ellendeette

Very good news! Thank you for letting us know what is going on with you. It sounds like you are doing well. Thank goodness for new slip!

Thanks for the update. You are right where you should be. Its difficult to be in the hospital but keeping hydrated is very important. Good to hear that you are doing so much better. Take care!

I have been there and not too long ago. I stayed up one night the end of January. Throwing up at least once or twice an hour. It was a terrible dark red and looked like coffee grounds. I had no control over the vomiting. I called the 24-hour Blue Cross nurse and she reviewed my symptoms and decided I need to go to the ER rather than wait until my bariatric surgeon's office opened. We went to the ER at 4 a.m. I had not sleeped one bit that night. They have me an IV right away for dehydration. I had a CAT-scan and blood tests. Found out that the dark red Fluid (sorry so gross) was dried blood and the coffee grounds were gastric juices. My band was way too tight. No slip though. My bariatric surgeon removed fluid from my band and was able to go home. A couple of weeks later, more tightness. Had acid reflux at night. Couldn't lay flat to sleep. Had more fluid taken out. Found out that 40% of band eventually stop working. They don't know why. I have not heard that before and it was a bit shocking to me. My bariatric surgeon told me this. She suggested a revision from band to sleeve. My mind is still going over this and over this. I am still undecided about the band. Not convinced. At the same time, I have a band that does not work. Its too tight or too loose. I long for the days of the "sweet spot." I had my band put in me in 2008. It slipped several months later and I had another one put in 2009. What will 2012 bring? Removal of my band. Several people think I should think about gastric bypass. It all makes my head spin. Back to you in ER. Like someone said, hang in. If they haven't given you an IV, ask for one. Soon they will take x-ray or CAT-Scan and will figure out if its a slip or too tight of a band. Please post again. I care and so do others that could be just like you waiting in ER to find out what in the hell is going on. Good luck!

Yes, I had a slip in the summer of 2008. I was on vacation in Kauai and the kayak I was in tipped over. When our guide and my husband pushed me back into the kayak, I thought I cracked a rib. We finished are kayak trip and when we got back to the hotel room, my breathing was different. I didn't feel like eating at all but I thought it might have been because of my ribs cracked. It really scared me. In hindsight, I should have gone to the ER right away instead of waiting.I really thought I was okay. The next morning, I went to the ER on Kauai. They put me on an IV for fluids and took an x-ray and CAT-scan. The doctor came out puzzled and asked what was in me (so to speak). It was my band that twisted not my ribs! The ER doctor and three other doctors tried to get Fluid out of my band (even with a telephone conference with my bariatric surgeon in California). I could not swallow Water and even my saliva was having trouble going down. I stayed on the IV all day. The next morning, we fly home and went directly to the hospital along with my tests that were taken in Kauai. Turned out that my band twisted and so they couldn't get to the port to withdraw fluid. I had to have surgery to have it removed. My stomach was too swollen because of the band twisting, so they couldn't put another band on. After a few months, I was gaining weight at a rapid rate without the band. I then requested a new band from my insurance company. They accepted my request and I had a new band put in November 2009. Yes, I know how it feels when a band slips (mine twisted). If you have any doubt that you cannot drink fluid (even water) without it coming up, it could very well be a slip. Only a doctor can determine that. Do you think yours slipped? You can get dehydrated from no water being able to go down properly and obviously you can't eat so its something you cannot put off to determine if it has slipped.

I can relate to these posts. When I had my first band placed, a day or two out of the hospital and I was at home, I discovered itchy little bumps filled with Fluid. Wouldn't you know it was a Saturday. I thought I would go insane with the itching. I also took Benydryl. Nothing I took made a difference. It was on a Sunday when it was really getting bad so I called my dermatologist, internist, and bariatric surgeon. Do not take a hot or overly warm shower. It made it worse! I would put the shower on my chest but it just pounded with pain. I was bent on going to the ER with it but my dermatologist told me to come in the following morning. I seemed to make it barely through the night without going to the ER. She treated me for the rash. I think she put my anti-biotics and a rash cream. To this day, I do not know what caused it. My doctors came up with all kinds of reasons. In my heart of hearts, I really thought I was allergic to the band! It was a foreign object and plastic that maybe my body was rejecting. I was thinking some pretty strange things. After the rash left, my internist said it could have been from being put under (the drugs they used) or the pain medication in the hospital. I took no pain medication after my surgery so that could not have been it. I have had four prior surgeries on my knees and I never had a reaction like that before. It really freaked me out. My dermatologist is the one who treated me. I went around and around on the phone with my internist. They thought maybe I caught something in the hospital. It finally went away but I will never forget that itching. I was so miserable! I would suggest if its driving absolutely mad, to go to the ER otherwise hang in there until your doctor can look at it. Good luck! Please post again to tell us how you are doing.

