kathyy68

I lost my band Tuesday due to a slip and hiatal hernia. My insurance would not pay for a replacement so removal was my only option at this point. Can anyone tell me what my post op diet might be like? My Dr. said liquids for a few days followed by about a week of mushies. Does that sound about right?

Actually Im doing great!! Removal surgery is much easier than the actual placement. I think I will take 6 months to do a lot of research and see what I think will be best for my body. When I originally decided on the band, I never read that so many people would have slips...now it seems so common. I heard that the chances of having another slip goes up once you have had one and the thought of going through what I did for the past 2 weeks does not sound all that great right about now. The good thing is I only need about 30lbs to reach goal and Im still losing weight. When I originally had the band placed I lost 20lbs in 2 weeks post surgery and Im doing basically the same diet. The problem will just be keeping it off. Actually I wont even give it some thought until I start on a regular diet. Kathy

Thanks for the advice!! I am definitely using this time to do a lot of research and soul searching! As of right now, I do not want to even think about another surgery LOL I have already bookmarked the sleeve site and will spend a lot of time researching it. Thanks again. Kathy

Well I lost my band on Tuesday. It started Friday with very bad burning around my belly button any time I ate or drank. By Saturday the burning had stopped but I felt tightness in my chest area. I quit eating as of Friday and only drank on Saturday. By Sunday, I could no longer drink anymore. I saw my Dr. at 7am on Monday morning and the barium swallow showed complete blockage and a slip. I was referred to another Dr. since my Dr. is out of the Dallas area. I went to him that afternoon and he said since I was not throwing up severely, that if I wanted I could wait until the next morning to do the emergency removal and that way they could call to see if my insurance would approve replacement of a new band. I chose to wait and Tuesday morning went through the emergency room to have the removal since my replacement had been denied. After surgery the Dr. said I had a pretty bad hiatal hernia and lots of scar tissue. I stayed in the hospital that night and came home the next day. I am now at home on a liquid diet for a week and then progressing to mushies. The surgery didnt hurt near as bad this time post op so I am thankful for that. My insurance does pay for 1 bariatric surgery so in 6 months I can go through the process again. My first surgery was on my husbands insurance so that one didnt count. Im terrified about gaining weight back, but thankful that my insurance will pay for it after healing for 6 months. I was pretty successful the first time, so I dont have to far to go to reach my goal. Moral of my story, as others have said....please listen to your body. If you think something might be wrong it doesnt hurt to check it out. Im just glad I got it out before there was erosion or severe damage to my organs.

My symptoms started as burning around my belly button area when eating or drinking. After that stopped in about a day, I felt a tightness up high in my chest like I could not take a deep breath. I had emergency removal on Tuesday for a slipped band and a hiatal hernia. See a Dr. if you think something might be wrong.

:confused:How many of you have had a swollen pouch/possible slip and recovered from it without another surgery? I had my band totally unfilled last Friday due to reflux/swelling. I have been on a total liquid diet since then. What are the chances I will recover from this? I have had NO reflux since being unfilled and absolutely no problems getting any liquids down...not even thick ones.

Just wanted to let you know I was in your shoes also. I went in mid August with major reflux. They did an upper GI and found that my band slipped so they did a total unfill. I was also very dehydrated and had to have an IV in the office that day. They had me do liquids for 2 weeks and I went back today for a check. My band was in perfect position and 98% of the swelling had gone down. I am now on solids and still completely unfilled. I go back in 2 weeks for another check. Basically just wanted to let you know that it MAY correct itself without surgery. You may want to ask to go that route before doing surgery again. I was scared to death having to face another surgery also....thank goodness it corrected itself. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Kathy

If you are having any reflux, please see your Dr. right away. I am 1.5 years out and started having reflux in June. I finally went to the Dr. 11 days ago and they totally unfilled me because I was so swollen. You should not have reflux if your band is working correct. You could be risking another surgery. I am now on day 11 of my liquid diet and believe me I would much rather do liquids than another surgery. Your band could have slipped or many other problems. Please make an appt. soon.

Please send me some of your positive energy!!! :biggrin2: I go back Friday for my barium swallow to see if I am better. I have been on a total liquid diet since last Friday. Had reflux really bad and decided to finally go in and have it looked at. After passing out twice from dehydration and being put on an IV, I will never take advantage of my band again. I am keeping good thoughts that my stomach will be healthy and all swelling will be down. Thanks for giving me hope!! Kathy

Mary, I just had my band totally unfilled Friday. I started with heartburn in early June and it led to major reflux. Finally it was so bad I went in to have my band checked. Please do not wait.....you could be risking another surgery. They told me if my swelling doesnt go down and stuff that I will have to have a revision surgery. If you are coughing and spitting up in the middle of the night please go get checked. Not only did I have reflux really bad, but because of it I got dehydrated and passed out twice at the doctors office and had to be put on an IV. :thumbup:

I have had my band for about 15 months now....no complications until now. I have lost around 92 pounds. Recently I started getting heartburn and reflux at night. Finally it got so bad that I went to the Dr. yesterday. I did the barium swallow and they noticed that my stoma was swollen so they took out 1/2 of my fluid. The barium still would not go down so they ended up taking out all the fluid. At that point I fainted and they had to use the smelling salts to get me up. Then they took my blood pressure and with all my other symptoms found out that I was very dehydrated. I guess with the reflux I had neglected to hydrate my body like I should have. Then I ended up dry heaving for a few minutes and they finally decided to put me on IV fluids. Now I am at a total unfill and cant eat for 7 days....total liquid diet. Note to all....do not ignore the signs of heartburn and reflux. If I would have let this go longer I would be having surgery again. :thumbup:

Yes, actually I did have those symptoms also. I coughed a lot at night and right when I woke up. Also was burping a lot. Actually the burping helped the food go down better I think. Please....if you are having any of these problems do not wait to go to the doctor. You could be facing another surgery. I am on my 3rd day of liquids only and I am not complaining...its better than going thru the surgery again. Im so glad I went in and took care of this when I did.

