High Anxiety

Thanks Sammy - I had the surgery but the doc told me that my liver was too fragile, that it bled when they touched it and he was afraid to trigger internal bleeding that he couldn't stop. So, I had the joy of the surgery and none of the benefit! My docs here - who fully supported me going to Belgium - are not very impressed as they say my liver tests are all within the normal range. One of them (an endocrinologist, who I love) is trying to pull some strings to get my band done in Galway, but not for about 9 months as I will need to heal. In the meantime, will have the liver fully investigated. I must sound terribly bitter, but it was a huge disappointment because, as we all know, you really psyche yourself up for all the changes in your life. But I will take your advise and will see the doc or at least a nurse tomorrow because the welts and bumps are pretty strange!

Hi All - remember me? I'm the poor unfortunate who went to Belgium, had the surgery but did not get the band. Anyway, that was on June 12 and I'm not too happy with my incision healing. The incision above the belly button is quite red, and not really sealed and a bit pus-y. There are also red welts and red raised bumps - quite large - all over my belly where the dressings have been. I've been very good, I think, about keeping them clean and had the stitches removed a week ago. Anyone else experience this? thanks, kathy

Me again - forgot to say, I am the "Kathy" the forum was discussing re: liver. I do have a question though, I'm nine days post-op, without the band, but finding I am often short of breath, and sometimes breathless. Also, I find I am nauseous often at night when I lie down - anyone else with this problem? Shelly? Alan? I think I will see my GP tomorrow because I am finding the breathing getting worse rather than better...

Hi Homecare et al - I just want to make it clear that my liver disease is not from alcohol, or Dr Chris would not have operated at all (he did ask me this while I was about to go under). So please don't worry about that. I have cirrhosis and underwent surgery in 2002, so it is very doubtful that any of you would have such a chronic illness without knowing about it - blood tests routinely test liver function and a problem would show up. In my case, the original diagnosis was seven years ago and my liver blood work has been improving ever since - the point where it was well within the normal range when the lap band surgery was attempted. Dr Chris stopped for fear of internal bleeding that he may not be able to stop and would land me in intensive care in a foreign hospital - costing me thousands a day. I'm still very disappointed in the outcome, but there's little that I could have done. As I said before, there appears to have been a huge miscommuniciation between Dr Chris, myself and Fredrik - but the outcome remains the same. The bottom-line, Homecare and any others, unless you have had serious liver problems in the past (likely resulting in surgery) it is doubtful you have anything to worry about. Good luck to you all!

Poor Alan - I am so glad to hear you went in and had the clot seen to - I've been very worried about you! Hopefully now you can get over the pain and on to the business of losing weight. I haven't done anything yet re: diet but find my appetite is down a lot since I've come back - even my dreaded sweet tooth. I'm finding I'm still quite tired - and a few people have told me I'm pale from time to time (likely just my extreme disappointment shining through)! My own doc has told me not to worry about what Dr Chris and Fredrick said re: life expectancy. She is sending me to a consultant here and, if it doesn't look too bad, she will see about getting me banded here... But I'm not holding my breath! Please take care of yourself and let me know how you are doing! Shelly - how are you? Kathy

Hi Rose - welcome and good luck, I would add one thing to the list: a mug - the cups in the hotel are very, very crappy! kathy

Hi Alan - so glad you found your way onto the site! But so sorry to hear you are in pain. Just want to let you know that I'm thinking about you - the clot sounds awful, but since you know the size of it, I take it that you have been to the doc. Please, please, please take good care of yourself - along with all the other lucky banders out there! (Very surprised to see you are 39 - you sexy beast!) Keep up the good work, Shelly! How is Mairaid doing? Love ya and love to John!, kathy

Hi Shelly - glad to hear you are doing well, hope Mairaid is as well? Please tell Alan I was asking about him and hope he is feeling better soon. I still must get in touch with my own docs about the liver. But just to top off my great weekend adventure, my aunt died on Sunday, so funeral and wake etc now just over. It comes just five months after my dad died (she was his sister, here in Ireland) so the rest of his siblings are having a very tough time. Ugh - lots of 'stuff' at once!

Hi Guys - you are all being so great - thanks for the fabulous support! I'm kind of licking my wounds at the moment (so to speak - tongue not quite long enough to do it literally) and will formulate yet another clever diet plan in the coming days. Cheers, kathy

Thanks everyone for all your encouragement! Today (four days post-op) I seem to be feeling my incisions a bit more and a bit more discomfort when standing up and walking - I wouldn't go so far as to call it pain, but wonder if others felt a 'stinging' pain? Also, to Homecare - please do not worry about the wine and your liver. In my case, I had a history of cirrhosis and actually had a portion of my liver removed in 2002 - so my case was certainly more serious than a few glasses of wine. For the record, I'm not a lush - inhaled a toxic mold in a cave (yes, a cave) and it caused the cirrhosis - which I understand is the dying off of the liver. So please, don't be worried but I did really want to get the message across that you must tell them everything, no matter if you think it is too old or irrelevent! ShellyG how are you today? You and Ken are a lovely couple - so glad you have such great support. Cheers, kathy

Hi All - OK, gotta tell you what happened to me in Belgium - a cautionary tale for anyone heading out there (or getting the band anywhere.) I went through the surgery and Dr. Chris had to stop without banding me because of problems with my liver. I have non-alcoholic cirrhosis. I did inform the doc on the forms of this but did not verbally go into the full history. Nor did he ask - which I think makes us each 50% culpable. As I understood my medical condition - which is seven years old - I had improved to the point where it was a lasting but non-progressing condition. So, I had the surgery but no band. Dr Chris said it was only the third time he had to stop a surgery. It is not only the money I lost (but I was refunded 2K for the cost of the band and, I believe, the doctor's own fees) but it is the huge disappointment - and also the trauma of undergoing surgery for nothing. My disappointment is huge, and I am actually feeling quite depressed about it. As we all know, no one enters this lightly and I believed it to be my real last chance. If I had successfully lost weight on my own, I wouldn't be here! I had so many hopes and plans for my thinner, healthier future. Anyway, please, please, please, do yourself a favour and do not hold back any information whether you think it is relevant or not. I understand and appreciate that Dr Chris stopped my surgery as a life-saving measure (he said when my liver was touched it started to bleed enough to worry him that I could bleed to death - you can't argue with that). But going through surgery for no gain is a serious situation. Good luck to you all - and especially ShellyG and Mairaid who were there with me, also lovely Alan. Shelly, thank you for all your support and I wish you all lots of weight loss and good health! Kathy

Hi All - I leave today for Brussels, surgery tomorrow. But I have been sending emails to Bridget just to make sure my deposit was received and I am still on tomorrow's roster. Still no reply, I wonder if this is normal? At this stage, of course, I will just show up and hope all is in order, but I'm a bit perturbed that there has been no contact once my money was received, or so it would appear. Did anyone else have a similar experience?

Hi Flirty - You raised my curiousity when you said you have paid more than 1000euro and still don't have restriction. I will be having my fills in Dublin as well - and travelling from Donegal to do so, so I'm eager to have them work well and work quickly. Anyone else out there having the same problem with fills in Dublin? Also, is the port located high in the ribs, under your bust?