Serious Abdominal Pain

[MaryJo881 2]

I was banded in November of '08 and since surgery I've lost around 130 lbs and actually below my goal weight. I'm 24 yro, 5'10" and 144lbs so I'm pretty happy, but I've felt like I've had problems from the beginning. I had terrible acid reflux to the point my teeth are chipping? a hiatal hernia, gallbladder removal and come and going pain.

Well recently I have had terrible pain. I am literally bent over from the pain for about 3 days and then it resolves itself. I went to my gp and he did an X-ray and discovered I'm incredicbly constipated. I've been taking meds for that for some weeks but the pain keeps coming back. it's mainly the center of my upper abdomen and then to the left. Oh and the left side of my abdomen is swollen! I have had my gp and a GI doc look at it and they both don't tell me what it is from.

I'm just getting frustrated with all the pain. Have any of y'all had similar problems and it end up being related to your band. Let me finish my saying I do have a realize band so my port is in the middle of my upper abdomen. Thanks y'all.

[MaryJo881 2]

UPDATE

FYI I did call to set up an appt to meet with my band doctor, but he is on vacation and next week he is overbooked so they wouldn't let me come in for 2 weeks.

I went to the ER and received a CT scan with contrast. Luckily, there is no problems with my realize band. I've thought from almost day one that I was having problems related to the band.

Well I found out today that what I thought to have been a dilated portion of my stomach caused from the band and eating too much is actually a large cyst wrapped around my pancreas.

Go figure.

[elcee 3,340]

Glad it's not your band. Sorry that it is still something serious. How are they going to treat this?

[MaryJo881 2]

Well I went to my gp today and he told me that he spoke to a number of GI doctors and they can't conclude it is a cyst related to the pancreas because it is so large. I have been scheduled an emergency endoscopy ultrasound on Monday and given Vicodin for the weekend. Once we have a better idea what sort of cyst it is then the doctors will give me the game plan. Either way, it will need to be either drained or surgery to remove it.

[MaryJo881 2]

UPDATE - ENDED UP BEING MY BAND!!!

I have been living a nightmare. Since the cyst was found I have had a total of 3 CT scans, 2 endoscopies, an MRI and spent the night in the hospital. Also, I had a tube inserted into my side which drained into a bag I had to strap to leg. I have had over a liter of Fluid drained. Several doctors were working on my case. I was finally told to check in with the baratric surgeon and he said the band has slipped to the bottom of my stomach. He has never seen anything like it before and shocked I'm not incredibly sick. Well he told me that today and I am having the band removed tomorrow. I couldn't be more satisfied to be rid of it. It has been a nightmare from the beginning.

[elcee 3,340]

That is awful. Sorry that you are going through this. I am amazed that it took so many tests and so many Dr's to diagnose this, you would have thought it would have been simpler to diagnose than that.

Are you going to revise to a sleeve or just try to maintain the loss by yourself?

[bushbaby 8]

Wow I feel for you... I guess I have been one of the lucky ones... Banded for almost 8 years...

[MaryJo881 2]

Thanks y'all. I am going to just try to maintain my weight. Since the doctor said that the band couldn't of been doing much for me anyways and I haven't felt restriction in forever, I don't think it will be too much of an issue.

[MaryJo881 2]

Thanks y'all. I am going to just try to maintain my weight. Since the doctor said that the band couldn't of been doing much for me anyways and I haven't felt restriction in forever, I don't think it will be too much of an issue.

[Me1e 0]

It's amazing that you had a slipped band and yet no sickness! I too am currently experiencing severe abdominal pain and the ER have said a few reasons including diverticulitis. I can't wait to see my surgeon tomorrow and see what's really going on as I am convinced it's band related. I've had my band 4 yrs and never had anything like this pain. I just feel like something's wrong.

I wish you well, I will be having my band removed by choice regardless as I am scared of being in these situations with no specialists to help.

Please let us know how your recovery goes.

[MaryJo881 2]

All I can say is listen to your body. If you think you are having lap band complications then there is a good chance you are. I had my band removed and the surgeon said the slip was worse than he thought. More than 90% of my stomach was above the band and he fears that there is nerve damage and I might have to have part of my stomach removed so in essence a gastric bypass. I had an upper GI and another X-ray after the surgery and they both show liquid just sitting in my stomach and not passing into the intestines. I will have one more upper GI and if it reveals the same then there is a good chance I will have another surgery. I'll keep updating.

[andrea0121 28]

Oh my gosh, yes please keep us updated. You're very positive considering what you've all been through.

[Birdie1973 23]

UPDATE - ENDED UP BEING MY BAND!!!

I have been living a nightmare. Since the cyst was found I have had a total of 3 CT scans, 2 endoscopies, an MRI and spent the night in the hospital. Also, I had a tube inserted into my side which drained into a bag I had to strap to leg. I have had over a liter of Fluid drained. Several doctors were working on my case. I was finally told to check in with the baratric surgeon and he said the band has slipped to the bottom of my stomach. He has never seen anything like it before and shocked I'm not incredibly sick. Well he told me that today and I am having the band removed tomorrow. I couldn't be more satisfied to be rid of it. It has been a nightmare from the beginning.

[Birdie1973 23]

What made your band slip so bad ? Can't they just fix it so that you don't have to be de-banded?

[MaryJo881 2]

I'm not sure what caused the slip but I did have a bad case of the flu a year after being banded so I'm sure all that vomitting could of had something to do with it. My band was sitting at the bottom of stomach with more than 90% of my stomach above it so it would of be impossible to fix it with a simple unfill.