apaige203

@@Dibaby44 I took your advice and took two weeks off after band removal surgery. I could have used another week (per my doc) but I begged him to release me back under the condition that I do sedentary/light duty work during the first week of my return. I was going stir crazy being home (work-a-holic) and could not imagine staying home one week longer. I was JUST cleared on Friday to start using the treadmill as well, however I am still not able to lift or use other gym machines. As far as symptoms, below is what I experienced prior to removal and I "Red-Texted" what symptoms I still experience 2 weeks later.... nausea, vomiting, migraines, constant low grade fevers, joint pain, gallbladder removal in 2009 (no stones), elevated liver enzymes (ALT/AST), enlarged spleen, elevated CRP, "dumping syndrome", inflammation throughout my body especially my stomach, abnormal blood counts and chemistry, unable to pass certain foods from esophagus to stomach, autoimmune disease soon developed (new meds to take), uncomfortable in my own body, weakness/fatigue, acid reflux, back/neck pain, constipation/diarrhea (to name a few). I also have device related complications such as; port pain with and without pressure being applied, infection at the port, unable to stand up straight/reach up/stretch backwards, and always protecting my stomach from the outside world from fear of it being bumped. I will keep everyone posted as time goes on... does anyone know of class action suits at this time?

Hi all I decided to stay home today from work. I will take it day by day to see what I can handle (I am a better provider and a terrible patient). I have been sleeping a lot and doing short walks around the house. Sleep has been difficult but meds do help somewhat (very loopy). My fiance will drive me to work if I decide to go in this week but its a day-to-day thing now. I was in hospital for four day and three nights... also in recovery for almost 5 hours after band removal. @@Dibaby44 you are absolutely correct about needing the rest and healing time. Thank you for your continued support through this journey. It has truly helped me and I do listen to the advice of other bandsters. @@JustWatchMe thank you as well for your support. Each new day will get easier. They used glue to keep the incisions closed... did you guys get stitches or glue? I am eating a liquid diet; baby food, jello, flan, soup, broth, liquid meals, applesauce, yogurt, pudding, popsicles. I hope to try oatmeal and eggs by the bed of the week but will introduce one food at a time. The day the band was removed I was only able to drink room temp broth. Jello bothered me going down so I stuck to broth, water and tea only. What did everyone else's diet consist of during week one of removal?

It Is my first day home since band removal (slept in my own bed last night after four days in the hospital). I feel like I got beat up and my entire body hurts, joints and all. I still feel the "phantom lap band" pains and they used surgical glue to close the 5 incisions. I was sleeping in recovery unit after surgery for about 4 hours. Full body pain and severe stomach, neck, back and throat pain (from tube during surgery). Clear liquid diets for now and liquid hydrocodone for pain. I also got xanax to help me fall asleep. My diet consists of broth, creamed soups, Jello, ice cream, pudding, yogurt, Sorbet, flan, broth, and water. Going to eat this diet for the next week or so and then slowly introduce new foods like oatmeal and eggs. I will keep everyone updated as time goes on. I feel like crap today but did mange to sleep through the night on my back. I woke up one time during the night to use bathroom and take my medication dose (every 6 hours). My husband has been absolutely AMAZING helping me through this and running errands for me. I could not have done this without him. I do suggest having some help when coming home from hospital. Especially when it comes to picking up my meds from pharmacy (hard to find liquid narcotics) and running errands. I am not allowed to drive so he has really stepped up and he never left my side. Hopefully I will improve over the next few days. I do not think I will be going to work tomorrow especially because I cannot drive. I will take it one day at a time. My husband may drive me to work if I am feeling up to it, and I will possibly do part-time days this week if anything. I will keep everyone ppsted as time moves on. I also tried my best to keep my band once removed, but the state I live in sends it to pathology and cannot give back to the patient by law... what a bummer!!!

@dibaby44. I have been in the hospital since Wednesday. I went through the ED as anticipated. The doctor had so many surgical patients yesterday that hopefully he removes my band today if he gets the time. Typically he does not operate on Fridays but he will be able to leave his office and come back to the hospital today, pending the surgical department has ANY opening. I am in so much pain, cannot eat liquids or fluids, except a sip of water with meds. I have been on IV morphine therapy since Wednesday and it has slightly taken away some pains. But my other symptoms are still not so well controlled. Figures the girl next to me in this room (my roommate at the hospital) is only here because she is homeless and does "flaka". A new street drugs for kids in this area. She is in kidney failure and has heart issues now, also eats away your skin.... she is unresponsive except to eat and screams loudly at hospital staff... it is hard to relax and I will havr a room chanhe soon... the hospital is so over crowded. I will keep you all posted as the days go in... hopefully my next post will be when my band is finally removed...

@@parisshel Hello and thank you for responding to my post. I will be sure to keep you posted on the life after removal. I truly hope that most of my symptoms are resolved once this is removed as well. I have MS as well and from what I was researching I should have never had this band in the first place due to toxicity with autoimmune diseases. Fibromyalgia was diagnosed about 1 year after placing the band. I am hoping I will be able to simply diet and exercise on my own without the use of medical intervention. @@Dibaby44 Thank you for responding to my post as well. I bet you are starting to feel amazing since having the band removed 4 weeks ago. It is GREAT to hear from another patient with similar symptoms as my own... rather than hearing it from a healthcare professional that never had the surgery/symptoms themselves. The support is truly appreciated!!!! My legs just recently started becoming easily inflammed and I knew it was time to get this thing out. I am getting it removed on a Thursday and hope to be back at work on Monday... is this too soon? The doctor said yes, but HE is not a SHE and never had bariatric surgery before. Outside of going to work, I am bed-bound most of the time. I did walk on treadmill for about 30 minutes on Sunday and Monday, however I am paying for it now and had another moderate fever yesterday with hot flashes/red face and cold skin. People saw me yesterday and said that I do not look well so that really sucks too. Also my joints hurt AGAIN and muscles are stiff. Over the last few years, I have learned that the only thing that will help my symptoms from exacerbating is to lay completely still in my bed, lights off, and not to move. My brain says "let's go" and my body says "hell no"!!! I was tired of lying about my condition so I could keep up with other people my own age, but I have come to realize that I was only hurting myself! Although nobody wants to hear you complain, I was also giving people the impression something else was wrong with me... a possible mental problem or a drug issue. I tend to push people away when I start experiencing these symptoms and I never would go out to eat at work-related functions. If I did not say something than people would start assuming things about me because I am always sick. I live in a very well-known drug addicted community so it was important for me to start sharing my battle and avoid the judgments from the get-go. How are you feeling today? What blood tests are they running for you post removal? Congratulations on loosing 33 lbs and getting rid of the old baggage (the band)... you should feel GREAT about yourself and all of your hard work! This life is hard enough, let alone being overweight, and let alone having complication from weight loss surgery. I am tired of hearing myself complain and used to be such a hardworking person... I find it hard to concentrate and physically/mentally keep up with anything. Has your lupus/RA gotten better (symptoms associated). How long were you banded? I look forward to hearing back from you and hope everyday is getting easier for you! Chat soon...

Hi Fellow Bandsters, BOY OH BOY… I believe “they” consider patients like me “veterans of the band”. I was promised all kinds of great outcomes prior to getting this procedure in March 2008 (7 years & 4 months ago), however I have developed one too many conditions/symptoms as a result of this device being inside of me for the better part of a decade, and always blamed it on something other than the band. They never spoke of complications and I am the type to do as I am told… dieting, portion control and exercise! I am in the medical field and have a PhD in Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences (Pathology/Lab Medicine… always worked in hospitals/healthcare). I currently work as a Clinical Research Scientist in Cancer research and we are doing our best to find THAT cure. However, the cure for weight loss seems unimaginable for the overweight population, especially the patients who have a failed lap-band surgery. I still have my band but am scheduled to have the band removed next week, 7/30/15 (my personal Independence Day). The band was not for me since the first follow-up visit after placing the band. The PA bent the needle attempting to add saline into the port from scar tissue (YEARS AGO) and three staff members were now inside the room during this. With all the scar tissue to get through already… it hurt me very badly and I was "turned off" from future fills!!! I never had another attempted fill after this from fear, and never had a successful fill since having it placed at all. I had signs and symptoms the entire time, but life got in the way! I had too many things going on in my personal life and the years seemed to fly by… but not because I was having fun! For almost 8 years I have experienced; nausea, vomiting, migraines, constant low grade fevers, joint pain, gallbladder removal in 2009 (no stones), elevated liver enzymes (ALT/AST), enlarged spleen, elevated CRP, "dumping syndrome", inflammation throughout my body especially my stomach, abnormal blood counts and chemistry, unable to pass certain foods from esophagus to stomach, autoimmune disease soon developed (new meds to take), uncomfortable in my own body, weakness/fatigue, acid reflux, back/neck pain, constipation/diarrhea (to name a few). I also have device related complications such as; port pain with and without pressure being applied, infection at the port, unable to stand up straight/reach up/stretch backwards, and always protecting my stomach from the outside world from fear of it being bumped. I am in a place where I have health insurance AND time for removal/surgery at the same time so I went to the docs and insurance denied... three times! I spoke to my surgeon directly after the denials (not the same doc that installed the band) and I am meeting him in the ED on the night of July 29th to have the band removed on the morning of the 30th. We are making this a medical emergency so insurance will cover the charges, which would have been approx $8,000 if this would have been a "self-pay" situation. It is bad enough that Allergen would not provide compensation for the $250 surgeon consult prior to seeing ANY doctor. I do not know this surgeon and just recently moved this state 7 months ago… no special privileges for being in the same field… just a good idea of how insurance works! Doc saw how my quality of life has suffered from my medical records and wants to help me, and I pay for health insurance for a reason (regardless of their ridiculous exclusions for bariatric related surgeries, a medical emergency is always covered). I am excited and scared for surgery next week, but will be sure to keep everyone informed of my progress after surgery, and as the weeks roll on. I truly hope to speak to other patients in my position and be available in any way that I can, especially helping if you feel you have run out of options or need help interpreting test results. In the meantime, could anyone shed some light on side effects of having band removed in patients 8+ years out (how do you feel, how is your stomach/scars), what to eat after surgery/for how long, how long were you out of work, and best ways to stay healthy since having this piece of **** removed! In Heath, A