sunflwermin

To those of you who have been so kind and understanding for what I have been through, I want to say thank you. To those of you who seem to know so much more than the doctors do, I would ask that you let it go. There is no way to completely explain all the in's and out's of what this band rejection was or how the docs explained it without someone on here offering their expert opinion that will always contradict what the real professionals saw or did. The truth of this whole situation is my body rejected the band -- they didn't find any type of staph infection growing or any "Live" growth in the infection from taking cultures every single day that I was in the hospital and also culturing the band. There was infection around the band itself and all along the rest of the mechanism -- yes that is true. I've seen the doctors notes and while I may not understand it all or be able to put it in laymen's terms the nutshell version of the situation is this -- MY body rejected the band - it's rare but it happens. Believe what you want to, doubt my surgeon if you want to, I don't care really. This is my last posting -- and any more know-it-all comments will result in termination of my membership to this site. You all may have bands, but you are not doctors -- and while they are humans and are not perfect they are not all quacks or kooks and as for 2nd opinions -- there were about 8 doctors who consulted on my case because my surgeon wanted to be absolutely sure of what he was seeing and diagnosing -- so I'm going to trust their judgement over people on a web site.

Well, honey, as much as I would like to agree with you on the infection, you are incorrect. My surgeon told me it was clear that my body was rejecting the band. I had no bacteria growth at all -- He said there was no evidence of any other cause of infection except the body rejecting the band. So, I'm going to have to agree with my surgeon on this one because he saw it first hand, regardless of what it may sound like. Sorry to be sensitive about it, but I know personally what happened and I know firsthand what it means to reject a band -- no amount of debate or argument will change what my surgeon and his team saw at removal. As far as any other type of surgery goes, I'm done. I have choices now - I can eat less and continue to lose weight, or I can gorge myself, like I did before and gain all this I've lost back and abuse my body once again -- I won't subject my body to any other foreign body ever again -- it is just not worth the risk to go through what I've been through again. I don't care about having a model's body -- I am no longer morbidly obese -- and if I can live out the rest of my life without ever having to go under the knife again, regardless of the size of my behind or any other part of my body, that is what I will do. Other people may do just fine, and I hope they do -- but the pain and recovery of this band rejection has just not been worth the loss of 4 months of my life. I'm glad whatever you are doing is working for you -- I hope you continue to be successful. But please use caution when making assumptions about what others have been through. My body rejected the band - it wasn't just infection - and I responded to this post based on what I know, not what I think I have been through.

My body rejected the band. I had severe abdominal pain and then an abscess developed around my port. The band itself was infected under the scar tissue that had covered it and when it was all removed I had an abdomen filled with infection. My fever spiked twice in the hospital to 104.4 and I had other fever for 5 days following. I'm 3 weeks out from surgery and am still not feeling well. I had massive doses of antibiotics while in the hospital and have experienced a lot of pain and nausea. If your body rejects the band, you will know it -- it's not just mild symptoms, it's symptoms that get progressively worse until you have to do something -- have it removed. I am not eligible for band replacement or any other type of bariatric surgery for at least 6 months -- but I won't be doing anything to this body ever again. I've lost over 50 pounds (and I am still losing weight) and still feel as though I have restriction. I have hardly any appetite at all even though I experience hunger. I still eat very small portions and feel full quickly - probably due to swelling, healing and some remaining scar tissue. Don't enter into this surgery lightly -- do a lot of research and please ask if there's any way to see if you have any type of allergy to silicone or plastic (or whatever material your type band is made of) before you agree to have a foreign body put into your body. Trust me, if I had known this would happen to me (and I was a very healthy person with no real co-morbidities other than weight) I would not have had the band put in. It's been a horrific experience and I feel as though I have lost about 4 months of my life because of it. For those whose bodies don't reject the band, it's a wonderful tool -- but for the rare ones like me, whose bodies will not accept it, it's a very painful and scary experience and definitely not worth the sacrifice to lose the weight. Sorry to be so blunt about this, but I feel like masking over the truth can rob people of the information they need to make the best decision for their health and bodies. Please consider this a personal testimony of my experience and not an across the board opinion. Thank you.

there's some info on this site that talks about this egg-shaped thing inside of all of us -- from what i understand it is the body's reaction to surgery and is a sign that the body is healing normally -- it moves down as you lose weight too -- mine was about 2 inches above my incision the first few weeks following surgery -- i've lost about 35 pounds now and it's moved down right under my incision -- very hard -- sore because of where it is -- but it's not the port. A friend of mine had this surgery a year ago and she said that hers has moved down as she's lost weight too. She said her port still hurts sometimes but this egg shaped thing is eventually supposed to go away -- i know i'm ready!

I just need to vent folks! I was banded on December 9th and had a typical week one, a terrific week 2 but since then it's been simply put -- HORRIBLE! I got so sick from some food that got stuck (my fault, I know) and then got dehydrated and diverticulitis because of not eating for 2 weeks and went back to see my surgeon who did a ton of blood work -- treated me also for a kidney infection. Went back 4 days later still unable to eat or keep food down and he removed all the fluid from my band -- I can eat now about 1/3 of what I used to - which is fine - but I have constant back pain and port pain and this egg shaped thing has moved down now under my port incision and it hurts so bad I feel like ripping it out of my side! When does the pain go away? I was NEVER sick at all before I had this thing put in and had a fairly pain-free life -- but the constant pain, gas and reflux and all these awful symptoms are making me wonder if I made a HUGE mistake and if I should get this thing removed and just resign myself to being fat the rest of my life. I'm usually such a happy, healthy person and I don't like the person I've become -- PLEASE somebody -- give me some good news -- Tell me that things get better and that one day I'll feel good again -- I HATE this! Is it really worth it to lose weight this way -- I'm seriously doubting it at this point. Help!

Thanks, BG -- you are the WOMAN -- 3 babies w/no meds -- I'm impressed -- you do have a high pain threshold -- It looks like you've not been banded yet - is that correct? Maybe I'll be so much better when you are and I can encourage you! I SURE hope you don't have any of the problems I've had -- I wouldn't wish that on anyone! Thanks so much for your prayers.....Amy

Thanks BG -- you are a great encourager. I appreciate your understanding so much. Pray things get better soon....I really am not a complainer either -- but boy -- I've been a big baby with this thing -- I don't even like that part of me at all -- I'm usually the one encouraging everyone else....so Thanks! Amy

Hi Ya'll -- thanks for your kind replies. Gator27, I'm so glad to know that your insurance covered the removal -- have you had it out yet? If so, I'd love to know how you are feeling now and also if you've been able to keep the weight off -- also your recovery time from the removal. Band_Groupie - to answer some of your questions, my band is one of those that had 3cc's of Fluid in it from the beginning. I have never had a fill at all -- the removal of all the fluid was the only thing I've had done since surgery to the band at all. As of now, I have no fluid in my band at all and there's still restriction. It feels like where the band is placed there is a pinched nerve somewhere that makes my back hurt terribly. I sleep with a heating pad every night and have since surgery. The port site is painful all the time, especially if I have to bend over or lean sideways and that egg-shaped bulge has moved down right under it. Because of the dehydration, my Iron and Protein are down some so my energy level is horrible. Doc said eat spinach and red meat -- I'm trying but the red meat is so heavy that I can't eat much of that at all. I went back on the prilosec today with the hope that maybe some of this pain will subside. I have a very high acid level in my body that makes me ache all over if I don't keep it in check -- stress aggravates it and the pain and the economy have driven my stress level up very very high right now -- so no doubt that's a big part of the problem. It will take a couple of weeks to get that back under control but I'm really hopeful that it will be better soon. I am truly worn out. I know a lot of people who have had the band put in and they've all done fine -- I really thought I would too -- I guess I'm one of those who just hit the bad part of this lottery. If it's not better soon, I'll be having this thing removed. I don't want to be thin bad enough to live in pain the rest of my life. I just wanted to get healthy -- and this isn't healthy. Even my surgeon said that of all the patients he's seen over the years, only about 5 of them have had to have all the fluid removed from their bands -- and he thinks I may be one of those people who just may not need much restriction -- I know this -- I sure don't want that huge needle stuck in me ever again if I don't have to. That removal was awful -- it hurt for days -- and I have a HIGH pain threshold.....so much so that I don't get novacaine when I have dental work done -- if that tells you anything -- so if I'm in pain -- you know it's BAD! Thanks for the encouragement. I'll give it a few more weeks and we'll see what happens. Amy

On the stress issue, do any of you have port pain when you are stress or if the reflux is bad? Mine hurts so bad I'd like to rip it off my side!

I cannot believe that you are all experiencing problems like me! WOW -- I was beginning to think I was just a hypochondriac! I've had such stomach and back pain from the reflux and couldn't figure out why -- and this explains it -- I've been taking Zoloft (albeit 25mg) at night along with an antibiotic and 2 tylenol and wake up with the worst pain and this explains it. I'm just going to give my system a rest and stop taking meds at night for a while and see what happens. Thank you all for sharing your stories.....i sure hope this is the solution to my chronic pain. I was considering having the band removed it has been so bad. Blessings to all of you....hope you feel better soon!

