Hi everyone. I am hoping someone can please help me. I have been experiencing so many complications and I am in so much despair. I apologize in advance for this long posting. I was banded nine weeks ago. I am a self-pay and paid $15,000. After 5 weeks and my first fill, I had major pain on my left side near my diaphragm where the band is located. My LB doctor told me there was nothing he could do in his office (no testing equipment) and if I felt that much pain, I should go to the ER. After 8 hrs in the ER and a battery of tests, and an $8,500 bill, I was told they can’t find anything wrong. I was given a prescription for pain killers and sent home. Upon follow up with my lap band doctor, he said that it is just one of those things. The pain finally went away two weeks later and I hoped that it was in the past. About two weeks later, at 8 weeks post-op, I went in for my second fill. That same evening, the port area began bruising and I assumed this was normal, like when getting a shot. After one week, the bruising turned into a dark red and itchy rash about 5 inches in diameter. I became increasingly concerned and had my LB doctor look at it. He prescribed some oral antibiotics and told me to keep an eye on it. Four days later, the red rash turned into a full blown, ugly infection. It was directly over the port incision (which had already healed and closed over the previous 8 weeks). Today, the infection looked nasty. It was bubbling along the area where the port incision is, about 4 inches long. My doctor had me come in immediately this afternoon. He had me lay down and I thought he was squeezing the blistering area to drain the fluid. It was incredibly PAINFUL and I begged him to stop. I then looked down and was horrified to see a hole that was almost twice the size of a silver dollar right into my abdomen. He wasn’t “draining” it but scraping/digging out the infection/dead skin tissue. I thought I was going to pass out right there. Most of what he told me was only half understood because I was in a state of shock and disbelief. He stuffed a big wad of gauze in me, covered it up and told me to come back tomorrow morning to see “how I respond to the treatment”. He said he will have to schedule me for a "scope" (whatever that is) to see if I have any band erosion and possibly schedule me for emergency surgery to remove everything. Of course I'm still trying to get over the hole in my stomach. I can’t help but think that I will be disfigured forever, not to mention broke. And for 8 weeks the only fills I had were 2CC each and have had zero restriction. I feel like I’m the poster child for everything that can go wrong with the Lap Band. I wonder if my initial pain has something to do with this and my doctor was not vigilant enough. It seems like this infection was festering even before the rash began.

Edited October 29, 200817 yr by TJWOOD

I am really sorry all this is happening to you. I hope you get some answers and solutions soon.

Kate

I'm so sorry, Tom, that this is not healing for you. You said that the doctor had to open you up to look around, so I wonder why he didn't see or repair these holes as long as he had you open? I hope he has a plan "B" to go to, as the one you are on currently doesn't appear to be working! Is there something else that can be done?

You shouldn't be going through this. I'm sending many, many prayers your way.

I will be getting a a second opinion after the disapointing results from last Thursday. I am meeting with a leading GI specialist at the Mayo Clinic Hospital sometime this week. I'll let you know how that goes.

After I posted last, I met with my Lap Band Surgeon later that afternoon. He said that the info that the lab techs gave me ("the test results were like they were 5 weeks ago") was only partial information and that there was, in fact, some progress. Sound like BS? I don't know. He said that the abscesses next to my stomach were now closed up or sealed, except for the hole into the stomach. During, the last fistulagram, the liquid dye traveled not only into the stomach. but also into the abdominal cavity through other leaks in this abscess. During this test, the dye only went into the stomach. He said that the suctioning action from the drain tubes are what can be keeping the hole in the stomach from closing. The end of this drain tube is apparently seated right next to the stomach hole. His plan is to take the suctioning off, which he did. In one week, he will begin to back out the drain tube. After two weeks, he said he may pull the drain tubes out entirely. He said the hole in the stomach should then begin to close up quickly. He didn't stitch up the stomach hole in the initial surgery because the tissue was all inflamed and it would be like stitching pudding. The only other option is to do a endoscopony down my esophogus and place a stint or glue to patch the hole from the inside but he said this procedure doesn't have very good statistics, only 50%.

I am trusting that God will lead me in the right direction. Thanks again for the prayers!!!!!!

Tom

TJ. So sorry to hear you are going through all of this. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a quick healing. The Mayo Clinic is big guns. If anyone can tell you what is happening it is there.

Tom, I'm so sorry to hear you're still experiencing troubles. My band did erode into my stomach afterall. They removed everything on Friday and I stayed overnight at surgical center. I was lucky...no feeding tube. Which was amazing since after they saw the Upper GI pics I brought (instead of faxed ones they received) they said it was worse than they were told. We're thinking all the antibiotics I've been on over the last year and a half have somehow helped. I go to surgeon again tomorrow...don't know if he'll remove my drain tube yet or not, still getting 10 mL every 12 hours out of it. We're just watching for infections right now.

I will keep you in prayers, Tom. Again, I thank you for sharing your story with me...it helped me prepare and know what to expect.

Becky, sorry to hear about what you have gone through. I pray for a quick healing for you.

