose weight...please answer... I would love to hear what everyone out there has to say

I lost my first 20 something pounds after the surgery, and yes i was hungry too. my surgery was on 12/5 and i am still hungry. I just keep looking at the scale of what I lost to make me feel a little bit better. My first fill is on the 12 of this month so I hope that takes away the hunger feeling.

Hello,

I have been banded since 10-06-08. I started having trouble keeping food down the last few days and was wondering if my band has slipped. I was having stomach trouble like a stomach ache so I thought maybe it was a virus or something. Any info would help.

I too was banded on 12/5/08. I am feeling funny . No pain, but last sat. i had trouble keeping food down .It made me alittle scarred that my band had slipp, but when i eat very small bites. i have no problems.

I was banded on 12/5/08. so far i ve lost 24 lbs. Everything going good. I am hungry I do not get my first fill until 1/12/09. I am excercising, watching what i eat. Now i feel like When i eat 2 or 3 bites i get full or it feels like it is getting stuck. ON sat. I pb 2 times. now iam getting scarred .Do i have a slippage? I notice today when i take baby bites. Everything is fine. No pain anywhere.

Hi,

I am a nutritionist and I can answer any of your nutrition questions.

Just ask!:thumbup:

Hi, My surgery was 12/5 I am comming up on my 3 wk post op. Ok i am very hungry now. I just started walking to work out. My first fill is 1/12/09. I am trying my best to stick with the plann. I have lost 21lbs so far. But iam trying not to eat in between the meals like it says to do. Is there something else i can eat or do to make this feeling go away.

I was banded on 12/5/08. So far I have lost 21lbs. I am so tired. It seems like if i do something i just get tired. Just walking up the stairs makes me tired. I cooked some chicken in the crock pot to make it very moist, just to eat to get some Protein in me thinking that would help, well i thought it helped. has anyone felt like this before?

ATL38, who is doing your surgery? I live in Lilburn. If you have any questions, ask away.

Good luck to all the newly banded, waiting to be banded or just getting started. It is all so worth it.

Hi, I am in Lawrenceville , Ga. I wll be banded on Dec. 5.

I wll be having my surgery in Ga. How many surgeries will the doctor be performing that day? I was reading the surgery stories and it seems like it is a assembly line going on at the hospital.

Yesterday I got my letter of approval for the surgery. I was so happy. I call the Drs. office this morning to let them know I sent it over to them right away. How about they have not even called to say they got the fax or to even give me date for the surgery. Do they wait to call u days later for a date or what ? I am still happy about it. That took alot of work. They could have called me and said we are working on a date. I know they got it because I called to make sure.

I got approved. Guess what ? They still have not called to give me a surgery date. I called today while I was at work. They knew it was me because I left a message early this morning. I called again at 1:45 pm. She said she would call me back in 10 mins. Well she never called. Now I am wondering do I keep calling or wait till she calls me or if she calls me , now this is a different woman from the insurance coordinator. I feel like pulling my hair out. I wont to get this over with:cursing:

Yesterday I got my letter of approval for the surgery. I was so happy. I call the Drs. office this morning to let them know I sent it over to them right away. How about they have not even called to say they got the fax or to even give me date for the surgery. Do they wait to call u days later for a date or what ? I am still happy about it. That took alot of work. They could have called me and said we are working on a date. I know they got it because I called to make sure.

I have BCBS of Texas Active Care (am a teacher).

Everything, including BCBS indicates that the lap band is covered as long as I jump through the hops. I went to TLC Edge today and was extremely discouraged because

a) I was the largest I've ever been according to the scales.

:laugh: The PA came across as an idiot.

Though I figure I might as well keep jumping through through the hoops, as it will be easier to decide not to do the surgery than it will be to stop and start again.

Anyone else at this point? It would be nice to have a friend -- or someone a bit further along.