I just read through this thread. We should put a warning for new banders. I hope they don't get the idea that we do this all the time. I surely don't. Too bad we aren't talking about having sex in the bathroom rather than getting food dislodged so we can eat, talk, drink, etc., again. But that would be a different website. I had my first band placed in May 2008, it slipped and I had another band placed in November 2009. It will be four years in May that I have been dealing with the band. I really do think most of the time its me as some one mentioned above. I don't eat small enough amounts, choosing a food that I know will cause me problems, eat too fast, talk at the same time, etc. Sometimes I must tell you that it can be the food. Sometimes I eat the same food over and over again. No problems. Then one day, I get stuck despite the fact that I am eating slow, small amounts, etc. I hope to God that someday all these things will be resolved. Hopefully, there will be a cure for obesity that doesn't require surgery or these day to day struggles we have. Despite it all, its the BEST way I have ever taken weight off and maintained it. People who have gastric bypass and sleeve have been known to have this problem too. My surgeon has suggested my having the sleeve because she thinks I need a revision to lose more weight. Many people who converted from band to sleeve, say they don't get food stuck like they did with the band. I want to tell you the MOST embarrassing moment I had with this (since we are all revealing our deep dark secrets) was having lunch with my dear friend and co-worker and I cough and the food came up! Thank goodness I had my napkins ready and was fast. We both laughed but I thought I would die and I wanted to climb under the table. No one else know but my friend. I was having Soup and I think when we were talking so much I wasn't paying attention to how fast I was eating. Another time, I was riding with another co-worker to work. I had a Protein shake at home but drank it not as slow as I would like. On the way to work there are all kinds of curves (its a canyon), lo and behold up comes my shake. Luckily, my friend had a small towel in the car and that really helped! I was embarrassed. She said it could have happened to her. She doesn't have the band but she said sometimes people do get sick. I always admired these two co-workers after that. I was really grossed out but they helped me handle it gracefully.

I was going to add that I wasn't big on sugar-free anything. To soften the blow on the sugar-free pudding, I would add low-fat whipped creme. You can put a little on your pudding or Jello. I rarely like jello because of that two week before and two week after surgery. After the two weeks after surgery, I really did not like eating anything sugar-free. I would rather have nothing than having it or would rather just have a smaller amount of the real food (not sugar-free). I don't think the sugar-free part of foods is good for you. I also made my own soups/broth. It seemed more flavorful. You can freeze it so you always have some around. Creamy Soups had more flavor too. Popsicles were good too. I bought the ones with low sugar. I can't eat those anymore either because I ate them for two weeks before and after surgery. I think I as burned out on all those things. Yogurt really helps too when you get the mushy stage.

