jldchester

Hi , I had my band removed on June 13th. Right now I feel great. I drove 3 days after surgery. I agree alot with what you said about the band. My surgeon doesn't even want to see me back for a follow up after surgery. Guess he figures he got all my money for the the last year and a half and this follow would be free so why have her come waste my time. Don't know what I will do now.

Your problems sound similar to mine, however I have never ended up in the ER. But made several trips for unfills and had major bloating in my stomach. After 1 year and 9 months my dr. is removing my band tomorrow. My band has been empty more than it has had fills. I lost a total of 39 pounds and have gained 18 pounds back. I have failed : ( My dr. suggested gastric bypass but I have declined. Feel like I am at the end of my rope...I guess being fat is my destiny.

All I can say is Amazing! I feel the exact same way you do. I have had some problems with mine, but for the last 2 1/2 years was told it's not from the band. Well guess what? I'm having it removed on June 13th. A little worried the Doc that put it in is taking out! Like you I went to a Dr. outside of my city. No one close to home will see me.

Just an up date...My surgeon finally agreed that I should have it taken out. In the process of submiiting to insurance for approval. I just want to feel normal again. I am having a gastric empty test on Monday.

Sarah, So glad you are home~and seem to be doing well. I wish you a speedy recovery, but don't rush it let your body heal. On my last post I was feeling fine. But Tuesday afternoon I started having a lot of crampy gas pains, I felt like my insides were being twisted. Got that to stop late Tuesday night and it started again Wednesday morning, but by lunchtime it went away. Today I have not had any pain but alot of gas and now my upper stomach seems real bloated. My stomach is gurgling like crazy. I took a reglan, but no relief yet. I just really want this to stop.....anyone have any suggestions?

Good Luck with your surgery tomorrow! Here's to a speedy recovery I had my gallbladder out years ago. I have not had any problems since my last post on March 16th. However, I am not losing any weight. Did your symptoms come and go? Thinking of you..... Jamie

I am so confused, I don't know what to do. I'll try to make this the short version of what has been going on. I have been unfilled since sept 2010. Started getting fills again in Jan. as of now I have 6.5 cc's in a 14 cc band. (my last fill was March11) Today I woke up with horrible bloating and gas and felt sick like I could vomit. ( have had this problem many times~ get unfilled start over) I took a reglan like the dr. prescribed me too. It did not help at all. Right now I feel like my belly is a balloon that is overfilled and ready to burst. My surgeon did do a endoscopy (in oct. is that a scope down the throat) and that his how he found the ulcers. He said they were caused from taking too much ibuprofen. Still having problems. He thought maybe my stomach wan't emptying fast enough. I asked wouldn't that happen all the time and not just off and on. Yeah I was probably right so he prescribed reglan. My surgeon is 1 1/2 hours from my house. I talked with my gastro dr. in town and he really doesn't want to touch me beacuase of the band. No band dr.'s in my town will have anything to do with me since my surgery was not done here. There are 3 local lapband dr's. I have been miserable all day and just don't know what to do.

Hi how did you find out the band damaged your stomach's abilty to empty? I've been banded since sept. 2009 and have had many issues. Lots of fills and unfills. My dr. had mentioned that he thought maybe my stomach wasn't emptying fast enough, but never explored it further. I have had ulcers and lost of issues with major bloating and gas. At one time I asked to have it out, and he said what good will that do, when you will still have these same issues because he doesn't think the band is causing them. I feel like a huge failure!

Tn girl did they give you any suggestions for dealing with the gastritis? I do not have my gall bladder, what is bile acid and did they give you any meds for that? I just got a fill after 4 months of messing with ulcers and gastritis. Had to start all over. The doc gave me 2 cc's. ( Was at 10.5 when I was emptied) No restriction at all. I can eat normal.

Losing 60 is awesome! Better than gaining!

Darby Have you been into the Dr. lately for a fill? Maybe that's what you need to get jump started again. I myself am still struggling. Right now I can eat anything I want. Don't have to take small bites or chew, chew,chew. I also work with others and have friends who have been very successful with their surgeries. I get embarrassed and feel ashamed I even told people I had surgery. I feel I have to explain why I am failing. Hey its a New Year, lets get it started right and win this battle! Jamie

Good Luck and keep us posted!

