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My story so far...

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 yogurt-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 obviously 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 explained I am suffering from malnutrition due to poor eating habits, 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 exercise 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 defiled according to what they thought necessary- each time followed by these same problems. Finally I insisted on getting the barium 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 steroids 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 realize that my poor eating habits 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 regurgitation, 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 results... not to mention hesitant to start taking oral steroids now!! I don’t want to give up on this but I can’t suffer any more. We’ll see what the prognosis is later this week…
kposer

kposer

2
 

I am all fixed up and re banded

After a year and a half (since May 07) I have been suffering non stop complications from the lap band. With no answers from several doctors, I was beginning to lose hope. About 3 weeks ago, my doctor decided to move my port because it had slipped. He assured me it was a short, simple surgery. He thought maybe because it had flipped that an excess of saline was in the band, in other words, perhaps too tight (even though they removed all the saline). I agreed to go forward with this and woke up in much more pain then anticipated. Turns out that when he went to operate, he realized my stomach was not where it should be. I had a large hernia which had caused my stomach to travel up into my chest. This was what was causing the pain for me the past year and a half. This was compromising my breathing (not the asthma I was diagnosed with last year). This was why I could barely keep food or liquids down. I am so happy! Although frustrated that it has taken so long, I am so happy that my troubles have been fixed. Since the surgery three weeks ago, I have lost 20 lbs and have no pain while eating or drinking!!! I am so happy, this finally feels like people have described it's supposed to. I am happy and excited to see success in my weight loss journey from today forward. My advice to anyone with complications is to be persistent. Although I had several tests, x rays, barrium swallows ..etc done over the past year and a half, they all appeared normal. My doctor said this was because my stomach was probably slipping in and out of the chest daily. The band during the surgery was also slipped, around the lower stomach. My doctor also said my stomach was probably slipping through the band constantly. I am cured and so excited! I have not felt so good in over a year... I am so relieved.
kposer

kposer

2
 

Anyone ever been perscribed steriods for band problems??

Has anyone ever been perscribed steroids for the lap band? I have had non stop complications for over a year and my doctor now wants to start me on oral steroids (not sure what type, or why yet!) before removing it if they don't help. If anyone knows what they are supposed to do exactly, and any side affects with taking them please let me know! Thanks Kt
kposer

kposer

2
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