Day 5 Post - Op - Struggling: Afib, Upset Stomach, Anxiety, and Scared.

[gabrielle2014 38]

Ditto! I really appreciate the care and concern everyone has shown. Thank you so much.

Things are going along - though I've gained a few pounds this week and that, naturally, has me a bit worked up, which I'll probably post about. But I'm determined to get all my fluids in today and get on my spin bike for at least 15 minutes.

The heart is cooperating so far --- I see my cardiologist on Monday and I'll discuss seeing an electrophysiologist.

The whole thing has been very difficult but going back to work on Monday will help and being able to eat has been a big help. liquids was very tough on me.

THANK YOU so much again for your support. Really appreciate it.

[swimbikerun 1,039]

Music to our ears!!

Glad to know that people are on the mend or that they know there are places they can come where people can extend a hand to them and help.

[cat lady 10]

Hi....so sorry for your troubles. I have had the lapband since 2011 and have experienced two episodes of Afib. The first one was last June 2014 and recently May 2015. Both times went to ER with very rapid skipping pulse beat. Pulse 125-140....scary feeling. Both times got back to a normal rhythm with meds given....beta blocker & Cardizem which I think is a Calcium channel blocker. Never thought it could be the band affecting me in this way...until my daughter questioned it. Does anyone have medical information showing a correlation of Afib and the lapband. Some mention the vegus nerve being the problem. Would like to know more. Any help would be appreciated. Looking into an ablation specialist and seeing a cardiologist presently. Thank you and God Bless. Chris

[parisshel 1,892]

There is no doubt in my mind that my afib, which involves both heart rate and heart rhythm, is due to my lapband. However, my lapband surgeon insists "he has never heard of something like this" happening, and my cardiologist has said that removing the lapband won't solve the problem because "once you have afib, you have afib for life."

So.

While I know that my lapband is responsible (my episodes are always related to food passing over the band...they never occur when I'm not eating), there is little I can do at this point except remain compliant with my beta blockers and heart rhythm medications, which I will now be on for life. I switched medications after my initial three months on them as the Sotalol had the most horrific side effects which were unacceptable to me (constant sleeping, hallucinations, severe depression, disorientation). My current combination is more acceptable in terms of side effects but still I'm not myself.

Not to mention that beta blockers curtail any opportunity to do sports or get a cardio workout since you can't get your heart rate up.

There are days I very much regret getting a lapband...not only because I now have this condition that is not minor, but also because of other complications that I am now reading about related to the band. I chose the band because there was long term data about its risks and benefits, but I am convinced that much of that data is garnered in Allergan's favor and any complications that fall in a grey area do not show up in the data. This would include afib (because the medical community can pass it off as something that may have occurred in any case) auto-immune diseases (again, one could develop these independent of a silicone object being placed inside one's body, but look at all the bandsters that develop life-threatening auto-immune diseases such as lupus and scleradoma--much higher than the general population).

I think I disregarded the possible complications inherent in WLS in my eagerness to find some solution to my longterm obesity. I never thought I'd fall on the wrong side of the statistics...indeed, no one ever does. But now here I am, with a heart that constantly reminds me of this decision that was wrong for me, and a lifetime of medications ahead of me.