tizag

------------- Warning! When I started to write this post I thought it would be a few paragraphs. It has turned into a few pages (!!). It’s L_O_N_G! J<O:p</O:p ---------------<O:p</O:p <O:p Hi everyone, <O:p This is my first post on this forum, however I must confess I have been lurking here for some time.....I have just been so busy with kids and work that I didn't feel it was fair of me to post if I couldn't be a regular contributor.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:pWith that said, I do feel like I have gotten to know many of you from your posts, and I wanted to share my story. And in all honesty, I need to share, and I could use support. I see that a few of you have been unbanded lately, and it's nice not to be alone. <O:p</O:pI am now 32 years old. I struggled with my weight for a long time, up and down... up and down. At my wedding in 1999 I was down to around 70 kilo/150ish pounds and felt great. And then the weight began to come back again. In 2 short years I was up to around 99 kilo/ 218 pounds. I felt horrible, and I wasn't successful in getting pregnant after trying for over 1.5 years. In June of 2001 I got banded. <O:p</O:pMy life changed - it was wonderful! Losing weight was not the only good thing about the band.... I loved that I felt 'full' nearly all of the time. I felt freedom from thinking about food constantly, and I felt freedom from feeling the need to eat every second of the day and night. It was great. <O:p</O:p Six months post-op I lost 27 kilo/ 60ish pounds. While I was far from thin, I had so much energy and just felt so good... and I loved being hunger-free. I was at the gym every day and felt so healthy. The BEST news of all though - I was pregnant!!!! Finally! I am certain it was my weight-loss and the band that got me there (in addition to my husband's help <O:p</O:p I really didn't gain weight during most of my pregnancy. Only the last three months after I had the band opened I gained around 4 kilo / 10ish pounds. My incredible daughter was born in July 2002. A few months later I got a fill. This was followed by a bunch of fills and unfills over the next few months, but each time the band was still too 'tight', too 'lose'...never 'just right' like before. <O:p</O:pThen the horrible reflux and heartburn started. I couldn't eat properly and began to gain weight. Before I could get full on healthy foods, now I was just eating whatever I could. Lettuce and salad and veggies didn't go down easily, but Cookies and ice-cream did Soups did. So this is what I ate. <O:p</O:pIn the February of 2003 I had horrible stomach and port-area pain. I was sure there was a knife in me, and I couldn't move the pain was so intense. After a few visits to the ER and the doctor, I was admitted to the hospital and put on IV antibiotics and did a endoscope/endoscopy and a CT. Everything was fine and after 3 days on only IV / IV antibiotics I did feel better. The doctor said there could have been an infection in the port area - who knows. <O:p Things didn't get better however. I never felt good. The heartburn was always there. I was taking huge doses of meds against acid reflux and nothing helped. In May 2003 I began waking up a few times a night coughing and vomiting in my sleep. This is the worst feeling. Like you are gagging and cannot breath. I had to sleep sitting up in my Lazy Boy chair, I couldn't think of lying down. I also had trouble swallowing and felt like there was a lump in my throat all the time. Ugh. I did lose weight at this point, but I was eating only liquids - not a way to survive. After about 4 months of hell, the vomiting in the night stopped. But I had zero energy and was exercising a lot less... and the weight came back more. <O:p</O:pI was honestly doing everything right to make the band work - but I would go thru periods of extreme tightness where I would have to spit out my saliva in a cup (sorry to be 'graphic’), and then the band would get loose again. No way to live. <O:p</O:p From my journal in Feb of 2004: "I have been without a fill for about 2 months - no problems at all, so about three weeks ago I went back to the dr. and got a fill. For two weeks I was fine, and I have been eating perfectly... then boom. Last Tuesday all of a sudden my band just closed up. I ran to the bathroom just in time and vomited. This continued all last week... on Fri and Sat I got down about 1 glass of Water the entire day (and vomited about 20 times in-between)... yesterday I don't think I kept down even 1 spoonful of water. Last night was HELL. Every time I feel asleep I would be woken up after 5 minutes chocking and coughing and vomiting... finally at 3am I went to sleep/sit on the Lazy Boy chair. No fun. To make matters worse, my husband is out of the country on business. Anyways, I am going back to dr. this afternoon. I am really thirsty... I took a super tiny sip of water about an hour ago and it put such pressure on my back that I had to vomit it up. *sigh* I don't know what to do. Why is this happening? And I have been eating good - almost all liquid, mush foods, chewing really good and no eating and drinking together. Not fair!" <O:p</O:p So that was February 2004. Needless to say, I had the fill taken out. Relief. Soon after I found out I was pregnant again. I was beyond thrilled!!!! I didn't dare get another fill while I was pregnant. I gained a lot of weight (around 18 kilo / 40ish pounds) and in November 2004 I gave birth to my beautiful son (at home, which was very unplanned, but that's another story, and a wonderful one!!! <O:p In March 2005 I had my first fill since my son was born, and the problems started again, and I had the fill taken out. And put in again. Same story.