Coley_1221

Hello all! It has been four years since my surgery and all together I have lost 65lbs (still more to go!). I was wondering if anyone since having their lapband has ever experienced extreme lower abdominal pain? With this pain comes extreme bloating, extreme gas (that doesn't want to come out), nausea, some times dizziness, stomach gurgling, pain and gas that radiates towards the lower back? At first this pain would only come once in a while during my first two years post surgery, but not it's once-twice a month and I am totally immobile due to it. -I've had 3 CT Scans that show nothing. -Endoscopy and biopsy that came back positive for Celiac Disease-I've been Gluten Free for over two years now. -Laporoscopy-to see if I had Endometriosis...and I do not. My primary MD thinks it could be IBS, but then this would be SEVERE IBS, and the medication he gave me, Bental 10mg (spelling), did not work during my last and horrific episode (which last 3 days) last week. **My family thinks that there is a Lapband connection here but I am not sure. I was wondering if anyone had any input? I am at wits end; the abdominal pain is excruciating (8-10 ER trips and each time they can't do anything for me...) Anyone having similar issues or ideas?

Hi Robbiegirl, I too experienced extreme abdominal pain and bloating three months after my surgery. It use to be once and a while but not it's almost every month. I had two endoscopies and a colonoscopy in the past two years-but my lapband and everything inside looks great. My doctor things it's sever IBS (whoops, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Thyroid Disease two years after my surgery too :/ ) it could be IBS...who knows! I'm trying to stay stress-free/gluten and grain free. I hope you find out what's wrong. If my pain does not go away in the near future I too will consider getting my band off, but right now I'm just too nervous to get it off. Good luck!! Coley

Hello! Thanks for sharing your story! I also get the worst gas in the world, but it just stays inside me and then I get constipated and then comes the worst pain of my life... Maloxx has been a savior for the past four years also, but not when the serious pain comes. I'm also considering getting the band out, but I'm scared of going back for surgery. Although I didn't have problems with my band, I've had scary health problems that occured post surgery including: hypthyroidism, Celiac's, and the worst gas/constipation in the world usually once a month. I don't know my body likes the band either :/ Keep me updated

Hello everyone! Thank you for sharing your stories! I am just curious as to why you all got the band out? I am considering it too because I have developed horrible conditions post surgery and I wanted to know if you all got it out due to similar reasons. Just curious And you're all super brave for going back under the knife...thinking about it just makes me nauseous.

Thank you for sharing your story with us! I thought I was the only one in the world with this pain (minus my friend who just gets constipated all the time). I've been in and out of the ER for the past four years...and every time they tell me they don't know what's wrong with me, they pain disapates and I go home and await the next round of pain which strangely comes back the next month usually around my period. You are not kidding when you mean excruciating pain...if child birth is anything like this, I'm not having children. First comes the bloating, then the extreme paint that starts in my lower abdomen and wraps around to my back which makes me immobile, nausea, dizziness, and sometimes the pain is so bad I am unable to breath and literally pass out (ambulance came last time..so embarrassing). My doctor thinks its IBS, but my family thinks its my lapband. The pain has gotten worse in the past year that I am absolutely desperate and hoping to make a desicion. I am going to a new stomach doctor tomorrow, and if he can't help me then I think I know what to do. How are you holding up? Is anyone else having similar issues?

Thank you for sharing your story! I am finding myself in a similar position :/ After being banded in July 2008 I successfully lost 80lbs but gained health issues that do not run in my family including: Hypothyroidism, Celiac Disease, and I get horrible abdominal pain. I have no trouble eating/swallowing even though my band is still filled pretty well, but my family is absolutely worried about me. I have had about 10 ER visits in the last four years due to excruciating abdominal pain, and no one can tell me what it's from I don't know if it's severe IBS (going to a new doctor for a second opinion tomorrow), or my body rejecting my lapband? Just wanted to thank you for sharing though. I am very scared to even think about getting it out, just because the surgery was scary. Keep me updated on your recovery