Coley_1221

Hello all!

I will keep this short and sweet.

I had first heard about the Lapband in Fall 2007 because there was a special about it on 60 minutes. My entire life I had weight problems and although I ate pretty healthy my I had gained an additional 30lbs my first two years of college. Finally December 2007 I had told my parents about my decision to have the surgery: I had researched surgeons in CT and I found great reviews for a doctor that was local and I wanted to look into it. I was 19 (265 at the time with a horrible injury which made it hard to walk anywhere) years old at the time, and I wish my parents would have told me no and would have helped me with a personal trainer, but my parents knew my long battle with my weight and my mother encouraged this idea.

We met with Dr. Richi in January 2008, and he immediately told me I was still a baby and he didn't think this was for me, but I insisted and then the water works came. He told me he would do it as long as I was serious about changing my lifestyle; and I seriously was. I did all the required work: Took the psychological test: passed, spoke with a Psychologist who was actually rather mean to me and thought I was doing this to become "skinny", and all the other tests that are absolutely mandatory. I was denied by my insurance the first time...which should have been a sign from God that maybe this wasn't for me, but I fought it with a great letter and eventually won in June 2008. Within that day I had everything scheduled and I was going to have my surgery in a month: I was scared out of my mind!

[b][u]Weekend before surgery[/u][/b]: No eating...but I was passionate about changing my lifestyle so it didn't matter. I think the most embarrassing part was asking my mother to help me with...other preparations for surgery. Thank goodness for support!
[u][b]Day of Surgery[/b][/u]: I believe I got there at 6 or 7am, July 7 2008. They checked me in, put me in a room, my mom get me dressed, they all spoke to me, they drugged me to relax me, my family wished me luck, and I remember hopping on the operating table and laughing at the nurses (probably because I was very drugged) and I clunked out.
[u][b]After Surgery[/b][/u]: I think the scariest thing was waking up after surgery. I couldn't move my body due the anesthesia, and that horrible tube was down my throat and I began to panic but a nurse calmed me down. I slept the entire day right after surgery, was up most of the night in the hospital walking around talking to nurses and the Interns, and the next morning they did the GI test with Barium and I passed and I was good to go home!

[u][b]Post Surgery:[/b][/u] I have to say that I was VERY lucky and had no problems with throwing up, swallowing, eating or drinking. I knew my limitations and I listened to my body.
I lost 12.5 my first week
25 first month
60 sixth month (got my first fill during this visit)
And at my one year mark I had lost 80 lbs!

[u][b]Here is where it gets strange:[/b][/u]

Three months after my surgery I experienced the worst mid to lower abdominal pain in my life. It woke me up out of a deep sleep it was so bad. I had extreme bloating, nausea, constipation, slightly dizzy, and the pain radiated towards my lower back making it impossible to walk around. Sitting up was the only option but I was still in SO much pain.
I had called my surgeon and nutrition the following day and described my symptoms and they recommended that I go to an ER to get it checked out just in case it was Kidney Stones. I got to the ER, in pain, six hour wait and the pain slowly but surely goes away, but they still did a CT scan. They find nothing and told me they could find nothing wrong with me.

[u][b]Presently:[/b][/u]
It has been exactly four years since this first incident of lower abdominal pain and I have been to the ER around 8-10 times due to excruciating pain that in most cases cause me to panic and then I can't breath and faint (one ambulance trip two years ago and the police and paramedics came to my rescue last month).
I have had:
[u]An Endoscopy Fall 2010[/u]: Found out I have [i]Celiac's Disease[/i] and I have been [i]100% Gluten Free[/i] since then, I don't even eat corn or rice products any more because they bother my stomach and intestines as well (constipation/bloating).
[u]Three CT Scans[/u]: Two being this year. They found absolutely nothing, not even anything wrong with my appendix (which was my last scare a month ago).
[u]A Laporsocopy[/u]: Had this done over the summer because the[u] pain was getting more intense and usually comes a week before or during my period[/u], so I thought it was Endrometriosis. My doctor found scar tissue but no Edro. While she was in there she said there was [u][i]scar tissue where my port was[/i][/u] but that was all she could see.

[u][b]My first gastro. doctor[/b][/u]:
Basically gave up on me saying that it had something to do with gluten and there was no more he could do...thank you....

[u][b]Primary MD[/b][/u]:
He said this sounded like IBS, he wrote me a script to help, Bental 10mg (forgive my spelling). I've been taking it for a month, but last week (September 265-28 2012) when I had these episodes nothing was helping except patiently waiting for it to pass, which is the worst :(

[u][b]Gyno[/b][/u]:
First Gyno was VERY disorganized, now I have an AMAZING doctor that actually cares for my health but she can't figure out what's wrong with me either. She thinks it could be related to my[i][u] hormones and could be causing IBS[/u][/i], that's why she started my on [u]Seasonique Lo[/u] so I only get my period every three months. I'm still on the first pack and well, not so successful yet :/

[u][b]What I think right now:[/b][/u]

[i]**These episodes of pain and extreme bloating first started occurring three months after my Lapband Surgery and two months after I started taking Birth Control for the first time[/i].
-I went off BC last year but the pain came like clock work anyway, always near my period usually lasting a day or so (more like 3 days now).
-My diet is extraordinary: Gluten free, no grains what so ever, natural foods, dairy, and meat.
-I go to the gym about 3-4 times a week.


Honestly, I am at wits end. I am going to see a second Gastro. doctor for additional support and advice, and I might try a [u]Natural Doctor to see if I'm Vitamin Deficient as wel[/u]l. [i]If this abdominal pain does not go away within the next year with help from these doctors [u]I will consider removal of my band.[/u] [/i]It is very possible that my body is rejecting it?

I am open to advice and if you're experience similar things PLEASE contact me!