Band-aided

I've posted my tread under band complication, but I think this should have been the link. Please read it. I'm in big trouble, I've started to do my own fills and defills.

I know I need to stop this now. Ive been banded since June 2007. I've had my up and downs but now I'm in real trouble. I travel alot with my Job. It started when I got a blockage, after throwing up and up my band started to get irritated and the inflamation and PAIN was unbearable. I was due at work so ended up going for a defill, instant relieve! To cut a very long story short since then I have have been filled and defilled more times that I care to remember. Always going somewhere different. I even got a syringe and now do it myself sometimes. I know you will be reading this and not believing it, I can't. I'm totally ashamed of myself. I'll defill, eat, gain weight then fill, get a blockage, which always ends up with inflamation and pain, then I defill and off we go again. I'm out of control! I've lost most of my weight, bar 18 llbs. I'm so totally and utterly terrified of putting the weight back on. I can only seem to loose weight if I'm very tight, which then means I always get somesort of blockage/irritation. The moment I have my band at a level that is not so tight I just eat and eat! It's like all or nothing. I've had to start doing it myself as I can't keep going back to Doctors all the time. I feel I'm the only person who does this, it's like a dirty secret. Does anyone else do this? Has anyone else done this? I really don't know what to do.

just a question, I was banded at TLBC by Dr Yau, I remember seeing in the broachure another Dr's name mentioned. I have never heard of him with all my dealing with TLBC and just wondered who he was? Has anyone else see his name mentioned, sorry I've forgot his name.

I get tighter around my period!

Hi Guys, Just wanted to know if anyone else has had the same problem I'm having. I got my band in June, all went well. I got a fill to 3cc and was just rocking, the weight was dropping off me like a hot knife off butter, better still my head was not being messed up by my food issues, I'd craked it, I was so happy. Then, whilst way I got the most horrible blockage, I threw my guts up but still couldn't seem to feel any better. I managed to get an emercency defill and felt instantly better. My clinic wanted me to wait 2 weeks before I was filled again which I did. In that 2 weeks I felt the pull back to food, my head getting caught up with constantly thinking of food. No problem I thought, I'm getting my fill soon. I've now had 3 fills and "NOTHING". I was at 3cc with amazing restriction and now I'm at 5cc with nothing.....ZIP! I've put on 15 llbs and feel so low. The clinic don't feel I've slipped as I have no pain, no throwing up, I have nothing. Has anyone else had this problem? Have I just not found my sweet spot agian? Why did I get such good restriction with 3cc and now nothing with 5cc??? Any words of advice would be welcome.:faint::whoo::think

I am struggling with the same thing. I was banded in June and after my first fill of 3cc was doing great. I then went away and got a terrible blockage and had to be defilled completely. I've now been refilled to 2cc, 3cc and 5cc and still nothing. I have no pain and can basically eat as i did before the band. I'm very luck to live near my Doctor and the clinic I went with TLCB in Toronto are amazing. I can go when ever I want, the doctor is pretty sure I haven't slipped but he said he's going to give me an exray just to see. I hope to god I haven't slipped ,but I need to know what is up.

I paid cash and went to a doctor that included all after care. For me it has been the best thing. If I need a fill I get one, if it's too tight I get a defill. I was away working and had a horrible blockage so got defilled for 2 weeks then filled again, all at no extra cost. I hear of people paying $xxx for fills and defills. Many people stuffer from p-bing, sliming and blockages because their band is too tight others don't don't get the benifit of the band because it's not filled enough, all because they are worried about cost. I can go to my clinic every 2 weeks for a fill if I need one or be defilled within 24 hours. It's something to think about, also location of the doctor my clinic is an hour away. good luck!

I'm a flight attendant and have no problem with my band when I fly!!!!

Hi Loriely, Oh my God, so not funny!!!! Just had a fill yesterday at my Doctors, I'd emailed them in panic when I was in Africa and when I went in today they were laughing their heads off! I'm in bloody Pakistan now so hope to goodness I don't have another blockage! I'm playing it safe and staying on liquids whilst I'm here! I'll tell you what though, Zimbabwa was the cheapest place on earth for a defill $5.00! Jx

From what I've heard and read on this forum a band being to high is, it's been placed to near the throat (can't spell the name for the oss-off-i-gas) for a suitable poach to form. The band needs to be a little way down to be able to make room for a small poach! is this as clear as mud! Hope you understand.

