evcase

:help: Please help...I am waiting for surgery to remove or repair my band on May 1st. While I wait for surgery I have such terrible nights trying to sleep. Does anyone have any advise on this: When I go to bed (empty stomach) I have terrible throwing up of bile ....and it is coming up through my nose and into my lungs so that I spend the entire night caughing and trying to catch my breath as the bile some how gets into my breathing tubes. Even if I sleep sitting up it happens. If I go to bed with undigested food than I have the above symptoms AND throwing up undigested food. Please, any advise would be great. I am taking phenegrin and prilosec.

I recently moved to SC and would love to meet other banders. Have been away from the band life for some time now and am getting ready to get my first fill in quite a while. I am ready to get back on the wagon and would like to speak to others. Thx, T.

I found these fruit/veg tablets on the internet (and since reading your post found out about becoming a distributor-thanks!)...I was searching for a way to get all my nutrients in besides the Protein shakes, etc. I found gummy fruit and vegetables that worked GREAT for me! Nothing else would work - and as long as I took them every day, I didn't have to worry about getting malnourished! So no longer worried about Vitamins, minerals, etc. - cause they are ALL in these gummies Funny thing, after my band was removed and a few days passed, I ate an apple - for the first time in 6 years! Yummmm!!! I still take the f/v gummies - my energy level is better than it has EVER been. And thanks to lisanjason - I have found out that I can be a distributor and my surgeon now carries them in his office as a direct result of my results/distribution.

Today, during pre-op surgeons office called me to reconfirm surgery. THey have me down for a sleeve (primary surgery) and (secondary) band removal. I reminded them, for the 20th time that my esophagus has severe problems...they did not see that on the chart. I asked her to tell dr to look at the upper gi again cause it is pretty darn obvious! Here is what I was wanting: PRIMARY Surgery= remove band, SECONDARY, fix esophagus, THIRD, and only IF the cost wouldn't be too much more - SLEEVE surgery. I put it to them this way because I figured I would get some sort of discount on the sleeve since, afterall, they are inside me anyway. So...the doctor said cancel the whole thing!!! I am so mad! We are to meet on Monday and I wanted your advise. Sort of made me feel like, after I told them, for the 20th time that my primary concern is to remove band and fix esophagus - and they realized they wasn't going to get $30,000 for sleeve surgery than to heck with me and just cancel it. Not taking into consideration that I can't eat, sleep sitting up, throwing up, the whole nine yards... Am what I am asking unreasonable? Is it heard of? Or am I being simple? If he writes up the primary surgery to be sleeve than the removal will not be covered at 80% - because IT is not the PRIMARY reason I am in the operating room. Any advise, comment would appreciated.:phanvan Ya know, I had a good feeling to just walk in the darn emergency room complaining of pain and make that darn dr come and take this band out!

Thanks Karen: I was NEVER able to eat fruits and vegetables except lettuce. I found the "FRUIT & VEGETABLE" tablets and that is the reason I stayed out of the emergency room because they gave me all the Vitamins, minerals, Fiber, etc that I needed each and every day. Also, my doctor was surprised that I hadn't become malnourished until I told him about these tablets. I was so taken by these tablets that I got in touch with the company and am now distributing them. It has been 3 nights now and I am sleeping (laying down) I don't bring an empty cup with me at bedtime to spit up in and I haven't taken one tums or prilosec. So far, hunger hasn't returned so am using this time to pray and stay strong. I wish you luck on your removal it is so worth the getting rid of the problems. I am still PRO lap band - just hope people learn from my mistakes before it is too late for them too.