I have had the stomach flu (I think) 4 times since Sept.....Bad stomach pain, body aches, chills and sweating. Never did vomit. Makes me wonder, I've never been sick like this before. Here's to a healthier New Year for everyone

Sounds like what I have been experiencing. However, they found 3 ulcers during my GI..I am on the same meds as you except I'm on nexium instead of previcid. I still have pain and bloating at times but after being on the meds for 2 months I feel somewhat better. The lab report said I have chronic gastritis...I experience alot of bloating and gas. There are times when the pain is so bad I want this band taken out. My Dr. is trying to tell me this is not from the band and won't take it out until we find out for sure what the problem with my stomach is. He believes the ulcers are healed and doesn't have an answer for the bloating & gas. Sometimes I feel I could pop from the pressure. This is not an every day occurance. It happens off and on.

Fluffy RN, So sorry about your struggles. I wish you the best. I go back and forth about wanting my band out. I like you am afraid what will happen if I take it out. I have already gained 8 pounds since Sept. when I had an unfill. 3 weeks ago I was so uncomfotable I wanted my band removed and even called the Dr. to have it done. (Now I realize its not that easy to have it removed) Today I feel fine. I don't have problems with vomiting, but I get such bad bloating under my ribs I feel like I could pop open. I also get horrible gas pains.

I have had the stomach flu 4 times since Sept. (or so I think) Horrible stomach pain and my body ached all over. It would last 2-3 days. My band has been unfilled since Sept, so I too have some pounds to lose in 2011. Good luck with your back and losing.

Count me in too. I was banded in Sept of 09. I have lost 39 lbs only to gain back 8 since my unfill in Sept. 2010. I have had many ups and downs on this journey and right now I have been down since my unfill. Back to the old habits. I have discovered I am not hungry but continue to eat and eat...it just makes me feel so good. Then I get depressed and eat to bring myself back up. I'm ready to get back on track and make this year successful, Look out 2011 here I come!

I so feel your pain. I have been unfilled since Sept. and have gained 8 pounds. It is a struggle every day. I am fighting with my mind to eat better, but so far I have not won! My old habits have taken over. I want to win this battle.

I found out I have 3 ulcers after being banded for 13 months. I have not been as successful with my weight loss as I would like to be. This journey has been a roller coaster ride from hell. Did very well the first 3 - 4 months after surgery. Then started having lots of stomach pain, gas and major bloating... given an unfill. Started all over again with fills never felt real restriction. Had a fill in July under flouro - up to 10.5 ccs in a 14 cc band. Dropped 10 pounds right away. Started Pb'ing and vomiting often. Went to Dr. in Aug. was told to watch eating habits if continues come back in. Couldn't take it in Sept. (1 year out) started with stomach pain, gas and bloating again with reflux. Went in for unfill. Follow up in Oct. did scope found 3 ulcers and irritation above the band. Went to dr. yesterday told to stay on meds come back in December. I wonder if I should have it taken out. Seems like I have had nothing but problems. Any suggestions?

Nope, my computer looks the same way. Lots of advertisments. UGH!

Hi I have been banded for 14 months. After many fills and a few unfills it was finally discovered that I have 3 ulcers. They were biopsied and according to the lab report I have chronic gastritis. Does anyone know if its safe to keep the band with this condition? Thanks Jamie :blushing:

Claire, It sounds like you are too tight again. So sorry to hear that. If you went to the your local emergency room could someone take your fill out? I hope you do not have to be miserable until Thanksgiving. They did not say what caused the ulcers. (I'm wondering if they are new or old) But the nurse said the inflamation above the band was probably caused from food sitting there to long and the acid coming up. I will see the Dr. before Thanksgiving, but the nurse wasn't sure if I could get a fill then or not. I don't recall reading anywhere that ulcers were a complication from the band but could they be the cause of band erosion?

I woke up at night with sharp stabbing pains...a month later found out I have 3 ulcers. Good Luck

I found out yesterday that I have 3 ulcers. They said 2 are in the stomach and one above the band. no erosion yet. I was put on 2 meds. Waiting for the biopsy results. Not fun!:thumbup:

Yesterday I faced the music and it was a bad song. I was honest with the Dr. and dietician about the way I have been eating and not having control.:sneaky: Well guess what? He said he wouldn't give me a fill.:w00t: After tears and alot of frustration,and more questions after I told him my stomach still hurts off and on. He decided to scope me. Today I drove the 1 1/2 hours again to see the doc for the scope. Well I have 3 ulcers and 2 new meds to take. :ohmy:I did not get to talk with the dr. I have to wait until tomorrow when the nurse calls me back. Kind of confused over the whole thing.