lighter02

I want to thank you all for your advice and support. My surgeon's office called this afternoon (he apparently forgot) and saw me tonight. Instead of my band being at the usual 2 and 8 its at 1 and 7 so we aren't far off. He's going to double check my new gi with the initial post op one. He also removed some of the fill and said within 2 wks I should be ok. Thanks again, I really appreciate all the support. This last week was the most nerve wracking ever.

My situation is a bit intense. I'll pm you because I don't want to affect anyone else.

Thank you all. I work at the same hospital that my PCP works at so I emailed her personally on Friday demanding answers. I think up to that point her nurse was interceding my messages. I also got the Upper GI disc just in case. I tried calling the bariatric team where I work and none of them would take me on because "they don't fix other surgeon's messes." A friend of mine who was bypassed let me vent last week and then sent me a list of about 5 surgeons in my area who may be able to help. I am going to start calling their offices tomorrow to see if other people can take me on. My other problem though at this point I'm disregarding is because I work for a hospital my insurance is geared for that hospital so if I go to any other hospital in my area they will only pay a small portion of what I need. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get some answers tomorrow.

I'm just 4 months shy of 4 yrs out and going through a real rough patch with my band and could really use someone to talk/vent/who understands.

Does anyone know of any surgeons in MA that would take on a patient that's already been banded that just needs a new physician?

Hi, It's been so long since I've been on here or asked anyone for support. I was banded May 2006. Since my banding I have had off and on hell with it. The first 2 yrs I had only lost 10lbs. From the first day I have had issues with PBing at every meal. My surgeon kept saying it was no big deal dont worry about it. I have learned to live with the downfalls and eventually started to lose weight and live with my band and despite my issues love and cannot go without my band. Around Thanksgiving I developed just acid reflux which got increasingly worse. By the last wk of the yr I went to my PCP for help and was ordered an H-Pylori test which was negative, and an upper GI. The test came back as "band on it's transverse axis" and "esphogeal dialation." I haven't been able to get an actual answer to what my series means. At one point I was told I need to go straight to the OR due to erosion but then my surgeon never showed up. My primary won't give me an answer either. I can't get an answer and am having a lot of symptoms like; shoulder pain, thick saliva, nausea, occasional vomitting, severe acid reflux, and my meds arent working correctly. My surgeon has been non-responsive and I can't get the surgeons where I work to even see me. I need to know if anyone has gone through this or has advice as a next step. I'm getting worried that this could be serious that I'm not getting help or doing enough.

thanks vanceemilton for your understanding, and yes I am headed down that rode but my gyn is trying every possibility first. I've already been through 2 major laparoscopies, and if this tx fails then a hysterectomy will be my only choice, i'm just trying so hard to avoid that right now. Jack as for your ?'s I know your not trying to be harsh and just dont know so I'll try to explain............during my initial post op period i pb-ed at least 3-4 times a wk, my nutritionist watched me eat and said it wasn't because i ate to fast or didnt chew enough. we summed it up to if i take foods directly from the fridge, freezer, or microwave and ate them it would upset me stomach to the point that id get sick. i also couldnt eat some foods that i ate pre-op like chicken, as soon as it went down id be sick, they said i developed intolerances. As for the feeling full i mentioned...the 1st month post-op i was feeling full/satisfied i was never hungry then i went to being the way i was post-op always hungry always needing food, even after id eat i was still hungry. and yeah my portions were bigger than the nutritionist suggested but i couldnt get satisfied or full and i was eating at the same times every day and the right amount of meals and calories and everything. When reading my inital post i assume you saw the part where i mentioned that they were gossiping about me, it felt like high school all over again, with the talking and the taunting, and it hurt too much to be in the same room with those ppl that's why i stopped going to the support group, i joined for help, advice, and support, not to be made fun of by ppl just like me. For seeking assistance from my nutritionist I tried, and shes booked out 2-3 months and can only take my at certain times, but i work for an MD during the day a 9-7:30 job Mon-thur and cant just leave work to see her, we're a small extremely busy practice with only 2-3 MA's on staff and no secretary so i cant just leave at any time. (we're going to be downsizing next month and because of all the time ive taken for the band's appts they told me im most likely the one to go.) So yes my health is very important, but at this point so isnt my job and health ins. My surgeon just doesnt understand he knew about the meds before the sx and didnt even tell me of the risk but says "well its the shot thats why youre not losing the weight............" UHH!!!!!!!!!!! For removing the band Im not sure of the benefits but preop i wasnt gaining weight i was just fat and obese and could eat food without having to worry about eating too fast or the right foods or will i pb whereas w/out the band i may have a chance at some normallcy for eating........................................................ I just dont know anymore. Update....Since my original post (actually last tues)my surgeon has given me another fill and told me to give it some more time and he was furious about the gossiping and said hed deal with it next meeting. I dont know if any of it will help but well see.

