Would you do it again?

mebsb · June 29, 2008

I just had surgery to remove my port due to infectionion. I am home with 3 weeks of IV antibiotics and a wound vac for the open incision. I was banded 4/11. Even now I would do it again. I have lost 30 #'s already and I am not having any trouble sticking to the eating program even though I have not had a fill yet and obviously won't for some time now with the removal of the port. I feel better then I have in years and have much more energy. Believe me being 330#'s and having major surgery is not picnic and at least I know that at some point I will be healthier inspite of all the problems. Good luck to all of you and I hope you find that even with the difficulties it was worth it.

Hi, what were the symptons of your infection? I am asking b/c I have had a fever every weekend this month and my GP doesn't know what is causing it.

Thanks.

jelinekh · August 24, 2008

I am replying again. I am experiencing more problems. I have the last week I have had heartburnt o the point that the prilosec and taking 2 extra tums does nto help and also the shoulder pain after I eat and that is when I am able. i am having a hard time with that now again.

privatedancer7 · August 24, 2008

Never again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!After 3 hospitalizations, it was removed. I currently can not swallow very well, throat hurts sometimes, and I have been referred to a throat specialist for esophagus issues........ I was told that I had a lot of scar tissue and I might need another surgery to help my problem. Let's see. That brings the total number of surgeries to five already and six if we can not figure out what my problem is.

If anyone has any ideas, I would deeply appreciate your response.

Private Dancer 7

Daisalana · August 25, 2008

Sorry Private, hope your docs can figure something out.

The simple fact is, as much as I love the band, or someone else may love the band, it is just not for everyone. And not because some people can't follow the rules, or reasons we can control.. it's also anatomy. Some people's bodies reject silicone, or reject foreign objects in general. Some people's esophagus and/or stomach can't sustain the band, and eroding happens. It's just not right for everyone, and with current technology it's impossible to say ahead of time who is an ideal candidate based on their body's reaction.

That's something to keep in mind when going in for the band, it's a gamble. The odds are in your favor, but there's always some who it just won't work. And I'm sorry to those of you who it doesn't work, and hope you find something that works.

privatedancer7 · August 25, 2008

You are so right. It is indeed a gamble and one that for me obviously was not worth taking. But unfortunately we make the best decisions based on the knowlege that we have at the time and to quote Oprah Winfrey when we know better, we do better. I know better now.

Private Dancer 7

Patriciann · August 25, 2008

I am replying again. I am experiencing more problems. I have the last week I have had heartburnt o the point that the prilosec and taking 2 extra tums does nto help and also the shoulder pain after I eat and that is when I am able. i am having a hard time with that now again.

Hi Jelinekh..........I know what you're talking about. When I take my medicine (not for lapband) my stomach burns like crazy........also, there are mornings I wake up with terrible heartburn, but I think I may have found a solution.

I take the meds only after I have eaten........and before going to sleep I take an over the counter Zantec 150...........I haven't had heartburn since. I have found tums do not help.......but Zantec does......The good news is I haven't thrown up in nearly 2 months AND I have only 20 pounds to goal.

Went to a wedding shower today and saw people I haven't seen since last year. Everyone commented on the weight loss and I felt great....so, would I do it again? YOU BET I WOULD...........

mrshobo · August 26, 2008

No, I would not do it again. It didn't work for me but, I do know people that it worked for.

kposer · August 26, 2008

I have had a similar experience as you in terms of problems with anemia and dehydration. I had the lap band put in over a year ago (May 07) and have had nothing but problems. Not only have I not lost much weight, (only 30 pounds pre-surgery from my yougurt-only diet over a year ago) but I am in constant pain. I have been hospitalized three times now, and emergency doctors have diagnosed me with stomach "spasms" or convulsions. After putting me on muscle relaxants, and anti-spasmatic drugs, pain killers, and flushing me with iv's for dehydration I am sent home to deal with the next episode. On an average weekly basis, I can only eat a few bites of food (sometimes more if I'm lucky) about twice a week. I frequently go more then three days with no food or liquid staying down. I have days where even swallowing my saliva come back up and causes me pain. When I am able to eat, I have little to no feeling of restriction, but after swallowing I am in pain- I get a panic type feeling that someone is strangling me. After fighting this sensation for long enough, sometimes I am able to keep the food down, other times (most times) it comes back up. When I am able to keep foods down I always get a stomach ache, a bloated feeling as though I had just ate three plates of Christmas dinner (when in reality it was maybe half a cup of food tops!). This is following my stinging sensations in my stomach when I breathe in and out.