My husband and I eat out alot so this is an interesting topic for me. I really appreciate what everyone has suggested. I do many of those things too. It does really help if you know the menu ahead of time. I even go online before I go to a restaurant I have not been to before to plan my meal ahead of time. We go to many of the same restaurants over and over again so I kind of know what I am going to order because it works for me. There is a restaurant chain that my husband goes to that seems to have only burgers. Burger meat has to be cooked just the right way and good meat for it to work. You can take off the bun and wrap lettuce around it. I do that at In and Out burger. I ask for it without the bun and then they wrap the burger meat, tomato, onion and special sauce around the lettuce. That way, you hold the burger with the wrapped lettuce. They have a special name for it but I can't think of it right now. Another alternative at this burger place my husband likes is to order chili. Chili seems to be a mushy food for me. Also, this place has burgers that are way too big for me (half pounders). I went to the Outback today. I love their salads and Soups. Sometimes just a small dinner salad or a cup of Soup (not a bowl) works. Its a good day if I can have both. Lately, I like their grilled scallop dinner. It comes with grilled scallops, grilled veggies, grilled pineapple, and rice. I always seem to take a box home and have it for another meal or my husband will eat it for lunch the next day. It helps to have tarter sauce for the scallops. It seems to help slide it down. I just have a little rice.It has to be the right texture of rice too. It can be tricky so I eat just a little. When I eate the grilled pineapple (or steak for that matter), I slice it very thin with a sharp knife. I have ordered prime rib there. Its usually very tender and again, I slice it very thin and very small pieces. I find when I go out to eat in a group or with friends, that I talk too much while I eat and don't notice as much about the sizes of food I am eating or eating slow enough (even if I concentrate on it) so I end up just drinking most of the meal with my friends and then plan to eat before I go out or after I get home. No one seems to mind if I just tell them I am not that hungry. Sometimes I will eat at home before and then have dessert with my friends. I sometimes will have mousse or some mushy type of dessert. I have a friend at work that I split meals with. We will even split the salad. We ask the server to split it and to put it on two plates. My husband is a big eater and he isn't big on sharing his food.

I believe the stomach produces the mucus and slime. Its like it is reacting to having something stuck in the stoma and its natural way to slime it to get rid of it. Coughing does help me sometimes too. I liked chicken salad, egg salad and tuna salad. Like everyone says without bread. Sometimes I can scoop it on very crisp crackers or sometimes when my band isn't that tight, I can put it on a very thin piece of toasted bread (emphasis on the toast). It also helps if these salads are chopped finely and not chunky. One time, I had a huge stuck with the eggs. Eggs sometimes do not go down well no matter how much I chew, chew, chew, etc.. My band seems to be the tightest in the morning. I have friends with bands that rarely (or never) had things get stuck. They are pros for taking very small bites and chewing alot. One thing I have not heard enough about is that my band gets tighter when I get anxious or going through something very emotional. It doesn't matter if its something happy or sad (unfortunately). I actually have to pass on food and just drink liquids or Water during these times. I have use relaxtion methods to try to relax my stomach and it does seem to help sometimes. I have heard that you can use these tablets that have an acid type of effect on the food that gets stuck. For the life of me, I cannot recall the name of them. People have told me that using pineapple juice without sugar helps dissolve certain stuck foods. I can't seem to find any pineapple juice without sugar added. Although, I just thought about it. Maybe you could use the chunks or slices of pineapple in the can that doesn't have sugar. This breaks the rule of drinking anything after something gets stuck. Water on top of food being stuck just makes it worse. There are people out there that told me they will drink and drink water over food that is stuck and it will help them get it up quicker by throwing it up. When you do throw up (either being sick or being stuck), your band will swell. You can't just eat normally again. Its best to go to a liquid diet until it calms down. People swear by these methods. The tablets never have worked on me. I eventually threw mine out because they were useless to me and expired. They were really cheap at Trader Joes. Maybe someone out there will now the name of these tablets.

I thought the same thing when I heard that they "sewed it in better" (something like that). When I told someone else that had the lap band too, they said maybe they didn't do it that way when I had my first band in 2008. I know what you mean. It didn't set well with me. I live in Los Angeles and sometimes getting fills, unfills, etc., is a hardship because I have to take time off work, waiting time to see the doctor when I get into the office, expense, etc. It may be good to think about having the sleeve. BMI is the big question when getting approved for insurance for any of the procedures. Its all about getting approved by the insurance company you have. I am positive that the sleeve procedure costs more than the lapband. I have heard this over and over again. The surgery lasts longer than putting in a band.

I have heard very good things about Costco's premiere nutrition but haven't tried it. Its good to experiment first before buying a large quantity and then finding out you don't like it. My favorite is Trader Joe's Protein drink. It comes in two flavors, vanilla and chocolate. I ALWAYS use a blender to blend them. I add a little milk, fruit, etc. I take bits of banana to put into the vanilla with a little real vanilla extract. I use frozen raspberries, blueberries, etc., to go into the vanilla. I used to use a coffee type Protein Drink but its difficult to find. I loved it in the morning because it came in a glass bottle and I would put it in the 'fridge and would drink it in the morning like an iced coffee drink. Sometimes I would pour it over ice. I used to buy a case of it at a time. The support group I belong to sometimes has protein sampling nights. People bring in their favorite Protein drinks. Its really good because you get to sample protein drinks. Everyone seems to have their favorites.

