ellendeette

I just had 3 cc's taken out last Monday. My band was so tight that I was having acid reflux and then a few days later I couldn't stop throwing up. I met my doctor at the ER. They took a CAT-scan and decided my band was okay (no slippage) but my band was too tight and was causing swelling above the band and that was causing my throwing up (gastric juices). My stomach felt swollen for several days. The doctor gave me medication for acid reflux (even though I don't really have it). The medication will help heal my throat from the acid reflux caused by the tight band and the hours of throwing up I was doing. I think I threw up 10-12 times. I had no control over it. I hate to be so graphic but I think others should know that this can happen. The easy fix for me was to have the 3 cc's taken out. This isn't the first time that my band has been too tight. After an eposide of tightness and having an unfill, I try to stick to liquids for a couple of days. Warm Soup or broth seems to feel good. Then I go to mushy foods. I don't know about your port being sore. I have never had that before. May be because how your doctor removed your Fluid. Good luck to you and I assure you that you will feel better. If not, I would suggest calling your doctor.

I agree with the post before me. Health comes first. You have a young child that depends on you. I was a single parent before and I know and have felt that responsiblity. It sounds like you have had numerous complications with the band. I have too. I had my first band put in May 2008. It slipped and I had to have it removed in July 2008. I had another one put in. Last week, my band was too tight and I also had Fluid and swelling above the band. I went to the ER because I could not stop vomiting. Luckily, taking fluid out helped tremendously. Not getting an infection under control is very scary. Good luck to you in surgery today! I thought taking the band out was a much simplier and faster surgery than putting it in (I have had two put in and one taken out). Please post again and tell me how you are doing after surgery.

I can relate to what you are going through. I had a pretty terrible last year too. My Dad passed away along with two uncles and an aunt. I have gone back to support meetings, and started a regular exercise program. I had to have an unfill this past week because my band was way too tight. I had vomiting and acid reflux. Plan on returning again for a fill when things calm down. Having the proper restriction really helps me the most to put things in perspective as to the volume of food I eat. And, as always, being mindful of having all the necessary Protein in the day, plenty of Water, making good choices of food, etc., all help. Good luck to you! I feel I have done this before (getting back on track and being successful with weight loss) so I know what to do.

I had a similar problem just recently. I kept throwing up (12 times or more). I called my doctor and she said she would meet me at the hospital. They took a CAT-scan and my band was in good shape but my throat was very swollen from the vomiting and some acid reflux I had several days earlier. My band was swollen too. My doctor took out 3 cc's out of my band. She determined my band was too tight. I have not vomited and do not have acid reflux (another sign of band being too tight). You need to see a doctor. I would suggest going back to the original doctor who put your band in but you say its too far away. Is there a low-cost or no cost medical clinic in your area? You can see a doctor there and ask them what they suggest you do. Your band may have slipped (vomiting like you are is a symptom) or its too tight. Either way, you need medical help of some kind. Please post again and let me know how you are doing. Its so frustrating to be vomiting like that. You must be drained physically and emotionally. I don't know how you do it with two small children that are depending on you.

I think your instinct is right. I don't think throwing up your food is normal or healthy. Is it possible that your doctor has an associate that you can see instead? I am just wondering if your band slipped? Can you drink fluids? Does liquid come up just like food? Does your saliva go down? I know it sounds gross but when my band slipped, my saliva didn't even go down. The problem with liquid and saliva not going down is that you get very dehydrated and you also aren't taking in nutrients (among other things). I assume you are eating slowly and taking small amounts. I can't imagine this is a psychological problem. I would rule that out. Don't you think? I would go on a liquid diet for awhile just to get your stomach settled more. But first of all, I would see if your doctor has an associate doctor to see instead of your primary doctor. What did your doctor say is the problem? I was not clear on what he said could be the problem.

You are so right. Something is not right. I don't think the band was meant to be that way (to eat and it comes up again with mucus or slime). How can you get the right amount of Water and Protein that way? That is not a healthy way to live. Maybe you can suggest to the doctor to take some tests to see if your band slipped? Tests need to be done like an endoscopy or other tests to determine slippage. Please post again after your appointment to let me know how your appointment went.

I hope your doctor gets you tested ASAP to find out what is going on. This is no way to live. You must be exhausted. Please post again to let me when your appointment is for your test and what happens. I really care what you are going through.

I knew there was a reason I needed to return to Lapband Talk. You ladies really came up with some very good points regarding getting stuck, getting unstuck, etc. I have heard this over and over again through this site and at support meetings that when people say if they could do it start over again they would eliminate bread out of their diet. I too have trouble getting it out of my diet. When I do, my stomach goes down and I don't have problems with it getting stuck. Although, I must admit you can get away with having it a small amount toasted at times. But on a whole its not worth trying to eat it like I have in the past. Someone mentioned above about room temperature pineapple juice. Could you expand on how that works? When you get stuck, do you drink it to get unstuck? How much? I have heard someone else talk about this before. Its similar with the papaya enzyme tablets (which I have tried every which way and have not done a thing for me). I agree with having liquids after being major stuck problem at least for 12-24 hours. I think your stomach/band gets swollen and irritated. I did that the other day and I think it really worked. Today I am much better and today I did really well and everything went down without being stuck and it was a band friendly day! Thanks ladies for your sharing and support it really helps. I feel like I am starting all over again because this is my first fill in over one year. The goal I have found is not to get STUCK but let's face it there are times that you get stuck when you least expect it.

