Banded 12/4...HAS BEEN HELL SINCE!!! HELP!

[NurseRachel 0]

Hi Everyone,

I was banded 12/4/09....this was my first surgery ever(I am only 23 years old) and I must have a very low pain tolerance because after surgery I was in alot of pain and didnt move around a whole lot. A week after my surgery, I began to have a very hard time breathing and the worst pain ever in my abdomen. I called the doctor and was sent to the ER. Come to find out, I had massive blood clots in my lungs (Pulmonary Embolisms or PEs) I was sent to the ICU, put on heparin, coumadin, and a BiPap breathing machine. I was at the hospital 8 days. Never thought this is how my story would go. I have been home for two weeks and still have trouble with my breathing, which the Dr said is normal because they said my clots were massive and im lucky to be alive. I have to be off work 6-8 weeks.

Even though I am almost a month post-op, I am still mainly on liquids because of my set back. I am starting some more foods like scrambled eggs and ground meat(very fine) Mostly I eat Soups or mashed potatoes. I measure 1/2 cup at a time and I eat slowly. I am having problems before I even finish my 1/2 cup. I have not have any fills yet!!! The Dr said the liquids should just be going right through the band. I start having intense pain around my band...I stop eating because the pain is so bad. I am just frustrated because I can barely eat anything. One day I can eat mashed potatoes and the next day I cant tolerate them at all. Anyone have any suggestions or anything that can help me??

One positive thing is that ive lost 32 pounds!!

Edited January 2, 2010 by NurseRachel

[ashleyb 0]

Wow that's really scary! I'm so glad you made it through everything. I know i had some pain bc of the air that is left in your abdomen but other then that mine was ok. I wish i had some really good advice for you. I had my surgery march 3 of 09. And I've only lost like 10 lbs. So all i can say is i wish i couldn't eat anything or very little. I dont wish for the pain though. I have No restriction at all don't even feel like there's anything around my stomach and I'm on fill #7. So im on the other side of Banster Hell where i can eat anything no problems and have no restriction. All i can say is take it slowly always inform your doctor of any pain. And Congrats on your weight loss.

[lotzasunshine 2]

Congrats on your loss! But I would find out if your surgeon places the band with a fill in it at surgery. If so, you can go in and get it unfilled. That would give you a better chance at being able to eat without pain, especially as you are healing. I am so sorry that you went through this, but am grateful that it did not kill you. Definitely call your surgeon to ask about the unfill. Good luck!

[LollyMoe 1]

I am so sorry to hear about your problems. Thanks God, you are alive! Congrats on the loss.

Some doctors put in saline during surgery and so don't. Find out what your surgeon did. You may need to get it taken out so that you have healing time. You are still swollen from the surgery and your experiences, so you really need the healing time. Be careful what you eat, eat slowly, drink your Water, and try to walk around in your house.

Most of all: FOLLOW your doctor's orders & stay in close touch with him/her. Good luck and keep us informed please.

[OnTheWay to Thin 0]

Find out if you have any Fluid in your band, some doctors put some in at the time of surgery some dont. If you have some you may need a slight unfil... sounds like you are tight. Also all the havoc from the blood clots, ivs and all that probably put a lot of pressure on your mid section. Call your doctor and tell them everything, better safe than sorry and with your history you cant be too careful.

[NurseRachel 0]

Thanks for all the replies....but unfortunately there is NO saline in my band....the surgeon said he doesnt fill them in the OR. He said he doesnt start to fill it until 5-6 weeks after surgery. so my band is empty....guess thats not the problem! :/

[Stevie1 0]

Hi Everyone,

I was banded 12/4/09....this was my first surgery ever(I am only 23 years old) and I must have a very low pain tolerance because after surgery I was in alot of pain and didnt move around a whole lot. A week after my surgery, I began to have a very hard time breathing and the worst pain ever in my abdomen. I called the doctor and was sent to the ER. Come to find out, I had massive blood clots in my lungs (Pulmonary Embolisms or PEs) I was sent to the ICU, put on heparin, coumadin, and a BiPap breathing machine. I was at the hospital 8 days. Never thought this is how my story would go. I have been home for two weeks and still have trouble with my breathing, which the Dr said is normal because they said my clots were massive and im lucky to be alive. I have to be off work 6-8 weeks.

Even though I am almost a month post-op, I am still mainly on liquids because of my set back. I am starting some more foods like scrambled eggs and ground meat(very fine) Mostly I eat Soups or mashed potatoes. I measure 1/2 cup at a time and I eat slowly. I am having problems before I even finish my 1/2 cup. I have not have any fills yet!!! The Dr said the liquids should just be going right through the band. I start having intense pain around my band...I stop eating because the pain is so bad. I am just frustrated because I can barely eat anything. One day I can eat mashed potatoes and the next day I cant tolerate them at all. Anyone have any suggestions or anything that can help me??

