oconnell

So I'm hoping someone can give me an idea as to wtf is going on, etc, because I feel like total crap. But here's the deal: I was banded in May of 2010, had an okay weight loss, then went for a fill in April of 2011 and found that my port had "half-flipped". Went in for a fill under floro (which was OMFG painful), was okay- until recently. I started having reflux, serious restriction, and got the point where I vomited with nearly everything I ate, even though I had SERIOUS appetite. Went in last week, saw the NP, she attempted to unfill my band, and couldn't (after 25min of poking with no luck). Was told I need to have it done under floro (duh), and was going to have an upper-gi the next day. So I have both done, but when the surgeon (not my surgeon, mind you- I have yet to see him in the whole debacle) FINALLY gets to my port (15 min and a lot pressure and pushing later) he only gets MAYBE 2ccs of Fluid out- that's a murky brown. SO my question is, WTF do you think is going on? I see my doc on Tuesday morning, but haven't been given any instructions on what to do, what not to do, and so on. Or what they may think is going on. Right now, I feel like I still have some restriction, feel nauseous as crap, and insanely lightheaded. I feel like I'm being left in the dark with something that could be a potential emergency. I don't like feeling like crap, nor am I comfortable with not knowing what's going on.. has anyone else gone through or had similar symptoms? I just want a general idea of where this is headed.

I was banded 5 days ago and am on full liquids right now- no biggie. But I'm reaaaalllly tired of feeling full after I drink/eat and having my stomach "growl" at the exact same time. Sooo frustrating!!! :thumbup:

Yep. I was banded four days ago as well and am feeling the exact same way. I'm losing weight but with the way that I feel it almost doesn't matter! I'm hoping that this will pass soon, but it feels like it's just draaaaging on!

Oh no, not "eating".. I'm on liquids. I've been doing broth, jello, etc.; trust me, not real food! I'm not even interested in it!

I was banded last Tuesday (May 18th) and have felt pretty crappy since... it's manageable, but still crappy. :thumbup: Anyway, there have been a few occasions since where I feel like I'm going to vomit- but I can't get anything up. It's beyond painful, and my stomach actually tries to get it up, but nothing happens. No mucous, etc.; Is this normal just after being banded? I'm not doing anything abnormal (I've actually been forcing myself to eat lately), but I just feel nauseous yet can't produce vomit when my body tries. Anyone else experience this?

Feeling your pain! I was banded on Tuesday (the day after you) and am having similar side-effects. The first thing I felt when I came-to was the worst pain that I had ever felt in back. Once I came home I felt worse! You're not alone. Feel free to message me or email me and we can talk each other through this since we're literally 24hrs apart banding-wise!!! sarah(dot)katz(at)gmail

Thanks ladies! It feels as though walking only makes the gas shift into higher areas (ribcage, chest, shoulders), thus it feels a thouuuusand times worse. I know this will pass, eventually, but right now it feels like an eternity! Will def. try the maalox things. Bought gas-x yesterday and it didn't do a darn thing for me. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some of this gas out of me!!!!!

So I was banded yesterday and I totally didn't expect pain like this. It's mostly gas pain, but still, it HURTS. Did anyone here have any severe gas pains? It's not just abdominal gas, it travels from the abdomen to shoulders.. my sides. Just hurts! That and I'm seriously nauseous. I'm definitely experiencing that buyer's remorse that I've heard about! :w00t:

Thanks! Yeah, I had a psych eval (I felt like I was taking the SATs all over again...), met with the surgeon, was cleared, have had ONE pre-op class and met with the nutritionist. My pcp sent me for bloodwork at the end of january along with my referral. The letter I received from the insurance co. stated that they would pay for "restrictive banding", etc., so I'm pretty sure I'm good to go. I've been given a May 18th surgery date- and am awaiting my "pre-op testing" info from the surgeon's team (I'm assuming this will be any further blood labs, endoscopy, etc.) later in the week. Thanks for all the answers, you guys are great!! It's not always easy to talk about this with others (i.e., other family members/friends) because they really don't "get it".. y'know? :cool:

Thanks everyone! I realize that each office/surgeon has their own way of doing things, I just was curious as to what the "usual" MO was. When I wrote yesterday my surgeon's office was closed for lunch so I was slightly anxious. :cool: Though, I did have a series of blood tests done PRIOR to the submission to insurance, but nothing else. I do have to go for an endoscopy but that's it- I really don't have any other co-morbidities that would give cause for other tests.. I'm just fat. :eek: I totally expected to be rejected by insurance- I had my self psyched up for a rejection letter in all honesty.. so when I received the approval yesterday I nearly crapped myself (for lack of a better term!)..

(This is my first first post here- I'm a newbie- be easy! :thumbup:) I received my approval letter in the mail today and am curious as to what to expect now.. what's next? I know I'll have to go for an endoscopy, but my surgeon's office hasn't really "primed" me for what I have to do prior to surgery. I've read that I'll need to go on a liquid diet, but what does that entail? Sorry if I sound a bit dim when it comes to this, but I'm literally in the dark as to what flaming hoops I have to jump through prior to surgery (now that I've been approved by insurance).. Thanks a ton!