This is what I went through yesterday! Yes, I also believe every fill is different. Some foods will be fine one time and other time, they will hit your band wrong. I had a fill last Monday of 2.25 cc. I haven't had a fill for over one year. I was on liquids for 24 hours. I was eating small amounts, having fish, chicken salad, some salad, etc., doing amazingly well. Then I went to lunch with a co-worker. Oh boy. I had some quiche and a salad. Disaster! I was eating a small amount of the quiche and small amount of the salad. STUCK! I had this problem before with eggs on prior fills (long time ago). The egg got stuck. I had some sliming too. I had the waiter box things up. I also think conversing and eating may have done it too. Although, I ate very little and was chewing very well. You just don't know when it hits or what foods are the enemy. I noticed too that the salad dressing wasn't a good combo with the salad for some reason. I don't know why. Its almost like you have to stick with just certain food when you have a strong restriction. I haven't had this amount of restriction in a very long time. I am not going to get an unfil at this point because I can eat many other foods without problems and I get full quickly without sticking problems. I have used the papaya tablets in the past and they haven't helped me. There are people who swear by them. I don't know if I don't use them correctly or at the right time or what. Its worth a try. I don't know about warm Water because if something is stuck, the water just goes on top of it. Coughing seems to help or walking and letting it slowly go through. All I know is that it is very uncomfortable and the slimming is so awful! It finally went down and I didn't eat until this morning. I just drank water (sipped). My stomach felt rather sore and my appetite was zero. I did not want to get dehydrated. I am taking it easy with foods today and staying away from anything questionable that may get stuck. I think meats have to be very, very moist and you have to take very small amounts and chew like crazy. Eggs are not good for me either right now (obviously).

Hi Jill, I don't know if you have AR or not but throwing up and waking up several hours each night, having to sit up and coughing for 2 hours is not normal and sounds like an awful way to live. I do not think that is what the band is intended (if its the band). It may or not be the band. Either way, I think you need to get checked out by a doctor. I would suggest returning to your bariatric doctor to check out the symptoms to figure out if it is your band or not. If its not your band, you should see your internist or another doctor to see what is waking you up with those symptoms. I had my first band put in in May 2008. It slipped in July 2009 due to a unusual kayaking incident in a vacation trip to Hawaii. About that time I had lost about 85 pounds. I think the combination of weight loss and the way I was getting back into a kayak, made my band slip. Either way, it slipped and I had to have it removed. I had to wait until the swelling went down and several months later, I had a new one put in. I had gained some weight during that time. I have lost and gained weight after my second band was put in. I didn't have the weight loss like I had with the first band. I am on back on track again and feel good about it. I recently had a fill last week of 2.25 cc. I think I am on the tight side restriction wise but I am going I am taking it slow and easy. Please let me know how you are doing. I saw someone else post above and they mentioned not eating late. That might help you over the weekend (if its a band problem or not), of not eating after 5 p.m. until you can see a doctor next week. Take care, Ellen

Your story is very similar to mine. I wonder why you think your band slipped a second time? What symptoms are you having? I also heard that there is a very small percentages of bands slipping (like 2%). My surgeon told me that when they placed my second band in, they also did "extra" securing of the band. My second band seems different the first one. I can't explain it in words. Not the physical part of the band but how it works. I was wondering if you also noticed something?

I cannot figure out why they didn't take out all the Fluid when your doctor suspected a slippage. They tried taking the fluid out of my band in the ER and later when my bariatric surgeon tried it. They couldn't take out any fluid because my band twisted! It sounds like you do have other medical issues that could complicate determining whether your band slipped or not. X-rays are normally not that expensive so even if you have to pay for them yourself, it may be worth it to have it. Good luck to you! Please let us know on LapBand Talk how you are doing. Its a learning process. I never thought my band would slip but it did. I had it put back in because my weight starting climbing up at a scary rate even though I was eating the same and exercising the same. I don't think I could maintain or lose weight withot the band.

I cannot figure out why if the endoscopy was normal that your doctor thinks it still may have slipped. Wouldn't the endoscopy show if the band slipped or not? I don't know how an x-ray would help. When my band slipped, I had a CATSCAN and that was quite helpful to see that it slipped but the doctors used the results of my endoscopy to see where it slipped, etc. Please let me know what happens. I can understand why you are afraid and uncertain especially since you don't have your insurance helping you if it needs to come out. Maybe your stomach is swollen and with the fluid taken out, eating soft fluids, etc., it will help the swelling go down. I really don't know.

