legalshortyd

I don't know anything about H Pylori, but I can tell you that I had to have a revision b/c my band was hitting some tiny nerves in my stomach that referred pain to my back. If the pain in the middle of your back, especially if it's on the port side, it could be because of something like this in addition to the H Pylori (or something else that's putting pressure on the band and making it hit a nerve). Don't let them treat you like you are crazy. They did that to me for 3 weeks until I couldn't work or even move and I finally screamed at them to go in. They did, moved it, and when I woke up from surgery I immediately felt better.

Aloe vera juice and prilosec can help too. And stay on liquids....puree soup and fruit smoothies. We've all done the crime - now you just have to do the time.

Hi - when you guys have reflux is it always burny for you? Or does it sometimes just feel like you have a golfball in your throat and it's tough to swallow? I don't have trouble getting anything down; it doesn't hurt or come back up (though sometimes it's touch to burp) - it just feels like my glands are really swollen. Oh, and it's much worse at night? Is that another version of reflux?

Diva - what did it feel like when you slipped again? I'm only two weeks after surgery and I'm having the wierd trouble swallowing (golfball in my throat feeling?). I had part of the inside of a calzone the other day (the mushy cheesy part since I'm still on mushies) and it's still bugging me. It better be reflux or swelling of I'm going to believe I'm cursed. Prilosec and liquids for me I guess. Oh, and re: being really good and not causing another slip? Apparently you aren't alone. Should I really have had the inside of a calzone instead of a pureed something? No. But you know what? We're human. I'm studying for the bar and not only did I have surgery - I can't drink, I can't eat, I can't work out and I can't have sex. If a human decision to enjoy some mushy cheese at the library caused another slip that's just too damn bad and i won't miss this thing at all anymore. Jeez.

I have been reading this site for a while. Now I need some advice from those of you who have had complications and been faced with the decision of whether to remain banded or have it removed. (And how you feel now, no matter what your decision) I was banded in May 2005. I've lost about 70 pounds. I had a revision in September 2005. I was having horrible back pain/spasm on my port side. They didn't really know what the heck was wrong with me. In the end, they opened me up and moved some sutures b/c they thought they might have hit a nerve. Despite dissatisfaction with their explanation, I felt better right away, so I went on my merry way. Over the past 10 weeks I've had increasing difficulties with reflux, golf ball syndrome, swallowing difficulties. Not surprisingly, I have a slip and I'm having surgery on Tuesday. As this is my third lap-band surgery in about 1 year, I'm nervous to say the least. I know I fit into some tiny percentage of people who have had complications - but what if I have more? Let's be honest - this thing has only been around for a little over 10 years. We have no data will happen long term. I feel like I'm likely signing up for another round of surgery sooner or later (hopefully later). To be frank, I kind of expected that at the beginning. I never really expected that the band would be in me forever. The technology just seems a bit crude. However, after three prior surgeries, I'm not sure I'm willing to sign up for a fourth in the future. Not to mention I've also been in pain to one degree or another for the 6/12 months and that's not ideal, though managable. On the other hand, I've been fat for 27 of my 28 years on this planet. For the first time in my life, I'm able to shop at normal stores, to look at myself in the mirror and be proud and happy, to be comfortable and confident around friends and family and almost (but not quite) be comfortable being naked around my husband. I still have 30 pounds to go and I'm petrified of what would happen to me without the band. I don't think I'll lapse into old patterns right away - but what happens if I injure myself and can't exercise for a while? (I've had knee surgery, hip problems and herniated disk and gained weight with each injury). What happens if another life factor intervenes and I become depressed and start emotionally eating (again - done this - gained 50 pounds when father died; lost it; then gained it back in law school). That's my pattern - lose 40-50 pounds with diligence over a 6 month period and then slowly gain it back over a year. Repeat. That isn't be healthy either. And what about the day when I'm not able to just lose that 50 pounds? My mother is 60 and she's done this gain/lose cycle all her life. Now, her weight is just creeping steadily higher and higher. I don't want that to be me - that's why I had this done in the first place. So this is the quandary - risk more lap-band complications and potential discomfort? Or risk potential fatness and all that this brings? Neither an appealing choice given the history. While I appreciate people's desire to cheerlead and be helpful on this site - I don't need that now. I just need frank opinions from people. Oh - and for all of you out there who ask questions like "should I go to the dr if....I'm vomiting every day; I'm vomiting up black gunk; I have reflux or heartburn and I never did before; I can't get food or liquids down; I PB all the time; I get stuck all the time, I think my restriction is too tight, etc etc"...The answer is YES. Life with a lap-band shouldn't be THAT different from normal life. Restriction should send a signal to stop eating - not make you sick every time you do eat normally (for a bandster). And if you do not feel right - CALL YOUR DR (or nurse practitioner or whomever). If they aren't listening - MAKE THEM LISTEN. You know your own body well enough to know when it's not right. I have excellant healthcare at one of the top hospitals in NYC and sometimes they are still pretty boneheaded about listening sometimes! Make sure you are being heard. Thanks, D. 232/161/135

thanks for your response. sorry to take so long to respond. I kept it in mostly b/c my dr said it would be more traumatic for me (pain/recovery wise) to have it out and since I'm studying for the bar I couldn't risk losing the time. If I had to pay though? This thing would be out out out. Been doing ok so far - a little reflux though the past two days but it might be because it's been less than two weeks and I can't do without coffee...so it's probably my fault. Good luck to you too. - Doris