Band has been removed and I feel great! my removal was a 1 night stay - probably insurance related. But got lots of rest and pain killers! Am sore, as should be and am going to rest today as well. Not hungry yet, and am not going to make an issue of it. If I start thinking of "hunger" than I wil get anxious about "what if"...etc. So am taking it one day at a time. Dr said that most of my stomach was above the band and he removed lots of scar tissue. While I was preparing for surgery, I had to keep throwing up bile, and the anestologist (sp?) put a tube down my nose/throat to suck up all the rest of bile. I felt good that HE took me seriously - and all the other medical staff was astounded at the amount of bile that I brought up - with no effort I might add. I just feel that all along, the dr office never took me seriously - and I was too late in the game to switch doctors so I just accepted their lax behavior. Anyway, I am happy it is all over. I got to sleep lying down for the first time in 6 months! No tums throughout the night, no empty glass to fill up with bile during the night! Ya heww!!!! Would I do it again? I don't think so. Because I had more bad years than good ones. I had the band placed in 2001 (or 2002) can't remember. But it truly worked when all was good. If I had the money, I would do the sleeve.....but for now, I will just rest and relax and not think of anything. Also, my esophagus is fine - just like what the dr said would probably happen. I guess with all the bile/undigested food, I felt like my eso. was probably damaged. Thanks for everyones support and I wish you all great success! If I could give any advise it would be 1. Get control of your food issues (emotional, etc.) 2. If something is difficult to go down, don't eat it again 3. Stay away from bread, bagels (doughy stuff) 4. Don't take Vitamins, minerals, etc. There is a tablet that I take called "fruit and vegetable tablets" that is all natural and it replaces ALL the nutrients you would get in fruit and vegs for that day - including Fiber and is SAFE for diabetics. If you want to know more, just email me... 5. The f/v tablets (I took the gummies) is what kept me healthy during all of this. 6. Stay away from vegetables/fruit that is fiber-ous (sp?) 7. And get support from this site, friends, others, etc. 8. NEVER NEVER NEVER drink while you eat! Thanks again friends, E

Welcome back Alexandra!! Get plenty of rest. My removal is rescheduled for 14th of this month. Was yours outpatient? Laproscopically?? Recover time? Good luck with your next appts re: VG band.

I get the feeling the doctor just wants to take the easy way out and slice me open...and get it over with. Removing band laproscopically (sp?) would be too time consuming perhaps! The rest, I felt was blah, blah, blah.... at any rate. I am go to Cardio today to get through the EKG stuff and hopefully, surgery will be as early as next week.

Went to see doctor yesterday. He said he wants to just remove the band and nothing else. No sleeve, no repair, no replacement. Anyway, he said that he also feels the esophagus problem may be better when we remove the band. I told him that in the past whenever I unfilled the band (in Miami) than all reflux disappeared - so he summised, that perhaps I was not a good candidate for the band in the first place. Anyway, all being said, he will try to remove it laprsopically but may have to make a 6-8 inch incession to get at it. He said he felt it has possibly eroded and scar tissue may make it harder to remove since he viewed the upper gi in December. Whatever, just get the darn thing out! now, waiting for cardio to clear me for surgery. I see cardio on Thursday to take another ekg. Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers....will keep you posted.

Wasabubblebutt: Yes, I am getting ready to go right now. Wish me luck!! I am going to tell dr. NO sleeve! And ask him to repair band if possible. I will post update when I return home this early evening. Thanks W... (P.S. I love your nickname!!!)

Alexandra: Congrats on your successful removal...and hope the bar-b-que was fun!!! Through reading this post I have learned about the "larger band" and I am going today to discuss band removal and will bring that up. My insurance is paying to remove band but I will ask how much for band replacement as well. My symptoms are EXACTLY like yours - since December! I have just put up with it hoping that the insurance would change their mind. Not! Anyway, lots of luck on your May 3rd appointment. And I am ready for mine today. I was initially suppose to have surgery tomorrow but got canceled!

I blame myself because I knew the rules. Don't overeat. Don't drink while eating. Any throwing up - go to dr. I ignored these time and time again until my pouch got distended and well...the rest is history. I think it just kept getting worse as time went by even though I would get unfilled/wait 6 weeks/get refilled. Probably slipped a long time ago and I just never knew it and just figured I was doing something wrong. The end result is the same. I have to get it removed...and I am fine with that.