<O:p In October I suddenly got "attacks" after I ate, that lasted around 1 - 2 hours. Extreme nausea (even after eating my baby's Gerber!) and pain that spread to my right shoulder blade and my back like a knife. I was sure it was my gallbladder as I have a few friends who had their gallbladder out and they told me attacks were like this. I did an ultrasound of the gallbladder, but everything was OK. I didn't really sleep or eat during October. I just felt bad all the time. <O:p</O:pIn November the pain was so intense one night (and this wasn’t after eating)...it was like being in labor, but in my upper back. I went to the ER at 3am. I really didn't think it had to do anything with the band (though it was making crazy gurgling noises and I had some heartburn - so I guess I was in major denial). The doctor on duty in the ER took out my fill completely. I felt better, but that was because the "attack" passed. The next day the intense nausea continued and the back pain continued. Every time it hit my back I kept thinking 'this is more painful than having a baby'. I again went to the ER (a different one this time!), and they did a scan of the stomach/gallbladder, and said that everything was fine. I mentioned the band (this isn't a hospital that specializes in the band), but they said it wasn't connected. I went home crying. <O:p</O:pLast week, on Sunday, November 27, along with everything else, the band suddenly got very tight. I was without a fill, so I knew this wasn't good. Monday afternoon, after a day without managing to get down water, I went back to my dr. He sent me back to the ER (again!), called to tell them I was coming, and to do an x-ray with me swallowing contrast stuff so they could see if anything was going down. I somehow drank the stuff, had the x-rays, and vomited up black stuff. Very scary since the stuff I drank was clear, and I hadn't eaten in two days, and even before that I don't remember eating anything black. Was it blood? Anyways, whatever stayed down just sat in a pouch above the band. It didn’t go down. <O:p</O:pI was put on IV and admitted to the hospital. Tuesday I had an endoscope/endoscopy done. No erosion in the band, but they saw that my esophagus was full of infection. My dr. told me the band was fine and in place.... and to try to drink water. I did, and got a bit down. And woke up in the night in the hospital coughing and choking on the few sips of water I had earlier. Not good. Wednesday I had a CT. My dr. said everything was perfect with the band. He said "if you feel better you can go home". I just burst out crying. My doctor is a leading band doctor in the world. He was one of the first doctors to do the surgery 15 or so years ago (I don't live in America). He has banded over 6000 people. I began to think I would ruin his impressive statistics and that is why he didn't suggest to take out the band. He said we would talk again the next day. <O:p Thursday morning I was depressed. Four nights in the hospital already, hooked up to IV and missing my kids sooooooooooooooo much. I hadn't had anything to eat except a few sips of water in nearly a week. (Though I wasn't hungry... I think the fear of having the horrible nausea/back pain kept any hunger pains away). I knew the band had to come out. My dr. then came and said that everything seems ok, “but if you cannot even drink, the band has to come out”. Thanks for the wise advice!!!!! He said he wouldn't leave me suffering, and promised to fit me in as an emergency the same day to remove the band, even if he had to do the surgery at midnight. (At least that was nice of him.) I was actually quite relaxed. No real pre-surgery jitters. I did trust my dr. and I just felt so bad, I wanted the pain to end. I didn't let myself mourn or anything.... I just waited with my husband. At 5pm they came and took me to the operating area. When I saw my dr. he said to me "I am sorry....". I started to cry and barely got out the words "Can I please keep my band after you remove it.....”? Next thing I knew I was going to sleep, and then waking up. I have to say that coming out of the anesthetic was quite easy. I had no side effects from it, and was given a shot of morphine as soon as I awoke and really didn't have pain. I reached down where I had felt my port for the past 4 years and 6 months, and only felt a bandage. The dr. told my husband after the surgery that when he went inside to remove the band he saw that I had a pretty severe infection both in the band area and the port area. He also said that both areas had extreme inflammation (thus causing the blockage). I went back to my room at 8pm and was put on high doses of antibiotics via IV. By 1am I was up walking... physically I was doing OK. Mentally I didn't even let myself think about it. Friday morning I was given a "gift" from my doctor. My band. Cut in two places when it was removed. Finally this morning (Sunday) I came home from the hospital, with another 10 days supply of antibiotics. I have eaten some Soup with carrots, some yogurt, some of my baby's Gerber. Everything goes down. No pain. It feels weird. <O:p</O:p I haven't cried. Or rather I should say I haven't cried until now. Sitting here for the past hour writing this has brought on the flow of tears... it feels so good to get it out! Should this very long post be called "Four years of hell...", or "Four wonderful years..." I am not at all sure. I went thru a lot. Weight has been an issue my entire life. I feel like a huge failure... even this I couldn't do right. But then I think that if I didn't have the band I most likely wouldn't be hearing someone say "Mommy, I want some juice please" this moment. After my first prgnancy the band just never acted as it did before. I won't let myself regret getting pregnant so soon after being banded, but others considering the band and having a baby might want to take this into consideration. So where am I? Still overweight (thought a bit less then where I started), and for some unexplained reason also optimistic. Maybe because I do have a completely different relationship with food then I had before I was banded. I have been eating to live for the past 4.5 years, not living to eat as I did before. Hmmmm. It's been a long trip; I am actually not sure what I am feeling yet. It's getting quite late here so I am off to sleep. For anyone that has actually read this longest-post-in-the-world, thanks for listening! <O:p<O:p</O:p PS. I would love to be in contact with others that have been unbanded - we need each other for support. PPS. If you are thinking about getting banded and you asked my opinion, I am honestly not sure what I would say. I absolutely did not write this to deter anyone. I just wrote it because it happened to me. PPPS. If you are wondering where my broken band is now.... it's in my bed, under my pillow. :)<O:p</O:p

