Carole Zurick Radney

I had my lap bad done on April 27th and have been through hell ever since. My surgeon told me the band is too tight and there is no fill in it....none. After giving me 8 bags of IV fluids over one week, he had to take me back to surgery and do an Endoscopy to see why I couldn't hold down any fluids. He found fungus on my esophagus related to my lupus and I had to start taking a heavy duty anti-fungal medication (Diflucan). I would love some help on how to get the band to be a little looser. Does drinking hot fluids help? Is it just going to take time? I can't even take a few sips without them coming back up. I can't get any protein in because everything gives me nausea. Has anyone else had difficulty like this? Any advice would be appreciated. Right now I am surviving on popsicles, ice and tiny, tiny sips of tea and water. Please, please help!!!

Thank you everybody for all of your great advice. Yes I have been back to my doctor many times. He is the kind of person that holds your hair while you are throwing up. He has seen me or talked to me almost every other day, so he is on top of my case. I have had many bags of IV fluids to keep from getting dehydrated and I am able to keep things down more and more each day. Dr. Bagnato knows he put in a band that was on the small side and it just needs to loosen up. I was just asking for help with that. Right know getting up in the morning and drinking some hot tea is helping some. I do pretty well during the day, but it tightens back up in the evening. I have to stop taking anything in by 9 pm or I end up choking all night long and cant sleep. I wake up so thirsty during the night and that is the most frustrating because I have always been a water guzzler. Just curious as to what everyone is eating on week 3-4 post op. And again I thank everyone for all the good wishes!

Thank you so much and I did forget to mention I lost 29 pounds in one week and still losing. So I hope it will help in the end. I cannot thank you enough for your help.

The fungus is all over the esophagus and comes up like bits of stuck food. It is absolutely horrible. It will set better and I will have less pain once the fungus is gone because it is just traumatizing the esophagus right now and I can't get the swelling to go down. I will try the hot liquids more often. Thank you so much. I feel like all I do is cry and I begged him to take the band out, but he says give it time and all will work out. I just want some other ideas on how to loosen the band a little.

I was banded yesterdy, on the 27th. Did great yesterday....was able to walk around the block and eat (or drink) my clear liquids. BUT sometime during the night I started having esophageal spasms which are absolutely excruitiating!! I called my doctor's office and they said it was normal...something called "slimeing." Then I throw up sputum mostly. She says the liquids are getting down, but it hurts, hurts when anything goes down. I can tolerate the incisional pain and even gas pains, but I didn't sign up for this much pain. I just hope it goes away soon. Is anyone else getting this pain and if so, what are you doing for it?

What has everyone been given for pain? I am just curious. I have a prescription for Reprexain (hydrocodone and Ibuprofen mix) plus Zofran for nausea. I also have to take Amend (anti-nausea med) the morning of surgery, take two IV meds for nausea and a Scopolamine patch behind my ear. He doesn't want that band coming loose from vomiting! Anyone else get this much nausea medicine? It must work because none of his patients ever throw up after surgery.

Hey! I am a Registered Nurse from Georgia who happens to be a certified diabetes educator as well. I am having my lap band done this coming Friday on April 27th. Congrats to you. The reason your blood sugar is so high is because you aren't eating enough carbs so your body is making glucose for you......which is not a good thing for diabetics. You seriously need to start back your insulin before you stroke out! The same thing happens when diabetics get sick and can't hold food down. Blood sugar gets higher and higher and they end up in the hospital with DKA. Please call your doctor and start your insulin again! I want you to be able to have your surgery!

I have Aetna, but did not have t do the three month program. I did have to do a 6 month physician weight loss program, a psych eval and a nutritional eval. Each one supplied me with a letter they wrote of our session. I have copies of each one just in case! Your exercise physiologist should have some form they have to fill out to show your session. Just ask them and get a copy. Good luck! I did get approved on the first go around and was extremely surprised because I have three co-workers who have been denied two and three times. I don't think you will have a problem at all since you are doing the three month thing. One word of advice that my doctor gave me......keep up with your approval yourself. Call Aetna.....push your paperwork through. I did that and like I said....got approved first time.

I am having mine done on the 27th, so we will be going through this together! Good luck!

My physician puts his patients on two weeks of Sugar Busters diet to decrease the amount of fat in the liver. Makes it easier for him to do surgery. I will be having my surgery on Friday and going back on Monday. I have a desk job and have the option of being off on Monday as well, but I will see how the weekend goes. My physician puts the port up near the clavicle which apparently has a better recovery history. Clear liquids don't start until after surgery.

I will be having my surgery next Friday on April 27th. Does anyone know if there is a support group for Dr. Bagnato's patients in Macon, GA? I forgot to ask when I was at the office. Also, is there a group I can join on here that are just his patients as well? Thank everyone for all of there help. I am a nurse, but it is so different when you are the patient! I can use all the support I can get and appreciate those of you who have been on this journey longer than I have been.

RN here in Warner Robins, Georgia to have my surgery next Friday on April 27th. Had to jump a lot of hoops to get my insurance to cover it (I have Aetna), but they did and I can't wait. I have about 100 pounds to lose so I am sure these forums will provide much needed great info! Good luck to everyone!