6 weeks Post-Op & Conflicted

[MsMamaBaby1 0]

Banded February 5, 2010

Edited March 12, 2010 by MsMamaBaby1
Wrong Forum

[serenity55 15]

What is the conflict? We'll try to help.

[MsMamaBaby1 0]

I was banded on Feb. 5th and I'm already unsure if I made the right move. I did the counseling, I did the research but I think I overlooked a very important issue.

I have had a chronic cough for over 20 years, it is usually brought on by allergies so it comes and goes often. I take a very strong cough medicine (Promethazine w/Codeine) and I use Tessalon pearls but still once the coughing begins, it takes the meds 3-5 days to begin to control the episode.

I am six weeks out post-op and about 2 weeks out, I had a 4 day battle with coughing that left me so sore I had to remain in bed on pain meds.

Finally, about a week ago I began to feel better, not as sore and started to feel that 'I can do this' - Then yesterday, the cough started again and now I am as sore as I was post-op and I'm thinking about having the band removed. The pain is only on the port side but it is intense. When I cough, it feels as though someone is stabbing me with an ice pick. All these years the coughing was bad enough, now I've added the pain of the LAP-BAND®®®®. The pain when I cough gets unbearable at times. The swelling makes me unable to bend or fasten my pants or have anything rubbing against the site.

I am conflicted between wanting to have this removed and continuing on. I can't be down because I have elderly parents that rely on me but how can I help them if I am in pain or drunk on pain meds.

I read all of the threads on this site and so many people are excited and happy and I am not, I am feeling regrets and disappointment. I have no idea as to what to do...:frown:

[serenity55 15]

I'm really sorry to hear about the chronic cough. You've had it for 20 years, so I'm assuming there is nothing that can be done for it?

Did you discuss this with your lap band surgeon? What did he/she think?

Your health is definitely important; as you say, you need to be there for your parents. Weight could be an issue in that area, too.

I'm sorry I can't be of any help, but I would very much like to know what you decide. I'm willing to offer as much support as I can.

Good luck. I'm also hoping you can find a way to keep your band .

Debbie

[Cocoabean 430]

I am sorry you are having such trouble.

Is it possible that you haven't totally healed from the port placement?

You might need the help of pain meds until you have fully healed. I know it took several months of the pain of my port area to fully go away.

Have you checked with your surgeon to make sure that you didn't tear something?

Best wishes with your recovery and decision.

[MsMamaBaby1 0]

I'm fairly sure that is may have not healed completely since I believe I keep re-injuring it when I cough. I haven't been checked for tearing to the port but I have spoke to my doctor a few times with regards to this. He has tried to encourage me to continue and for the past month I have but the pain is debilitating and sharp. It feels almost as bad as it did when I came out of surgery.

I can estimate that I have probably only had maybe 5 days where I felt well enough to venture out isn't one of them. My doctor is an excellent doctor, very caring and concerned but I feel that I put myself in this situation because I did not fully inform him of the degree and persistence of my cough. In the past, I have coughed so violently that I thought I broke a rib.

Once while I was driving on a San Antonio freeway, I coughed so badly I lost consciousness for a second and ended up driving underneath a truck. Fortunately, no one was injured. This has happened two other times in the past 8 years and I was totally unaware that it occurred until those around me told me. Luckily, I wasn't driving those other times. This is one violent cough I have. Not constant but often it comes and goes.

I should have anticipated this or, better yet, had I informed the doctor fully he could have told me the possible difficulties I would encounter and I could have made a wiser decision. I woke up today very sore and had difficulty getting out of bed, then later, when I spoke to my husband later, he told me that I had had a coughing fit while I was sleeping. I can't keep feeling this way, I would rather be overweight and keep trying to lose it the 'old fashioned' way than to continue to ache like I do. I'm probably, most likely, going to have it removed. :frown:

Edited March 12, 2010 by MsMamaBaby1
typo

[JuneAct2 0]

May I suggest using an abdominal binder when you're having coughing spells to help support your healing abdomen. It's not a permanent solution, but maybe it will help some.

Good luck to you.