Cleo's Mom

Hi JMS from the resident scientist! LOL. So glad you finally got relief. Glad you are feeling better. Glad to help, too. Take care.

Yes, Hope. I have some regrets. I was banded 9/22 with one fill in November. I didn't start out having as much to lose as most posters here. I was under the BMI of 35 right before surgery. In almost 4 years I have lost 60 pounds and none of it is due to the band. I lost it one my own, then with the 6 month pre-op diet then the 2 week pre and 2 week post surgery liquid diet. Lost nothing since. But I have had two HORRIBLE stuck experiences. Especially the last one. Cannot over-emphasize the pain. I have also had persistent shoulder pain since the day of my first fill. When I went for my second fill he wouldn't do it because of the shoulder pain. Now I have to get the dreaded upper GI tomorrow to see if the band is okay (or if it's doing something to cause shoulder pain). I am also older than most posters (58) and at this point in my life I would be happy with about 20 more pounds lost. I am at 183 now. So the way I look at it, I have gone through the pain of surgery and the band has only done one thing - cause food to get stuck. Yeah, yeah, I know - I didn't chew enough or ate the wrong food but that didn't happen before the band. Plus I now have shoulder pain. So something better change soon or yes, I will have regretted this. Plus, after we get additional fills, how will we know if we can tolerate a food unless we want to risk getting stuck? You see many posts about something that was previously tolerated then getting stuck. The band is great for those whose weight loss has truly been life changing for them. That hasn't happened for me. The band is not a natural thing anatomically. That is why you read about so many problems - sliming or vomiting every day or only being able to tolerate liquids. I know the fills need to be adjusted. But even researching this procedure beforehand doesn't prepare you for what your experience will be. And please, no judgemental responses to my post. There's way too much of that on these boards in my opinion. When someone asks for help they don't want a lecture.

After my above post I went to see my surgeon. I discussed the shoulder pain. I don't think it's a coincidence that it began hurting again the day of my first fill. He has me scheduled for an upper GI tomorrow to see if the band is okay. If it is then I guess it's off to the PCP. But I definitely think it is band related. We all have it in the left shoulder and none of us had it prior to the banding. I think all the doctors at this point are guessing and taking ibuprofen is not the answer. That doesn't treat the cause.

I agree. I sounds like you are too tight. Pain should not be part of the band. Call your doctor and get a slight unfill. That should do it.

jms - experiment with the pills again. Try it in something acidic like vinegar. You could heat the oil and try it in that. Do you have any honey? I'm also thinking something thick that will stick to it and drag it down. Like a thick milkshake. I guess you can try anything at this point. Have you tried any types of food? Are you in pain or just have that feeling that something is in your throat?

Dear JMS: You guessed right! I was a science major - I have a degree in biology. I don't know how many more capsules you have but try it in some oil - olive or any kind on hand. Something that might grease it up and make it move - although taking some oil by spoon isn't very appealing. Or I was thinking even something thick like honey that could catch onto it and make it slide down. Good luck.

Experiment with another one of the capsules by putting it in different liquids to see which one dissolves it the fastest. Try hot tea with lemon or decaf coffee or hot choc. Stay away from your reg. meds until this has cleared unless it's absolutely necessary - like heart meds or diabetic meds. Who knows? Another pill might dislodge it. Call your doctor tomorrow to see what he/she thinks.

doodleallday: for me it was a not well chewed bite (or too big a bite) of stuffing and corn bread and another time - 2 onion rings. Is this the info you wanted? I think it's different for everyone.

I just heard someone the other day saying when she was underweight she was given B12 and gained weight. It increased her appetite.

If you are not on a prescription heartburn medication get one at your next doctor visit. In the meantime get some Prilosec. If you can find an elevated pillow - buy one and use it (I have used one for years - long before my banding). Avoid chocolate, mint, spicy food and tomato based things. Good luck.

