troubleshooting the lapband..

[barngal2003 0]

So it's been awhile since I've been on lapbandtalk but, a lot has happened since I originally got my band in dec '08. I guess I was just hoping to hear that I'm not alone in my struggles with my band..or as my family calls it, my monster. I was banded in dec '08 as I said, and until july of '09 all was well, great restriction and weight loss with appropriate fills along the way. I found myself in the ER one night in late july '09 due to a stuck Tomato piece...and sadly it's been downhill from there. Slowly over time, more and more types of foods just would not go down, we tried over the months to take Fluid out, or remove all fluid from my band but....it was to noavail. Finally, at the end of Sept '10, I'd had enough. I couldn't eat , period, flat liquids were all that went through for me, my weightloss had stopped and I was in constant pain. My surgeon finally figured out that I had slipped. So much so that my stomach was squished up into my liver and had attached itself there....my pouch had been 3 times bigger than what it was supposed to have been. Too bad I'm a selfpay because I now owe the hospital more money than I can comprehend for that surgery. So here I am, several months out from my repositioning, and 20 pounds heavier, back up to 5.5mL in a 10mL band and....restriction is ok I guess, far from perfect though, weightloss is almost non-existent. I'm not gaining, but not really losing either. I'm like 50 pounds from my goal, my dietician says I'm doing everything correctly, the exercise is definitely there. infact more so than it was when i first got the band....unfortunately though, i can't say i'm glad i got the band...or not. i hurt when i eat, i still frequently have to vomit, or ...more like wretch..i guess. i can't eat within 2 hours of bed because i would probably puke in my sleep and asperate it. (done that several times) i also can't take pills which makes life even more interesting......like I said, I guess I'm just hoping to hear that someone else has had these problems too. Or maybe even a little ray of hope that maybe I can still take off my remaining weight.

[phatgirl 2011 1]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear you're having these problems. I'm not banded yet but I wanted to show you some support. Good luck to you I hope everything works out for you.

[HeatherinCA 10]

That sucks something doesn't seem right at all if you are sick that much!

[barngal2003 0]

That sucks something doesn't seem right at all if you are sick that much!

yeah it does. but the one thing i've learned is it listen to your body over what any doctor says. i just wish i could talk to someone who has had maybe a few of these problems.

[HeatherinCA 10]

Have you tried seeing a different doctor? Maybe they an figure out what's up.

[OnMyWay2Thin 45]

So sorry to hear you are having these problems. I was banded in September, 2008, and fortunately, it has been smooth sailing. What happened to you is very upsetting and scarey. I think you can rest assured, though, that it was unusual and it will not happen again to you. It's so hard to get back on track after something like this. In my case, it was my gallbladder then a misdiagnosis that had me possessing a deadly disease (the nurse misread the results), and I just said to heck with it for a while. Unlike you, however, I did gain back 30 pounds but have now lost all but 12 of it. I'm following the rules now and starting to lose (I think!)

Hang in there, you had a setback that was no fault of your own and you will now lose the weight you need to lose. I look forward to seeing your posts as you move forward on your journey. Good luck!

[kathy111 0]

So it's been awhile since I've been on lapbandtalk but, a lot has happened since I originally got my band in dec '08. I guess I was just hoping to hear that I'm not alone in my struggles with my band..or as my family calls it, my monster. I was banded in dec '08 as I said, and until july of '09 all was well, great restriction and weight loss with appropriate fills along the way. I found myself in the ER one night in late july '09 due to a stuck Tomato piece...and sadly it's been downhill from there. Slowly over time, more and more types of foods just would not go down, we tried over the months to take Fluid out, or remove all fluid from my band but....it was to noavail. Finally, at the end of Sept '10, I'd had enough. I couldn't eat , period, flat liquids were all that went through for me, my weightloss had stopped and I was in constant pain. My surgeon finally figured out that I had slipped. So much so that my stomach was squished up into my liver and had attached itself there....my pouch had been 3 times bigger than what it was supposed to have been. Too bad I'm a selfpay because I now owe the hospital more money than I can comprehend for that surgery. So here I am, several months out from my repositioning, and 20 pounds heavier, back up to 5.5mL in a 10mL band and....restriction is ok I guess, far from perfect though, weightloss is almost non-existent. I'm not gaining, but not really losing either. I'm like 50 pounds from my goal, my dietician says I'm doing everything correctly, the exercise is definitely there. infact more so than it was when i first got the band....unfortunately though, i can't say i'm glad i got the band...or not. i hurt when i eat, i still frequently have to vomit, or ...more like wretch..i guess. i can't eat within 2 hours of bed because i would probably puke in my sleep and asperate it. (done that several times) i also can't take pills which makes life even more interesting......like I said, I guess I'm just hoping to hear that someone else has had these problems too. Or maybe even a little ray of hope that maybe I can still take off my remaining weight.

