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Can anyone relate to this pain



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First off, a short back story as I havent visited this forum in years. I was banded in 2005 and had fantastic success, losing over 100% of my excess weight. I've had some regain since then due to a number of factors but not terrible. In 2010 I was diagnosed with rectal cancer - some of that fabulous weight loss, I believe the last 10kg, was due to having active cancer. I was treated, and am fine, albeit with a colostomy and I had my band totally unfilled (it was NEVER the same again) upon reflilling) I went through a sudden menopause, a brutal one, went back to full time work, stopped being able to focus entirely on myself etc and am now *just* within my healthy weight range. Still, all in all, a great success, although having a BMI of 19-20 was very very nice while it lasted.

Anyway, since the early years, really, I had some very infrequent attacks of chest pain. It would start as a warning ache deep in my chest, and would radiate - the roof of my mouth, my jaw, the backs of my arms, through to my back, even my ears - it is excruciating - deep and vice like. It literally happened 3 or 4 times over 5 years though. I did mention it to a GP who really had not much to offer (when do they ever?). Last year I started to get a little night time reflux - I was too tight. In an effort to offset the weight gain, I'd overtightened rather than admit I needed to recommit to exercise and eat better around my crazy schedule. I had some Fluid out and BAM the pain was frequent and the attacks unpredictable. When it starts, I know I cant stop it. It just aches, so deeply and radiates and its agony. Sometimes a hot drink can relieve it, and I always take a Nexium. I had a gastroscopy with my surgeon and I had esophagitis and was put onto Somac which I have stayed on. Havent had a problem in a year now but now I have a cough and its back, probably cuased by the coughing. Its honestly really frightening to think it may happen in public, last year I had to go off in an ambulance from work and had a full cardiac workup which was all normal.

I guess my question is - if anyone can relate to this, could it be apband related? I assume it is, since unfilling tends to trigger it and I know i have a slight pouch and my band is ever so slightly out of position. I think I would find it comforting to hear that others have the same issue - I will be looking at my options as this cant go on. I fear revision surgery is on the cards. I am still so happy I made this decision, its been 12 good years and I always knew the band would need attention at some point in time, particularly since I have the old old 4ml version. I will also go to my GP this afternoon, I think more cardiac investigation is warranted, as well as looking at my lungs - this is some serious pain!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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