CathyBFromGa

Eficka, I'm so sorry you are having problems. The band is a fickle thing. Seems to work beautifully for some, yet others have problems continuously. We need to lose the weight to maintain our health, but you know as well as me that living with pain, getting stuck, acid reflux, is not conducive to better health either. Even though I probably only had one "normal" week out of the nine weeks I had my band, even though I suffered terribly at the end, I was still sad to lose my band. I had such hopes and dreams that this would be the tool to enable me to finally lose the weight. However, by the last few days before surgery, I believe I would have reached down my throat and pulled it out, if I could have. Lemme tell ya, if you've already gained 50 of your 70 lb back, then the best thing you can do is get that thing out! How horrible to be having the terrible symptoms and GAINING weight. That's one of the problems with these surgeries, is that we'll do whatever we have to do in order to eat. Yet still have all the food limitations. It is true, the Hungry Monster does return. (I actually have been posting about this on my blog... take a look!) One thing that I have done is to consider my "condition" (the dysmotility) as "the enemy", or the reason that my dream surgery didn't work. I determined that I would not let the enemy have the final victory and rob me of the weight loss. I have found some really good blogs of people who are on the journey to better health. You can find them on the sidebar of my blog. When will you be having surgery? I'd like to hear from you. You can e-mail me at bencath@aol.com if you'd like. You can do this. You will be able to make better choices once the band is out and you can eat regular food again. Yeah, it's hard... or we wouldnt have needed surgery in the first place. You'll probably be like me, though... I've been through h3ll and back because of my weight, and I'm determined that I'm not going to let it be for nothing!! Good luck!!

I'm so very sorry to hear that you're going through this. Ask your doctor for an upper GI series to check band placement, whether or not you have a pouch, and to check for dysmotility. Regardless of what the upper GI shows, unfortunately there is no fix for this, and you probably need to get that band out. I know it is heartbreaking, but I know from experience what you're going through. It sounds like your pain level is far worse than mine. Don't mess around with this, as you will dehydrate quickly, and you don't want to do that. I'm so sorry. I hope things get better for you soon. Post a reply to this thread so I'll get an e-mail and can check on you again. I don't come here any more unless there are replies to threads I subscribed to. CathyB

I know EXACTLY what you mean about avoiding the doctors. Please visit my weight loss blog (link beow), and my personal blog as well, (linked from the weight-loss blog) to follow my story. On my XFiles blog, I have added the blogs of other people who are losing weight without surgery, and I find their blogs very encouraging, and we're starting to communicate via comments. Please feel free to e-mail me at bencath@aol.com and let me know how you're doing, when you'll be debanded etc. I'd love to encourage you any way I can. I'm glad you e-mailed your doctor, and are about to re-claim your life. cathyb

Oh my, Dawn! I can't imagine five years of it! I had my band removed on July 7th, when it got to the point that even sips of Water was causing excruciating pain. It was removed on a semi-emergent basis. I didn't have time to research the sleeve, and not sure i would have opted for that anyway. I have never been in such hell as I was the last two weeks. I had the band in for nine weeks, with perhaps six days of what a "normal" banded person probably feels like. I got a nasty postop wound infection after the removal surgery, so I was down for about 10 days following that. Since I've healed completely, there were a few days in the beginning where I would have spasms at least once a day, but thankfully, that has abated. On the down side to that, of course my appetite has returned, and that totally blows. I gained 5 lb back... but I knew I would, since I had been living on tiny sips of water and a few sips of Protein drink for 2-3 weeks prior to removal. Common sense told me that I would gain some when I was able to eat again, especially not being able to exercise. I lost 3 of those lbs already, but had a terribly, horrible weekend, and it looks like I've gained those 3 lbs back. So.. it's back to square one. I was down 52 lbs the day of band removal. I needed to lose 90 lb. So I'm still in an okay place... just SOOOO relieved to have that thing out of me. Can't say i totally regret it, because i believe it "jump started" me, and I've lost enough weight that I think I can keep going. Just gotta watch those weekend pig-fests. I sure hope you can get straightened out. A friend of mine has done lots of research on the sleeve, and I think she wants to convert. If you've done your homework and are sure that's what you want, then get that band out of you. It makes no sense that it can work properly when it is misplaced. I never even had a pouch... and had full restriction from day ONE!!! So my poor esophagus is trying to push food through this restricted area, and it's not going through... so my esophagus starts spazzin out... no dang wonder I felt so bad. I know there are lots of people with great results with the band, and I'm truly happy for them. I would just have to say it works for some and for some it doesn't. I was one of the unlucky ones, and it sure sounds like you are too. Get that thing out!! How horrible that you are suffering so and now are gaining weight! I'd get it taken out for that reason alone! Good luck to you. Let me know what you decide and how you are doing! CathyB

