My doctor is at a loss to explain what's going on with my band. I've had it a little over a year now and it is causing me grief, but not in the usual way. I have only ever been stuck once (not complaining about that) but my problem is nausea. When I eat, no mater what I eat, I take a few bites and then this overwhelming nausea comes over me. Sometimes I can manage to keep the food down for up to a half hour, but it generally comes back up again. It's not a problem of eating too fast or too much because it very often happens on the first bite and I have always been the slowest eater on the face of the earth. I don't have to make myself throw up as it comes up all by itself, although I will admit to the occasional thump on the sternum to hurry up the inevitable. My other problem is restriction. There does not seem to be a sweet spot for me. I can either eat anything pretty much as much as I want, or first bite leads to puking not being able to eat ever without a plan of where I can throw up. My problems don't correlate to specific foods, times of stress or even time of the day.

The doctors are stymied. My band hasn't slipped, it's not too tight, not leaking, not eating through my stomach, and not causing pain. There's just the massive nausea and the all or nothing restriction problem. I've tried the band forums but I still haven't found anybody who has this problem.

I'm now considering a revision to the sleeve because my weight is causing the CSF in my brain to push on my eyes and it's threatening to tear apart my eyes from the inside and blind me. I've also had a headache for the past 6 years. Something has to happen. I'm a little apprehensive because my band appears to have been a huge failure, but at least it's reversible. The sleeve is a one way trip.

Has anybody experienced something similar or am I just a special snowflake?

Your story sounds like my life as a banded person. If I was to bet $$ your esophagus is weakened from having dead weight aka the band on it. That's what my problem was with the same symptoms you have. I had my sleeve done in August because I had zero Fluid in my band for 2 years and most of the time just drinking Water was a challenge.

The best advice I can give you. Get all your medical records and find a doctor in your area who "specializes" in revision surgeries. Unless there is an erosion or something horrible there is no need for two surgeries, one doctor I went to wanted me to have 2 surgeries but he forgot to tell me he had not done a revision and he was hoping that my stomach would return to an unbanded state prior to the Sleeve surgery date. From what I was told this is a common problem with the band and if you do internet searches for Lap Band and Lawyer the lawsuits are starting. I predict that the Lap Band will be off the maerket in the next 2-3 years

I sincerely wish you the best of luck!

Went to the neurologist yesterday and that was a complete waste of time. He told me to lose weight. Um, yeah, I know... that's why I spent $18K to get the band.

Back to my band surgeon I guess. Hopefully I can get him to refer me to the bariatric clinic downtown. If that's a no go then I'm going to have to push my family doctor to refer me. Gotta be referred here. That's how it works. You want free surgery and lifetime after care, you have to jump through a hoop or two.

Went to the neurologist yesterday and that was a complete waste of time. He told me to lose weight. Um, yeah, I know... that's why I spent $18K to get the band.

Back to my band surgeon I guess. Hopefully I can get him to refer me to the bariatric clinic downtown. If that's a no go then I'm going to have to push my family doctor to refer me. Gotta be referred here. That's how it works. You want free surgery and lifetime after care, you have to jump through a hoop or two.

With your headaches, I'd try a shunt too, it will get clogged a bit-but maybe not, and not having headaches for a long time might be nice!

As far as the sleeve, get it. I have neither, I am about to get one or the other, my new insurance may not cover it, so I think I am going sleeve from the get go.

Good luck! (I hate when I get the lose weight answer, duh..) Keep trying!

With your headaches, I'd try a shunt too, it will get clogged a bit-but maybe not, and not having headaches for a long time might be nice!

As far as the sleeve, get it. I have neither, I am about to get one or the other, my new insurance may not cover it, so I think I am going sleeve from the get go.

Good luck! (I hate when I get the lose weight answer, duh..) Keep trying!

I've started the process for getting on to the list for a VSG or RNY in Ontario, although I've been delayed a week. Ironically, my doctor called in sick. It may take a while, but it will be free. I don't have the cash for another self-pay surgery. Until they've exhausted all the options with me losing weight, they're not going to put in a shunt. Basically they're waiting to see if I put an ice pick through my own head to relieve the pain before they do anything... some days I'm sorely tempted.

Can you get a second opinion? Change of Dr. Something? I have headache issues of my own, I don't know what I'd do if I was you. I don't know much about your medical brain fluid issue, but I had a student who had severe headaches, had a shunt (that wasn't working real well) and was ALSO overweight. Unless they are a specialist in your issue, how can they say weight loss is the key. Fkrs...Good Luck!

I agree with a previous poster ...the band is a nightmare! I had mine for 3 years, lost 40 pounds but gained it all back and then some.

I, like you, never found a sweet spot, it was always horrible one way or another. When they took my band out, they found nothing wrong with it... I was like, "really? seriously?"

oh well..I'm glad it's gone and now i'm on my sleeve journey!

I am having similar issues with my sleeve. I have daily nausea, regardless of what I eat, when I eat or how I eat. I have tried everything, I take my nexium everyday and drink plenty of water. I have been sleeved about 4 months now, and I just pray this horrible feelings goes away. I thought by now, the nausea and vomiting would be over, but it is still occuring.