I had one slip in 2008 and I had to take it out. It was out several months before I realized I was gaining too much weight and was out of control. I had a new band put in (2009) and I am so glad I did. It is scary to have a slip but I have heard many people have their band readjusted. I do think the readjustments need surgery too (not sure about this because that was not my experience). My surgeon told me with the second band they sewed it more securely than my first one. Now I have been advised by my doctor that I may need a revision from band to sleeve. I am seriously considering it because my loss of weight from the band is not what it should be (although I have lost 9 pounds in the last two weeks). I am going to give my band a good try again before I go to the sleeve. They would take out my band and do the sleeve surgery in one surgery (I have been told). Good luck to you!

I had a slip of my band several years ago and nothing would go down. Not even my saliva. It would accumulate and then come up (sorry probably too much information. I agree with your husband. You need to see a doctor sooner rather than later. It may not have anything to do with your band. It could also be that your band is too tight. I have recently experienced gastric reflux and throwing up so bad that I stayed up all night throwing up that I met my bariatric doctor at the ER. She took out 3 cc's. Two weeks later, my gastric reflux started up again and I bought a wedge pillow to prop me up. I was getting very little sleep because the reflux seemed to start RIGHT when I fell asleep. I was miserable. Went to see my doctor again at the office and he took .5 cc's out of my band. A world of difference. I feel so much better. No reflux and I slept well last night. If you do go to the ER, you can tell them that you have a lapband. When I was in the ER last time, they did a CAT-scan to see how my band looked. The 9th for your doctor's appointment seems far away. If you don't go to the ER, see if you can get in to see your doctor sooner. I would stay away from solid Proteins and stick with a liquid diet of Protein shakes to make your band settle down. Trying to eat those solids (chicken, eggs, etc.) are tough under the best of circumstances with a band but when you are getting in trouble, its best to go for the liquids. Even Soup broth with nothing in it helps me. Good luck to you. Please post again.

I agree with you about so many things. I thought my band slipped a few weeks ago but the CAT-scan said otherwise. I was throwing up what looked like coffee and possibly blood, that is what got me into the ER rather than waiting to see my doctor when her office opened. I did not have any stomach acid as you mention above. It was the lapband version. I have had a slip before and my saliva didn't even go down. It was a nightmare! I also agree. I don't think the bands are meant to be in your for extended periods of time. I have been hearing more and more people having slips and having their band removed. When my first band slipped, my doctor put down on my request from Blue Cross "lapband or gastric sleeve." Blue Cross approved me for the lapband rather than the sleeve. I wish I would have listened to my doctor and just went with the sleeve. Here I am again with the decision to do the sleeve. I also have to find out from my doctor whether they will do it two-step (band out in one surgery and then another surgery for the gastric sleeve) or one-step. Thanks for your feedback. Please post again about your progress to the sleeve.

Yes, I was checked for a slip when I was in the ER a few weeks ago. They did a CAT-scan. It showed that my stomach was quite swollen and the top of my stomach (above the band) was enlarged. She said all due to a band that was too tight. My doctor took out 3 cc's and I had immediate relief. This new bout yesterday with getting stuck, slimming, and acid reflux is very similar to what I had a couple weeks ago. I am seriously giving the sleeve my attention. Good luck to you and please keep us posted on your progress. I will keep you in my prayers that all goes well! I was told by my surgeon when I last saw her as a followup to my ER experience that my next step was scheduling for a psych eval. She said that she was quite sure my insurance would cover it. Now I am wondering from these recent posts whether they will take my band out and do the sleeve procedure at the same time. Some people have had the experience of taking the band out and waiting. My doctor didn't say anything about the next steps after I do my psych eval and get my medical insurance to approve it.

