bigpoppy

I had a lap band installed in June 2008- The one they installed was too tight so after a week at home with a feeding tube down thru my nose (so tight i couldn't even swallow my own spit) they decided to go back in and install a bigger one. I woke up and passed the the swallow test and was so relieved to not have the feeding tube- I was so afraid to try to put anything down that i stayed on liquids for a very long time. I was 45 years old and 6'5' weighing in at 385- Fearing the restriction I never had an adjustment (fill) and by diet alone dropped from 385 to 235 in about a year- it seemed to be tight enough- Well I started getting excruciating stomach pain about 10 months ago off and on to the point of staying in bed for days at a time (wishing it would just go away. Finally i scheduled myself a colonoscopy and an endoscope with my original surgeon- colonoscopy was fine but endo revealed that 75%of the band had eroded into my stomach-My surgeon referred me to a specialist 4 hrs from here because he thought he could take it out endoscopic-ally - went to Portland Thursday(10/31) for surgery and when I came to found out that he had to take it lapriscopically- spent the night in the hospital then a 4 hour drive home in rush hour-glad my wife was driving-even with all the pain meds I'm still up every 2 hrs-- and of course our Healthnet Insurance didn't cover one cent of it -nothing bariatric or bariatric related complications- liquids for a month (great) - Left shoulder pain is back and lots of gas and lower abdomen pain- ready for this to be over with

Yes it's me,and thanks for turning me on to this site.It seems to be very informed- Joel p.s. as of this a.m. I'm down 52.5 lbs

:thumbup:congrats:thumbup:

How do you know it is a nerve? My 6 week follow up is in 2 days and I would love to tell my surgeon about that nerve. Thanks

My left shoulder still hurts today.I'm starting to think it could be a nerve or something.I still have gas after two and a half days of eating mainly yogurt and isopure protein drinks.Nothing sounds good to eat,and I sure don't want to make this any worse.Anybody know what gall bladder pain feels like?the pain is on my left side, Thanks for any input,I almost feel like I'm whining,but really I just want to figure this out.:confused_smile:

I was at the last support group and Robin(Dr Tersignis' coordinator)let our group know that they just received the award of Center of Excellence. I am very happy with Dr. Tersigni and his awesome crew. I have already lost 49 lbs and my surgery was 5/30/2008,today is 7/13/2008.:smile2:

Thank You Gwenn, These last 6 weeks have been very interesting.I'm 6'5"and weighed 361.5 lbs. pre-op,surgery day I weighed 357 lbs. 5/29/2008,today I weighed 312.5 lbs. I haven't had a fill and if I continue like this,I don't think I'll get one. Anyway it sounds like you are doing great! Have a great time in NY. Good Luck, Joel banded 5/30 Dr.Tersigni,Coos Bay OR

hi, I was banded on May 29 2008,and I have lost an amazing 49 lbs.Today is july 13.

I'm 6 weeks out and thought the shoulder pain was finally gone,until yesterday,my wife and I went 4-wheeling in the sand dunes,and after we were coming home I got the worst case of pain that I can remember. Heating pads, icy hot, tylenol, gas-x,etc. I couldn't seem to make it go away.It still hurts today but seems to be getting better.