RavenClaw779

Thanks for the good wishes!

I had my band removed last December after three years of problems.

I'm struggling with controlling my weight, but taking it day-by-day.

Within the last week, despite my careful diet control I.e., salads, yogurt - no sugar, junk food etc., I've developed pain in the area of my gall bladder. When I push on the area - who hasn't had something they've worried about and can't stop touching - I get an instant acid reflux feeling in my throat!? Is this nuts?

Has anyone else experienced this? This long after band removal?

Seeing my doctor on Thursday, but I can't help worrying.

Thanks for your pointed comments on your belief that weight loss doesn't plateau when you take in too little. Since I'm clearly no expert - apparently I'm just a fat girl who didn't try hard enough - let me state that I'm repeating what both my WLS and his nutritionist said. Must've been the fact that my hair was falling out, I had sores in my mouth and was covered in bruises from poor nutrition. Per the experts, once your body hits starvation mode, slow to minimal to no weight loss is not uncommon.

I'm seven months out and up 30 pounds since band removal. I spent almost two years vomiting 90% of what I'd eat, so probably took in about 700 calories a day. My weight loss stopped since I was taking in too little. After the band was out, I'll admit indulged a bit, but got back on the Weight Watchers wagon. Even with counting, tracking, measuring, the weight will not budge. I have no doubt my metabolism is completely screwed up. Still not sure I'd have a second procedure as the complications the last go around we're awful and the whole deal was very expensive.

I had all the same problems over a two year period with a 14cc band with no fill.

I had semi-exploratory surgery six months ago with my surgeon being of the opinion that the band needed to come out. He told me at that time that he was taking out more bands than he was putting in.

I begged him to do all he could to save it. He fixed a significant hiatal hernia and left it in. A month later the problems came back with a vengence. My band was removed on Monday. I won't know until my follow up how significant the scarring is/was, but the surgeon told my husband he's got a lot of images to show me.

I am curious to see the cause of all my misery. I'm not sure that I will under go another procedure despite my surgeon's snappy PA advising me that all the band removal patients she sees, "just pack it on"!

Methinks she's packing it on i.e., the BS, since getting me to come back in means more money for the practice!

Not going to downplay your experience - that's just awful and you're so young - but...

*I have several friends who've had similiar experiences(not as early on as you) - it's not as uncommon as you might think.

*My surgeon - who'll be removing mine after three miserable years - has told me numerous times that he's taking out more bands than he's putting in! If that's the case, why even put them in?

*Your complications were so serious, it's a blessing it was caught as quickly as possible. Give it time to heal before jumping on to a different procedure. Do some research, get a second opinion and call your insurance company claims department directly. Take notes and get a confirmation number or email especially if you get the okay to move on to a sleeve or RNY.

Hope you're feeling better and thinking positive thoughts! You are not alone!

Had my band placed in 2010 and started having problems in July of 2012. Blamed myself, but finally went to my WLS. Multiple tests etc., Went in for repair with possible removal in July 2012. Large hiatel hernia repaired and band left in, though multiple adhesions noted. I was warned that this might not resolve the problem. I had one good month and then the problems were back even with no fill. So now I can't eat before noon at the earliest and usually have my one quasi-meal around midnite. Acid refluxing, getting blocked on a single bite of (fill in the blank) - I've had it. Mine band is bye-bye next month!

(Need a laugh - read my blog - Ravenclaw779)

Had about a month with no issues, then one dinner at friend's with a semi-dry roast, and it's been downhill ever since. Basically back to where I was before the latest surgery.

Congrats on having your band out. Kicking myself that I didn't do the same. Question for NaNa - what's an AP band?

I don't miss bread, but I miss salads and veggies that aren't mush. Haven't been able to eat meat, poultry or seafood in over a year due to problems. Finding it almost impossible to go out to eat or even attend a fundraiser i.e., the tradtional roast beef, steamed green Beans, baby potatoes and rolls leaves me cutting the food up and moving it around my plate. chicken BBQ - unless I just eat the mac salad, the rest gets shuttled over to my husband's plate.

