Hello,

I got the band in last August and have had two fills. I keep on throwing up. I've stopped eating almost everything and even throw up sometimes with cottage cheese. The doctor just told me that I need to stop eating so fast. I have family and friends who will tell you that I am on my second bite when their almost done with their food. I am starting to get depressed ( you would to if every time you ate, you felt like someone was stabbing you in the chest.) A lot of the time I just eat things that I know will go down without me throwing it back up. One time I ate ice cream for dinner because I knew that I wouldn't throw it back up.

My question is: Is there anyone out there having the same problems as me? and if so, how did you handle it or get your doctor to take out the band? Please respond I'm starting to really really hate life.

Thanks,

Amber

It would make more sense to me to completely unfill you then slowly fill you with little bits at a time so you can eat and have some relief. Who cares about weight loss at this point. You will still lose weight you will just have to work harder.

Amber, then I think you need to either find another surgeon or demand that you get better care from your current one.

I'm not sure how anybody could be be purportedly as sick as you've written and be denied an unfill and diagnostic testing. That's outright malpractice. Is there anything you're leaving out?

-m

I don't think that I'm leaving anything out. Although I'm not sure what to put in to tell you the truth. I don't know anything about the medical field.

Hello,

I got the band in last August and have had two fills. I keep on throwing up. I've stopped eating almost everything and even throw up sometimes with cottage cheese. The doctor just told me that I need to stop eating so fast. I have family and friends who will tell you that I am on my second bite when their almost done with their food. I am starting to get depressed ( you would to if every time you ate, you felt like someone was stabbing you in the chest.) A lot of the time I just eat things that I know will go down without me throwing it back up. One time I ate ice cream for dinner because I knew that I wouldn't throw it back up.

My question is: Is there anyone out there having the same problems as me? and if so, how did you handle it or get your doctor to take out the band? Please respond I'm starting to really really hate life.

Thanks,

Amber

Yes, you are not alone. I went thru a month of what you are describing. But I took a different approach. I ate 2 bites and walked away. Then an hour later, ate again. So, I ate like 5-10 times a day. And yes, I was fatigued, depressed, irritable...even hostile. But I had to do it. This 'withdrawal' from food helped me with my addiction.

If you take that approach you must stay close to your doctor. Not everyone can do this and it isn't recommended. So, before I get blasted for saying it....I already said it's not recommended.

For you, I'd recommend an unfill and take it easy. The band isn't for everyone and when they say you eat less food....they aren't kidding! But you should be able to eat 1/2 - 1 cup without a problem.

Good luck and keep us posted.

It would make more sense to me to completely unfill you then slowly fill you with little bits at a time so you can eat and have some relief. Who cares about weight loss at this point. You will still lose weight you will just have to work harder.

Yeah I know. That's what I said.

You could end up going to the ER for dehydration and malnutrition and then he will have himself a can of worms that I'm sure any doctor would not like to have do deal with.

However, that might not be a bad idea at this point. It sounds like it might be a reasonable thing to consider if you are to that point.

Do you know the signs of dehydration?

-m

Edited April 26, 200818 yr by dancinglamb

You've had your band a long time. Why now are you having problems? Or has this been going on a long time?

How much experience has this doc had with the band???

Making sure that you have the RIGHT surgeon is oh-so-important. Not only in that he has plenty of experience, but that you have a firm understanding with him as to what he will do to help you if there ARE problems.

And it sounds like you DO have problems. I think you really need to have a consultation with ANOTHER doctor who is well experienced with the LB, and try and determine what the real problem is. Maybe you already answered this, but why does he refuse to entirley unfill you? If there is NOT a good reason, then INSIST on it, and if he won't, then see someone who will.

Again, I think that it's high time you see another Doctor. THIS one is not treating you right.

