imagine923

Had my EGD done on monday and it showed everything just as the doctors thought. No blockage, but a definate "J" below my band. Food moving very slow through my stomach, that is why I am having pain and nausea. Dovtor wanted to start me on raglen, but due to other meds I tKe, that is not an option. May have to go for injections on my stomach to help food pass, or surgery to release the adhesions.

I am just very thankful that this forum is here for me to be able to talk to other people about things that my "unbanded" friends wouldn't understand. I don't want to scare anyone and discourage them from getting banded, but I think it's important for anyone considering the band to know everything about it and possible complications. I don't think anyone on here would not agree with that. I'm sure we all did a huge amount of research and soul searching when we made the decision to be banded. I never in a million years would have thought this would or could happen....I've never even heard of this before my UGI. I have learned so much in the last week. I am eating only mushie foods and Protein smoothies because I don't want anything to happen and end up with an obstruction before my doctor is back in town. I appreciate all the comments, and in my honest opinion I don't think anyone was curt. My take away from this is that people were concerned. Thank you for that.

I'm with you Tracey! Sometimes when people are going through "something" doesn't matter what, serious illness, breakup, death of a loved one, whatever....their friends just don't know how to act or what to do. Sometimes they won't even know what to say. This doesn't mean they don't love you. It just means we are all human and hurt others without even realizing what we are doing. Maybe your friends think they are supporting you by not tempting you to "blow it" by going out on the town for the night. Talk to them! Don't let silence keep you from getting support from the people you need it from the most. If they are truly your friends, they will be happy to include you, they just need to know HOW, and that you want to be included, even if you don't eat or drink, their company is what you want the most. Talk to them...don't put up a wall. This is too important of a step you are taking to go it alone.

Most fills are done with a 22 guage huber needle, so a bruise wouldn't be uncommon. I know you didn't mention if you were cleaning your belly button when you found the blood but If there is only a tiny bit of blood on the end of the q tip, and, if you were cleaning it with the q tip, you may have just irritated it a bit. However, if your belly button is in a moist area (mine is in a fold of excess skin) it could be a fungal infection. Make an appointment with your doctor to have it checked. Something fungal can be easily treated with a cream. Good Luck

one more thing...how long ago did you have surgery via your belly button?

Is the bruise from your fill, or from leaning over the bathtub? I have done this leaning against the island counter in the kitchen, and it hurts like a bugger! How long ago did you do this? Is your belly button still bleeding, or did it stop? Is there an odor coming from your belly button? Any pain or redness in or around your belly button?

Hi Elcee My surgeon verified with me that it is not a slip. I was very worried about this and he said that everything up to my band is fine. My pouch is fine and normal size. I have a very minimal "angle" to my band but he said it is not unusual since I've been banded a year and a half. I got a copy of the UGI study on CD today, and you can watch the barium as I swallow, see it pass through my band and go back "up" into my stomach that is flipped up. My surgeon and I had quite a long talk last evening, and I've googled gastric vulvulos and read some interesting articles about it. He told me that it's most likely caused by adhesions and is not common but happens mostly to women that have a significant weight loss and are "older". (gee thanks Doc!) LOL When I eat, the food goes into my pouch, and through the band like it's supposed to. Once it goes through my band it just sits there because gravity is not doing it's job in helping with the normal digestive process. As I continue to eat, the food is pushed up into my stomach, but my stomach is most likely not emptying as it should, causing the nausea and pain. He said it can happen if you are banded or not. Sometimes this flip resolves on it's own, sometimes surgery is needed to clean up the adhesions and put the stomach back in place. I do think that my port has moved, it seems to be up higher. If I had a slip my pouch would be either be enlarged or have stomach up through the band. I am very thankful that it is not a slip. No danger of losing my band at this point. I go on monday for an EGD so Dr Beane can see whats going on from the inside, and we can come up with a plan of action. I have no obstruction at this time, but that's not to say something couldn't happen that would turn this into an emergency. I am praying that my body behaves until my surgeon returns from the Lapband conference in California. I trust him with my life, and don't want anyone else messing with my band or stomach. I am now on soft mushies until he comes back. Hey Julez....sorry to hear that you went through so much to get a diagnosis. I have never thrown up, just had a lot of nausea and reflux after eating along with pain. Good luck with your surgery.

Just talked to my surgeons PA and she and my surgeon looked at my films again and confirmed that The radiologist was correct. My stomach is flipped. He said that everything up to and including my band is ok and looks good. Everything below my band is "flipped up" toward my band (like a taco shell). I get sick after eating and have reflux because the food does'nt know where to go. He said this can happen from adhesions and this happens to people that are not banded. So, its nothing that I did (thank God) The adhesions are like spider webs and lift and move things around. I have been having slight pain most of the day today but if I start running a fever or chills, severe pain or vomiting, I am to get to the ER immediately. I have to be on liquids until they can meet and discuss my pain issue, so at least until tomorrow.

Oops "right now"

I have a call into my surgeons office. They are at a conference tight now and she is going to call me in a little bit. Was your slip fixed? How bad was it?

