I dont think i've seen a story quite like mine on here yet - so I will detail what happened to me so hopefully if anyone else has had the same problems they can let me know.
I was banded 08/08/2008 - I lost 7kg on 3 weeks of Optifast before surgery. I had my band put in, and when I awoke from surgery I was very very sick with vomiting. They pretty quickly gave me anti nausea and I was ok.
After a few days I was able to start working from home. I did as my surgeon said (and ignored advice on the forums - because my surgeon has done so many patients. He's a leading surgeon in Australia) and did liquids for 2 weeks and then went to mushies after it. I lost another 7 kg's over the next couple of months.
I had Fluid put into my band - and really struggled to eat food. Its been so long now, I dont remember what these initial stages were really like. I went back to my surgeon and advised I was having trouble eating. They worked with me on the kinds of foods to eat - and I changed my diet. It was like I was eating around my band. It was never what I thought it would be like. I couldn't eat the foods they had once told me would be possible. I had all the fluid out - and I ate a small steak. I felt full, but it was ok. I say that I ate a steak - because with nothing in my band now I couldn't dream of eating red meat like steak. I would throw it all up for hours. I must not have been prolapsed at this time.
I had fluid put back in, and a couple of times it had to be removed straight away as within 24-48 hours I wouldn't even be able to drink Water. They then over the next couple of months tried very small increments of fluid in the band - which would have the same reaction and wind up getting taken out.
I was then sent for a gastroscopy (found nothing) and a barrium meal (also appeared fine). I went back to my surgeon in frustration, and he ordered video nanometry. This found that I had a prolapsed band. I had nothing in my band, but continued to throw up and couldn't eat a lot of solid foods.
In total, I lost 7kg on the preop diet, and 7kg after being banded. I have gone through a year of hell - not knowing what was going to make me sick, feeling uncomfortable so often and all to see no real weight loss.
Since the video nanometry revealed the prolapse, I have seen my surgeon. He's got me booked in for surgery this week to revise the band and place it back in, in the correct position.
What I am unsure about is wether or not I even want to keep the band. Im not sure I can live life with this much pain and uncertainty. Frankly, I just became single a couple of weeks ago - and although the idea of being slim appeals - I just dont think anyone would tolerate my constant sickness and issues that the band gives me. Maybe life with the band isn't like this for other people - but this is all I have known. Im wondering if I should just get it removed all together.
If you have any thoughts, please share.
Thankyou for reading...I know it was long.