Aschaer07

Hey there. So...I had the lap band in 2008 and had a pretty stable and successful lap band life up until last year. I started at 225 and the lowest I got was about 165. My goal is around 155-160 so I was pretty close. Last year, around this time of year, I started having a lot of issues PBing and I could barely keep anything down. This went on for a few months and it was very difficult because I moved to a new state and the doctor there was giving me problems about scheduling an appointment because I had the surgery elsewhere. After dealing with it for so long, getting frustrated then finally throwing up blood, i decided to go to the ER. They unfilled me completely and said I had some reflux along with pre-ulcer symptoms. They advised me to keep it unfilled for a while and follow up with a lap band doctor. Well, then I had to move again for work to another state. So in the process of all that, I haven't had it refilled again since then. With that said....I'm now back up to 210lbs. That's about a 40lb weight gain from where I was this time last year. :-( Discouraged and disappointment doesn't even begin to explain how I feel. It took so long to get to the weight I was comfortable with. After moving it took months to finally get an appointment scheduled with a lap band doctor where I'm living now and I have an appointment for next week. In the photos you can see me at my heaviest and lightest. I'm not all the way back where I was but I'm almost there. The picture of me in blue button down sweater is recent and feel like that's going to be my "heavy" picture again. I feel like I'm starting all over again.

I had the band placed in 2008. About 3-6 months after, I started having horrible stomach pains...doubling over, feel like someone's ripping my entire stomach apart. The pain hurts the most when I stand up straight... Almost like its being stretched too far and it's just unbearable. It usually hurts right below the diaphragm or the center/left belly and radiates all over. The pain is intermittent and I cannot trigger one thing that makes it come along. I saw my band doctor when it first started and he said it wasn't related to the band. After I went to the ER a few times for it I had multiple tests to try to figure it out. I've had X-ray, fluoroscopy, MRI, colonoscopy, EGD, gallbladder removed, and nothing. I have not had anyone tell me what it could be. Last year I had all the Fluid taken out of my band and it was empty an entire year. I didn't have nearly as many flare ups of this pain when it was empty. But I gained 40lbs so I went to my new band doctor (in a new state) and he filled me. I asked him about the pain and he said it's likely the port pulling on the muscle tissue. After having the fill, about a week later, im now in pain again. Anyone else have any similar symptoms?

I haven't seen the surgeon who installed it since 2012. I moved to Colorado then to Connecticut so I'm at a new surgeon now. He's the one who said he thinks it may be the port pulling on the muscle. My pain isn't so much a sharp pain...it's a dull, but very intense pain that last hours/days...

My new band doctor mentioned that I didn't really have a "pouch" per say either. He didn't say those exact words though. He told me that my band seemed a little too close to my esophagus...this was after not having any fluid in it for a year. He said not to worry now, but it may be hard trying to get the perfect fill and we need to keep an eye on it so my esophagus isn't affected.

Yes, I've had this happen to me. I've noticed trends though...traveling, stress, not hydrated, and the day my period starts. It's happened maybe a handful of times in the 6 years I've had it. Until last year when it lasted far too long...weeks, almost a month. I had all the fluid taken out cause I was pre-ulcerative, had blood in my PBing and obviously, couldn't keep anything down. I didn't have a band doctor at the time cause I moved to another state, so I ended up going to the ER to have the fluid removed.

So many people have been through this....including myself. You just have to tell yourself it's time to get back on track! Get in to see your doctor, if you need adjustment - get it. Then get back on it. You can do it. I often forget i can...then I remember, I did it before, I can do it again!

That's great you have some restriction with no fill, but you're right...it's probably because of swelling...so take it easy and take it slow with eating good luck to you!

I won't lie...I've had abdominal pain ever since I had the Lapband. I've had EGD, colonoscopy, X-rays, cat scans, MRI and no diagnosis. My latest Lapband doctor (I move for work so have to switch doctors) says he thinks it's the band pulling on the muscles/tissue which causes pain all around my tummy. Not sure if this helps you, but hopefully you get it figured out!

Got a fill on Tuesday. I have a 10cc band and the most I have had it filled was 4.5 and that was too tight. My last fill was at 4.1 and that's when I had a lot of complications and had it unfilled. This fill the doc tried putting 3.5 while I was in the office, but I could feel immediate restriction with the barium swallow, so he put 3.0. I was okay with that since I haven't had a fill in a year...but now, I'm barely feeling any restriction. I have a two week follow up, so I'm going to ask to get .2-3 more. One thing he mentioned while he was doing the fluoroscopy was that he noticed that my band was very close to the esophagus. I guess, it's supposed to be a little bit below the esophagus to form the "pouch", but it's right at the edge of the esophagus so there's not much of a pouch per say so the fill is a little difficult. (He is not the doctor who performed my surgery) He said I should keep an eye on it long term as it could potentially cause issues to my esophagus long term. Has anyone else had this issue?