Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

I think my band has got to go.....



Recommended Posts

I'm 7 weeks post op and am totally miserable. I've had a barium swallow, all looks fine. Was told I was swollen from being "stuck" and do Clear liquids for 3 days, then mushies, etc. The ER surgeon thought my band was too tight and needed an unfill. When I told him I had no fill, he said then perhaps my band was too tight/small. Confered with my surgeon who said my band was 'NOT TOO SMALL OR TIGHT".

It's been 2 weeks since my ER visit and can only keep down Clear Liquids and some egg drop Soup. Absolutely nothing in the morning, not even Water.

I've been pb'ing, vomiting. Nights are just awful. My esophagus is not right, had a "congested cough" (lungs are clear) for over a week. Saw my reg Dr. and she gave me cough medicine with expectorant.

I'm so weak I can't do anything. No energy. I've lost 35 lbs and am thrilled with that, but I cannot enjoy my weight loss at all because I feel sick ALL THE TIME.

I only felt "good" or somewhat "normal" for one week out of the 7.

Has anyone else gone through this and stayed banded?

What entails having the band removed?

I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow. It sounds just awful. I was too tight after a fill and that's exactly how I felt. PB'ing EVERYTHING, even Water, and tons of pain and pressure when I tried to swallow something. I'm sure your surgeon will have answers for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear that you are having a rough time. Wheneven I feel too tight (every morning) and after a pb, I drink hot Decaf green mint tea. For me its a blessing. Not only does it sooth it helps to lossen me up. And since it's decaf, it counts towards my Water for the day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm so sorry you're going through all this! Try some warm tea, it can be soothing if it's not too hot, and it goes down better than cold Water.

I pray that your surgeon has an acceptable solution for you, and that you won't have to lose your band. I'd be lost without mine.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. Just came back from surgeon's visit. I'm scheduled to have the band removed on Monday.

He wasn't happy that I waited so long before seeing him.......

Seems my body might possibly be rejecting the band.

He'll do an endoscopy while I'm under for the band removal.

In any case, I shouldn't have been this miserable this long.

I'm so relieved. I hope the surgery goes well.......

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. Please keep us posted on how things go.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh no! I'm so sorry! Too bad he just couldn't give you a bigger band or make some adjustments internally to the one you have. I hope you feel better fast. Let us know how you're doing.

~C

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Reading the sympathetic posts this sounds somewhat common. I'm very new and haven't received approval yet but I am taking note. Wish you all the best.:tongue_smilie:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Reading the sympathetic posts this sounds somewhat common.

It's not. Getting too tight at some point is common, but an unfill usually solves that.

Being that tight after healing from surgery but with no fill in the band at all? Highly unusual.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's not. Getting too tight at some point is common, but an unfill usually solves that.

Being that tight after healing from surgery but with no fill in the band at all? Highly unusual.

I have to agree on this point, having a band placed that is that tight with no fill is very uncommon. Most people experience some post-op swelling that provides a bit of restriction, sometimes even to the point of being way too tight, but this usually resolves within a couple of days, and then it's basically NO restriction until you begin getting fills.

At 7 weeks with no fill, (with a few exceptions, Jack comes to mind, he went 6 months without a fill, I think, and had good restriction. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong on that point) most of us are STARVING, and have no restriction at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×