LOL stuck in traffic around 5pm the other day - a young couple in a car next to me was chowing down on this gorgeous thin-thin veggie pizza - if their windows had been open, I'd have grabbed a slice! Wonder if they thought my longing gaze and drooling was weird!?

I'd tell myself to make absolutely sure this is the right path for you. Chart the pros and cons. Practice small quality eating, chew-chew-chewing and start tracking your Protein intake so that after surgery you've got a rough idea of what you need to consume to get enough in.

Despite the fact that banding can be reversed, it's very likely that if you have to have your band removed down the road, you won't be the same. There may be foods you'll never be able to eat again either physically or due to a psychological componented tied to a bad experience with that food.< /p>

Be realistic with yourself about the side effects which can be painful, time consuming and pricey. Between my initial surgery, barium swallows, endoscopy, hernia repair etc., it's well over $50,000 in three years. There's no telling what the Affordable Care Act will do or cover when it comes to WLS and follow up.

Par for the course, I was not seen by my WLS for yesterday's post-surgical follow up and once again had to go through the whole history again with yet another PA I'd never met. Once we established that I hadn't just had a band placed, the PA went and got a print out of my surgical notes(not in the file!?). What I was told - my band hadn't slipped, but I had a significant hiatel hernia as well as adhesions(scarring). Per my request to save the band, the surgeon repaired the hiatel hernia.

What the PA indicated was missed/wrong in the discharge instructions:

- Pain med should've been in liquid form.

- Only Rx meds - no Vitamins or supplements unless liquid form until swelling subsides(surgeon noted it okay to resume all meds on day after surgery)

- A script for Prilosec in liquid form

- Instruction to consume only liquids and pureed food until further notice. No greek yogurt - "too thick".

- No lifting anything over the weight of a gallon of milk.

- Walking is the only exercise allowed for now.

According to the PA, the repair was quite intense, so the symptoms I've been having are not surprising. Still have abdominal swelling which may take several more weeks to heal. The lump at the base of my throat is from the two tubes inserted during surgery. The cough,reflux and restriction are also a result of surgical irritation, but if I'd been given the Rx for Prilosec, should be significantly less. It may take up to six weeks to see if this corrects the problem.

In the meantime, I've been told I'm not eating enough, so I need to push Protein shakes. First and only time I've heard that I should work in some ice cream!

So now we again start with the every 7 - 10 day follow up $400 appointments regardless of the fact I'm not getting a fill. That hour and a half roundtrip drive along with juggling a work schedule that doesn't have much flexibility - super!

I'm kicking myself for having the band left in. It's a tool. It works great for a lot of people - no "hate" here, but for me, the quality of life has dwindled.

This is the second hiatel hernia repair. The three years the band has been in have resulted in significant internal scarring, an inability to eat normally, declining social life, endless testing, medicines, embarassing situations, costly co-pays...

Soonest they can see me is Wednesday - apparently in their eyes this is NBD(No Big Deal).

Thanks for all the support - will check back in Wed PM with news.

I'm a week out from surgery. Problems with my unfilled 11cc band led to numerous tests which pointed to the band needing to be removed. Not wanting to regain I mentioned to my surgeon, "if it can be saved, please do" - but he was 99% sure it needed to go.

Surprised to came out of surgery with a hiatel hernia repair and the band still in. My follow up appointment is Wednesday, but I just don't feel right.

I've got reflux like I never had before and this annoying need to clear my throat. I have a weird lump at the base of my neck which I can literally feel - thought maybe it was from being intubated for surgery, but shouldn't it be gone by now? Everything I drink - coffee, tea, Water stops in my throat and then it sounds like a slow drain swirling down. Can do the same soft foods I did before surgery - yogurt, cottage cheese, but it did take 45 minutes to get down a bowl of thin oatmeal. After eating(if you can call it that) pain either spreads across the center of my chest and along my jaw or across my shoulder blades. Even drink water results in belching like I just had a beer!