Hi Becky, I am so glad you are recovering. It's nice to know that my circumstances have helped, at least, one person. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I am all set up at the Mayo Clinic on next Thursday for my second opinion. I'll let everyone know how that goes. My current doctor has scheduled me for a "swallow test" next Wednesday. For this test, I swallow a gunky dyed liquid, Barium, and stand in front of an X-ray machine that films the path of the liquid. If the liquid does not leave the stomach (through a hole), he may allow me to start on liquids. broth would be heaven right now!!! Even a galss of Water.

Hello everyone. Some good news this week. I had a gastric gram ("swallow test") on Wednesday. Nothing leaked from the stomach!! The doctor gave me the go ahead to have liquids, but to take it slow. The holes in my stomach may have closed, but could open up if I push it. After not having anything by mouth for 2 months, chicken broth was heaven!!!! In one week, if everything goes okay, I can step up to soft foods. After two weeks, he'll remove all the tubes. He wants to keep them in for now as a precaution. I'm optimistic, but also nervous. I'm afraid if I accidentally push it to much, I'll break. I seem to leak alot more where the tubes exit my skin after drinking liquids. It's only been two days so we'll see how it goes. So far, no fevers. I also had my consultation for a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic on Thursday. This place is so incredibly impressive. Very state of the art. The doctor has yet to review my films and x-rays, but confirmed the course of treatment I am on is one that she would do. This was very reassuring. In the event there are any complications, I intend to switch to her care. Let's hope and pray this won't be necessary. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Tom, this is wonderful news! Glad to see the surgeon paying attention (finally!). Sending prayers your way! :redface:

:thumbup:I am happy to hear that you are doing better. I know the 2nd opinion helped relieve your mind. Thoughts and prayers are still with you.

I am so sorry to hear everything went wrong with your band! What a nightmare! I have not had any trouble with mine, but we all run the risk when we elect surgery. I am saying a prayer that all will turn out well. I'm so glad you're okay!

Hello.

I had the same thing happen to me. I had my band put in in October within a week it open and I had a huge hole it was a bit bigger then yours. My doctor told me the same thing that it looked good and there was no infection. A few days later it started to get red around it and I had the puss leaking again. I called the doctor and he told me to go to the hospital. My port had to come out it was infected. They had to take the port out it was the scariest thing ever. They could not close the wound it had to heal from the inside out. The hole it left that i was packing with gauze I could fit an egg sideways into me and you would not see it. It healed in six weeks then they put my new port back in and everyting was fine.

I dont want to scare you but watch the area mine got hotter and red around it and thats when I went to the hospital. I was lucky my neighbor is a nurse and she checked on it.

It was really scary but it did all work out and my new port is great. I just stunk that it took three months for all the healing.

Rae

It's been 2 weeks since my last update. The first week, I was on liquids and the second week soft foods. The two drain tubes were pulled leaving only the feeding tube and G-tube into the stomach. Both have been capped off and only left in as a precaution. Today, I have an appointment to remove these remaining tubes. I am also supposed to get the go ahead for solid foods. I think it will still be months before the wounds stop leaking completely and close up/heal. The only scare I had was after 7 days of liquids and 2 days of soft foods, I gained 18 pounds!!! Who gains 18 # in 9 days?!!!! I panicked and paged the doctor. He explained that this was a reaction to my body from being in "starvation mode" for several weeks. Previously, I was only able to get in 600 calories each day. I wasn't so concerned about the weight gain as I was about whether or not food or liquids were still leaking out of my stomach. The doctor said that if that was the case, I would be violently sick. Fortunately, I am still healthy with no fevers. He said my metabolism should stabilize. I think it has because I dropped 4 pounds already.

Apparently, there is a ton of politics in my doctor's office. My doctor left the business (with no notice) and moved to the opposite side of town. I sought him out so he could remove these final tubes. My follow-up care will be at the Mayo Clinic. Hopefully, there won't be any further complications.

It has been a couple months since my last post and this will most likely be the last for this thread. My follow up care has been through the Mayo Clinic and they are absolutely wonderful. The latest CT scan in late March showed nothing leaking out of my stomach and all the abscesses are under control. The scars and wounds I have (13 holes total) will take many months if not years to heal. Almost all, but 3 or 4 are closed up. I am back to normal food again and on a regular diet. Once again, I am faced with with the daily struggles of weight management. Fortunately, I have managed to stay on track. I miss what the Lap Band had to offer me. I try to remind myself every day what I've been through so I can use this to motivate me to continue my weight loss journey without the Lap Band. Perhaps it will be spite that helps motivate me. At least the ordeal I've been through has brought me 3/4 of the way to my goal in just 6 months.

Anyway, I really want to thank the the wonderful people who have provided so much support and prayers. This is what helped me get through this. If there is anyone that I can help with further information, please PM. I wish everyone the best on their journey. Thanks and may God bless you!!

Dear TJ,

Thank you for the update. Many of us have followed your journey closely. I myself have been worried for you and prayed for you a lot. I am so happy you posted to let us know how well you are now doing. I wish you all the best health and happiness from here on out. Good luck with your weight loss efforts, I know you can do it without the band!

Take care and God Bless you and your family,

Marcy :drool: