Me1e

Hi All I'm interested in your thoughts on my current condition and to see if anyone else has had the same... I have had my band since July 2008. I had my band completely unfilled (apart from 2mls in my 10ml band) on 6th Feb because I wasnt loosing weight with it filled and I was suffering with awful reflux. I have been loosing more weight eating a balanced diet anyway. Everything was going great I could eat anything and was eating healthy/loosing weight until Tues 20th Feb when I started getting some mild abdominal pain in my left side of my stomach. Almost felt like mild hunger pains. This progressively got worse as the week went on. On Thursday 23rd I couldnt barely walk anywhere cuz of the pain. I called my band doctor but couldnt get in to see him until Monday 5th March - ~I had my band private and in the UK there are not many specialsts around and I have no long term aftercare package. Friday night i was completely double over with the pain and my chest also felt tight around my port sight. I ended up going to A&E on Saturday monring but they referred me straight around to the 'out of hours GP' - I saw a GP who examined my stomach and talked through symptoms then said he thought I may have 'Diverticulitis' which is some kind of inflamaton relating to your colon. However you dont normally get this until you are in your 60's and I am only 35!! He perscribed me two lots of strong antbiotics and sent me home and advised I see my GP in the next few days. By Sunday the pan had reduced and was back to tues/wed pain levels. I went to see my own GP on Monday morning and he was not happy with the level of pain i was stll in and also felt i was too young for the diagnoses given. He also thought that the unfill was probably more related so he sent me to the hospital for a surgeons opnion. Got to A&E and they did blood tests and a chest x-ray - chest xray to look for gas under my diaphram which might indicate a perforated stomach (negative result) and Blood Tests to look for indicators of inflammations or infections (Which were also negative but he said potentially clouded by the strong antbiotics i have been taking and because I had more antibiotics the previous weeks for a throat infection). He finished the consult by saying they've ruled out life threatening stuff and they dont know anything about bands so cant look into that and I have to go private!! (Brilliant NHS!) Since then my pain has been intermittent everyday and generally seems to be worse after i eat or if i sit upright for long periods eg, at my desk. It got really bad again yesterday evening... I've only got to wait until Monday night to see my band surgeon now but trouble is he will only be in a consult envroment with no equiptment for test so there wll be another wait. Has anyone else had these kinds of symptoms? I can eat and am not being sick but the pain is immense at times. thanks

Hi, I just had my band removed on Monday 19th March. I was only in as a day patient and was home that same day. With all the pain relief etc I felt fine the day of the operation and when I came home. Yesterday was very sore and very tired but pain relief helped - not much sleep though due to gas pain in shoulders. Woke up this morning and not much pain at all... no gas. Bit sore when i move obviously but nothing too bad. Much better than when it was put in. I am off on a golfing break only 13 days post op and my surgeon has said I will be perfectly fine by then to play so i'm sure that a chilled cruise wont cause you any issues! He reckons about 5 days will be pain free and by 7/8 days the incisions will be practically fully healed. Hope that helps

Hi All How soon after removal of the band do you think i'd be able to play golf? I'm talking about if it was a straight forward removal with no complications? Also how long would it be i should wait before getting pregnant? Obviously i'll ask my consultant but just looking for an indicaton on what you guys who have been through it think! thanks

Ohh that sounds horrible. Glad your ok.

I haven't yet but am planning too very soon. It's just not working for me and I'm suffering really bad abdominal pain. I've had it 4 yrs and stopped loosing weight about 18mths ago. Had it loosened completely at beginning of feb and have lost 10lbs since without using it! Always suffered acid reflux and now with this pain I've had enough.

It's amazing that you had a slipped band and yet no sickness! I too am currently experiencing severe abdominal pain and the ER have said a few reasons including diverticulitis. I can't wait to see my surgeon tomorrow and see what's really going on as I am convinced it's band related. I've had my band 4 yrs and never had anything like this pain. I just feel like something's wrong. I wish you well, I will be having my band removed by choice regardless as I am scared of being in these situations with no specialists to help. Please let us know how your recovery goes.

Thank you for all your comments, keep them coming as I really appreciate your thoughts. I am still in some pain but waiting for my appointment tomorrow night because the a&e made me feel like I was wasting their time and they didn't want to know. I am in the Cheltenham area (uk) if anyone else knows of an a&e that might help somewhere near me? If you didn't have pain, how did u know u had a slipped band? I've still not had any sickness - do you always get sickness with a slip? Thanks

Ahhh brilliant! That's cleared the annoying numbers!! Thank u!

I have just downloaded the iphone app and it keeps showing a count of 36 on the icon... What is that from, i cant work out how to get rid of the annoying number showing?? Also when i am reading forums it keeps popping up askng me to download the free app but i am already using it!! If i click yes then it takes me to my app store and shows that i have already downloaded the app!! wierd...

Hi All Just wondering if anyone out there is local to me? Anyone near to Cheltenham?? or in Gloucestershire??