I don't know if you can tell if a band slips by symptoms alone. When my band slipped, I couldn't even take in my saliva. Everything would come up. I was getting dehydrated and the emergency doctor gave me an IV right away because I could not take in water. I also had X-ray and CATscan to confirm it. I think a doctor can only confirm a slippage. I would suggest you returning to your doctor for tests and confirmation of a slip and how to correct it or with replacement. I couldn't have my replaced when they took it out because my stomach was so swollen and the band was twisted. Good luck. Keep us posted on what your doctor says.

I thought it was much easier the second time around. I don't know if its because you know what to expect or what. My first band was placed in May 2008. My band slipped in July 2009. I was in Hawaii on a kayak when my band slipped (long story). I went to the emergency room in Hawaii and they couldn't figure out what to do with me. The emergency doctor couldn't figure out what a "lapband" was (small hospital). The doctors in Hawaii spoke by phone to my doctor here in California and the doctor in Hawaii couldn't get any Fluid out of my band because it was so twisted. I was in the hospital for a few days before my surgery because they had to take a few tests to figure out how the band slipped (endoscopy had to be done too) and I had to wait for a surgery date and time. I was in the hospital for less than 24 hours after my surgery. I had the surgery on a Thursday and returned to work on the following Monday. My band was too twisted to replace it. I actually thought I didn't need a new band but when the weight started piling back on, I realized I needed a new band. I had a second band placed in November 2009. One of the best things I ever did. I am still struggling with finding a "sweet spot" but its so worth it. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

No, I have never heard that a slip would correct itself by eating liquids and then to soft foods. Maybe your doctor thinks that this will make the swelling go down? I don't know. Did you have medical tests done to determine if your band slipped? When my band slipped last summer, they took an x-ray and CatScan and it clearly showed the ER doctors (who weren't bariatric doctors) that my band had slipped. They could not take Fluid out of my band because my band was twisted. All I can say is that is wait and see. Do the liquids then soft foods, etc. If you still have problems, I would suggest getting a second opinion from another bariatric doctor. When my band slipped, I could not drink or eat anything without it coming up. My saliva came up after it accumulated in my pouch. I was getting dehydrated and had to have an IV to receive fluids. I could not get fluids into me without an IV. Fluid would not stay down. Please let us know how you are doing. I care. I have been there and its extremely frightening. I was rebanded in November 2009 and I am so glad that I did. I thought I could not get banded because I didn't think my insurance would pay for the unbanding and then the rebanding. Found out that I paid all my out-of-pocket costs to be unbanded so I did not pay anything for my new band.

I have been there and you need to see the doctor who put your band in (if he or she is not available then another bariatric doctor). Nothing would stay down including my own saliva when my band slipped. I would drink Water and it would come up. I don't want to scare you but you need medical attention right away. You can get severely dehydrated because no water will stay down and that can be life threatening. My band slipped last July 2009 while I was on vacation in Kauai. My kayak turned over. I climbed back into the kayak. I thought I broke a rib but when I went to the emergency room and they did a Catscan and x-ray. I had trouble breathing and I couldn't eat or drink anything. I found out from the tests that my band slipped! Luckily, it happened at the end of my vacation. I came home and went straight to the ER near my home. I had my band taken out a few days later. They couldn't take Fluid from my band because it was twisted. I thought since I lost so much weight with my band that I could have it taken out and life would be fine. That is not how it worked. I wasn't done with my work with the band because I started GAINING WEIGHT! I had a new band put in last November 2009. I could see myself gaining my weight back and gaining more! I feel I am on track now with my new band and I am taking everything very slow including my fills. I have lost the weight I gained when I lost my band. I have the hope that I can lose more weight and keep the weight off that I fought so hard to lose. Good luck to you and please post again after you see your doctor and let me and others know how you are doing. Ellen

Actually that is the best part of my shoe size shrinking from my weight loss. I used to wear Wide width and now I wear Medium width. Its made a world of difference in finding shoes that fit. I live in North Hollywood (Los Angeles) and there are quite a few stores that carry Wide width but now that I am a Medium width, the amount of stores that carry Medium width is enormous. I think of it as yet another "perk" to losing weight. I never anticipated it. I also can stand for longer periods of time and walk farther distances. My shoes seem to fit better too.

Congratulations on your new band! Thank you for letting us know that you have been rebanded and are doing so well. Its one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was seriously thinking of not having the band replaced after my old one slipped. I kept thinking that I changed my bad behaviors and I didn't need it (WRONG). If I did not replace my band I think I would have gained all my weight back and EVEN MORE WEIGHT if I did not get rebanded. One of my bosses at work encouraged me to get rebanded. He was skeptical of the band whenI had the first one put in but after he saw the results, I think he knew the band was really helping me.