Living My Dream

Oh, and my family and friends have been telling me to remove the band too which I don't want to. I picture myself getting up to a huge size and hating myself. Do what you need to do. Maybe counselling for your eating habits. We have to make the band work for us again like it did in the beginning.

I just found your message. I haven't been on here for quite a while. Sounds like you are trying very hard but you are fighting the beast that made you and I fat in the first place, craving food. Maybe joining a group or does your lapband clinic have support in place that you can access. Unfortunately I live two hours from my clinic so I don't get to access all the lapband support they offer. If not, then start a group of lapbanders to get together where you live. You need emotional support to stop your cravings for food.You are sabotaging your own efforts and the band. I do the same then hate myself. Good luck and keep your chin up. Let me know how you are doing. Lynda P.S. In case I don't go on this site very often and see your message, you can email me at lwood@xplornet.ca

Sorry I didn't read your post til now. I was doing the same thing, eating sweets like ice cream and Cookies because my band had slipped and I was constantly feeling sick. Go back to your surgeon and get a defill. Have him check again for a slip. None of the tests ever showed a problem with my band but there was. Good luck. Let me know how you are doing. Lynda

Sorry I haven't been on this site to read your message. I am still having fainting spells and seizure like spasms from exertion. I tried calling another lapband clinic and they would not do anything unless I paid them $5000 dollars. Since I paid for my own surgery, $16,000, I don't want to pay out any more money. Especially when I am covered for everything under my own lapband surgery for life. I am now taking neurofeedback to calm my central nervous system and resting as much as possible. The doctor at the neurofeedback clinic thinks the vegal nerve was damaged during surgery and has to heal which means very little exertion. My husband pushes me in a wheelchair when we go out. Even talking or socializing brings on the fainting/spasms. I am very frustrated. Lynda

I would appreciate anything you have heard about this. I will google it again. Lynda

Yes, Elcee, I have had all those things tested. I have been taken to the emergency 10 times, 8 of those by ambulance, 2 from places in the hospital where I was having testing (lung study and tilt test, I fainted at both and they took me to the emergency). I have been admitted to four hospitals. We have a handicap sticker now and carry a wheel chair. If I feel tired and dizzy, or there will be too much walking, my husband pushes me in the wheelchair because we know I will faint. Lynda

I have been to see my lapband surgeon twice and he denies that the band will cause this. I even fainted in his office the first time and he had to call an ambulance. I have had the same problem for another 5 months since then. My lapband surgeon does not seem to care and has done nothing to help solve this. I have been tested for everything they can think of including heart problems, cancer, blood clots, low levels of blood sugar, potassium, etc. I have had blood tests, catscans, MRI's, xrays, endoscopes, you name it. I am kept groggy with all the meds they have me on to calm my body from this. I can't push myself physically or I faint and have these spasms. I am very frustrated.

I had revision surgery for a slipped band in November. A month later, I started having fainting spells and spasms that originate mostly in my stomach and diaphram. I have been to hospitals and doctors, had lots of tests and no one can get to the bottom of it. My lapband surgeon says it is not related to my band. All my friends and family think I should have my lapband taken out. I don't want to lose my lapband. It is my $16, 000 investment that did help me lose 85 lbs and feel super. Now I can't exercise or do much because exertion brings on these spells. I am on three medications to control the seizures but an EEG did not show they were seizures. One doctor thinks it is some kind of problem being caused by the placement of my band in proximity to the vegas nerve and is irritating the vegas nerve. I am in limbo, waiting for the medications to stop the fainting and seizures, and wanting to get back to my sweet spot and my exercise program. I also am waiting for surgery for a mass in my sinus. Has anyone ever heard of the band or the tubing irritating the vegas nerve and causing this? I am really down because my activities have been seriously cut back and I am gaining weight. Thanks for any suggestions or information you have. Lynda

Yes, I have a date for revision surgery because my band slipped. It was caused by vomiting too. I have IBS and got sick while traveling and the band took the brunt of it. I have nothing left in my band as I have had so many defills to relieve the symptoms. I have acid reflux and vomiting. I also choke and it feels like there is some obstruction in my throat and it cuts off my air so I struggle to breathe with it. The surgeon says I must have a hiatus hernia and the band is coming up through that into the esphogus. I am praying my band is fixable. I originally lost 85 lbs but have yo yoed a bit now because of the slippage. I stay at about 70 lbs lost which is still a lot more than I could do on any other weight loss program. Lynda

Thanks for the kind inquiries. I now have a surgery date on June 1 for a laparoscopy and possible repair. The slimband surgeon did not have the CD of the Upper GI when I saw him last week but booked the surgery anyway because of my history. I continue to have constant gastritis and obstruction in my throat. I am praying that they can do a simple fix and I can again work with my band. It has been the best thing for me to control my weight finally. Because I can still hardly eat anything, my weight is almost down to my lowest but I was debating whether I need to lose maybe 15 pounds from that. I just hope I don't ricochet up again after surgery depending on what happens. I thought I had finally found the utlmate weight loss tool for me when all this started. I will let you know what happens. I am not on this site very much but I get your messages in an email. Lynda

This is the third time in a year I have had big defills so my stomach and band could rest and go back to normal. this time the problems have not resolved despite 3 defills in the last month. With the past defills, the problems came back once I started doing fills and got close to my sweet spot.

I did go to our local emergency and they couldn't help me they said. So much for those bandsters that live some distance from their lapband clinics and doctors. You can't get help just anywhere because they don't know how to help with the band.