Really Struggling

[Alikat1 0]

Hi all. I am new here, but not new to having a lapband. I have had mine for 5 years and have gone from 23st to 12 st...(14 lbs to a stone - you work it out, because my brain is mush!). I had a 'hiatus' of a couple of years...I have fibromyalgia, and take a lot of medications, that need to be eaten with food. And the only food that would go down and stayed down guaranteed was my old friends chocolate and ice cream. Anyways, I am back on track, and doing low carb. And have gone from 17st5lbs to the 12st in a year.

Here is the issue...

For the past few months I have been really struggling to keep anything down. Like yesterday, I had two spoonfuls of a lovely, gentle cream of vegetable Soup with a small bite of cheese. Nope. Up it came. With my meds to boot. I had a bowl of the same soup the day before without issue.

Some days I can get things down, other days, even a spoonful of no sugar added Peanut Butter is a trial.

The real issue is that I got the lapband done when, well, I had money. I cannot afford to go back to the private hospital to look at it.

Some days are ok, but once again, it tends to be stuff like chocolate and biscuits that goes down easier (and obviously then I am off the low carb plan, but to be honest, by then I am so hungry I don't care!).

I know that when you lose weight you generally need the band tightened. For me, it is tighter now than ever before, and the last time I had a fill was 2 years ago at 15st 5.

I am a smoker, and know that this is bad...but I am just wondering if anybody else has had an experience like this? I am going to speak to my NHS doctor about it in a few weeks, but the thing is it could take me months to see a specialist - that is if she even refers me to begin with.

Any thoughts? At the moment I seem to be surviving on steamed soy milk!

A.

[line-dancer 810]

there is meds for nusia and for vomiting. yogurt is better then ice cream. broth is good. gl here

[Alikat1 0]

Thing is it isn't nausea. It is a PB (productive burp) that sometimes turns into full scale vomiting, although not often. I am worried what the signs are of a lapband slipping. Yogurt doesn't even go down - too thick.

[PattyGirl66 1,243]

Hey Ali,

I would be really concerned about your band at this point. I know you mentioned your finances,as to having no money, but you need to contact your surgeon or facility and let them know exactly what is going on. Your health is far more important. You need to be checked out for a band slip/erosions, etc. Not being able to keep food down is a sure sign of something is wrong and needs to be addressed.

Many doctors/facility are willing to work with patients who don't have the means, (i.e) payment plans, etc.You may even be able to get medical relief through charity care,... You need to ask for help, your health maybe at risk....

Best of luck to you and please keep us posted!

[robin2p 0]

Hi there,

I also have Fibro & other health problems that cause pain and exhaustion. I had my band done about 2 1/2 years ago.

I have the same problem, so I started keeping a diary. I realized I had to wait longer between taking my pills and eating. I will admit it still happens for no apparent reason. My PCP thinks it may be the Fibro.

This may sound silly since you sound like you are eating a lot of liquids, but is it possible you need slow down? I have found that to help the most, followed by eating foods that force me to chew a lot. BTW Greek yogurt (15gm of protein) seems to thin out a bit if it sits on the counter a bit.

If you are like me the meds create all kinds of problems. I'm on morphine & zanaflex so Constipation is an issue. I found that taking magnesium supplements, stool softner & Fiber gummies every day helps.

Let me know if that helps.

[honk 780]

Sounds like you need an infill. You need to be able to eat.

[jrae 38]

I agree. You are too tight & need a tiny bit of Fluid taken out. You won't lose weight eating sliders- chocolate & biscuits etc. you need good solid Protein. It's seems common that for no foreseeable reason the band tightens up. I've been going along fine & then out of the blue, I can't keep down things I ate the day before! Don't put it off- work out a payment plan & see a dr. Good luck! :-)

[Alikat1 0]

The bizarre thing is like yesterday, I had a little bit of Peanut Butter, some warm soy milk, and my dinner was some ricotta fritters with Tomato sauce...and it all went down. And then I was hungry afterwards.

The day before, I had 1 piece of chocolate, and PBd that up. Then a few minutes later I vomitted, and it looked like something black came up...not the chocolate that is for sure. I am wondering, do you think food can just STAY stuck in there for a while? And perhaps that is what had happened?

Going to the doctors next week but was told it could be up to a 6 month wait to see a specialist about this.

[terrilavery 4]

Vomiting black can be in indication of blood that has been there for a while. Its not fresh. This could indicate a lot of problems including an ulcer. You definitely need to seek medical help regardless. Something is definitely wrong.

[mummajuju 77]

I too have Fibro and was banded at the beginning of sept. I have found that since losing 2 and half stone my joints feel so much better. Tiredness still a major issue. I have even stopped the morphine and just take paracetamol and occasional sleepers when I need a good night sleep. I got in a routine with the morphine and was only that I didn't ache as bad that I thought I'd wean off and haven't looked back. I still have my Oramorph just I case but haven't touched it in 2 months x