Drink Metamucil in the evening when your band is not as tight. For immediate relief you can't beat mineral oil and phillips milk of mag. And, the taste isn't really that bad.

so I've been having pain and nausea/reflux after I eat for about the last month. I go to the doctor, and they remove all the Fluid from my band to see if my stomach/band will settle down. 10 days later I'm still symptomatic so they order an Upper GI. During the upper GI the barium isn't flowing through my stomach like it should and I can see on their faces that something is "odd". After she is done she says that she thinks my stomach has flipped over. I ask if she means that my band slipped, and she said "no, your stomach is flipped up side down". She has the radioligist read the xray and he confirms it. WTH?! Has anyone ever heard of this?? I have NO idea what is to come. My doctor didn't call me and he is on his way out of town for a seminar this next week. So, it can't be emergent. WTH? Did I do something wrong? Why did this happened? There is no obstruction, so that is a really good thing. What will happen? Does it go back to how it's supposed to be? Do I need surgery? and most importantly WILL I HAVE TO HAVE MY BAND REMOVED?! :-(

Denise, I do the same thing! LOL if I can't chew it enough, I spit it out. I have a LOT of trouble with chicken, doesn't matter how it's cooked. Roast beef is another "sticker" for me. I haven't tried pork chops yet, but I know they are dry and I'll probably have trouble with them. I tried popcorn a couple times, but not the entire kernel. If I can't chew it to liquid, I don't eat it. I was banded 1 year ago today, on Dec 30, 2010. No looking back...I'm loving being thin!

Today (12/30/11) is my 1 year Bandaversary!! I can't believe how fast the year has gone! I've lost around 79 lbs and I am thrilled! It is easier to move around, my ankles don't hurt anymore, and it always amazes me when I can just "stand up" from a sitting position without holding on to anything, or grunting on the way up. Buying clothes off the rack without going to the Plus size section, is pretty cool too. I can cross my legs again, fit, with room to spare in a movie seat, and ride rollercoasters with my grandkids again. I am often asked if I would do the band again. My answer is ABSOLUTELY!! It hasn't always been easy, but keep your eye on the prize and realize that the band doesn't DO the magic, YOU do the magic. You have to work the band, and follow the rules. The most amazing part for me is the food choices that I make now. I used to go into a restaurant and choose off the menu whatever I thought would "for sure" fill me up and how much can I get for my money. Now I look at a menu and think, gosh..I'll never eat all of that. Never in my life thought I would order a cup of soup at a restaurant or eat 2 to 3 pieces of popcorn chicken and feel full. Sure, there are times I have my own little pity party about not eating things that aren't healthy for me, like bread, pizza, and popcorn! But then I think to myself that eating those things are what got me to 254 lbs! I am at 175 now, and I feel great! Keep your eye on the prize and instead of thinking "I can't eat this" change it to "this isn't healthy for me". "can't eat this" is a negative. keep your thoughts positive and celebrate yourself everyday! Best wishes to you all.

I also use the chewable walgreens brand of calcium the chocolate chew, and it is my tootsie roll too. I was using the Centrum Chewable vitamins, but could hardly gag the taste after a couple weeks. I found a liquid vitamin at Sams Club called Liquid Reviva. Its a high potency multi vitamin, and it's fruit flavored. I think it's good, and you don't have those nasty little pieces of unchewed vitamins to deal with. The best part is that it's less than $10 for a months worth of doses. Good luck with your banding.....its the best decision I've ever made for myself!

This is probably your biggest incision and the port is finding it's home among your other organs. It takes awhile to heal, I think mine felt uncomfortable for about 10 weeks or so. It will get better.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I have not eaten a lot of fast food but you have given me a lot of ideas. It ALWAYS takes me SO long to order, then I usually end up with the same thing....chicken nuggets, which I know will get old real quick on the road

Love the ideas they are all great suggestions. I don't eat bread or rice, but the Mexican choices would definitely work for me. I totally forgot about almonds, which are another good option. Thanks Cocoabean for the suggestion of the cooler.

we are going to be taking a road trip to Texas in a couple weeks and I am planning on bringing a case of my favorite EAS low carb protein drinks and Premier protein bars, and plan on stopping at a grocery store here and there for Chobani yogurt. But, my BIG question is...I know we'll be stopping at restaurants most of them fast food...what are my best choices? I have the book Eat this Not that, but I'd like to hear from some of you who have been on road trips and how you managed. Thanks for your input.

Congratulations!! It's a wonderful feeling to be in onderland and it keeps getting better!! Keep up the good work!! Chris

thank you CheckYes. I'm hoping that no responses means its probably not due to the band. Maybe it's intestinal or something. The pain went away while I slept last night, but was back again by the time I got to work a couple hours later.

Hi Everyone I have a couple different pains going on, and I wonder if it's happened to anyone else? I am having port pain that may require a revision. I have a desk job and I'm told by my Dr office that with my weight loss (almost 70 lbs) that my bottom rib is probably rubbing against my port when I sit at my desk. I have a short torso. May need to have Outpatient surgery to relocate my port lower. BUT, the really troublesome pain is about an inch and a half above my bellybutton to the left a bit. It's a burning, nauseaus pain, and I thought I felt a lump when I was running my hand across my stomach tonite. I've mentioned it to my doc last week at my visit, and I am keeping an eye on it for now, but it's quite painful tonite, and I'm having a little nausea. Has anyone else had this kind of pain? I am 5 months post op and up until the last few weeks, have not had any trouble.

Wayland is ,half way between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, in southwest MI

Hi there....I am from Wayland MI

I have BCN and I had to go throught the 6 month program. I was really upset at first because I wanted the surgery RIGHT NOW! But, I used this time to go to support group EVERY week, and learn as much as I could. I practiced chewing chewing chewing and started replacing my morning bagel with a Protein drink and Protein Bars. I lost 30 pounds before my surgery on Dec 30 and I've lost another 35 since surgery. Take this time as a "gift" to learn about a very MAJOR life change you are committing to. You'll be surprised how fast the 6 months go. Good luck and keep in touch to let me know how you are doing. Chris