Thank you everyone for your experience with the sleeve. I really appreciate it. I am still undecided and weighing the pros and cons. I had a tough night yesterday and today with the band. I had some food get stuck yesterday and was miserable. I have seemed to have gotten into this pattern that when I get food stuck, I have to eat next to nothing until my stomach goes back to normal. Last night, I had acid relux when I laid down to sleep. I was getting up every 30 minutes. I had to sleep on the couch propped up because when I laid down flat, the reflux would come up. I was so exhausted that I missed work today. My band is not tight anymore this morning but this has happened twice in the last month. Last time, I went to the ER to meet my doctor and she took out 3 cc's. I have no warning about things getting stuck. I eat slowly and small amounts but it still got stuck! I thought I might have to do that today but so far, I seem okay. I hope I don't have the acid reflux tonight.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I never heard of Plication before. What is it?

Your doctor not going to the ER!!! That is awful. Waiting to Tuesday, you may very well get dehydrated because no Water or fluids or getting down. You could also call the doctor's office again and ask to speak with the nurse or the doctor. Sometimes a receptionist may tell you that because he or she is just scheduling the appointments. They do not know how urgent this is. This just happened to me a week or so ago. My band was so tight that I could not stop throwing up. After awhile there was nothing to throw up so I had gastric juices that looked like blood (found out later it was). I was really freaked out since this happened from about 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. I could not lay down without throwing up. I did not sleep at all. I called the Blue Cross nurse (24 hour hot line). She took my information and said not to wait until my bariatric doctor's office opened and go to the ER. I am glad that I did. My bariatric surgeon met me there and took 3 cc's out of my band. They took a CAT-scan and put me on an IV right away with nausea meds in it. I knew I did not have the flu. I knew it was my band because water wasn't go down right. This was several weeks after my fill and it wasn't tight for weeks! My doctor thought maybe food got stuck to cause the tightness but I didn't have anything get stuck. The CAT-scan showed the area above my stomach and band was inflammed and swollen. You are so right. You may get dehydrated. My first band slipped in 2008 and the band twisted. My saliva wouldn't go down either. I went to the ER in Kauai (I was on vacation when it happened). The ER doctors didn't even know what to do with a band but they called my doctor in California They tried getting Fluid out but my abnd was too twisted (plus I don't think they knew what they were doing. I came home the next day and went directly to the hospital withmy test results and had my band taken out shortly thereafter. They immediately put an IV in me at the ER in Kauai and when I reached the ER in California. You may go to the ER anyway and call your doctor and telling him or her that you can't drink ANYTHING and you are getting light-headed and shaky. Waiting to Tuesday could be life threatening. Let the ER doctors figure out what is wrong with you and have THEM call your doctor if he or she doesn't show up. Maybe they will take a CAT-scan like me to figure out what was going on. I told the ER that I had a lapband and suspected it was too tight. I had blood coming up when I threw up and was getting weak. Good luck to you! Please post again to tell me and others how you are doing. I have been there and it is very scary but can be easily fixed with an unfill. Once I had my unfill, all my symptoms disappeared. The doctor gave me meds for my throat (acid reflux medication even though it wasn't true acid reflux, my and was too tight).

That sounds like a great plan Oregondaisy. Going in Wednesday for the surgery and returning to work on Monday. I am so glad I read your post today. That is exactly what I was looking for. My doctor said I should plan on staying two nights in the hospital. Is that what you did? I especially like your remark about it felt like you didn't have surgery. I felt that way with my band experience. i couldn't believe people were so weirded out by it. It was the easiest surgery I have ever had (I have had four knee surgeries). I had two bands put in and one taken out. I am on band #2. The first one slipped. I would be interested in your experience now as far as how your restriction is with the sleeve vs. the band. What is the typical day as far as meals are concerned?

Yes, I would suggest going to liquids until your stomach calms down. Sometimes when things get stuck (pills, food, etc.), it seems like the stomach gets swollen and irritated. Drinking liquids for a day or two seems to help me. Have you ever tried liquid Vitamins? I never knew they existed until the dietician at my bariatric surgeon's office suggested it to us. They sometimes can be a pain to locate but they sure help right after your surgery and for weeks afterwards. I sometimes take them after a fill. Sometimes when I am out of them, I just don't take vitamins for a couple days after my fill. I doubt it if the pill could have screwed up your pouch. Sometimes the throwing up the pill, tightens the band up, swells the stomach, etc. If it really bothers you have switching to liquids, don't hesitate to call your doctor.

