Get this thing out of me

[Katy K 0]

I had my surgery done in 2007. I went to a couple of support groups (only one there) and a few doctors appointments, but haven't been in since 2008. Even with fills I have zero restriction. Can eat 4 slices of pizza no problem. I started exercising, but the port is really uncomfortable. Lately I've had extreme tightness around my upper stomach when I breathe, and I can't seem to get a good breath, especially at night. I just want this thing out of me.

I've been reading through the forums, but have found a lot of conflicting information on having the band removed. Some people say it's riskier because of adhesion, some say not because there's no internal healing. Since it's an out patient procedure, it doesn't seem to be as severe as having it put in. Some people say there's more pain, some less.

What're the risks? Please, I really really don't like the idea of having something in me anymore. I keep having nightmares and panic attacks. Absolutely no talking me out of it. This thing is coming out, so I really just need words of comfort right now.

My mom had her band removed and she was fine. She had got diagnosed with cancer a year or two after she had got her band and her doc took all the saline out of it. Well down the road she kept vomiting all the time and couldn't eat more than something the size of a grape and even that made her sick. She actually lost so much weight and almost starved to death. Until the doctor I have found out that her band ended up slipping up around her esophagus. He took it out and within a day or two she was fine and could eat without getting sick. So you will be ok, you do what you think is best for you and your body... you are the only one that knows your body and if something isn't right than you know what to do. I wish you the best of luck

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~Katy K

[jldchester 0]

Sarah,

So glad you are home~and seem to be doing well. I wish you a speedy recovery, but don't rush it let your body heal.

On my last post I was feeling fine. But Tuesday afternoon I started having a lot of crampy gas pains, I felt like my insides were being twisted. Got that to stop late Tuesday night and it started again Wednesday morning, but by lunchtime it went away. Today I have not had any pain but alot of gas and now my upper stomach seems real bloated. My stomach is gurgling like crazy. I took a reglan, but no relief yet. I just really want this to stop.....anyone have any suggestions?

[Sarah C 0]

Just got my notice that everything will be going through insurance, so I'm a very happy lady right now.

[Rachael 4]

Ok, so I had my surgery on Tuesday. Waking up was awful, cause I honestly had no idea where I was, but after tenish minutes I was feeling better. No pain, but my mouth was terribly dry. I got ice chips to help with that. Eventually they moved me to a room. My roommate was horrible of course She could reach the heat and at one point had it up to 105 in the room. They actually moved her bed away and locked the thermostat so she couldn't get at it. She also wouldn't turn her tv off at night, but a little volume battle with the static station and she finally decided that no noise was better than the static (I just pretended I was at the beach). Getting up was much easier (thank god cause I had the same issue as before where the nurses take an hour to respond). In the morning I was a bit sore, but that was mainly my shoulder from the gas. I walked around a bunch and only had some trouble cause I was so tired from the pain meds and not sleeping. For Breakfast I had a biscuit, a glass of milk, and two slices of bacon (I'm such a good Jew, right?) and eventually started releasing gas (the most excited I've been about a fart in a while. For lunch I had half a bowl of this cream of chicken stuff and a piece of broccoli. I left the hospital around 12.

Once home I felt so much better. Slept for a while and I was even able to roll over onto my side. I only took a pain pill when the dog woke me up in the middle of the night. I haven't gotten up yet, but I was able to sit up easily with no pain, and the pain pill has probably long wore off. Right now the only thing that hurts is my back from laying down so much and the cuts in my stomach. They tried to use the same ones (some are a bit bigger, but they only used four this time instead of five). I'm breathing much better than I was before the surgery, so I do think my breathing issues were caused by the band, and I haven't had any chest pains at all. I actually feel well enough to go back to work, but don't trust myself to drive yet. Am definitely going back on Monday.

It's time to get up now. I have to study for my GREs and I think I'm going to make some cantaloupe sorbet. It was definitely worth it to have the band taken out. I did notice that I didn't feel full after dinner last night (but I only had a piece of chicken and two large ravioli) so I'm definitely gonna have to watch my portions, and once I feel up to it, I'm gonna get a gym membership. I just feel like I can move on now.

I am glad your surgery went well and wish you a speedy recovery! So sorry the band didn't work for you but the great thing about it (why I chose it) it is reversible.

Rachael

[jldchester 0]

Just an up date...My surgeon finally agreed that I should have it taken out. In the process of submiiting to insurance for approval. I just want to feel normal again. I am having a gastric empty test on Monday.