Both of my port revisions were paid for by insurance....they were "medically necessary"

After my initial surgery (2001) I went in for my first fill only to find out the port broke! So into port revision surgery. Than for about 4 yrs it was fine. Then it broke again!!! The 2nd time, I was doing exercise (Curves) and man was I getting into it (for the first time in my life) and then one day I felt pain in my lower abdomen and I just knew the port broke and the tubing was traveling! Sure enough that is what happened. The doctor said the exercise could not have jogged the port - but I beg to differ! Anyway, I had to go in to hospital for revision - and stayed 2 nights. ONly because, they did not have another port and had to order one! Geesh!!! Anyway, good luck. I don't know much about the ports but I think I can reasonably say that I haven't heard of anyone else having 2 port revisions. I would be interested in finding out if anyone else had port revisions and why they feel so?

At this point I am NOT getting sleeve. I have too many bad vibes with it. I will wait until I get better insurance that will help pay for it. When I go to see him Monday I will tell him to either remove it or repair it - and after reading your advise I will MAKE SURE to ask him about his "repair" history - and then the follow-up of those particular patients. I really appreciate all your advise/comments. I had forgotten to ask those specific questions. I got banded in 2001 and lost 125 lbs the first year or two (I can't remember now)....and it went down hill from there -my fault I am sure. I am sort of scared that if he repairs it and it all was my fault - will I mess it up again? Anyway, I will continue to pray/mediate on it and I will go with my gut feeling.

Thanks you two. I am going there on Monday and doing just that. I will keep you posted.

You should look into the sleeve. The bypass is serious stuff. The band works great - but if you don't get a handle on your issues with food, you may have complications - especially if you are an emotional eater! Sure there are ways to go around the band to get what you want with food - but is that the reason you get the band in the first place?? The most healthy outlook about the band is this: The band provides 50% assistance in weight loss. You provide the other 50% by sticking to the plan and not eating things that go against the band, causing distended pouch, esophagus issues and slippage. I speak from experience and I know, first hand, that all my problems with the band that I am going through right now (I am scheduled for band removal) are as a direct result of my food intake and not paying attention. Yea, I am disappointed in myself - but if I had it to do over again.....I would learn as much as possible prior to band about food/band, I would get treatment for food issues (too many people don't like to admit this one) and I would join a HEAHTLY support group, not one that everyone sits around talking about ways to "get around the band".... I wish you luck. The band truly does work - but you have to do your part...seriously. Don't get lax! Take it seriously - and I also heard there is a new band coming out in June that will replace the old one. Look into it. My message speaks of my experience ONLY. Take what you want and leave the rest. Just remember....never stop trying... the band should be your friend and not your enemy.

OK, just found out (again..long story, short) my removal of band will be covered because it is "medically necessary"..however, insurance will only pay up to $2,000 for sleeve, repair, etc. as anything BUT removal is considered obesity-related and "they don't cover obesity-related" surgeries. So, my question to my doctors office (they haven't called me back yet) is...since you are in there anyway removing the band and all the surgery staff is around, and ready and willing, can the dr just repair, insert new one or do the sleeve surgery. I mean, my gosh, how much more can that cost. They are in there anyway!!! I seem to remember reading, and cannot locate right now, some advise on getting doctor to do additional work while in there. I need the procedure to be coded "medically necessary"...to be covered at 80%. Any ideas of what I can ask my dr to do? I cannot pay out of pocket.

Thanks for the response Wasabubble butt. I was taking both: prilosec once in the morning and again at about 8pm and then the protonix at 9pm (for 2 days) and man, the bile was worse than before. Now that you said to not take them both, I am sure tonight will be much better.

Does nexium work better than prilosec (precscription)..I have hiatal hernia and am waiting for band removal..same symptoms as you guys. I also take protonix to keep the bile at bay during sleep while I wait for surgery.