Based on what others have tried and posted - try something carbonated - some coke if you have it. Or pineapple juice. You are like me in that you don't have as much to lose. Also, get your head lower than your waist - bend over and touch your feet or hang your head over the bed. I haven't tried these but others have. Good luck.

Hi Losing It in Texas: Thanks for your reply. I still get very hungry and haven't lost weight since the two weeks after my banding in Sept. Surgeon is not happy but I refuse to starve myself to reach some number on a scale. I am at 183 and have lost 60 pounds in almost 4 years - pre and post surgery diets. The two times I got stuck I was eating with other people and I think I was eating too fast and not chewing as well. I usually eat alone (my husband died 3 years ago and my kids got married recently) so I concentrate more on what I am doing. When eating with others I am talking and not paying as much attention as I should. The last "stuck" was so painful I was very close to going to the ER. My nutritionist said I was lucky it passed through the band and they didn't have to go in and pull the food out. Pleasant thought. I may or may not get my second fill pending results of my getting an upper GI to see if band is causing left shoulder pain. Stay tuned. LOL..Thanks again.

I tend to freak out when I hear about anything affecting the esophagus. My husband died of esophageal cancer 3 years ago after a lifetime of heartburn. The esophagus was not made to have food in it. Even without heartburn you could be damaging the esophagus. Can you have an endoscopy done to see what the esophagus looks like inside? I would ask for this test, if they can't do it I would have the unfill and then go from there.

losing it in texas: With your 4 fills and good restriction do you have more problems with food getting stuck? Have you ever had food stuck? Also, do you have to eat a smaller variety of foods now than when you only had one fill? I've only had one fill and had food stuck twice. That makes me very afraid to get more fills but for the band to work for me I know I have to. Thanks.

I was banded on 9/22 and had my first and only fill on 11/11. Today I went for my second fill and when the surgeon came in (I haven't lost any weight since the 2 weeks post op) he started lecturing me on "the band is only a tool, etc.." and I told him that when the amount of food that I need to eat to lose weight both satisfies me and controls my hunger - then I'll lose weight. Here are the reasons I don't think he gets it..then tell me what you think. 1) He is a general surgeon who has only done 23 bandings. 2) In the hospital when I complained about left shoulder pain after surgery, he said it is usually in the right (I have researched this - it is almost always the left) 3) At my 3 week post-op visit he said he wanted me to lose 10-15 pounds by the next visit (in 3 weeks) with no fill. 4) He doesn't seem to take into account that I have lost 60 pounds in almost 4 years - and none of it due to the band. (pre and post op diets) 5) I have something underneath the port incision that looks like a cold sore. He didn't know what it was but couldn't prescribe anything because he said he's "just a surgeon he doesn't know what to prescribe - I would have to go to my PCP." 6) I didn't get a fill today because I told him of my chronic shoulder pain so he wants me to get an upper GI to see if the band is okay. This I agree with. 7) He seemed surprised that I have the same capacity for food as I did pre-band (I have 2cc's in a 10cc band). I am 187 now and almost didn't qualify for the banding because my pre-op BMI went below 35. I don't know what to think. I want to have confidence in him and he did a good job surgically. But I have doubts.

Thanks everyone for your response. I am an older patient (just turned 58) and have problems driving so I chose a hospital close to home. There are only two surgeons who do this surgery - him and his partner. I originally had his partner but they switched me in order to schedule my surgery in Sept. (the other surgeon had too busy a schedule). And the other surgeon is emaciated (I'll bet he's a runner). Plus, my surgeon only sees bariatric surgery patients on Tuesdays in another doctor's office (who isn't there on Tuesdays). I also found out when I called after hours that he doesn't have an answering service - it just says go to the ER. I did post on this board before my surgery about his having only done 22 bandings and several repliers didn't think that was a problem - some said their doctors hadn't done a lot, either. Anyway, we'll see how the upper GI goes, if anything happens with my shoulder pain. Plus, since I have had food stuck twice already (my fault, I know) they scare the hell out of you about getting another fill. My nutritionist said I was lucky the food passed and I didn't need to have it removed in the ER. Pleasant thought. I guess I am having second thoughts about this whole band thing at this point. It's not what I thought it would be.