Hi Anthony, You can read my story here... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12313&highlight=tizag but the bottom line - I had the most horrible back pain for the 3 months prior to having my band removed. I had back x-rays and went to quite a few doctors.... The moment I had my band removed, the back pain was gone. I remember waking up from surgery, and thinking... "ahhhh, my back doesn't hurt". No question it was related. Good luck.

Hi, I had my band removed last month after lots of problems (you can see an earlier post of mine) and before I was taken into surgery I asked if I could have the band and my surgeon said sure... and he gave it to me. I keep it under my pillow in my bed. :) It's also an Inamed band....

Hi DeLarla and everyone! DeLarla, so glad you are feeling better!!!!! I have been unbanded now for over a month (I stopped counting...) and I am sooooooooooooooooooo hungry all the time now. *sigh* This sucks. With the band I didn't feel hungry - now I am starving even after eating. I now understand how people gain back all the weight lost if unbanded - it's not just about new eating habits, it's about feeling hungry ALL the time. Also, I wanted to add - DeLarla, I am so sorry you had such a hard time with your band removal surgery. But just so that others don't panic if they have to have their bands removed... for me the removal surgery was super easy. I got back to my room at 8pm at the hospital, and I was up and walking 2 hours after. The next morning by 10am I walked around the mall (next to the hospital) for at least an hour and went shopping (got my kids some stuff at ToysRUs...couldn't resist...) :) I never took anything more than Tylonol the day after surgery, and then nothing. (I am not writing this to make you feel bad, just writing it so others don't worry!!!!) xoxoxo

Hi, I got pregnant 4 or 5 months after I was banded. I had a fill the first and second trimester and didn't gain any weight. The third trimester I had the fill taken out and gained about 10 pounds - not bad for a pregnancy. Congrats!!!!!

Hi Francesca, My band was removed on Dec 1st and I also feel like it is still there! I can only eat small amounts and I get full very quickly. I also don't wake up insanely hungry like I did before I had the band. Also, when I eat a bit fast, I get all these gurgling noises, just like when I ate too fast with the band. Weird, huh? Maybe we are both losing our minds.

Hi, Yes, I had this. Please please please go to your doctor! It can be serious... for me it ended up in having to have my band removed in emergency surgery with severe infection and inflammation. Don't worry, I am sure nothing as drastic is happening with you, but have you get your get band unfilled ASAP. In all honesty, I let this go on for months and months... maybe if I hadn't ignored the symptoms I would still be with my band today. Rememver, even if nothing has changed with you the past few months, something is going on with your band.... Good luck!

