Band_Groupie

I'm SO, SO, SO glad to see some old faces (LOL, or avatars) back!!! I love the daily reminders (so sorry that Lisa has had ongoing problems...unbelievable!! Tell her I hope the trips away ease the pain!) and the contest (I'm SO hoping the foot massages happen!!). It's a lifelong battle, so we can't ever give up...and there's always someone doing WAY better than we are, so comparing is just futile...at least for me. We're all here to give support and get it, so I'm glad our little group is growing again! I hope this coaxes more Bunnies back to the hutch as we all need each other no matter where we are in our journey!

Hi there! I've had no problems up to then since my last fill in early Sept. '09 and the problem was immediately resolved with the unfill. I had information from a Dr. friend who had the Band that had gone through these spasms (she's a nuclear medicine Doc for cardiology and even she thought she might be having a heart problem)...so that's why I knew what it was (plus I've had two normal heart stress tests and a routine heart MRI for pre-op that were all normal). I'm back to the Doc for a small fill (hopefully) on Tuesday, but I don't want to get to the point where I'm having reflux again. I think this is a big indicator of being too tight. I'll keep you posted on the blog. I know this all sounds very scary right before banding, but trust me when I say that I'd do it all again 100x over to get rid of the weight. My 'complications' have luckily been very minor and not all that problematic for me. Part of this was my stupidity in that I should have gone in for the unfill after the first incident...'ANY REFLUX PROBLEMS AT NIGHT MEAN AN UNFILL', just remember that and you'll do fine. -BG

You are AMAZING GF!!! What a wonderful way to give back to others...you'll be GREAT Monday...I'll be thinking of you! -BG

You're welcome...leaving you a V. message now....

I can't wait for you to get there JT!!! I think that's the real reason they call it Onederland...when you're in Twoterville and are nearing Onederland it slows down to one pound at a time! Maybe that's to help you anticipate the victory?! I'm up to 151.5...I'm on a sugar high still after the holiday get-away and I HATE unfills...at this rate I'll have gained half my weight back by my next fill at the end of August...is 8 WEEKS really necessary?!! I need to refocus!

((hugs)) and good for you for seeking some help. I was just talking to someone about a similar problem. I'm wondering if you're too tight? It looks like you had another fill after the unfill? Bander's that are too tight often get into 'Soft Food Syndrome' where they gravitate to eating sliders because they won't get stuck (yes, cookies and chips are sliders and usually go down fine even when you're tight)...and sliders are usually high cal, and more importantly won't keep you full. Tell me more about your restriction level, what you're eating for solid protein, and how well you're chewing it. Also how well do you follow the 'no drinking' rule? If you can't eat something like meat for a solid protein first, then you're definitely too tight and the Band isn't helping you the way it was intended too.

JT- I'm so sorry for your loss. Emjay and Andrea...glad to have you both back and working your Bands!

I had my first partial unfill...a whopping 2cc's so I'm about down to my first fill. Long story (you can read on the blog if you like detail), but I had some bad pain and mild vomiting, but then tightness, thus the unfill. Also had a UGI and the Barium was barely moving even after the unfill, but no enlargements or slips, so no 'cause' identified for the pain, but hopefully it won't return. Eight weeks until I can get a fill again...Lordy help me...I can only hope I don't gain a bunch! Have a great holiday weekend all!

Have a great holiday...I could have written your words...it's funny though the more the weight goes the more you start believing that it's possible for you...keep the faith!