Lorsbander, I'm no dr but I don't think you'll have slipped. I've been banded 4 months and believe me you'e going to vomit up many more times!!!!! What I think may have hapened is you've eaten something that has got stuck, (even though you're not filled yet you may still be swollen from the op) and it's irritated and made you swollen. My advice is go see your dr, stay on liquids! It can take up to 7/8 days for it to calm down. You may be light headed because you're not getting enough in you to eat. Best of luck!

Help me please! I've been banded now 3 months. Had 2 fills. Was doing well had good restriction, but 5 days ago my restriction went so tight I've been struggling to eat much and having load of blockages and throwing up more or less every day. I'm away on business in Africa, last night I threw up so badly I'm sure my bands slipped. I managed to get everything up but I'm now in extrem pain, still feels I've got a major blockage even thought I know I haven't. This isn't the pain you get after you've been throwing up, it's carring on to the point I cant even sleep. I'm having terrible flem as well and even when I sip water I feel pressure. I'm so so scared, I don't know whats up or if I have slipped my band. If so how soon do I need to get to a doctor, I'm here until Wed? Do you think my band has slipped or could it be something else? Has anyone else experience these symptons and it's not been band slippage? Please can someone offer some advice. I'm with a bunch of work mates none of whom know of my band. :help::sick:sick

Hi everyone, First once again I would like to thank you the advice, I swear to goodness this forum is a life saver!!!! To the question about flying and my band getting tight, no, it happened before I left, from what I can measure and I've only been banded 3 months this tents to happen pre my period. I fly alot so I know it's not that. Okay so the last time I was on hear I was in panic state mode 100000%. I decided to seek medical advice and ended up I swear to godness in a very basic centre, mud hut, no kidding! By this time I'm cying with the pain, not slep for 35 hours. The doctor and nurses have never even heard of a band let alone see one. But I beg the man to defill me, which he decideds to do! I talk him through it and bingo it's like magic the pain stopped! He must have thought I was a lunatic as I'm hugging and kissing him. The funny thing was all the medical staff wanted to come and watch the defill, which did I mention he gowned up for!!!! He was a star!!!! And by the way for all you out there, I've found the cheapest place on earth to get a defill, the hospital chared me $5 (canidian). I donated $100 to the hospital. I've been in touch with my doctor and he has told me I problably had food stuck, which I now thibk is was,but, if it is or was a slippage defill was what he would have done. As I said I've had 12 hours of sleep and feel 100% better. Staying on liquids for a couple of days to let the swelling go down. Thanks for your advice everyone!

I posted my full tread on lap band removals by accident, but basically I thinks I 've slipped my band and I'm away in Africa, of all places! I'm in alot of pain, I'm not due back to Caada until Thursday. Will I be ok to travel for that distance with a slipped band? and will I be ok until I get home. I feel terrible at the moment willis ease off do you think?:help:

I was banded by Dr Yau last June 15th. I'm now 40llbs down and feeling great. My husband was soooooo against the op. I took him into meet and talk with Dr Yau and he changed his mind. He is a young mid 30's forward thinking guy, seems totally dedicated his job. The only thing I found a bit odd was you go in have the op come home and recover and get booked in to see Nancy the fill nurse, who is a totally sweetie. But you never get booked into see Dr Yau again. I'm sure you could see him if you wanted but I just presumed I'd have a follow up with him. From what I read on this forum people pay hundreds of dollars for fills and after care at TLBC it's all included. I know I can phone up and go down tomorrow if I needed anything and I'd be see no questions asked. Hope this helps if you need any other Q's answering no problem

I haven't told my kids, for similar reasons to Mollytimes. Don't want them to think an op is a quick fix to weight loss and my daughter as most girls loves a good gossip and to keep a secret like that would be too much to ask of a 11 and 13 year old. What I did was start off about 3 months pre surgery with life style changes, started walking with the kids, taking them food shopping and we all managed to lose weigh pre op. I said I needed a womans op and would have to take it easy for a while with food. I was very lucky my kids were a way at camp during my liquid and mushy faze. Now they just think Mum is on a healthy eating stint and has lost weight, So has all my family! I find it hard to eat in the mornings but by evening I can eat a reasonably amount of food, not huge by any stretch of the imagination but enought for the kids not to notice. I can't eat bread or stuff like that. I now also give my kids a much for sensible portion size as I myself think, "my goodness they'll never eat that much", it seems to have worked. Hope this helps!