Hey guys, Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately for me its not that easy. My other medical conditions txs aren't going to evolve over time, it's either this or a hysterectomy, and at 22 Im totally not ready for that. As for the fills, my last one was in September and I was due for another one in October, but I just couldnt get over the news I found out in Sept about the injections preventing the weight loss, so i never went back. I tried the banders basic diet a total of 5x 2 before Sept, and 3 since then without any success. The only time i felt full was for the first 3-4 wks post op and that was all, the rest of the time i felt like i did before the sx so I think that its not a full or actually over-fill issue because i never felt that way again......... Thanks for the suggestion Im just so confused and upset right now. Tabitha

Hey Marissa, Im 22, and was banded last yr @ 21, I actually wanted the sx alot younger but that was before my surgeon started the lap-band and my bmi didnt fit for a bypass. I know about 20ppl personally, not even through here, who've had their sx's ranging from 18-23, so I dont think you've given up to soon, and as my surgeon said, I did something good before all the negatives (ie: diabetes, HTN, and high cholesterol) could begin.

I was banded last May, and never set unrealistic goals for myself or had high expectations, in case my sx didnt work. From last April when I started my liquid diet until now, I've only lost 10 lbs. I do everything by the book and try soo very hard. About 2 months post-op I started having problems like pbing and not being able to tolerate a lot of foods, even if the food was too hot or too cold I couldn't tolerate it. I did my fills regularly for a while (i had 5 fills) but I never got full/ I pprobably could have eaten the same amount of food as i did pre-operatively. Then i started see everyone in my group shed like 30+lbs in 4-5 months even less sometimes and i was barely at ten. (and of course everyone knew i had the sx and wasnt succeeding so i was gossipped about and the usual) So i feel into a depression and stopped attending meetings, and stopped seeing my surgeon. When i tried to get nutrition appts so was booked up like 3 months and couldnt see me when i free (i work as an MA for a Dr), so i didnt go back. Then I found out my failure was due to a tx I was getting for another medical condition, one that i cant stop and i wont lose wait as long as i do this tx. part of me says you went so far keep trying, part of me says your just so miserable and a failure give up, have him remove the band, and go on with your life. if you were in my place what would you do?????????? im so desperate i dont know what to do, and i dont think my surgeon will switch me to a bypass because my bmis not that bad yet. desperately Tabitha:think

I was banded at the Lawrence Memorial w/ Dr.Randall and hes done 3 fills already, Im due for another one in 2 wks. Im semi-restriceted but i still need my fills. the pbing stopped between the 1and and 2nd fill. they were actually from food i can no longer eat ie: certain veggies and meats. I excercise a min of 45mins/day, eat 4 meals a day and get my fills as i need them. im following everything everyone has told me to do, but without the results. im trying so hard and nothing is working. ive even done some intermediate days of just liquids to try and jump start it w/out success. We also did diuretics for a while to see if that would help w/ the retention w/out any luck.

Hey everyone sorry i haven't had a chance to write sooner, i work 3 jobs so its hard to find time. I have been continuously on the lupron for 4 yrs and with the consultion of 4 MDs I will probably be on it for a very long time. I have severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts to where i have had 2 laparoscopies, and debilitating pain to where i wouldn't be able to get up for days at a time. My periods would last for like 3 wks of non-stop heavy bleeding. for those whose who don't know its usually given w/ norethindrone- one as a HRT and one to lower your levels. I have literally tried every bc pill, patch, and ring out there and so far this is the only tx thats worked to give me a normal life. Going into the sx I checked with my ob/gyn, my pcp, and my surgeon no one realized this would have any affect on me. ive had the same condition for 10 yrs only 8.5 w/ a dx. nobody told me that this would happen, and since it wont go away til i reach menopause, it going to be awhile since im only 21. the only weight lose was original post op and its also because at about 1month-2 months out i had a long period of PBing episodes and wasn't eating alot, and then as it tapered so didn't my weightloss. thanks for all the support i needed someone who would understand, my family just doenst understand and it doesnt help. tabitha