I had my first partial unfill. Three weeks ago I had a minor stuck and minor PB...that night I had my first problem with reflux during the night (woke up and had to spew the acid out of my esophagus) the next day I had gradually worsening pain and tightness...it was the weekend so I called first thing Monday...the nurse told me to give it another day and I was fine (mistake made here...as I keep saying here NIGHTIME REFLUX = GET A SMALL UNFILL, yes I knew it and should have insisted, but by Monday I was fine). Fast forward 3 weeks of no problems at all and after eating the same oatmeal I have every day and having it go down just fine it's 30 min. later and I start having crushing chest pain so bad that it makes me nauseous and I vomit a little, which gets me tighter...again it's the weekend so they don't get me in until Tuesday by which time I can't eat. Doc takes out 2cc's of my 5.9cc's and I get sent for a UGI...the barium, even after the unfill won't budge...the thicker stuff finally goes through a tiny bit. No slip, nothing enlarged so now I've got 8 weeks before I can start filling again. I don't want to get back to the point where the reflux becomes a problem again and if I have any nightime problems I'll be in for an unfill that day. What I've learned here is (yes, please call your Dr. to get clarification of your problems...I'm no Dr.) that many (not all) with reflux before the band are cured of the reflux after (and many with hernia repairs at banding). Reflux is the most common side effect of banding (so many of us with no reflux before now have it) and if it's very mild and is controlled by a PPI, then it's not an issue. If you have ANY breakthrough reflux during the day or ANY signs of reflux at night you need a small unfill (and some need to be checked for hernias as well). I also find that some don't know ALL the signs of reflux so here they are again: - Burning- the usual suspect - Globus sensation- some only get this with no burning which is a feeling of a lump in the throat - Coughing at night- usually a dry cough (you can aspirate acid into your lungs - Gurgling- Acid feels like it's bubbling up your esophagus - Choking- the above makes some wake up feeling like they're choking - Belching/Burping- up acid at night - Nose- Sometimes people wake up with acid/liquids coming out the nose - Need to spit or vomit at night- Usually bringing up acid or even food, for some this even happens when they're sleeping Here's the bottom line...we got the Band to get our health back, not to trade one health issue for another...uncontrolled reflux can lead to way more serious problems than losing your Band so don't let it go on. OK, off my soapbox, and I'll be back if there are any more reflux issues!

Ahh gurgling...the sign of restriction! Ouch, I hate stuck though!...hope the restriction sticks (no pun intended)!