[kathy111 0]

Gosh you really have had a bad time. So sorry to hear that. I have a stretched pouch from being too tight, i kept thinking I was hungry and they kept giving me fill but then I had problems eating and what was happeing was the band was tight and so it got stretched with me trying to get food down there, the stretched pouch made me feel hungry so I got more fill and on it went. Now the doctor has taken a lot of my fill out and I am gaining and have no idea how long it takes to go back to normal so I can slowly start having some fill. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Has this happened to anyone

[sparkplug 106]

yeah it does. but the one thing i've learned is it listen to your body over what any doctor says. i just wish i could talk to someone who has had maybe a few of these problems.

I was banded 12/20/08 and lost 90 pds and this past winter I gained 3-4 pds that will not come off. It has been unusually cold herein Arizona and that is why I have not been out doing yard work. I know that in a another month our pool will be up and I will be back to my goal weight. I have not had any problems with the band and have never had a fill. From what I read, either you will have problems with getting filled and unfilled or you will not, I think it just depends on the person. I chose to use good old will power and follow the rules with no fills and it has worked for me. It sounds like you have a problem with the initial process of being banded, I would question the Dr. that did the surgery and hold him responsible. I do cheat occasionally just so that I don't have the nagging feeling hanging over me that I can never have a certain food again. I do not do sugar or bread because bread gets stuck and sugar starts the cycle of wanting everything that is bad for you and your body. I wish I could be more help to you, but my instinct is to go back to the original surgeon and question him on why you are having so many problems. Good luck and hope that you get some resolution to your problems.

[Maria9k 0]

I'm so sorry for what you had and still going through, I know just well how horrible this is, I'm going through similar thing and feeling alone and very regretful that I have had it done...went wrong after a couple of months from the op, I developed an Hiatus Hernia, so I cannot have any restriction ever again and sometimes even a glass of Water won't go down...I understand fully about trying different food but still getting stuck and the urge of vomiting, my family is sort of used to seeing me running when I feel sick but at time so embarrassing when I'm jetting there and then...going to eat in public places is becoming a nightmare for me and be invited by family or friends it's a complete no. My doctor won't even refer me to a consultant because I went to have it done privately and they don't want to get involved. So unless I'll pay even more money I can't have it removed.

I really hope you'll get better soon, keep strong my friend. Will keep you in my prayer God bless

[Melissannde 41]

I'm so sorry for what you had and still going through, I know just well how horrible this is, I'm going through similar thing and feeling alone and very regretful that I have had it done...went wrong after a couple of months from the op, I developed an Hiatus Hernia, so I cannot have any restriction ever again and sometimes even a glass of Water won't go down...I understand fully about trying different food but still getting stuck and the urge of vomiting, my family is sort of used to seeing me running when I feel sick but at time so embarrassing when I'm jetting there and then...going to eat in public places is becoming a nightmare for me and be invited by family or friends it's a complete no. My doctor won't even refer me to a consultant because I went to have it done privately and they don't want to get involved. So unless I'll pay even more money I can't have it removed.

I really hope you'll get better soon, keep strong my friend. Will keep you in my prayer God bless

I'm not sure I understand why you can't have the hiatal hernia repaired?

[Maria9k 0]

I'm not sure I understand why you can't have the hiatal hernia repaired?

My doctor thinks it's quiet common to have an Hiatus Hernia and told me there he won't refer me for a consultation as he said a bit of "gaviscon " should do the trick...I think it's a question of Health Services cutting costs in the UK unfortunately at this moment I cannot afford to go private!!

[Melissannde 41]

My doctor thinks it's quiet common to have an Hiatus Hernia and told me there he won't refer me for a consultation as he said a bit of "gaviscon " should do the trick...I think it's a question of Health Services cutting costs in the UK unfortunately at this moment I cannot afford to go private!!

Oh, ok. Now I understand. I didn't realize you were in the UK.

Yes, it is not unknown for a Hiatal Hernia to develop either before or after banding.

I hope you feel better soon.