Anyone out there experience this and is it normal? Will it resolve in time?

An endoscopy several months ago revealed inflammation from my esphagus all the way to my duodenum and noted a potential band slip. There was no mention of a haitel hernia. An endoscopy is often used to diagnose or confirm a haitel hernia.

Even with no Fluid in my 11cc band I was unable to get anything down that wasn't the texture of yogurt or cottage cheese. In the planning for my surgery, my surgeon was of the opinion that the band itself was the problem and had likely created irritation and scar tissue and thus would have to go. He also felt that he'd likely need to repair the herniated area he repaired during my original surgery plus remove scar tissue. I was cleared for an overnight stay in prep for a series of post-surgical tests.

I was the one who pushed to save my band for fear of weight gain and it was my WLS who advised me that there was a less than 1% chance that that would happen and that given my reaction to the band, replacing it was not an option.

Thus, I was really surprised to be going home that same day with a haitel hernia repair. Nothing was done to the band or the port. There was no post-op testing. WebMD is saying full liquids for two weeks post haitel hernia repair; my discharge papers say nothing beyond, "progress to regular diet". My husband swears the WLS told him I could eat a regular diet two days after surgery!

Meanwhile, even coffee is doing the "stop & drop" on the way down. I've got reflux. Attempts to swallow a Protein Shake give me pain across my shoulder blades.

I don't want to believe that this is a money making effort, but let's just say that this practice is known for knowing which insurance carriers are likely to pay without question and tailor the treatment accordingly. I would not be at all surprised to be back in the OR several months down the road having it removed. Meanwhile, my follow up appointment is next week and I've already been told that it's time for me to get a fill(!?!) plus they've started laying the ground work for potential revision to gastric sleeve. Covering all the bases except the one that really matters - my health and well-being.

Problems started about a year ago and my surgeon felt that he was 99% sure the band needed to come out. My fear of packing it back on pushed me to suggest that if he got in there and felt whatever could be fixed and the band left in, please do so. Still, I was a bit disappointed to come out of surgery still banded. Apparently, I had a haitel hernia, which he repaired - same as when I had my original surgery three years ago.

I'm three days out - the usual swelling and discomfort over the incision sites. Can hardly swallow the pain meds and even liquids are doing the old 'stop - then - drop' on the way down. Odd lump at base of throat - which I can literally feel with my hand. I'm supposed to be on my way to soft foods, but I had a tough time getting down a Protein shake this morning. Laughably, despite four days on nothing but Clear Liquids, I haven't lost a pound.

Anybody else had this type of fix? Success or did you end up having to have your band removed? My gut is telling(no pun intended) that this thing has got to go!

I'm scheduled for band removal at 7:30am today - hence, I'll not sleep this night.

I won't bore anyone with the whole story(it's on my blog). Let's just say it's been a long year of problems. When I started having problems, I used that as an excuse to indulge in "sliders", which resulted in me beating myself up as I packed on the pounds. Yes, my unfilled, extremely restrictive band has helped, but I started - for lack of a better word - "parenting" myself. Combining WW, with mindful eating and shutting down the "I'm stressed - let's eat chips!" response, I'm back to the weight I'd reached when I started having problems - 65 pounds less than my highest weight. I've not been able to get any more off - my WLS says it's because I'm not able to eat enough. Well, when you get blocked on two cherry tomatoes, you might have a point!

Will I succeed? Good question. The band has definitely taught me Portion Control and created some real food adversions due to the time spent bent over the toilet. Dealing with my weight has also opened my eyes to how many people fight this battle and how it literally eats away at your life - thinking about being fat, what not to eat, watching others eat whatever they want while you look at a brownie and gain five pounds!