I have BC/BS of GA. I agree u will jump through alot of hoops. Sometimes it feels like I am the one doing all the work. Now I am waiting on my approval from the insurance co. It was sent off on Nov.4. Just please check behind them especially with what the ins. covers. At one point I thought I was actually finish with everything I even called and ask if there was anything else and they said no. then they call and said I needed an upper gi. So i had to do it. Take off work again . I started off with TRUE RESULTS. For that all I have to say is, call ur ins. co and find out what u have to do yourself. You get better results.

Just got the letter in the Mail ok no appeal will be needed they are just missing the paperwork from the shrink which is why they denied. So I'm having them send that in until they finally get it, to relook at it and approve. I'll keep you posted with what happens.

Well I am glad everything will work out for u. I am still 1 week out and waiting .I will let u know when I get the news.

Well it took me a week to get an actual answer and it was denied. So I will now have to appeal. This all went down yesterday, so I'm still very bummed out. Let me know how it goes with you!

Did they say why? I am still waiting I called and they said it was still being reviewed. I am still so nervous about the whole thing. Do ur appeal dont give up. We did so much to even get to this point.

Any Update on how long BCBS of GA took. Waiting on my approval right now! I'm hoping it went fast.... Please post an update.

THANKS

My approval request was sent off nov. 4 2008. I am so nervous. I can barely sleep. Just hope I am approved.:smile2:

So about two weeks ago my mom came up to me and said that maybe I should think about getting the lap band again... i was going to get it last year, went through insuranace and everything, then she and my sister talked me out of it. So my mom said I should get it, and I had been doing more and more research on it and we decided it was about time I do it. Being overweight is not healthy and it was about time I get healthy! I joined this website a week or so ago and I was completely thrilled I was going to get the surgery done! As my mom, sister, cousin and I were eating this morning, my sister, who is 5'3 120 lbs procedes to tell me that she thinks I am making the wrong decision by going to the extreme of having surgery. She has been fit all of her life and doesnt understand how being overweight prohibits what you do in your everyday life. Then my mom gets into it saying she doesnt think I should do it because I wont be able to really eat anymore. My thoughts on that is I have obviously eaten WAY too much to get to the point of thinking about having weight loss surgery, so eating small amounts is worth it. When you go from having food being a huge staple in your life to it just being there for survival purposes, I am sure it will be a big step. But I really think that is a HUGE payoff! Ya I wont be able to sit there and eat fast food or fatty things like that, but I will be able to go running again, or go on rollercoasters without worrying about the size of the seat! I am so emotional right now with this. Last week I had my whole family's support and today I find out I dont have anyones support but mine....

I don't know what to do.

Please do what your heart tells you to do. I have full support from my mom, My sister who is the smallest in the family 5"4 and 150 lbs. Actually said I was stupid for wanting to have the surgery.When She felt I was mad for her saying the word stupid she replied that she didnt think I need it. That I could loose weight the normal way. Only my family knows about the surgery . So I hear the negative comments from the thin ones in the family. My aunt says she would be jealous if I did it. So I am getting vibes like such people want you to stay overweight. Especially if they are smaller than you, But please do what you want to do. Dont let anyone stop you from this. So now I just dont discuss it with any of the family anymore, Only my mom because she has to help me with my kids, You may not know me ,But you have my full support.

Hello,

I am in the process of having the lap-band surgery. I am scheduled to have my sleep apnea evaluation. Can anyone tell me what the next step is after this evaluation? The suspense is killing me because I want to hurry up and get this surgery over with. The process is entirely to long.

Hi, I agree the process is way too long, I started this journey on Aug. 12 of this year, my sleep evaluation was the last thing i had to do. I did psych test, ekg, blood work, and met with a nutritionist now I am just waiting to meet with the doctor to sign my ins. papers off. That appt. is on Oct. 30. It seems like it will take about 4 months depending on how long my ins. wait to give the approval, but everyone's is different.

My drs office is telling me that all B/C B/S PPO is required to do the 6 months and my insurance mailed me all the info and it does not say anywhere in there that I have to do the 6 months so I called them and they yes I did need to do the 6 months and then they started looking at my policy, put me on hold and came back and said it doesn't say it anywhere.

