CathyBFromGa

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:

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 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

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!

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

Tomorrow I'll be four weeks out, and have begun slowly transitioning to solids. On Saturday I ate the equivalent of maybe two bites of a hot dog. I removed the casing and cut the pieces tiny enough to fit on one tine of a fork. I think I might be stuck? I didn't get the stuck feeling right then, it seemed to go down fine, but Sunday morning I could hardly even drink my coffee. Then throughout the rest of the day, whenever I would try to eat anything, mushy or not, I'd get that stuck/chest-tightness/burning feeling. I tried a bite of mooshy refried beans last night and it actually came back up. So my question is... will whatever "it" is that's stuck ever go away? I really don't want to call my doctor yet, because I'm afraid he'll won't like it that i started solids a few days early. Just wondering... anybody here ever stay stuck for more than a day? Please help! Thanks!!! 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

"Air In The Band!" That was my verdict today at my postop appointment. 5 cc of air was in the band that shouldn't have been there. I asked him how it got there, and he said it was his fault, that it would have happened when he hooked the tubing together. Well, I could just kiss him!!! It's that 5 cc of air that probably kept me out of Bandster Hell, and now I'm terrified that I'll descend into the depths of it. So far so good, though, because since being home I tried some more Greek yogurt, and still can't eat it. That gives me reason to worry, though, that something is wrong somewhere. He's having me get an upper GI on Friday to check out how things look in there. So I guess until then I'll just try not to worry about something being wrong. Seems like I still won't be able to eat very much, which is a good thing, but it would be nice not to experience discomfort when I do eat. Maybe I'll just stick with my protein drinks. They seem to go down okay, and keep me pretty full. The tornadoes in my throat and clogged-drain gurgle sounds are still there. Anybody else ever have air in their band?

Yay for you!!! A loss is a loss!! Eeww on the snakes too! I'd be like Selma Hayek on her interview when she saw one.... except I'd probably be walking on water to get away from it!!! I'm just now six weeks out from surgery, had my postop apt today and forgot to ask about working out. He removed 5 cc of air from my band, and we talked about that most of all, and never got around to the work-out discussion. His fee includes a two-month membership to the Wellness Center gym at the hospital where I work, so I'm excited to get to go learn some routines that will hopefully help the sagging skin issue. In the meantime, my daughter is going to set up her wii in my room so I can use that. I hope they have a Turtle setting. ha. Keep up your good work. Lovin' your blog!!!

That is fabulous!!! Hey... when they get too big, you should have your own little e-bay like auction here on LBT and see how many of us would bid on them. Sounds like a little slice of heaven!!!! Congratulations! I'm down 40 lb too, and having to borrow my daughter's dresses for church, but haven't tried on any pants. i can tell my legs are skinnier, and my tummy too, but there's already a big roll of loose skin and ugghhh... iwill probably be doomed to fat pants forever. Guess I need to go Spanx shopping!!!

Woo Hoo!! I was banded May 4, and as of today, I'm down 40 lb. If I weigh tonight, it may only be 37 lb, but I'm takin' it!!! I'm still having trouble swallowing though. I haven't had a fill at all yet, but scheduled for my first one tomorrow. I think my biggest problem is still taking bites and sips that are too large, then I immediately get that awful pain. I thought the food was supposed to stay in the "pouch" (I'm not even sure I have one yet, since I haven't had a fill) for a while before passing through. I feel this pain within 5-10 seconds after I swallow. It's crazy, I can eat something crunchy, like a Pretzel Thin with hummus, and it goes through fine. Some of the softer things (like Greek Yogurt.. thicker...) will cause the pain. I'm thinking it probably has more to do with the size bites/sips I'm taking than the actual food product, though. On Thursday I was getting ready to go on a little day trip, and tried to eat some Greek yogurt for Breakfast. No way. It just would not go down. So I had nothing but coffee. Later in the day, I tried eating a few chicken nuggets from Wendys (I know, poor choice, but I needed something to eat while driving) and took little tiny bites of those, and they went down fine. Took me 45 minutes to eat them. Just seems strange that the nuggets went down with no pain and the yogurt just about killed me. I am SUPER excited about the weight loss, though! 20 lb on preop, now 20 lb since surgery. I'm wondering, though, if "this" is what it feels like to be at the sweet spot. I'm not hungry, I'm losing weight... so is it possible that i can be at restriction without even the first fill? I guess I'll see what my surgeon says tomorrow about whether or not to give me one. This is a crazy journey!

Yes, my friends, it is true! Yesterday, 33 days out from surgery, I had myself a delicious salad. Worked for about 20 minutes chopping and shredding everything to a confetti-like size. Spritzed a little Balsamic Breeze dressing on it for negligible calorie and fat grams. Tyson fully-cooked mesquite chicken strips and a boiled egg over spinach, cuke, green onion and a little bit of shredded cheese rounded out a nice, protein-packed 4 oz of heaven!!! No problems at all eating it. I'm such a nerd and so excited about it, I even took pictures! Check it out on my blog. Hahaha!! Can't wait to have another one maybe tomorrow!

Just curious. I can't imagine a grown man being able to live on 4 oz of food per meal. If they are not larger, do guys have to take higher supplements? I have a male cousin who is in the early stages of interest in the procedure, and I can't imagine him eating the same amount that I eat.

Nope, I haven't had a fill yet. Can't imagine that i even need one. Supposed to have my first on Monday, but I feel tight already. Have to watch my bite sizes and my sip sizes, or it is very painful going down. i'm not hungry, and i'm still losing, so I don't now if he will give me a fill or not. especially after last week feeling so tight that i had to go back to liquids. I dunno. This band is a strange partner... but I'm sure liking it!!!

Yay for you!! Good luck with the surgery! It's a total life-changer!!! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Banded 5-4-10, doing better each day. Last week was first week for solids, but I had something funky going on like some swelling or something, and didn't do so well. So far this week has been better. I've had soft-scrambled eggs, baked chicken tenders, baked fish... but my most favorite was a SALAD!! Took forever to make it because i hand chopped each ingredient. it was almost like confetti! but it was delicious and I loved every bite. Bought some Tyson fully-cooked mesquite chicken strips (like for fajitas) and put a couple of those plus a boiled egg on the salad, so it was full of protein too. YummEEE!!! I am scheduled for a fill in one week, but not sure I need it, as I am not hungry, I'm losing weight, and if I'm not extremely careful with taking tiny bites and chewing the hound out of everything, it is really uncomfortable to eat. So Ill just have to talk to the doc and see what he thinks. So far I have avoided bandster hell, but my day may be coming. I'm just enjoying the band right now. Good luck to all you other May Bandsters!!!

I've been using chewable papaya enzyme tablets from the GNC store. Someone on here recommended them, and they seem to help a lot. I tend to get heartburn fairly easily now, and seem super sensitive to spices. Good luck, hope ya'll feel better!!! (The papaya enzyme tablets are like 2.99 for 90, so it's a pretty cheap thing to try. Cheaper for a larger bottle, but i opted to try the smaller bottle first to see if it worked. I'll be going back to get the larger bottle when these are gone!)