You said the doctor has not done a fluro. on you yet. That makes no sense. Isn't that one of the first things he should do?

you said you keep throwing up ? what happens after you throw up ?

do you go back to regular food ? you maybe in a cycle where your band is irritated and swollen and it has not been allowed to heal ( to now fault of your own ) have you tried liquids for as long as a week then slowly bulid back up to solids after that ? Like do a week of liquids then 3 days of mushies then 3 days of semi solids ?

Im going through something similar myself but it started about a month ago .

I just went to my doc on Tuesday . I throw up VERY Easily due to So many yrs of Migraines. So when most people get stuck I throw up . I dont get stuck for hours like some do i just throw up . My doc thinks due to this i cant tell on my own when im full . So he suggested I eat a little bit wait a little bit and try eating a little more. Also he said that I need to measure my food when i eat because although im not over eating , im sort of blindly eating what is on my plate.

I agree with the others that your doc needs to check your band , Mine checked mine under flouro to make sure it was ok and it was.

If you feel like your doc is not doing what you feel is right try another doc .

HTH

Mindy

I am new to being banded - only 4 weeks out, but much more nervous about all the things that can happen now that I actually have the band. I just don't think you can be too careful about things.

After reading so many stories here, it would almost seem like throwing up, PBs and other not so pleasant occurances are normal - but I just can't believe that we should think they should be. We have to take care of our bodies; not just think about losing weight. So much damage can happen by keeping things too tight or throwing up.

If your doctor isn't listening to you, you need to find a way to make them understand or find another physician. I was just have a bit of reflux and not feeling quite right - and had not even had a fill yet. The office I went to checked everything out to make sure the band was OK and actually removed a bit of the Fluid that was flushed in during surgery to make me more comfortable.

The physician and office should be working with you not only for weight loss but to make sure you are healthy in whole.

I also should have said that I empathize with you. There are times I wonder if I made the right decision. I am sorry you are having such difficulties. I have already told the doctor's office that I am not sure how long I will wait for a fill out of fear! I hope things get worked through for you.

I am new to being banded - only 4 weeks out, but much more nervous about all the things that can happen now that I actually have the band. I just don't think you can be too careful about things.

After reading so many stories here, it would almost seem like throwing up, PBs and other not so pleasant occurances are normal - but I just can't believe that we should think they should be. We have to take care of our bodies; not just think about losing weight. So much damage can happen by keeping things too tight or throwing up.

If your doctor isn't listening to you, you need to find a way to make them understand or find another physician. I was just have a bit of reflux and not feeling quite right - and had not even had a fill yet. The office I went to checked everything out to make sure the band was OK and actually removed a bit of the Fluid that was flushed in during surgery to make me more comfortable.

The physician and office should be working with you not only for weight loss but to make sure you are healthy in whole.

I have to tell you from a "Newbie' that was very well put . Sometimes people tend to keep their bands too tight and live on liquids to lose weight faster and its not healthy . That's no way to live. PBing and throwing up are NOT safe and NOT "just how it is " I know someone who has been banded for almost 2 yrs and NEVER PBed and NEVER been stuck .

Hunter is right , its not just about the weight its about your body and about your health . We hire our docs they work for us. If you cant get the doc to listen shop around to find one that will !!

Honey,

Please seek a second opinion, I had a doctor like that who refused to perfom a previous surgery on me, even though I was a miserable mess due to 5 tumors. I sought a second opinion and it changed my life.. you are in control of you, not your doctor.

Take care of you!

Honey,

Please seek a second opinion, I had a doctor like that who refused to perfom a previous surgery on me, even though I was a miserable mess due to 5 tumors. I sought a second opinion and it changed my life.. you are in control of you, not your doctor.

Take care of you!

Not trying to disagree with you . I dont think it has to be a control issue. I think that medical care needs to be collaborative, you need to communicate and there has to be trust . It does not sound like there is any of that in this situation . I do think that if it is not there it CAN Be regained BUT if it is not then the patient needs to move on . If a patient does not feel like the doctor is listening to then AND Vice Versa then they need to part ways. I have worked for doctors where they have felt the patient is not listening to THEM and they have had to refer them else where . Make sense ?

Mindy