Yesterday I went to a charity fundraiser - an auction with a chicken BBQ. Obviously, I'm on 'Clear liquids only' but the hubs(Mr. I Can Eat Whatever & Never Gain) needed to be fed, so as I stood there waiting for him to pick up his meal I did some people watching. I'd guess that 85% of the people there were at a minimum of severely overweight. Let face it - food is so much of the American lifestyle it's almost impossible to engage in any activity without there being food involved.

Later I stopped by my sister-in-law's. Along with me, three of her friends are also WLS patients; one gastric by-pass, two lap-bands. All of us are still plus-size, granted, much smaller than we were, but we've all endure problems that have really compromised quality of life. Maybe the best that any of us can do is to attempt to eat right 80% of the time, limit the couch-surfing and try not to beat ourselves up because we're not as thin as we'd like to be. No matter what the fashion industry tells us, most of the real world does not look like a tooth-pick wearing a dress!

All I can say is, "Wow!" I have this voice in my head that is telling me that messing with my insides might not be the smartest thing to do. Your experience seems to echo that.

For anyone reading this, I'm not knocking the band, the sleeve or gastric bypass. It's not a easy decision, a quick fix or the "easy way". If there were just one solution, we'd all take it. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised at my band issues as my body also rejected the initial attempt at breast reconstruction; the tissue expanders had to come out a week after placement!

I know the battle of weight - tougher for women just based on being women, but also by way of society's narrow definition of what is beautiful. It still chaps my hide that you can be an obese man and be a respected politician(Gov. Christie, NJ), business leader etc. but by and large, an obese woman won't get the same respected or success. And let's not even get into the attitude to being over age 30 - heaven forbid a woman in her 40's or 50's be considered "sexy" - why it's a fluke that requires multiple magazine articles and conjecture on how much "work" she had done. See any guys in the same age range getting the same treatment?

I'm sure I'm not saying anything new; I'd thought that with WLS I'd not be thinking about food as much. Are you kidding me?! It's all I think about...can I eat this? will I get enough Protein? is there a bathroom nearby in case I get sick?

It looks like regardless of choice, food will always be the monkey on my back. It also appears I will always be dealing with people like my husband, who's answer to all of this is for me to have the band removed and just, "try harder to diet and exercise" and my sister-in-law who's all for me having it out, "before summer so you can eat summer foods" - frustrating any way you look at it.

Trying to weigh(no pun intended) both sides of the health issue (obesity -v- complications), the fear of gaining the weight back, the annoyance of regardless of which path I chose, knowing I'm going to have to think about food far more than someone without a weight problem - for the rest of my life. Somehow it feels like I'm going to be damned if I do & damned it I don't!

I do appreciate everyone's thoughts and input - gives me a lot to think about.

I've been told by my WLS that my band has to come out. I've also been told the I didn't fail, the band failed me - or more like the band functioned as it should, my body just didn't like it. Nevertheless, I'm now a candidate for VSG at the same time the band is removed.

Problem is I can't decide which route to take!? As a two-time breast cancer survivor, I realize the importance of a healthy weight and lifestyle...but losing 75% of my stomach also sounds risky. Even my surgeon pointed out that this is the newest of the procedures - comparatively speaking - and who knows the long term outcomes? Apparently the staple line could leak at some future date, there's a risk of not being able to take in enough nutrients, there's the potential of swallowing issues. Some of the YouTube videos from VSG patients are down right scary...hair loss(well, been there - done that with chemo), vomiting, dumping, not feeling hungry when you need to eat but instead having a sick to your stomach feeling be your flag.

Any body been down this road? I'm open to any and all feedback!

I can honestly say I never made it to the "green zone". You can read about my back story in my blog(Ravenclaw779).

I'm now at the pre-decision part of out-v-revision.

I was actually going along at a respectable rate despite not being in the green zone. Combining Weight Watchers with working out and the modest restriction of the band I was down to 216 and losing about a pound a week.