:confused:OK, I've read some other threads here about this, but not much in describing the pain/causes/Band relation, so I'm starting my own. First, *A Note to Newbies is at the end...please read if you're perusing the 'complications forum'...I was a scared Newbie too and was here reading the Complications Forum. OK, the short version; tell me what you know about esophageal spasms and does it have any correlation with the Band or Reflux? The longer version is my story; 3 weeks ago a mild stuck episode (ribs at dinner) and a minor PB...the only thing memorable was that I had my first episode of acid reflux problem at night (which is a RED FLAG that you're too tight...coughing, spewing, acid bubbling into your esophagus or even nose...anything at night). I take daily Nexium and hadn't had a problem up until then. The reflux caused me to take some Tums that night and later I woke up with my esophagus full of acid and barely made it to the bathroom to do a major spew! Next day I had some soreness and it gradually got worse with food (lesson here, should have gone to liquids right away) until by the end of the day I was on liquids. I called the Doc's office the next morning (Monday) and after talking it through with the nurse, she told me to give it another day...I was fine. Three weeks of no problems, no tightness and one morning after eating my usual oatmeal and it going through with no problems, 1/2 hour later I get a sudden tightness in my chest that quickly ramped up until it felt like a heart attack and went straight through to my back (if I didn't have a Band I would have called the squad). A friend had suggested 'esophageal spasms', so we Googled it...I was surprised it doesn't always come and go like you'd think the word spasm means...my pain was intense and constant (there was NO burning or reflux pain). It was eased some by pain relievers and I eventually took a narcotic to sleep that night (I did have one vomit from the pain making me nauseous, NOT because anything felt stuck). Again I called the Doc on Monday morning and they got me in on Tuesday...I had a 2cc unfill (I was expecting this as I'd gotten very tight after the vomit, which came after the pain) and then, because I asked for it, a UGI/barium x-ray. Even after the partial unfill the thin barium wasn't even going through my esophagus and the thicker barium finally got a very thin line through (she said my esophagus and stoma were swollen perhaps from the vomiting, but there were no spasms going on...I knew that as there was no pain by days later when I was having this done). This morning I could eat my oatmeal with just a tiny bit of soreness (barium barely getting through yesterday afternoon, and now oatmeal can?). Another lesson; I'm wondering if the second incident would have happened if they'd done an unfill after the first. Got the phone call from my doc this morning NO slip!!! The pain before tightness this weekend is a mystery...and hopefully one that won't return! I'm now wondering if these were esophageal spasms and I had two people comment on my blog just yesterday that they have had them...I'm wondering if it's more common after Banding? I've read that they can be very intense and people often think they're having a heart attack, they can last for days or a short time, and they're not sure what causes them, but some sites say reflux is a suspect. It anyone knows anything or has had these, I'd appreciate any information!!! ================================ *A note to Newbies* Do NOT let a possible complication or chest pains I had for a day or two make you afraid of getting a Band. We all just post the bad things here to find out more about them...trust me, I don't post a thread for every wonderful thing that's happened (that's why it 'just seems' there are lots of complications...yes, I was a Newbie getting scared too). These things are very rare...my Doc told me in all the years he's been doing these their practice has had one slip...one...that's why he wasn't worried, but he let me go for the x-ray because I asked and he knew I needed the peace of mind (there was NO slip). If they had told me to come in after my first problem I doubt I would have had the second one. Knowledge is power...that's why I share everything (see, you just learned 'night time reflux problems of any kind=get in for a small unfill NOW'). I was WAY more upset about a possible slip because of the possibility of LOSING my Band....I was way more upset about that then the mystery, or even the pain. I'd put up with some unexplained chest pain, an unfill and much more to finally be where I am today...I swear it's SO worth it!!! A day or two of mystery chest pain that did no long-term damage vs. the pain I was in because of the Obesity and getting worse all the time...not to mention a shorter life...it's a no brainer... I LOVE MY BAND!!!

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You're my hero and an inspiration to all...GREAT post! Happy Bandiversary my friend!!!!!

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You can do it...I make that chocolate square last forever...one lick at a time

Congrats!! JG...ONEDERLAND!!! YAY GF!!!! Isn't the grass greener here LOL? JT...another 5K?!! OK, I'm going to exercise longer today.

I was glued too and had one pop out...he just gave it a tug and clipped it off.

*Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book Come on...sing it with me!!! Cracking open the 'box of wine' for you all now...there's no such thing as too early...hold those glasses still GF's...happy weekend! OK, now you're singing...and dancing...WHOOT! YouTube - Wrinkled Ladies

You are always inspiring my friend!!! Great post...you always make me think! -BG

GREAT post...and VERY insightful!!! I became VERY aware of how much our family events revolve around food and what 'food pushers' we all are (my four siblings are all obese), but I also realize that others can be jealous that you're taking control of something that they aren't ready to yet. Be the example...you're doing great! -BG

Hi Nina...I'm up in Cranberry...let me know if you pull a group together (I know most hospitals here also have their own groups...I don't attend). -BG

You need to cal them back and INSIST that they see you. You need an anti-nausea prescription immediately. Vomiting when a band is new is by FAR when the largest percentage of slips occur...you do NOT want to be vomiting now. You also need to find out what is causing the vomiting...perhaps you need a different pain med. Get thee to the Doc NOW!

You'll feel a lot better when you're back on food...I felt like I was going to pass out until then I was so weak. Call your Doc and ask if you can take a laxative; this helped me a lot!

Yep, I know exactly how you feel...NOT losing or gaining weight is hard for dieters! I had to figure out what clothes to wear even before weigh-ins LOL. If you asked for a copy of your bariatric policy it should state '6 mo. diet' or not. You'll be able to lose the weight soon...hand in there! -BG