I had it bad before surgery and still have it -- my stress level is very high though and I believe it's the stress not so much the band. Stress makes my band and port hurt really bad and my back too.

can anyone give me an idea of how long it takes to dissolve the blockage (meat) once the enzymes are taken? Should I drink liquid with them or not? Thanks!

Maybe I'm the exception to the rule -- I sure hope so but you might want to take it easy and let your instructor know you have had surgery so you won't have to do a lot of abdominal breathing stuff in your warm-ups. If you can possibly postpone your lesson, I would give it at least a couple of weeks. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. It's actually been worse than the 1st week post-op --probably because the intravenous pain meds are out of my system now. Be sure to check with your surgeon about return to normal activity including singing. Blessings to you -- hope things go very very well!! Keep singing but give your body time to heal.......

Hey There -- I am a professional singer also. I had my surgery on December 9th and felt great week 2 -- however -- I sang again the Sunday before I hit week 2 and have noticed that I have had some severe pain in and around my diaphragm, middle back and don't have the breath control that I had pre-op. I called the surgeon's office today and described my symptoms to the nurse and she seems to think that singing caused some irritation because of the diaphragm bouncing up and down repetitively. She advised going back to a very limited diet (liquids, soft foods), and much much rest. She also said that if symptoms worsen then I'll need to see the surgeon. I honestly think I overdid it -- because of the time of year and feeling good so quickly, I believe I did too much too fast and am paying the price. But just be aware that this pain isn't something that a lot of people deal with and singers and people who talk a lot can have this irritation.....I would discuss this with your surgeon prior to surgery just so you'll know.

I'm so glad to have found an Alabama group on here! Some of the other groups just kind of ignore me but I know you sweet folks know the way of the South and will be friendly! :-) I was banded on December 9th and have lost as much as 20 pounds but gained some back once I started eating food again...even pureed. I'm ok with it and it seems that it may just be the swelling going down and the intestines filling up again like they should. Question -- have any of y'all had sternum pain or pain at the entry of the pouch? I made the mistake of eating too big of a bite one day and it seems to have caused an irritation that won't go away -- no fever, nothing else except this pain -- it feels like severe gas but it doesn't go away with gas expulsion (either end :-) ha ha!) Just wondered what's going on and if I should just bear it as part of the healing or if I should be concerned. Also, what's the difference in feeling of a slippage and getting stuck -- that scares me. Thanks y'all! I have more friends who are almost ready to be banded -- they'll join us too soon! Blessings and Merry Christmas!!!

Question -- anyone feeling a difference in your clothes but nothing really significant on the scales? Just curious!:tongue_smilie:

for the gas, shortness of breath, and the full feeling -- it will begin to pass the second week IF you move around -- as soon as you feel up to it, get up and move around -- and drink water! The shortness of breath was for me, the gas pushing against my lungs and diaphragm -- a deep breath and it will pass -- but it hurts -- and the full feeling -- that's the swelling in your tummy where the band is -- I talked with a friend who was banded in March and she said that your whole stomach swells and tries to rebel against the band and that's the full feeling...once I knew that I kind of stopped stressing over it and began to feel better. The biggest thing is learning the difference between hunger and real pain -- that was hard for me -- now that a lot of the swelling has gone down though, I can tell the difference. Take the pain meds -- that's why they give them to you -- sleep a lot and move a lot -- that will help more than anything.....I feel great and I won't be 2 weeks out until Tuesday!

my port is just below my rib cage on the left side -- it's where the larger incision is -- it will be swollen and sore longer there than anywhere else but as the swelling goes down you'll be able to feel it.

Hi Everyone -- I was banded on December 9th! The first week was really hard but the 2nd week, I began to feel like a new person!!! It's truly amazing. I lost about 20 pounds pre-op and first week but I have gained about 8 back -- probably due to the fact of just putting food back in my body and post-op swelling and the dreaded surgery gases. If you haven't had surgery yet -- PLEASE be aware of the surgery gases -- they hurt! The only thing that helps it is to move around and get it out however you can. Question -- anyone have any idea how soon the post op mid-driff swelling goes away? It's so uncomfortable especially after consuming food. More pressure than anything. Would love to know!!! I'm not a very patient patient!!! :laugh: Merry Christmas to all of you -- I'm so excited that this journey has begun -- and I'm looking forward to getting healthy and thinner with you all......Blessings!