Well I had a stuck experience last night (ate out and ate too fast and thus didn't chew as well as I should have). Anyway as soon as I started to feel some type of pain, I stopped eating. And it just kept getting worse. For over an hour I was in a lot of pain and then the last fifteen minutes were so bad I called the hospital and they told me to go to the ER. And then - boom - the pain went away just like that. I mean one second - extreme pain - and the next second - gone. I guess that pain was the food moving through the band and then when it went through the pain was gone. I knew not to drink anything. But I have to research that yoga position. But it wasn't just discomfort for me it was severe pain. And I've only had one fill.

Today is my birthday and I went out for dinner with my son and duaghter in law. I didn't eat a lot but maybe too fast and now I am in a lot of pain. I have only had one fill. What can I do? What works ...what doesn't? Thanks.:grouphug:

Just banded - I don't know how it (papaya) works but maybe the pineapple juice being liquid is problematic because they say when you get stuck don't drink liquids but the papaya enzyme are chewable tablets and taste like papaya. Those that posted here said it worked for them. I would have tried anything last night to get relief.

I went out today and got two bottles of papaya enzyme and both came with those little tins (I will keep them in my purse). Why don't the doctors have a help sheet with this info that they give out to patients? I am going to discuss this with my surgeon. I NEVER want to have that experience like I did last night. Instread of getting better the pain got worse over time and the last 15 minutes I was in extreme pain, got very pale and my heart was racing. Then boom - just like that the pain went away. I mean one second I was in pain and then the next - gone. I guess that is when the food finally got through the band. Is that how most of your experience it?

Thanks again. I hadn't heard about the papaya enzyme. I am going to get some. When I eat out I tend to eat at the pace of the other people. Big mistake! It definitely wasn't the amount of food. But I just ate too fast and thus didn't chew as well as I should. I think I will stick to soup when I eat out. Plus I think the two onion rings were problematic. I am learning. Tough way to learn, though. Also, I was in such pain when I posted, I just noticed I spelled a word wrong in the title.

Thanks everyone. After 1 1/2 hours the pain went away. But it got worse the last 15 minutes and I think that is when the food was pushing its way through the band opening. But I called my surgeon and found out he doesn't have an answering service - it says just to go to the ER after hours. That will be another thing I bring up on my next appt. on Tuesday. My experience tonight was not because I ate too much. I have eaten more food than this but I think I ate too fast and thus didn't chew as well. When I eat at home I time myself with a timer but when I eat out I tend to set my pace with other eaters. Big mistake. I think I will get soup from now on when I eat out. Thanks again.

I was banded on 9/22 and developed the usual left shoulder pain that went away in a couple of weeks. Then on the day of and after I got my first fill (11/11) it started again (coincidence?) and has been off and on since. Like you, when it hurts, it is really painful and certain positions (lying reclined) make it more painful. I have an appt. next week with my surgeon but I guarantee he won't know what it is and will just "guess" like most doctors and offer no solutions - probably just a wait and see attitude. Also, when I told him I had pain in my left shoulder after surgery - he said it is usually the right. I haven't seen one post where the person said it was right shoulder pain. Plus I've done research that says it is the left shoulder. Anyway, if I get no answers from him, I will go to my family doctor who is very good at getting to the bottom of problems.

Call your doctor's office - they should have an emergency answering service. If not, go to the ER of the hospital where you had the surgery - if it is not the closest then go to that one because you can become dehydrated and vomiting can cause your band to slip. Good luck.

Als74 - take liquid tylenol PM - it is vanilla flavored and actually tastes okay. It should help with the pain and sleep. Good luck and Merry Christmas.