Hi Penni, **hugs** Not sure if you had time to read my post from earlier in the week, but I was unbanded last week after 4.5 years. I am certain I haven't come to terms with the fact that my band is gone. Consider yourself lucky that you were able to cry (even if on the endo table!). I haven't been really able to cry or mourn the loss of my band yet (only time I got a few tears was when posting to LBT). I guess I do feel a bit more relief that you do however, since I really have been feeling so bad lately.... now I feel great. Just crazy scared to think of life unbanded. Since I had my band out, I have been getting completely full on "band quantities" of food. I don't want to get overly optimistic or anything since I have only been 9 days without my band... but so far it's going good. I swear I still feel the band there. Weird.... Anyways, hang in there - I know it doesn't help much, but you are not alone. -Tizag

Yes.... you are right. The infection was only found 2 days before I had the band removed. Maybe he said that knowing I was having the CT the next day. Then it was decided to remove the band.

Hi all, I just wanted to all that lots of people are so scared of the endo and try to avoid it... it's really not bad at all. I have had around 8 of them the past 6 years (even before banded life). Just make sure you have a good doctor who gives you something to make you 'out of it' for the test. You really don't remember a thing - it's a breeze if you just think positive!

Hi again everyone, Still hanging in here! It's so strange that I still feel banded. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe it's like when people lose an arm or leg, but they still feel it? To answer questions.... BigBellyKellie & Ceparano- I honestly have zero desire to be banded again right now. Maybe in the future I'll think differently, but right now I am not considering it an option. Bubbame - After the gastroscopy I was told there was an infection in the esophagus, but the dr. didn't seem to think that was the cause, or that it was a big deal. He told me I would have to take meds for it (what's it called in America? Prilosec I think.) When I go back to see him I will ask why he thought this didn't have to do with the band. Dody - I did lose about 60 pounds with the band and was 150 pounds when I was 6 months pregnant. Even if I never lost more with the band, I was very happy with this weight! I felt amazing.... La Madam - How are you doing unbanded? I will be in touch with you!!! Thanks all!

Out of the 30,000 people or so who have been banded (how many banded people are there?), has anyone ever got to goal weight? I never heard of anyone actually.....

Hi, I want to try to answer specific questions people asked. Alexandra: I was banded in Israel. My dr. gave me no indication as to how long the infection could have been there, or how I got it. HarleyNana: PLEASE tell your mom to see her dr. I know the thought of having to have the band removed is awful.... but if something is wrong, having the band removed is a much better alternative than dying from complications. Desertmom: Same for you. Don't ignore your symptoms. It might not sort it out by itself. I know you want everything to be fine and all the stuff to just go away... I have been there. *hugs* Everything might be fine, and it might not be fine. Remember thought that the endo doesn't show everything. Please go to your dr. As I wrote above, if it comes to it, having the band removed is a much better alternative than dying from complications. And is suffering the quality of life you want? You have lost 105 pounds... there is nothing to say you won't keep it off and continue to lose if you have to have the band removed. Melati: The infection just happened. No connection to the surgery or to a fill. The band is a foreign object in our body. The area around the band and port got infected. I don't think I'll ever know why or how.

Hi everyone! I am sure my post on being unbanded has lead to some fears. I just posted this on my thread, but I wanted to add it here too. I want to make it clear that I did NOT post this to scare anyone.... After everything, I do not regret being banded. In fact I feel very priviliged to have had the opportunity. Right on the Inamed website it says that 25% of people banded end up having their bands removed. It's something that everyone should be aware of. I was aware of this before being banded, and it didn't stop me - so don't let it stop you, or scare you.... just be aware! I was sure when I was banded that it would be for life, that nothing would happen to me. And I was good with eating and following the rules... so you never know. Everything has it's risks in life, you just have decide what is best for you. For some people it's the band, for some people it's gastric bypass, for some people it's weight watchers, for others it's nothing. All are OK if you are comfortable with your decision! I would however advise people that want to get pregnant after being banded to wait 1-2 years. I actually read this recently on one of the 'doctor' websites. Lose your weight first, then get pregnant. The band was perfect for me - the problems only began after my pregnancy. It might be connected, and it might not be connected. We'll never know. One of life's mysteries. I often heard that the band is not only banding your stomach, but also your head. I am certain there is a lot of truth to that. Today is my 4th day without the band. I have permission to eat everything. So far I am eating great. Small amounts of healthy foods and chewing very slowly. The cravings and desires to binge that I had before I was banded have not returned. I might be naive as I just had the band removed.... but as I mentioned above, for the past 4.5 years, I just ate to live, I didn't live to eat. My eating habits and relationship with food has changed completely - there is no reason to think that I can't keep it this way, right? Before I was banded I never was able to feel the wonders of healthy eating. Being with the band let me see how wonderful it feels to be filled up with healthy foods, not tons of sugars or carbs. I don't want to feel yucky again from eating the wrong way, so hopefully I won't. I have tasted the good life full of energy - I am certainly going to try my hardest not to let that go! I promise I will keep you all updated on what happens over the next year, because as time goes on, more people will have to have their bands removed, I think that is inevitable. But maybe it won't be a bad thing. Who knows... we'll see. So for those of you who are thinking of getting banded, my advise is that if you are comfortable with your decision after researching everything, GO FOR IT! If you are not sure, or don't feel it's right for you, then don't do it. Personally however, I would not deter anyone from getting the band. For those of you that are banded, enjoy your band and be thankful everyday that it works good for you. And don't look back and have any regrets ever - have fun and look towards tomorrow with a smile. :)