(Tried posting this on another thread) OK, just found out (again..long story, short) my removal of band will be covered because it is "medically necessary"..however, insurance will only pay up to $2,000 for sleeve, repair, etc. because anything besides removal is considered obesity-related and "they don't cover obesity-related" surgeries. So, I cannot afford to pay for repair, replace or sleeve. So, my question to my doctors office (they haven't called me back yet) is...since you are in there anyway removing the band and all the surgery staff is around, and ready and willing, can the dr just repair, insert new one or do the sleeve surgery. I seem to remember reading, and cannot locate right now, some advise on this website on getting doctor to do additional work while in there. Does anyone have any advise on alternative ways of handling this insurance/surgery issue? Tx:cry <!-- / sig -->

How did you do after surgery? Was it a hard to decide to fix it verses removing it? Were you afraid that you would do something to cause it slip after surgery? how long has it been since surgery? How have you been??? Thanks...E

Thank you so much for all your advise. Here is what I did. I changed my rx to Protonix I do NOT eat or drink (even water) after 6pm. No more prilosec, no more tums I go to bed at 10pm. A little throw up, some possibly undigested food, but no more than about 1/2 cup. Before this change, it was at least 10 oz of fluid! ...and guess what. I sleep with out throwing up all night. NO bile either!!! However, now I have started caughing, and as a past asthmatic I recognize it is my lungs. SO I am doing my inhalers of albuterol. I wonder if the lung thing is from all that bile going into my breathing and nasal passages??? So last night, I did NOT throw up but was caughing (unproductive-tightness in chest). I was so happy for the unproductive cough...but had to go sit in recliner for the rest of the night. And no more caughing. I called surgeon and the office said if I felt it was an emergency than just let them know and I can go to the emergency room (2 hrs away). But since all of your advise is working, I want to wait until May 1st....cause decision is still out on whether or not insurance will pay for sleeve surgery. If not, I will have the band repaired. I was going to just give up, but have since decided that if no sleeve surgery, than I am going to repair the band and continue working on this weight issue. I am on Protein shake for Breakfast, dinner and I eat something sensable for lunch. Most times it goes down, slowly. Thanks again for all your advise. Any more advise please send my way. I really really appreciate it. Ev:)

Great info. I had a dr test me for Hosimoto (Spell?) and told me the history about the name - but I forget the entire story now..something about Chicago and a chemical or something pregnant women took during the 50's or 60's??? Anyway, with your new info, I think I will ask for these tests when I go for my exam next time. I have hypo and I will NOT take synthroid...man, that stuff made me so moody, angry, etc. I switched to unithroid (levothyroxin) and much better with moods...but if I miss a dose or two, I get terrible body aches and soooooo sleepy!!! :bored

I can tell you from experience, once you start reflux, throwing up than that is the first sign. Get to the dr and let out some fill. I had my band since 2002 and did wonderful the first 2 yrs...than I started throwing up, and terrible reflux. I would get it unfilled and wait about 6 weeks. All the while, my dr would suggest I get an upper GI and I would ignore the advise. Then go back to him after 6 weeks and get a small fill. I was totally to blame, from not following the instructions. Dr., could have insisted that I get the upper GI or no fill. But he never did. Now, in 2006 I had signs of slippage and as a result of the slippage I also am batteling a large hiatal hernia. My insurance just now agreed to the removal. I am too scared to get it repaired. I do not trust myself at this point. But from my experience: never drink while eating....or even after eating...wait at least an hour. Eat SLOW and chew to puree. I could never tolerate, bananas, fruit with skin, bread products, beef. When I did follow the rules, the band worked. However, I never worked on the true reason for my obesity - which is what I am working on now. No amount of surgery is going to help you for the rest of your life unless you are willing to change your reasons for eating. The band works if you don't try to get around it. You are just cheating yourself. Also, I did the whole thing alone and never asked or got advise - until recently when I found this site. Just stay true to yourself and know that what goes in must go down or back up. And going back up is not fun!!! Right now, while I wait for surgery I take an empty glass to bed with me every night to throw up in and down about 4 rolaids or tums throughout the night to keep the bile at bay. I am past the point of blaming myself now though. Been there! I am now working on the inner-me...knowing that I will fight this obesity one way or another or a combination of things...but will not let allow myself to play the blame game any longer. What is done is done and I am ready to move on. Hope some of this helped. It is so important that once you start throwing up, etc....go to the doctor. Don't be shy...that is why they are there. To help you!