I was told the same thing about not using straws from my doctor's office. Maybe in the beginning it can add air but I found the opposite to be true. Using straws helps me and I don't seem to have any air problems from using them. I even drink my coffee or tea with a small straw. I think its 'suggested' but its not absolute. We aren't supposed to drink carbinated drinks and I drink Perrier water or mineral water. I sip on them. Sometimes they help me when I need to burp or bring up air from my band.

I had my first band placed in me in 2008. It slipped after I lost 85 pounds and was crawling into a kayak on vacation. My band was pretty messed up so the doctors decided they couldn't replace it when they took it out. I waited 4 months and decided I could not stand gaining weight. So I had a new band in November 2009. Since then I have not had much success in losing any more weight. I just lost 14 pounds a few months ago and then I just gained 5 pounds! My doctor today told me that she thought my band was not working for me and would I be open to a revision and getting the sleeve? I am still trying to decide whether or not to go with it or not. My biggest fear is the pain after the surgery. The thought of having my stomach sliced up and stapled back together gives me the shivers. I am also wondering what damage my band did to my stomach. What if the band has attached itself to my stomach? I had two bands put in and one taken out and I thought it was basically pain free. I didn't take pain meds when I got home from the hospital and I was in for only 24 hours. I have enjoyed reading the posts related to former banders. It sounds so much better than having to deal with food getting stuck! I could not find the "sweet spot" in my second band. I was either too tight or little or no restriction. My first band was a dream because I found my "sweet spot" but having the second band didn't work that way. I appreciate all your feedback and your experiences. It will help me decide to go forward with the sleeve. I have been told today that Blue Cross PPO will cover it. My next step is to schedule the psychiatric evaluation. Talked it over with my husband and mom tonight and both were very supportive. They know I struggle with my weight. My doctor today told me I will probably have the weight battle all my life and the sleeve may be my answer to get under 200 pounds. I am also interested in the recovery time after the surgery. With the band, I was in the hospital overnight. I think I was off work a week with the first band and only a couple of days with the second band. The second time around I realized how easy it was. I made too much out of it the first time around.

Excellent question. After I get a fill, my doctor will give me a glass of Water to drink to make sure my band isn't too tight. If water goes down too slowly or not at all, she will take Fluid out. I have had different experiences in the past about my band being too tight. Sometimes if food gets stuck, it causes an irritation to my band and I notice that it gets swollen and its difficult to eat solid food. Or, I could have had a bout with throwing up for some reason like the flu or upset stomach or food getting stuck, that causes a tight band for me. This past time, it was several weeks after a fill that I noticed it getting tighter. I went on vacation the week before and I think I was eating more than usual and eating foods that I normally don't eat. I don't recall my food getting stuck or throwing up to cause it to tighten. I do notice that when I get emotionally excited (either happy or sad), my band can tighten. It may have been a combination of the extra foods, different foods and my emotions running high (going on vacation and coming back) that I noticed when I laid down at night (flat) that I would have an acid reflux happen so that food would come up my throat and wake me up. Finally, I had to go sleep on the couch with a pillow to prop me up to sleep. It lasted about 2 days when I realized that this is not going away. Then one Sunday night (2 or 3 day of the reflux at night), I noticed that I was throwing up without any reason and not because I was laying flight. I ran out of things to throw up so it was digestive juices and it looked dark and I called my 24-hour Blue Cross nurse. She took a few minutes to evaluate me and decided I should go to the ER. It could have been dried blood that was coming up (sorry probably too much information). I went to the ER, had the Cat-scan, had an IV put in for dehydration and 3 cc's were taken out by my bariatric doctor who met me at the ER. I had instant relief when I had the unfill. I ate only liquids for a couple of days afterwards, then mushies, etc. I am feeling much better and have an appointment for a fill tomorrow because I have no restriction and miss it. I hope this helps. It is scary when it happens but its an easy fix with an unfill. Its always good to know too that you can meet your doctor after hours or weekends if you don't want to suffer with the discomfort until the next appointment. P.S. My band slipped in 2008. When that happened, my saliva would not go down. I had to go to ER in Kauai when I was on vacation. The ER doctors did not know how to take the fluid out of my band so they called my doctor in California. They still couldn't get it out. Later I found out that my band twisted and that is why they couldn't get fluid out. I had a new band put in in 2009.