Has anyone had them and not had to do the 6 months? My drs office said they can go ahead and submit it and we could try, all they can do is decline it I would guess then I would just finish out the 6 months. They said I could fight it since it doesn't say it, has anyone ever done that and won?

Thanks. If I have to do the 6 months, ok, I will, however if I don't have to, even better.

I have BC/BS of GA. No 6 month diet required just 3 yrs of trying to diet,

nutritionist, psych evaluation, and a medical form from my family doctors.That was it. sleep eva. was not required but i had to do it anyway.

oh man, that stinks =/, so i went there today (to get the tests done) what they did was,1. blood test, 2. nutritionist, 3. physical therapy? well they went over body mass, bmi, and excerizing tips, 4.Went to a part where they checked my heart and lungs, 5. image screening; ultra sound, and chest extray..the nutritionist gave me a "Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery: Nutrition Guidelines) it explains the meal plan for the lap band what you should eat before, prior, and after sugery. I dont know if you got a packet like that, But yeah I have to make an appointment to go back to get my results, the nutritionist said ill be seeing her two more times before surgery i think and the one for the exercising said she hopes shes sees me before surgery. so im hoping my surgery date is somewhere at the end of december to the begining of jan or the end of jan or even at the end of feb, will find out eventually!

Erin, I did no physical therapy and they only ask if i had a personal trainer in mind.No ultra sound,or x-ray,they gave a book on what the lap band was about .It seems strange that they never gave me any feed back on any test i took, niw that u are saying that.I met with the nutritionist once and was bill for 2 sessions . But this was all with True Results, I hope this class I have today will answer all my questions, because i wrote them down, so i would not forget. I was hoping my surgery would be before the holidays because I tend to gain the most around that time.

swiley. My story is different. I did not go through my insurance - I just knew that was not the path for me. I was self-pay. I had to get a lot of help from my loved ones. I went in for my initial consultation and testing (EKG and blood work) on August 13th, and my surgery was scheduled for September 12th. (It ended up being on Sept. 19th, due to Hurricane Ike.) Good luck to you. Make sure you take ALL documentation with you when you go to meet with your new doctor. I have become a documenting maniac - before I speak with anyone, I ask their name and I record EVERYTHING!!! Good luck to you. All of this hoop jumping will be over soon and you will be getting your band. Keep smiling - it's rough sometimes.... just keep your goal in mind. Becky

MissBS, thx for the tip on taking all documention with u. I do have it all. Even have xtra copies just in case they want one, but the journey for this surgery is very long and tiring so i plann to make the most of it.

Hi swiley. Where are you having your surgery done? I also went to True Results (in Houston) - loved the staff there and very happy with how my surgery went!! Good luck to you! Becky

Hello, I was with True Results of Atlanta. I will be having my surgery in Suwanne Ga. The staff there was good, but I had problems getting feed back form my Insurance advocate. Did true results turn u over to doctor? and did u have to do a exam again.?

when did you know you're getting the surgery? is the appointment im going to tomorrow another evaluation? cuz the first appointment i had was with the surgeon...im confused haha

I was originally with True Results of Atlanta. I thought i was doing all my test with them. I did it all ekg, psych evaluation, nutritionist, then on 2 separate nites i had to go to the sleep clinic. I was very confused about how they did stuff because i really got no feed back from the insurance advocate. I had to call my insurance company and they told me . True Results was not in network. I was not informed of this. After several calls i was informed that i would be turned over to the drs. office that was gonna do the surgery. So now i have to take a class with that drs. office, then on Oct. 30 I have a consult. with the doctor. I was told he was gonna sign me off for my insurance for approval for the surgery. But as iam talking with them on the phone it sounds like another exam for the surgery when i have already did one. so really iam confused , but i will let u know what happens next, because i have done everything my insurance required and then some.