condanchri

Okay, I'm in a pickle and I'm hoping to find some advice/help here. I'm an oldtimer - was banded south of the border 10/04. I lost a lot of weight within the first year (90+ lbs), then slowly it creeped back up (still down 30+lbs). My insurance wants nothing to do with my lapband. We have had some serious money issues, and we cannot afford to pay for me to go see someone (even though I've called about three different band doctors in Washington, and they have all refused to see me - due to me being banded in Mexico). I've been to the ER twice, both times they didn't know what the heck to do with me, gave me some numbing medicine for GERD, and sent me home. Here are my symptoms: Painful breathing, can't really take a very big breath - getting increasingly worse. It feels just like the bottom section of my lungs are being agitated by my diaphram, which is being pushed up by my band - I'm not a doctor, but that's what it feels like. Pain so bad it makes me cry - like tonight, when I can't sleep and it's 1am. It's a constant heavy ache, that a few doctors believe is acid reflux (although it seems to just sit at my band, and not come up at all). Bloating in the mid section - I know this seems trivial, but I honestly feel that the whole area surrounding my band is just really swollen. Never knowing if I will be able to eat - sometimes there is no restriction, sometimes it comes right up. I do the hot liquids either way. I've emailed my Mexican doc to find out if I can have my band removed (after 4 years - 3 years of which have been a constant struggle, I'm ready to get it out). I don't know what it's like to just feel like a normal person anymore. I swear, I would rather deal with the weight issues than the constant pain I am in. I just feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place - no Washington band doc wants to deal with me, no one who isn't a band doc knows what they should do for me, and even if I found a band doc, I'm not sure I could afford it (and no, I can't get a credit card that would work). Any help would really be appreciated.

Toniteach, I just wanted you to know that I know exactly how you feel. I have been there (and am still there). I was banded in October 2004. I lost 90 lbs. initially, then started having band-problems (i.e. pb'ing, can't eat, can only eat junk, etc.). I've been considering removal since 2005 - sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to know that I don't have anything foreign in my body. I've been one of the ones who had a complete unfil, and still had problems. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. When I checked with my Dr. (Kuri) back in 2005, they quoted me a price of $3500. That may have gone up now, but I will call them next week to see what they are currently charging. Good luck to you~

Reading these posts has, at times, felt like dejavu. I used to keep track on the boards regularly, but being somewhat of an "old timer," I fell out of touch. I have been banded since Oct. 2004. In the first year, life was good. I lost 90 lbs., and felt good about myself. I began to gradually notice, however, that the healthy foods I had always loved began to not work well with my band, i.e. fruits, veggies, breads, meats. I started PB'ing regularly, which caused even more irritation with my band. It was (and is) a vicious cycle. With the irritation, I couldn't even touch any food or liquids until around noon each day (this was without any fill). After that, I would fall into the "ice cream trap" - the only foods that felt good on my stomach, and which I was able to have go down well, were ice cream. I had all the Fluid removed from my band to try and ease the irritation. I began to gain weight back, even though I was consistently trying to make healthy choices. I've now gained back 55 lbs., and am miserable. I've recently experienced night-time heart burn, and internal pain just above where my band is. My port is sore. It feels good to write all this down, because I just don't have anyone to talk to about it. My band was self-pay, and it really put my DH and I in debt at the time. We've talked about having it removed (my dream!), but we can't afford it - my insurance will not pay for removal (although I would have to check with them further if there are complications involved). Because I had my band installed via a very reputable Dr. in Mexico, I haven't had much in the way of local follow-up. I have gone to a Dr. locally to have fills and unfills done, but I have a feeling that asking him to remove it would be VERY costly (I've also heard that, since my band was installed by a Dr. in Mexico, many American Doc's wouldn't touch me). I have a quote from last year from my Mexican Dr., and I've been trying to save up to pay for it. I just wish I felt better. I wish I had known then what I know now. I know that the Lap Band has been a wonderful success for so many - it adds to my frustration, considering what I go through on a daily basis, that this has not been the case for me. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice for me in my situation. Chances are I will have to wait until we have the money to go down to Mexico (if my health will wait that long - the new reflux and chest pain are freaking me out though, I must admit). I stay at home with our kids, so I don't have any way to speed up the money process. Thanks for letting me rant a bit - it's been so good to get back to the boards, and see how others are dealing with similar situations. Thanks in advance for any advice/comments. :phanvan

Wow! This is such a good topic, and such a timely one for me to read. I'm afraid I don't have much advise for you, as I am going through a similar situation. I've been banded for two years, and have lost anywhere from 100lbs to 90lbs (recently gained 5 lbs back due to returning to nursing school). I was just in the ER last night, with unbelievable pain in the area where my band is located on my stomach. Unfortunately, after a gallery of tests and IV fluids, the ER doc's weren't much help, and had no idea what to do with me and my band. I have really debated over whether or not to keep my band or have it removed. I have days (several in a week) where I can't keep anything down. I can't eat or drink anything until 11 or 12pm, if I can do it at all. You'd think I would have lost more weight by now, but unfortunately, the one food I pretty much know will work for me is ice cream (thus, I don't get down much more than 100 lbs.). I feel like I have taken on an eating disorder of sorts - I choose my food based on whether I can get it down or not, not whether it is actually healthy for me. I have only had two fills since I had my band put in two years ago. Obviously my body is extremely sensitive (which I have since learned seems to run in my family). I'm going to have a fluoroscope done later this week to see what the heck is going on. I never have any energy, and sad to say, I think I felt better health-wise prior to the band than I do now. I wish you the best of luck with your situation, and whatever decision you make. My band was not covered by insurance, and I went to a great doc in Mexico to have it done - thus, if I get it removed, unless it's causing major problems elsewhere in my body, I will have to foot the bill myself (approx $3500 - 5000).