Only my husband and best friend know about my band and thats how it will stay with me! I'm 5'7 started off at 216llbs managed to loose 20llbs before I even looked at lap band. I've had my done 3 months and I tipped the scales at 160 this morning, I know I'm a goddess!!!!!!! your secret is totally safe and respected here. I which I'd had it done at 23. The very very best of luck! You'll have a real adventure, all your questions and fears will be answered on this forum, I seriously couldn't have done it with out this place!

How old are you Adam! :nervous

I've been banded about 3 months and what I didn't go through was not worth mentioning. Ripping pain like yourself for days on end, I couldn't even stand up straight, then it would go and then come back. I had to get a prescription for my scars as they got infected. I've over eaten and had blockage after blockage, (not good and certainly not clever). But, at last I'm begining to learn and listen to my body. I'm nearly 40llbs down and feel AMAZING! My self worth is through the roof, my sex life is awsome and I'm generally a nicer person, I don't have to do battle on a daily basis with my food demons! I can't beleive how much time I spent battling mentally with food! It has not been an easy ride, I have had moment were I would have ripped that band right out if I could have. You will get there, it will be okay and you're going to be fine. Get over to see your doctor re your scars and time will heal you inside and out. The very best of luck:clap2::clap2::clap2:

I've been banded about 3 months and what I didn't go through was not worth mentioning. Ripping pain like yourself for days on end, I couldn't even stand up straight, then it would go and then come back. I had to get a prescription for my scars as they got infected. I've over eaten and had blockage after blockage, (not good and certainly not clever). But, at last I'm begining to learn and listen to my body. I'm nearly 40llbs down and feel AMAZING! My self worth is through the roof, my sex life is awsome and I'm generally a nicer person, I don't have to do battle on a daily basis with my food demons! I can't beleive how much time I spent battling mentally with food! It has not been an easy ride, I have had moment were I would have ripped that band right out if I could have. You will get there, it will be okay and you're going to be fine. Get over to see your doctor re your scars and time will heal you inside and out. The very best of luck

Hey Happy Birthday for Monday have a fab day! Jx

This isn't really a complication it was something I experienced and wanted to share to make sure knowone else goes through the same! I went for my first fill after 6 weeks, I'd had know problems, all was looking good. I 'd dropped weight pre/post op and was quite happily eating most things before my fill. I got 5cc filled in a 9cc band but at the clinic found that was tight so dropped to 4cc. I stayed on liquids that day and the next stared to try things out. I had oatmeal for breakie, hard to get down! I had cottage chesse for lunch, hard to get down! I then took the kids to the mall after a couple of hours realised I was starving so I bought and ate a protien bar, WRONGO!!!!!!! OMG! To describe the next 6 hours would take me all day. Pain in my chest, like PAIN! slime, vomitting for 6 hours no word of a lie! I called my clinic who said I'd got a blockage and vomitting would bring it up. I was just heading out to the hospital when I had one last chuck and it seemed to clear and I fell asleep exhusted! I took my self off to the clinic next mornning for 8am and got defilled to 1.5cc. My warning is, please realise that when you have a fill, it completely changes the bands effects I'd got quite confident in eating what I wanted again, and thought a little bit of fluid in my band wasn't going to change that much really! Stupid I know! also chew, chew chew!!!!! and slow down. Stop after 3 bites and go to the washroom to check you're not full by the time you come back you'll know if it's time to stop eating! I don't want anyone to experience what happened to me it was scarey and very painful.

I think you'll be okay, I was doing the same as you at 2 weeks, I was hungry and managed to get a whole cn of soup down, but I was very full after. Just make sure you don't have to much and over eat, beleive me you'll know if you do, sharp pain in left had side for me anyways! The problem I'm having how is realising I'm full, eat slowly! Good luck.

OMG! I've just went through my first blockage!!!!! Believe me you'll no!

I hear you!!!! The first 3/4 days for me was hell, I swear if I could have removed that band I would have! I'm now walking everyday, going to the gym, hell I even did yoga the other day! Oh did I mention I'm down 30llbs...... You'll be posting this very same message to somone going through the same thing in a couple of months.......