About six months ago I started having problems including not being able to eat sitting down or wearing a bra, fitted pants, not being able to eat more than a few small bites before vomiting, not being able to get a meal down in less than 40 minutes, and a growing list of foods I should've been able to eat, but couldn't. A couple of embarassing episodes during business lunches and I now no longer eat out.

My weight loss stopped and I now hover around the same weight(223) give or take 5 pounds.

I'm not eating enough of the right foods(can't get them down) to feel satisfied or to provide the right fuel for my day. You'd think I'd be losing big time but it appears my body's locked into a preservation mode.

Couple of weeks ago I experimented with just Slimfast for two meals and a Lean Cusine for a week and nothing changed.

This will sound like a complete cop out - in a crunch, before going into a meeting, when my stomach is growing and roiling so loudly everyone can hear and will immediately try to push a pastry on me(ya know that ain't goin' down), I will bolt a candy bar. It helps - especially when that 4th or 5th cup of coffee isn't giving me enough energy to power through. Most days I need a 2hr nap when I get home to be able to get through the rest of day...bills, laundry, housework...

Right now my safe foods are Protein shakes, yogurt, oatmeal, mashed potatoes - think the diet of an 90 year old with no teeth.

Recent Upper GI appeared normal; yesterday's endscopy show inflammation of the esophagus, duodenum and stomach and a possible band slip which of course won't be definitive until I have a laproscopy. As we all know, that the same procedure used to place the band.

My husband has had enough of my bolting from the table after three bites or having to cover for me a family dinners when I have to excuse myself to quietly barf up my big tablespoon of dinner. My dentist has commented on some minor(for now) damage to my teeth. My oncologist is lecturing me as this is not healthy nutrition for a cancer survivor and the fact that an inflammed digestive tract can lead to other types of cancer.

When I started having problems I shouldv'e gone in to see my WLS, but I kept making excuses and blaming myself - surely it was because I just wasn't trying hard enough! That said, I haven't felt normal since my surgery. Even if it weren't for the vomiting and digestive issues, the port, which at first was barely noticable, now feels like scar tissue has encapsulated it. I was so proud when my weight loss meant I could wear a more fitted sweater. Can't do that anymore as it looks like half of my abdomen is pushing forward and you can see it in anything close fitting. Push on it with a bag of groceries, a stack of books - my exercise ball and it's a wave of nausea. I laughingly told a friend I was pretty sure there was an Alicia Keys song title, "My Port Is FIRE!"

I know my surgeon is going to want to go in and I'm going to need to decide on taking it out, repair/replacement or going for something like a sleeve. Could I keep the weight off? continue to lose without the band? Am I doomed to be a thin girl in fat gir's body? Ultimately, I have to make a choice on what's going to be the healthiest option and given my history it's more like trying to juggle eggs!

I was banded in March 2010, and had slow and not too steady success with my band - some other health issues got in the way. Things were moving along nicely combining my band with Weight Watchers. Like everyone else, I had those occasional PB's, those foods you learn are not going to go down, the occasional, "Oops - forgot and eat too much/too fast" and from the beginning, I usually could not eat wearing a bra.

In July 2012 things changed...now I couldn't eat while sitting down, and never before 10a. Every night I'd sit down to dinner with my tablespoon of whatever Protein or main dish, a tablespoon each of that evening's veggies, maybe a 1/4 cup salad and three thumb nail sizes bites in, I'd be in the bathroom throwing up. After expelling my three bites and a giant mucus ball, I might be able to get my portion of the main dish down...in about 45 minutes and only if I was standing up. I had to give up eating out after a mortifying "3 Bite" episode @ a business meeting. I started having that burning sensation in my throat. I was getting sick everyday.

What happened in July? The only thing I can think of was that I'd had carpal tunnel surgery. I have always had to be "patched" before surgery because of severe nausea. Before this procedure, though, the anesthesiologist told me I didn't need it since I'd only be under 15 minutes. It was day surgery so I was home that afternoon. Hadn't eaten and wasn't hungry. Took the dog out to do her business, and my world tilted - I began retching and couldn't stop.

