As I type this, I'm in day 5 of an emergency hospital stay to remove a slipped band. A few weeks ago I had a stomach bug and vomited constantly. After a few days, everything as semi normal. Still vomited if I are incorrectly or didnt chew enuf. In fact, Tuesday before thanksgivmg I made a comment that my stomach felt better than it ever had, post band.
That changed thansgiving. Ate very little, but what I did came back almost instantly. That rocked on until Saturday night when I went to local ER for fluids. After spending a few hours and 3 liters of fluids, I was discharged to contact my band specialist. I was able to get in Monday around noon, where all of the saline was removed.
By 2 pm, everything was still the same. Couldn't keep down liquids, much less solid food. I contacted my lap band dr and he suggested I attempt to get a referral for an upper Gi from my primary since I'm a self pay. After getting an appt with my primary for tuesday afternoon, I continued the cycle of drink and vomit. I should digress and say the pain was worse than anything I had ever been through and could not get comfortable to save my life. Cold, heat, laying down, sitting up, stretching, I tried them all.
After arriving at my primary's office, he began his check. My entire abdomen area was tender to the touch and in fact, when he touched me in one spot, I knee jerked and almost hit him. He listened to everything. Through all my pain I did notice he had never been that pale, in all the 13+ years I had known him. He looked at my boyfriend and told him I needed to be in the ER now, no jacking around. Said he didn't hear any gastric sounds at all. He was concerned that the band had slipped and/or I had a preforation.
After arriving at the ER, I was rushed through a series of tests. The band had slipped. My white blood count was 30 I was scheduled for surgery Wednesday. The surgeon discussed if I wanted to put in something else or have it removed completely. I chose removal. After surgery, the dr told my boyfriend that my band/stomach had gang green. He told him if we had waitied 12 more hours I would have been dead. Dead, what a way to wake up!!
There are tons more of ins and outs of this ordeal that I could go into, and will if asked. Please y'all, don't let someone make your decisions for you, directly or indirectly. You know when something isn't right. Be your own patient advocate. Good luck to you all.