Thanks, Ellissa! Best wishes to you with your sleeve!! I researched the band for months and months before doing it. It is possible I might have considered revision to sleeve if I'd had the luxury of time to research it, but I wouldn't consider making such a decision without research, and under the "duress" of such agony that I was experiencing. Besides it isn't done in my town, and going elsewhere would require payment up front. I work at my hospital, so payroll deduction was a blessing in that regard!!! Hope you have continued good results!

I'm so sorry to report that my band had to be removed on Wednesday, nine weeks and one day after being placed. The esophagal dysmotility was horrific. I existed on liquids and mushies, then just liquids, then finally I couldn't even keep down water without pain and puking slime balls. I am happy to report that, including the preop 20-lb loss, I'm down 49 pounds. I am not having further WLS and hope that after all I've been through, and the fact that i'm over halfway to goal, will keep me inspired to continue the weight loss journey to better health. Good luck to all you bandsters! I wish you every success... and may the words "esophageal dysmotility" never EVER be associated with any of you!! CathyB

Tomorrow will be eight weeks since i was banded. Trouble started at 4 weeks with introduction of solid food. Terrible squeezing, burning, spasmodic pain 3-4 seconds after swallowing, and horrible gurgling noises coming from my throat. I thought i was experiencing "stuck" episodes. It calmed down for about a week and a half, then returned and has been getting progressively worse. Upper GI shows esophageal dysmotility, high-sitting band with no visible pouch. YIKES. So my esophagus is basically my stomach now... and it's not very happy about it. My surgeon says the dysmotility issue cant be ignored for very long, and it is possible (likely) that it wil need to be removed. Of course, I'm freaked out... worried about long-term effects of esoph dysmotility and permanent damage. So, did any of you have dysmotility problems that you didn't have before banding? Did removing the band make your symptoms/pain go away? Thank you for any information you can give. I'm totally heartbroken. :ohmy:

Bless you, Janet. I believe most Americans are sickened by what has happened... and not a little confused/angry at why *they* (whoever *they* are, whether it is the gvt or BP) hasn't allowed some of the methods at removing the oil from the water to be implemented. Mike Huckabee had a show dedicated to the many people, some scientists, some just regular Joes, who had come up with ways to get the oil out. The hay thing was the first method I saw way back when, but there are lots of other things too. Sickening that Walton County in FL was all set to go with the hay thing... long before it reached the shore, and the state gvt blocked their efforts. I just don't understand it. Bless you again for being proactive. I wish there was something I could do from up my way. Saying prayers for everyone involved (which will ultimately be every US citizen, if not everyone on the planet!!) I know you are heartbroken to see this happen to your home. Take care of you and don't forget to eat!!! CathyB

hoping to hook up the wii in the next day or two! my surgeon's fee includes two *free* months at the wellness center at the hospital where i work. i work from home, though, and the center is about 15 miles away. i'll probably go for the *free* part, and hopefully learn the proper exercises to do to minimize skin sagging, but i haven't decided yet if i will continue going after that. it's pretty cheap, and i can have it payroll deducted... i'm just afraid i won't go. the wii right here in my home office will probably work better for me. enjoy your workout and have a great day!!! CathyB It's Okay, I'm With The Band

Hello All! I'm six weeks postop, on full foods. I'm going to a Scrapbook Expo in a few weeks and already planning ahead on how to incorporate my new eating plan. We always brown-bag it because the food is so expensive. Any ideas on a high-protein lunch? I'll have my protein shake for breakfast on the road. I need something that doesn't need cooling, so I'm thinking maybe a small can of tuna. That's about as creative as I can get. Would love to hear your ideas!! Thanks so much! CathyB