To tell you the truth Im not sure about the costs. I had insurance that covered all but 20% and my max out of pocket was $2500 for the year. The day of surgery, they asked me what I wanted to put down and I put down like $500 and then made payment arrangements. I just pay monthly until Im paid off. I do remember it wasnt much. They will go over everything the day of surgery too. I really didnt pay much attention cause I really wanted this surgery and didnt want anything to stand in the way. I know thats horrible of me not to pay more attention, but it was worth any price I could have paid. To me, money was never an issue....I wanted to get the surgery and figure out how to pay it back later. LOL. Wish I could be more help in this area, but all I know is I am making payments to the surgicare center.

The surgicare center in Houston is on the top floor. When you walk in it looks like a regular Dr. offce waiting room. Very comfortable with magazines, coffee, and a TV. When you go back to the operatory you immediately feel like you are in another building. Everything is hospital like and set up just like you would see in a hospital. The surgery staff is wonderful and I had a former patient come in and talk to me right before I went in for surgery. She was very reassuring and asked if I had any questions. She gave me her business card and told me to call her any time...day or night with any questions. My parents took me also...my husband is in Iraq and so they came to take care of me. The staff let them come back and talk to me right before I went in for surgery and immediately after I came out of it. At no time did I ever feel uncomfortable or have second thoughts. I was totally confident in the staff and Dr. Felts. This was my very first surgery, even though I have had 2 kids....they were both normal births with no complications and no c-sections. After surgery several people gave me business cards and told me to call with any questions. I think you will be very happy with your care. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I had a great experience and actually I will be going back for my 2nd fill next week.

Dr. Felts is my Dr. and I am located in Houston. I found him through Lap Band Solutions and was very very happy with him. Had surgery at the surgicare center in Houston and he flies down several times a month to do surgeries and see his Houston patients. The surgicare center was wonderful and I have nothing but good things to say about him as a Dr. and his staff. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

You will find love when you least expect it. After a breakup with a boyfriend 21 years ago, I met my husband 2 weeks later and we have been happily married 20 years this November. I was NOT looking for someone at that time and actually was hoping to get my old boyfriend back. Obviously I was meant to be with someone else and that break up was in the plan. Keep your chin up....work on yourself. Kathy

I am really not sure I have what you call "willpower" but I am scared to death that something will get stuck...thats why I have followed the rules so closely. I have not tried many real foods....the worst thing I have had is crab cakes and a sweet potatoe. I have been tempted to lick the cheese off of some nachos but I havent!!! LOL I think I will be daring by the end of the week and actually try something. Bread scares me and so does pretty much anything not blended up in my majic bullet...I know I have to eventually get over this fear. Kathy

I do have a little restriction. I can only eat small portions. Usually about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food. Right now I am eating grits, crab cakes, cottage cheese, egg salad, tuna salad (both in majic bullet), blended soup, pudding, and drinking crystal light and water. I usually have milk at least once a day and have a very hard time with the protein drinks. I am going to try baked fish sometime this week. I do not snack at all and once I get the tiniest sensation of being full I stop. Kathy

I just got home from my 2 week post op appt. and I was shocked to find out that I have lost 19lbs since my surgery day of 2/28!!!! My Dr. looked at it and asked if he was seeing the chart right!!! He was very happy and said that obviously the tiny bit of fluid that he put in my band on surgery day helped out a lot. He also said that I wouldnt be needing a fill anytime soon since I obviously had some restriction. I am soooo happy with this band!! Kathy

My incision (port) is also starting to look infected. It is the only one with a red ring around it and feels a little warm. I called my nurse and she said to try some Neosporin on it and see if that helps. If it doesnt clear up in a few days, my Dr. will call in an antibiotic. You might want to call your nurse too. Kathy

Yep....same date. Looks like we have pretty much the same goal weight too. Kathy

Kelly......you just described me to a "T". Kathy

Can I be invited to the party??? I too have that crappy gas lodged in my left shoulder and I am a side sleeper. (left side). The gas in my stomache wells up and I cant burp for anything....I used to be able to. My stomache itches like crazy and Im scared that I will claw my incisions open. HMMM lets see what else.......Oh yeah...for the first 5 days I could not get enough liquids down so now my skin is dry as a lizzards. I hate protein shakes. Im tired of broth. So is that enough for me to be invited yet??? I could go on if I need to. *waiting for my invitation* Kathy

The first memory I have is me coughing a few times and having an oxygen mask on me. Then my nurse was over me stroking my hair telling me it was all over and that I did great. I had no pain on my stomache, but oddly enough my lower back hurt like crazy. It hurt to lay or to sit. That was my biggest pain that day. Gas pains started up later that night. I went home approx. 3 hours after my surgery and dont remember much from that day since I slept most of it. I was very drowsy and out of it most of the day. Around 6pm I kinda snapped out of it and actually had conversations with my family. I did take my pain medicine cause I didnt want to be in pain...only took it until the next afternoon since it started making me sick to my stomach and my biggest fear was throwing up. Kathy

I have 2 friends who went to Costa Rica together for lipo. One had just lost most of her weight from gastric bypass and the other just needed lipo around her tummy. They both loved it and loved the accomidations. Neither had any complications. I guess it just depends on the Dr. Kathy