Problems- Surgeon Talking About Bypass

[Tally23 0]

Ok so I am tyring with one hand pls forgive mistakes I had hand surgery two days ago.

I was banded Aug 10 2010. Between that day and today I have had mutliple fills and unfills. Mostly steming from a tight/finicky band. I dont think I have ever vomitted so much in my entire life as I have in the past two years. Painful hiccups, unable to eat with a bra on sometimes. Varring band tightness throughout the day.

I current have 4 cc in my band but I have been as high as 6 cc. Originally lost 50lbs but in the last few months have gained half back. My surgeon is pretty much degrading when I go in and have a weight gain. Very non-supportive. During my last visit I broke down and was horrified that I cant work with this stupid band. He suggested we give it a few more weeks... no more then 3 meals a day (DUH) low calorie liquids ( DUH).. tell this to someone who vomits most of the day. Bythe time I get home I feel so weak and horrible I eat bad foods. Anywhoo he said we may need to look at either taking the band out or do a bypass or sleeve. He states he has MANY patientas who just can not work with the band or it doesnt work with them. I need to do something becaue this vomiting and weight fluckuating is very depressing. I am very scared about the bypass although I know many ppl including my mother who has had it done with sucess.

Barium swallows show good placement but bad acid reflux despite being on nexium forever. I have not had a upper GI for a year now. I see my GI doc today.

Also the thing that scares me when I go to eat a solid food say meat or even a veggie. I can feel it hit my band and my heart starts to beat so hard and fast. I have acutally almost passed out a few times. I get this 75% of the time I eat. Now this can't be good on my heart... Ive told my surgery on more then one occasions but he has brushed it off failing to note in in my medical records.

I need some opinions... support.... guidence...someone who understands....

[elcee 3,340]

I am wondering if part of this might be psychological? I do not have experience with this but the symptoms that you describe when you say food hits your band sounds as though it could be a form of panic attack.I think maybe you need to talk to a specialist about this.

If you can sort this out then you may find that you are able to work with your band.

[cakelly73 28]

If anything, do the sleeve, stay away from the bypass.. My husband was one who the band didnot work for. He had it for 5 years, then 5 months ago, got in taken out and got the sleeve (all in same surgery). He is doing much better with sleeve. Also, maybe trying a different med for the acid reflux. I take aciphex everyday and it works great!.. Whatever you choose, best of luck to you!

[waitingpatiently 250]

I have only been banded for a month so I may be off base...but are you chewing really well? I did have an episode where I ate something too quickly and didn't chew and had the same reaction....broke out in a sweat and my heart was racing....I could actually feel the food hit the band...and then grind itself open...it was awfull.---seems like votimting would be the next reaction. I know how easy it is for me to forget that I have to chew everything really well especially if I'm talking..haha

Hang in there....don't let this bump in the road slow you down. Before you go through another surgery, make sure you have really done all you can do to make the band work for you. If it is a matter of recommitting to the life style, surround yourself with some supportive people and give it a try again. Plug back into this site and let everyone on hear cheer you on ...find a couple of people to help keep you accountable and just make sure that you want to give up what you fought so hard to get.

Good luck..if you need a cheerleader on even someone to hold you accountable inbox me...I think you can do this

[adorkbl 156]

I feel your pain and I have been there. I am 4 years post op. I lost 100 pounds and gained 56 back. I had a leak in my band and no restriction for about 2 years, but had a port replacement last year that fixed that. I did really well for a few months after the port replacement but had a lot of personal stress that had me turning back to slider foods and ice cream.

Anyway, about a month ago because of reflux I had an EGD and was DX'd with severe esophagitis and a hiatal hernia. I wanted my band OUT. While deciding whether or not to REALLY truly give up and have my band removed... I started thinking about my experience. I got brutally honest with myself. I was NOT following the rules. I wasn't chewing well enough, my bites were too big, I was eating sliders, drinking with meals, and making poor food choices. When I followed the rules in the beginning, I lost 100 pounds! I was successful, but fell off track at the first sign of trouble.

3 weeks ago I re-committed myself to the rules and have really been paying attention to portion sizes and listening to my "soft" stop signal. Learning when my stomach is physically full is HARD. My head hunger is LOUD, and I always want more. I weigh and measure EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth. I eat SLOOOOW and chew chew chew. I find myself not finishing things and being OK with it. Head hunger be damned.

I am sorry, but your surgeon sounds like an ass. I have gained weight and been a pain in the rear of my surgeon over the years... and he has NEVER ONCE made me feel like I couldn't discuss my problems with him. Even though I am pretty sure he shook his head in private after some of our consults, he was never rude or demeaning to my face.

You shouldn't be vomiting all the time. Either you are too tight, or you aren't chewing well enough. (sounds like you have ruled out medical issues with the band?). I avoided sooo many foods because they got me stuck or made me PB. For the longest time I blamed the band. I was too tight, then I was too loose, then I was too tight. No.... truth was, I wasn't chewing properly. Ok... in all fairness... on some fills I was too tight... but mostly it was my lack of chewing.

I am trying some of those nasty stuck foods again and finding out that with SMALL bites and lots of chewing, I CAN eat them successfully. I had turkey last weekend and it was a WONDERFUL experience. I may brave chicken next. I just can't eat the amount I wish I could. Haha. But that is the point!

Now, I am not saying you don't have something medical going on. But if you have had the tests and the band looks fine... then maybe it is time to really look at WHAT you are eating. Truthfully. Are you doing your part to be successful? The band is a tool. It won't control the quality, just the quantity.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision. I have considered revision on 2 occasions. I even scheduled a revision to VSG at one point, but decided to repair my port instead. I still believe I can make this work. Maybe I am being overly optimistic at this point... but hell... what I have been doing for the past 3 weeks is WORKING. I am down 7 pounds.

[rocky900 4]

I have read on here that for some people they get the feelings u get and. Vomit because the band is placed over some nerves on the stomach and that person had the band removed and did the bypass

[Tally23 0]

Thanks for all the replies. I still have some problems. Most of all it is really bad acid reflux. I see my physician next week. I have not gained nor lost any weight. Also I am not on a temporary med for anxiety. I really do not think it is psychological. I have no idea. Im fustrated. I think if things would be normal more often and I didnt have such issues then maybe things would be good but I go from one extreme to the other. Being able to eat one meal to not being able to eat the other meal later on in the day.

[Cocoabean 430]

Do you have sinus issues? Kind of out of left field, but there have been many people on here who've had unexplained tightening of their bands who finally correlated it to post-nasal drip. Just a thought. One finally had her band removed.

If my band failed to work for me, I'd not hesitate to revise to which ever procedure my surgeon advised. But then, I love my surgeon and trust his opinion.

I hope you find some answers, or peace, or a good decision.

[amjcal 5]

I feel the same way, in fact I feel ike I have become bulemic since I have had the surgery. A lot of times I get stuck, go gag myself unfill my stuckness and continue eating. I have become to believe that this is how the rest of my life will be. Over weight, and puking almost every other day. I feel your pain.