Hi everyone, Thanks so much for your wonderful replies. I will try to answer all of your questions, but first I want to make it clear that I did NOT post this to scare anyone.... After everything, I do not regret being banded. In fact I feel very priviliged to have had the opportunity. Right on the Inamed website it says that 25% of people banded end up having their bands removed. It's something that everyone should be aware of. I was aware of this before being banded, and it didn't stop me - so don't let it stop you, or scare you.... just be aware! I was sure when I was banded that it would be for life, that nothing would happen to me. And I was good with eating and following the rules... so you never know. Everything has it's risks in life, you just have decide what is best for you. For some people it's the band, for some people it's gastric bypass, for some people it's weight watchers, for others it's nothing. All are OK if you are comfortable with your decision! I would however advise people that want to get pregnant after being banded to wait 1-2 years. I actually read this recently on one of the 'doctor' websites. Lose your weight first, then get pregnant. The band was perfect for me - the problems only began after my pregnancy. It might be connected, and it might not be connected. We'll never know. One of life's mysteries. I often heard that the band is not only banding your stomach, but also your head. I am certain there is a lot of truth to that. Today is my 4th day without the band. I have permission to eat everything. So far I am eating great. Small amounts of healthy foods and chewing very slowly. The cravings and desires to binge that I had before I was banded have not returned. I might be naive as I just had the band removed.... but as I mentioned above, for the past 4.5 years, I just ate to live, I didn't live to eat. My eating habits and relationship with food has changed completely - there is no reason to think that I can't keep it this way, right? Before I was banded I never was able to feel the wonders of healthy eating. Being with the band let me see how wonderful it feels to be filled up with healthy foods, not tons of sugars or carbs. I don't want to feel yucky again from eating the wrong way, so hopefully I won't. I have tasted the good life full of energy - I am certainly going to try my hardest not to let that go! I promise I will keep you all updated on what happens over the next year, because as time goes on, more people will have to have their bands removed, I think that is inevitable. But maybe it won't be a bad thing. Who knows... we'll see! So for those of you who are thinking of getting banded, my advise is that if you are comfortable with your decision after researching everything, GO FOR IT! If you are not sure, or don't feel it's right for you, then don't do it. Personally however, I would not deter anyone from getting the band. For those of you that are banded, enjoy your band and be thankful everyday that it works good for you. And don't look back and have any regrets ever - have fun and look towards tomorrow with a smile. :)

Hi Magic, Over the past 5 years I have had about 8 gastroscopes/endoscopes and I promise it sounds much worse than it is! First, it's common practice to have one done before the banding. Secondly, they don't put you to sleep, you just get something via IV to make you drowsy for 5 - 10 minutes while they do the procedure. I just had one last week, so this is how it went. I was lying down on a bed on my left side. The doctor sprayed something in my throat to make it numb so that I wouldn't gag. I then got IV of something that made me feel very good and drowsy. The doctor then put a tub (with a small camera on the end to see inside the esophagus/stomach) in my mouth and told me to swallow. Honestly I remember hearing him say 'swallow', but I have no memory of swallowing anything it all. You are really 'out of it'. It lasted about 5 or 10 minutes, but I don't remember much. I think I did gag a few times, but really, as I write this now I honestly cannot remember! I "woke up" about 15 minutes after, and enjoyed the side effects of the stuff they gave me via IV for the next hour, and that was it. I happened to be hospitalized last week (see my post "Unbanded after 4.5 years), but I have had at least 6 of them as outpatient, and within an hour I have always been back to myself, walking around, etc. The only side-effect I have had almost every time is a sore mouth after because they put something plastic in your mouth to make it easier for the tub to go down, and I guess I must bite pretty hard on it, cause my mouth is sore for a day or two, but that is it. Really, don't worry! Good luck!!!