Well I had the band removed 4+ weeks ago and I'm still having problems. I think it's gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying that is the problem. I remember Dr. Kuri mentioned this possibility once in passing as an explanation for all the pain and bloating I was having. Since the removal I can at least belch, so the build up of gas is not as bad or as painful, but have noticed that food just seems to sit there and feel very uncomfortable. In me this "knot in the stomach" seems to trigger severe anxiety, so I spend a lot of time arguing with my body that I'm not really anxious just overly full, I generally lose this argument around 3 in the morning when "anxiety" wakes me up. I seem to have a lot of the symptoms of gastroparesis (bloating, nausea, lead ball in stomach feeling), and what is supposed to help (liquid diet, gum chewing, ativan) helps and what is supposed to hurt (progesterone, fibrous foods) hurts. I am going to go on a liquid diet for a couple of more weeks and see if the condition improves before I ask for a gastroenterologist referral and a gastric emptying test. I'm beginning to think I should look into a malpractice suit against the surgeon and/or Inamed. I don't think vagus nerve damage was ever mentioned as a possibility, and this is SERIOUSLY unpleasant and perhaps irreversible, though I sure hope not. Anyone else have vagus nerve damage or gastroparesis?

Well, I went and had the stomach emptying study done and it came out normal, so I don't have gastroparesis. I am so glad, but they still don't know what is causing this pain. I go to the G.I. doctor next week. We'll see what he has to say. Thanks everyone for the information though. I'll let you know what I find out.

Fay