My weight crept up from 216 to 227 - combination of not eating &/or just getting what I could get down. When you're beat, and you need a quick pick up before a meeting and you can't risk an incident, a chocolate bar goes down without returning. After a long day of keeping nothing "real" down, a pint of ice cream is soothing. Not making excuses, not saying it was the right thing to do, but it's what I did. Instead of homing in on the real physical reactions I was having (my husband, friends, oncologist all noticed and encouraged me to go see my WLS), I kept blaming myself for not trying hard enough.

Finally in December, I'd had it and made an appointment. They told me I should've come in six months ago. Since then, I've had an upper GI and will be having an endoscopy next week. I'm eating mostly soft foods the consistancy of yogurt. Couple of days ago, I attempted a single slice of deli ham chew 45 times(I counted) and made six trips to the bathroom. Had a piece of toast last night - no problem. Had a piece of toast this morning - not so good and really creepy in that at 11am in addition to being unable to keep toast down, I could taste what I'd had for dinner the night before!(TMI).

Like anything, the band has it's good points and it's not so good points. It's taught me a lot and if it needs to come out, so be it. Since my original surgery, I'm about 50 pounds thinner(hey only 81 pounds to go!) and I've learned what full feels like. I've also learned that most people with a gastric band will need to have it replaced by the 10 year mark and many much sooner. A some point though, the inconveniences and embarassments become a bit too much to deal with. Revision surgery - hadn't even thought about that yet!

I can't eat with a bra on PERIOD & what's really curious is that my bra isn't holding up anything real...I had double mastectomies about two years following my surgery, so I'm wearing a prosthetic bra. First time I had the "back up" was just after surgery. I was fitted with a compression bra and could even get yogurt down!

Well, I'm not planning to run to my WLS and demand removal. I've had enough surgeries to last a lifetime. I may have to have it removed regardless due to a potential breast reconstruction surgery I'm considering. Let's just say it would transform my "jelly roll" into a new "rack" - and where would my port go? Ha!

Sitting here at my desk. Have't eaten since around lunch(yogurt) and feel like I'm having heartburn. Something isn't right.

I'll try to answer the above:

1) Considering I'm up and on the move around 6am, having to wait until 10am is a bit much especially because by that time I'm starving.

2) I like variety and never actually finish any meal - my dogs love me! Nevertheless what I can get down of any of the above is tiny - like a bite or two of each.

3) Don't have boobs anymore - I wear a mastectomy bra which fits like every other bra around my rib cage.

4) Yes, I'm sitting up straight at a table - especially while trying to get through a business lunch wearing a bra and fitted, but not too tight pants. Extra weird...when I'm home and bra-free, but wearing sweat pants and sitting at the table it happens.

5) Will try it! But it seems to happen regardless. Take one bite, chew it 25+ times, swallow and immediately feel blocked and need to stand up.

6) I'm hungry. It feels like my throat is full but my stomach is empty.

7) chocolate speaks for itself

8) Just feels like there should be some safe foods but I can't tell from one day to the next so especially any eating out I try to stick to mush type foods. Had a mortifying experience at a conference this week. No choice for dinner...tough roast beef, steamed veggies and potato wedge. Three pinky tip bites of the beef and I had to excuse myself three time to go the the bathroom.

Now I'm reading that no band lasts beyond 10 years any many no more than two or three years, so it'll have to be replaced - which insurance won't pay for.

Thanks for all the spot-on feedback. You're all right - I need to suck it up and make an appointment. Part of my concern is that my WLS practice has had most of the staff turnover and I don't know who I'd be dealing with. To answer the question re; how much is in my band? Good question - no matter how many times I asked, my WLS wouldn't tell me. All I know is that there is Fluid in the band..