One positive thing is that ive lost 32 pounds!! :wub:

Sweetie, I'm sorry about your rocky start - that stinks! But for the food portion of it - I was on liquids and Jello until my first fill at three months post op. Drink as much Water as you can stand. Even with an "open" band - you still know its there and I can feel mine. Stop eating when you feel the need. That is the important part. There have been several times that I have 'over eaten' and I wanted to die. You'r still healing. Take it slow. We all heal at our own pace.

[Stevie1 0]

Wow that's really scary! I'm so glad you made it through everything. I know i had some pain bc of the air that is left in your abdomen but other then that mine was ok. I wish i had some really good advice for you. I had my surgery march 3 of 09. And I've only lost like 10 lbs. So all i can say is i wish i couldn't eat anything or very little. I dont wish for the pain though. I have No restriction at all don't even feel like there's anything around my stomach and I'm on fill #7. So im on the other side of Banster Hell where i can eat anything no problems and have no restriction. All i can say is take it slowly always inform your doctor of any pain. And Congrats on your weight loss.

Just curious? My guy is in the Army too and TRI Care covered my costs. You said you were on fill number 7! WOW! If your stateside how long are you covered? I'm overseas and we have one year.

[ElfiePoo 109]

Rachel,

Can't help on why you can't eat, but instead of mashed potatoes, try yoghurt perhaps? It's better nutritionally and might even go down more easily.

Glad to hear you are on the mend!

.

[cat lady 10]

Sorry for the terrible experience you had. I am pre op and these are the things that trouble me. I am older and I dont know if I should risk it. Blood clots in the lungs are a very serious issue -- glad you got past it and are recouperating. Has anyone else had this serious issue with the band surgery? Did the doctor say why you had so many clots? cat lady:frown:

[DaChanginQueen 0]

Im glad you're OK. One thing that helps when you're band is tight is to drink something warm before you eat. It helps relax things so you can at least get some nutrition.

[NurseRachel 0]

Thanks for everyones replies, help and advice!!!

ElfiePoo-I have quit eating mashed potatoes...for some reason they give me alot of trouble. I can eat turkey and not have any problems, so the mashed potatoes have me puzzled, but I figured id just quit eating them.

CatLady-Please dont let my story scare you away from the surgery. I have a low pain tolerance...very low, so after surgery I was in alot of pain and I basically sat in the recliner for a week, which could have caused my blood clots. My doctor was also concerned that I might have an underlying blood disorder that causes my blood to clot easier because he didnt expect me to get such big clots a week later and only being 23 years old. I was told only about 1% of people have these kind of complications...very rare.

When I got home, I was so mad at myself and I kept telling myself I shouldve never got this surgery and I couldnt be in this position. But Im getting better and my breathing is getting easier. I know in the long run, I will be alot healthier by having this surgery. I would have never lost the weight on my own and that can cause several severe health problems as well. This surgery is worth it even with all the problems Ive had. Good luck to you!!

[zobee 0]

I bet that blood disorder is Factor V Leiden (Pronounced Factor Five Lie-den) -- one of my daughters has it. It is genetic blood disorder. Has your family experienced problems with blood clotting? And if your surgeon thinks it might be due to a blood disorder, did he order any tests? The test for FVL takes about ten seconds -- they just have to draw some blood.

Please do make sure that you follow up on this. It is really very important. If you ever have to have emergency surgery, the doctors will absolutely need to know if you have a blood clotting disorder. Also, it can cause complications during pregnancy (my daughter nearly lost her baby, that's how we found out she had it), but there are things that they can do to help if they know about it in advance.

Glad to hear you're on the healing path. Just rest and take it really slowly - your body has been through a terrible trauma! Try to get your Protein and Vitamins in, and worry about the rest later. Oh -- and congrats on the weight loss!

[NurseRachel 0]

My mom had blood clots when she was pregnant with me, but thats really it for a family history.

They did a few tests in the hospital, but the hematologist said he couldnt do all the genetic testing until I was off coumadin because it affected the results. I have to be on coumadin for about 6 months. They stressed the importance of not having any more surgeries or getting pregnant right now until they have found the cause...so its just a waiting game right now.

Thanks for your help!!!

[OnTheWay to Thin 0]

One thing mashed potatoes and anything else that can kind of clump together is sometimes problematic for a bandster when they are tight. So if one food gives you grief, try something else and generally it will work. Also so sorry to hear of all your complications, that is really too bad, but hopefully now that you are on the upside of that your band can start working with you and you will be glad you had the surgery in the end.