With barely eating for over a year, I have not lost the weight, and oboviously questioned this. At 5' 4", 19 years old, and 230 pounds and BARELY EATING FOR A YEAR, you would think I should be starved and skinny by now! The doctors have expalined I am suffering from malnutrition due to poor eating habbits, in other words my body is in constant starvation mode so when I do get anything to stay down my body stores it instead of burning it. I have been told not to excersize because I am not eating enough to burn fat, only muscle tissue. My eating patterns have no pattern, I have tried for months keeping a food diary and trying to pin point if certain things are causing this pain in hopes that eliminating them will solve my problems but nothing seems to make sense- It's like my stomach has a mind of its own.

I was banded in Ontario, Canada and have gone to see the surgeon several times with these problems and concerns. Each time I was adjusted, either filled or defilled according to what they thought necessary- each time followed by these same problems.

Finally I insisted on getting the barrium swallow x ray done, and according to the surgeon everything appeared to be fine, and he even tightened my band! Nothing but the same problems since.

Since then I was hospitalized three times, the "spasms" are causing severe pain and swelling to not only my stomach but surrounding organs- the emergency doctors have said there is a threat of an organ bursting or "rupturing". Now every serious stomach ache lasting more than an hour requires me to take anti-spasmatic drugs, and if no result within an hour proceed to the emergency room asap.

Yesterday I sent a very frustrated email to my surgeon who has finally agreed to do a scope of my stomach, wants to completely remove all the Fluid in my band, and start me on steriods before considering removing the band completely.

I am worried, sick of the pain and constant throwing up of fluids and food and very worried about all the possible complications that the emergency doctors have warned me about. Never did I realise that my poor eating habbits could be causing my lower stomach to eat away at the walls (due to a lack of food and liquid absorbing stomach acids), serious throat problems from the regergetation, slippage of my band, rupturing of my stomach or surrounding organs, anemia, malnutrition, dehydration, Constipation and digestive problems...etc!!!

Has anyone had a similar experience to mine? I just want some answers, I am young and frustrated to know that it has taken a year to get some serious actions taken from my band surgeon. I'm also very worried about these restults... not to mention hesitant to start taking oral steriods now!!

MaLiyah30 · August 27, 2008

I have IBS it I thought that when I got the band that my problems would go away. Many people experience many different symptoms when having irritable bowel syndrome. One of my symptoms was that my stomach constantly rumbles and I get extremely bloated to the point that I want to throw up. The bloating was causing pressure on my other organs as well. My stomach will rumble and growl and swell to the point of looking pregnant. When my stomach is rumbling and growling I am producing a lot of gas thus causing my stomach to hurt and I often feel a stinging sensation or sharp pains in my stomach. It took me about 5 months and to finally figure out that the band was trapping the excess gas inside of my stomach and I discussed this with my band doctor. He simply said to change the way I eat. My family doctor was finally able to help me and agreed that the band was trapping in excess gas and gave me a prescription.

Our bodies naturally produce gas and we release these gasses through burps and flatulence. Also certain foods that we eat will cause gas. I am extremely sensitive to artificial sweeteners. They are a complete no no for me. The pains from these sweeteners will have me doubled over in pain for days. I have to take an anti-spasmadic meds 4 times a day. I noticed that you said you were in constant pain. Well so was I for 5 months straight. I know it sounds crazy but your problems sound a lot like mine. I had every test performed possible and my band was just fine. Now I can go days with no pain but I have to take my anti-spasmadic meds everyday. If I miss a day then the pain comes back. Try to stay away from milk products and artificial sweeteners for about a week and see if that helps.

I hope this helps and I am wishing you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kposer · August 27, 2008

Thank you so much for letting me know about your problems.. I will mention your experience to my doctor Thursday and see what they say. My only worry is how would we know that this IBS is the cause of the spasms? Well I guess I have to wait and see! I do hope that my band is alright and that there is an explanation for all of this because after more then a year at stand still and feeling pain all the time I am ready to start seeing this band work for me.

flower faery · August 27, 2008

Honestly, at this point, I'm beginning to wonder why I did this. I mean, I'm thrilled with the weight loss so far...80lbs in 11 months. But, with all of the problems I've been having and the thought of possible erosion being in the back of my mind at all times, I'm just not sure.

I never really thought up front about what I'd do financially if the band had to be removed and now that's a very real possibility. I am still paying off the original surgery because my insurance only paid half. There's no way I can afford to have this thing taken out, much less have revision surgery too. My insurance changed 3 months after I was banded and the new insurance considers everything band-related to be pre-existing so refuse to pay anything. So I'm seriously stuck.

I've been having these pains in my stomach around the band area for a while now and have no idea what it could be and I couldn't get an appointment to see my doctor until September. Once I see him and have tests done (no telling how much those will cost me!) I'll know what I'm facing. Meanwhile, all I can do is try not to think the worst and that's pretty much impossible. :cursing: