MEL0129

Special Needs

@ Siemers17. I see it's been a while. My band was removed for the same reason but the trapped gas, bloating, etc has never stopped. Do you have that now?

My band was removed after 2.5/years. I had a slippage, revision and nothing but pain, bloating, and trapped gas after the the slippage and revision. Finally, it was removed. I am still ,3;years later, experiencing really bad gas and bloating. Before removal surgery, the doctor said i had developed too much Scar tissue and in fact, a band of Scar tissue was around the base of the band causing all these problems. He wanted me to go from band to another surgery in same time but I would not take the chance. After surgery, when the doctor comes to talk to me, his story has changed. There was not much Scar tissue and he labeled it band intolerance. WTF???? Now, 3/years later, even as I type this, I am still having trapped gas and bloating. It's a yucky feeling. How could it be band interlorence when everything was good the first year and up until slippage. Also, during barium swallow, the person giving test told me that stuff was barely moving through my system. The nurse at the doctors office, also showed .me the narrowing. Well, today, there is a lump look to my Scar. Left side has a bulge. I think I was lied to and he left Scar tissue in there since I wasnt going to do another surgery at the time. Am I crazy?

Oh the lapband, the first year was great. I was mostly compliant and lost 65 lbs. Then, in one weekend, I thought I was going to die. Turns out I had a slippage with 2 little pouches. So I went in for a revision. I tried my best to hold onto that band. I didn't want to gain the weight back. You know the deal, vomiting all the time, but worst than that, trapped gas. So after another year of all that, it had to come out. Now, 3 yrs later, I'm heavier than ever at 343. In this year I have been down to 313 and back up to this weight. I can drop and gain the same 7/lbs over and over. Water weight. So now I want to thoroughly investigate the sleeve. My concerns are #1: excessive Scar tissue as that was to blame for band removal, #2 do you get trapped gas with sleeve, heck I still have it, and #3: I have Dercum's Disease. Does anyone else have Dercum's and WLS? So can some of you help me make a decision? I'm not doing good on my own. I have severe osteoarthritis and this weight is dragging me down. I thought I had done my investigating with the band but no, I didn't do enough. Really, mostly concerned about Scar tissue... Please give me your thoughts.

@India928. Good luck on 9/14/15 !!!

How do I just type a reply without this thing repeating messages??

. Happy for your success. You have done really well..thanks for your input.

. I'm concerned about excessive Scar tissue because my doctor told me that it had formed a band around the base of my lapband. I'm just worried about forming more and it binding me up per say. The reason I'm considering sleeve over RNY is absorption. My sister had bypass and that has been a major issue for her. All that being said, I'm open to what is best for me. I do have a BMI over 49. I think it is 53. Also, I'm diabetic. Both are good points to suggest RNY over Sleeve, plus I don't won't to have to get another surgery that would be just putting my body through so much. I suppose I need to start the process over again. And do much more research. I think you both. Both of you have given me more to consider. I appreciate it. Thanks

You seem so very kindhearted and thoughtful. A rare find. I don't know what a therapist will tell you, but I believe you should share all of your feelings with your wife. You two are in a partnership, this is a problem for both of you. As her husband, you really owe her your honesty, as she does to you. Honesty, trust, love and friendship, you two have the fundamental basics of a solid relationship covered.

My heart goes out to you and your wife. This has to be an excruciating experience. I hope it all works out for your good. I understand what you mean when you wish the world would stop turning. I felt that way when my father died. It was such a loss for me and it felt like a betrayal that the whole world could go on when I needed everyone to realize how bad I was hurting. This situation is causing you and your wife a lot of pain. God bless you both.

Thank you for responding to my post. I understand how you feel. However, I can't get my doctor to add Dercum's as an official diagnosis. He says he agrees with me. I found it out of frustration. After many nights of no sleep from my legs aching and hurting, I was massaging my legs and realized many nodules under the skin that were very painful. So, one night I googled "painful, tender nodules under skin". Dercum's was the first thing that came up. Right away I knew I had found the answer. All the symptoms you mentioned, fatigue, intolerance to extremes in temperature, pain, brain fog. I've had a partial knee replacement this past Feb. Still, whatever I do, I pay for it for days, aching and sore all over. My doctor only knows what I've introduced him to about Dercum's. I'm in SC, and I've only met 2 people who know what it is, both nurses. It's very frustrating, lonely, and depressing. Friends do not understand. I'm jumping all around. I have too many in my thighs to have them removed. The doctor doing the ultrasound showed me on the screen what looked like layers of eggs in my legs. He told me that I could.not get them removed because they are so many in my legs. I don't know what to do.

Does anyone have this?

I have another concern about fatty deposits that are concentrated in my thighs and arms. They are encapsulated within a calcium shell. They go through flares, causing them to press on nerves. They can be very painful and make weight loss very hard to achieve. This condition is also called adipose dolarsia or Dercum's Disease.

My lapband had to be removed about 2 years ago due to excessive Scar tissue that had formed a tight ring around the base of my lapband. My WLS surgeon wanted me to go from band to bypass. I wouldn't do it because I am afraid of this scar tissue issue. Now, I'm really starting to think about the sleeve. Has anyone else had the issue of excessive Scar tissue buildup? If so, did you have a 2nd WLS?

Go with the sleeve. I had the band. Lost 65 lbs but had a slippage after the one year mark. I got to the point that I couldn't even keep water down, so I had to get it removed. Feel like a failure and have gain all the weight back. Oh, the band involves adjustments, puking, belching, and painful trapped gas. The weird thing is that I still have the gas and bloating issues.