Hi all I had a fill 2 weeks ago & finally got proper restriction - it was brilliant but the last 2 days I have been really really tight.. I can drink Water but struggle with thick Soup let alone any solid food. Is this normal for it to get really tight after 2 weeks of being ok? Do you think it will return to how it was before? I am not upset, stressed or hormonal as far as i am aware! I am gutted that its got tight when it seemed to be perfect! I have a 10cc band and I had 0.75mils put in to take me up to 8.75cc. At 7cc I had hardly any restriction. Please help - I really dont want to pay again for another bit to be removed if it will improve. I've had my band just over a year now and not been very sucessful with the weight loss - only lost 1.5 stone... finally I am in the right frame of mind & seeing weight come off when this happens to ruin it! arrghhhh... thanks Sally

well i'm gutted that no-one offered me support or advice even though 52 people read this message. In case anyone is interested my tightness lasted for 5 days & is now back to a good restriction but where i can eat and drink small portions. I guess it must have been hormonal or something.... but all i can say is if you get this happen it might be worth sitting it out for a few days before having Fluid removed then regretting it!

HI all.... I was so determined to have a gastric band that I went private & paid for the operation myself. My doctor did not even consider referring me on NHS.... What i'd like to know is if its possible to get aftercare/fills funded by NHS if you go private initially.... i've paid the large amount & now want to ensure that the band works right for me but can't afford to keep paying for fills & unfills! thanks

i've got a bit of a phone phobia... hence postin on here!! lol I'd feel silly and wouldn't know what to say - i thought the NHS direct is for emergency illnesses etc..? I just wanted to know if anyone else had managed to get assistane with aftercare from NHS when they originally went private.... can you give any indication on this..? thanks

Hi all... Well my operation went well yesterday & I came home this morning discharged at 6.30am!! I am feeling very tender and have lots of wind pain but am managing to drink some Water and have ate half a yogurt - which took me about an hour to do!! WGA was fine... I've read so much bad feedback but so far they have been ok. I had to share a room with another lady on WGA package but apparently you are not guaranteed a private room on WGA. Also my operation was delayed by 3hrs due to waiting for bloods to come back. Had it at 12pm though so not too bad. The nurses were fantastic and the surgeon & anesthetist were great. I'm so glad its done but I am in quite a bit of pain today... did everyone else find that the day after?? How long does it last generally? Apparently the stomach is filled with gas during the operation & thats what is hurting?? Also the wounds hurt when I try to sit up! I sound like a right baby... don't get me wrong its bearable and I'm glad i had it done! Its the first day of my new life!

Hi all - I am feeling really depressed & demotivated... I really need some help! I have been banded for just over 7 weeks now... I lost 14lbs in my first week and in the remaining 6 weeks I have only lost 3lbs... I had 5cc in my 10cc band during surgery, and have since had a 2cc fill so have 7cc now in total. I am restricted but can still eat too much. I am trying to eat healthy & manage my own portion sizes more than the band does. I am booked for another fill the 9th Sept... I just want the scales to move!! Can anyne who is loosing weight give me an idea of what they eat each day... I would have lost at least 1lb a week before I had it done if i'd have ate what I am eating now! I just can't understand it. Please help - its really getting me down now!

Hi all.... I appear to have a naturally slow metabolism so am not loosing weight very fast even though I have 7cc in my 10cc band. I have started taking addios tablets which are supposed to speed up metabolic rate & my weight seems to have started moving a little bit again. My friend had the same problem but the doctor perscribed Accomplia which is a perscripton drug that speeds up metabolism so am guessing it shouldnt be a problem using addios?? Anyone else tried slimming aids with the band..?

Hi all, I had 5cc's put in my band during surgery & have already had my first fill 5 weeks after surgery.. now have 7cc's in my 10cc band but still not much restriction although more than i had before... Has anyone else been in this position? I m worried cuz 7cc's seems full to not have much restriction?

Is it normal to feel depressed at about week 5 after banding... I think its because I am so used to turning to food for all emotions and now I cant its almost overwhelming to deal with emotions... Dont get me wrong its a good thing i cant turn to food... but is anyone else experiencing this depression feeling & almost food withdrawal symptons..?

Hi all... just had a thought... can it ever happen that you get your band filled as much as it can hold & you still don't have restriction?? I currently have 7cc in my 10cc band from just my first fill because my surgeon primed the band with 5cc during surgery. I had no restriction after 3 weeks healing so have just had another 2ccs put in... I definitely have some restriction now.. but i would imagine i still have a way to go with restriction yet. I'm not saying I will be in this position but I just wondered if anyone has been? Maybe your stomach can shrink so small that the band is just too big! I have the APS Small 10cc band!

Oh no... Caroline my email got returned - I must have the wrong address. I will send you a private message with my address! Where are your appointments? How come you have a fill? Did they send you that too or did you have to request it? I will have to ring them tomorrow now... I'm so jealous! I desperately need a fill!! Sal x

Hi Caroline... I have emailed you directly, thanks for leaving your address for me at the hospital... I thought if I email then you will have mine too! No appointments for me yet?! I desperately want a fill! Sally xx

Howcome you are getting a fill on WGA.. I was told they werent included. When I rang the appointment people to ask for a fill at the xray they said I cant have one until discharged by surgeon & then i'd have to book a seperate appt and pay!

Hi all....... I am 3 weeks post op & had my xray with swallow thingy last night... to be honest this explained why i've stopped loosing weight. I have no restriction at all..... the swallow went straight through with no hesitation what so ever! How soon did you all have your first fills?? I am desperate to get one asap... I dont think I can wait another 4 weeks!!!! :cursing:

Excellent see you tomorrow... I will be wearing cropped black trousers & a green stripy t-shirt (I think!).... cheers Sally xx