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My band has been off for about a month now. It is scary being without but it is good to be living without the problems that it caused. Best of luck to you with your removal.

My problems started back in the beginning of January with days when I couldn't eat anything and had severe pain when I would try and would vomit up anything that I attempted. By the end of January it progressed to most days not even keeping liquids down. I was sent for an upper GI, ULtrasound, CT scan and then finally last Monday I went in for the EGD. Everything looked normal in all these tests. I awoke Tuesday morning in pain and was in pain constantly for the entire day. I couldn't take a single sip of Water or a single bite of food without vomiting violently and sometimes I would vomit violently without even having tried take anything in. The pain worsened on Wednesday and still I could consume nothing and spent a lot of the day doubled over the bathtub vomiting nothing. Once Lon, my husband, got home from class I had him take me to the ER. After many hours I was admitted and Thursday the did another upper GI and another EGD which both showed that my stomach was twisted and nothing could get through. I was rushed to emergency surgery where the problem with my stomach was corrected. They may have said something about tacking the stomach into proper position but I was really drugged and will have to verify. They do not know what was causing this only that it has been happening for some time and then correcting itself only to twist again. I was finally released from the hospital today but will have more tests in the future to try to make sure this doesn't happen again and to check thoroughly for anomalies. I can now drink water again and eat which is a relief though portions are small at this point so still haven't gotten in much in any one day but things are improving and I am relieved that at least some resolution has been found. In cases of gastric volvulus (twisting of the stomach), it cuts off blood flow to the stomach, but we were lucky and they got to correct the problem before any of my stomach tissue died so none of my stomach had to be removed. Because of this condition my band did have to be removed though they did not believe that the band actually caused it though they say that they cannot be certain. Dr C, if you see this, I guess you won't be needing copies of all my tests anymore but I wanted to thank you once again for all of your kindness and assitance.

It was a gastric volvulus not an intestinal volvulus. Glastric volvulus is rare and can occur in children as a result of a congenital diaphramatic defect and rarely occurs in adults under the age of 50 and even above that age, it is still rare. Still it is usually case by diaphramatic defects which, at this point, they have not found in me.

I'm in Greenville.

The doctor was not Dr Strickland. This doctor that I saw has never even done a lapband surgery but was a bariatric surgeon before he retired. Now he does follow-up care.

Battleweary, I went to Dr Kuri and have absolutely nothing bad to say about him. I also wanted to take this time to wish you a very happy birthday!!!:happybday2:

I went to Carolina Bariatric in Lexington this past Monday. They weren't able to access my port but still charged me. Also I was stuck seven times and he doesn't use a numbing agent. He finally gave up. Just an FYI to anyone else who might consider going there. $300 is a lot of money for nothing especially since I have little abdominal weight and the other two people that have given me fills got it on the first try.

I have found that after a fill I can't drink anything dairy, including protein drinks, until all the swelling has gone down because it creates a lot of mucus which totally fills the pouch area and causes me problems.

I don't know if this will help you at all but: I got hives all over my body about six months after being banded. I had done nothing that wasn't normal in my everyday life; no new foods, beverages, soaps or anything else. Mine itched though. They lasted about two weeks and went away and I haven't had them again since then.

I go to Dr C for fills and he didn't use flouro for me though he will and does if needed. He had to do one fill and two slight unfills on me and found the port the first time every time. Admittedly I do have very minimal abdominal fat though and my port is quite easy to feel so not using flouro might be easier on someone such as myself.

The closest doctor to the DC metro area that is willing to do patients banded in other countries that I have heard of is Susan Brinkley, MD in Frederick, MD. Her number is 301-668-2800. I have not gone to her so I don't really have any more info than that but I do know that other patients of the surgeon that I went to have used her. Good luck.

I am in Simpsonville so I am about an hour away. I travel to Dr C for fills. If you want to go that far, maybe we could travel together for the next fill.

I'm not in Rock Hill but I am not far away in Greenville. I went to Mexico for surgery due to the lack of experience of the nearby surgeons but I have a friend who went to a doctor in Anderson and she is doing well. There is one here in Greenville but I have heard bad commentary about negative things that he says about fat people and I am determined not to give people like that my money. Good luck finding a good surgeon.

Despite the fact that I was banded last Dec 9th I will be getting my first fill this coming Wednesday morning with DrC in Cincinnati. I am sticking around Cincinnati until Friday morning just to try and make sure I don't have any problems with the fill. I am interested in meeting up with other bandsters or bandsters to be in the area either for Wednesday afternoon or anytime on Thursday since I have so much open free time. Not that I can't do things alone but I would prefer some company and to make new friend/s. thanks

Thanks Sherri. It would have been good to meet you. I should have gotten a fill sooner. I was doing great until the end of June but haven't lost anything since then and can certainly eat anything right now. I have the smallest sized band and I think I am just really sensitive to it because I felt great restriction with it for the longest time. Guess I must have lost some fat pads around my stomach with my 70 pound weight loss thus far. I will mention to DrC to expect you in again soon.

Two common things that can cause a sore throat daily for an extended period of time are post nasal drip (do you suffer from allergies/allergic rhinitis?) and acid reflux. Your doctor should be able to advise you on this. Good luck.

Hello Gennifer, Congratulations on getting banded. I don't always get time to come here but this site has been a wonderful help with a lot of supportive people. I will be in Mountain View, MO next month for vacation. Are you anywhere near there? peace,

Ok this is a bit gross maybe but do you have a stuffy nose at all at night? I have to take Rx Rhinocort every night before bed or my post nasal drip problem leaves me with a sore throat. Just a thought, don't know if it helps at all.

It is possible that you have a oral yeast infection. Antibiotics, which are used at time of surgery to help prevent infection, increase susceptibility to oral candidal infections by killing the beneficial gastrointestinal bacterial flora that naturally inhibit Candida, thus disrupting the normal balance of organisms in the gut. In 20 drops, saliva can have as many as 10 million bacteria, most of them harmless. Thus, when the normal balance of organisms in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, the Candida organism can overgrow and become invasive. The chance of this being the case is increased if you use birth control pills and/or tricyclic antidepressants. Of course this isn't necessarily the case for you and your doctor should be able to rule it out or treat it if it is what the white stuff in your mouth is. Best of luck.

I think Erika could lose a couple of pounds just by tweezing those eyebrows. Ok, now I am just being petty. :tape:

This was in 2000. What a difference six years can make.

Dr. C, Thank you for all the information that you give us. I am curious as to your opinion on why some of us wouldn't require fills right away. I am almost 7 months out from surgery and have lost 70 pounds with no fill. I have to be very, very careful about chewing my food and even with utmost caution I may still PB. I worry that there could be some bad reason why I am not typical and am having restriction even though I am not filled. I worry that perhaps my band is a smaller size than it should have been. I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you,

I am 5'10.5" but I used to be and inch and 1/4 taller but it seems as my weight increased my height decreased. My goal is 155 which I was back in the late 90s before a mountain biking accident claimed my health. Why is it that the majority of the people answering this question are taller than average women? I find that interesting.

Karel, I am so sorry that you have to take this step. I am sure you know what is best for you. Good luck with the surgery. I hope the post-operative pain isn't too bad. I also wish you luck with Weight Watchers.

I had just read this on your blog and came to see if you posted here, as well. I have been following your story for the last 7 months and I am so sorry that this has happened to you. You have a wonderful attitude and with all that exercise that you get combined with the great attitude I am sure you will be successful at losing those last pounds and keeping them off. I am glad that your surgery went went and that it wasn't as difficult as the banding surgery. take care,