Trip To The Er - Not Fun!

[skkcs 9]

Hello All,

I am a long-time 'lurker,' first time poster - I'm strangley nervous! I was banded in February 2011 and have lost 45 lbs so far - slow and steady!

I wanted to post and see if anyone else has experienced this and/or has any advice for how to get through the next 4 weeks ...

Last Saturday night I woke up with intense upper stomach pain that wrapped around my back. After a few hours of the pain intensifying, I decided to go to my local ER around 3 am. Once checked in they gave me some pain killers through an IV, did an ultrasound, ran a CT scan, and did x-rays. I told the doctor I had a lapband and suggested he take all the Fluid out to see if that helped. Because I was able to drink all the liquid for the CT scan (that bright orange dye stuff?), he said it couldn't be my band. At that point I was high as a kite so I went with it. My pain was under control so they sent me home around 6 with a prescription for Vicodin and told me to check in with my PCP on Monday if I was still in pain ...

2 hours and 3 Vicodin's later I had to go back. The pain was so intense that I couldn't walk and they had to bring out a wheel chair. The new doctor on shift immediately recommended taking the Fluid out of my band which was more than fine by me ... Unfortunately the hospital didn't have any needles that were long enough to reach my port (they had a .5" and needed a 1.5"). They decided to courier a needle from a nearby hospital and keep me doped up in the meantime. I spent almost 6 hours higher than high (I hate to think what I was talking about!) and finally they got a needle - only it was just 1"! We decided to go for it and I blew out my stomach and the doctor pushed as hard as he could with the needle - it took over 20 pokes (I counted the dots afterward) but he managed to get almost all the fluid out - phew!

I immediately felt better and was able to go home (sans wheelchair!). I followed up with my bariatric surgeon the next day and after reviewing everyting, it turns out all that fuss was because something had gotten stuck - probably on Friday - and then the irritation grew and grew until the swelling in my stomach was too much! Thankfully he says my band still looks placed correctly, but he said I can't have any fills until my stomach recovers from its "trauma" - at least 4 weeks. EEEK!!

I am absolutely terrified of getting through the next 4 weeks without my band - has any one else had to do this? Did you gain weight back? How did you cope?

Thanks so much for any advice you can offer!

- s

[skkcs 9]

Oh dear! I didn't realize my post was so long until after I saw it published just now ... sorry!!

[#MagicWithinme 173]

Oh dear! I didn't realize my post was so long until after I saw it published just now ... sorry!!

do not worry I just blasted a vent too, if you can't to it hear where can you? hear you know people have been through it,what we are going through and understand. I said this site is my lapband life line. I'd be so lost without it. so never apologize for whats on your mind, (or mine) you probably feel a little better for saying it.

Good luck

[#MagicWithinme 173]

do it here...

[zinhaa 363]

so i got 2.75 out of my band was crazed. I gained 3 lbs. My doc wouldn't do a fill for 10 weeks.

You can do it. It sucks but what I did was journaled everyday and chat on this website. I also made sure to exercise and drink Water. I measured all foods. I was very happy only 3 lbs in 10 weeks. Now healed i got 2cc put in and starting again.

Good luck

Wendy

[skkcs 9]

do not worry I just blasted a vent too' date=' if you can't to it hear where can you? hear you know people have been through it,what we are going through and understand. I said this site is my lapband life line. I'd be so lost without it. so never apologize for whats on your mind, (or mine) you probably feel a little better for saying it.

Good luck[/quote']

Thank you so much!! I've officially survived my first week with no fill ... three weeks left and I'm sure not a day will go by when I'm NOT on this forum for strength and inspiration!

[skkcs 9]

so i got 2.75 out of my band was crazed. I gained 3 lbs. My doc wouldn't do a fill for 10 weeks.

You can do it. It sucks but what I did was journaled everyday and chat on this website. I also made sure to exercise and drink Water. I measured all foods. I was very happy only 3 lbs in 10 weeks. Now healed i got 2cc put in and starting again.

Good luck

Wendy

Wendy, that's wonderful! My goal is to hold steady, but if I only gain 3 pounds I will consider that a resounding success!

[1shauna1 129]

It will be hard; we got the band to help with our will power. Now you have to use all of yours because you don't have a fill. I would eat right, take care.....and don't beat yourself up if you do gain a couple of pounds. You need to heal after that trauma (sounds awful BTW, so sorry!!). You'll be back on track soon enough!

[SherriD1961 2]

I am just shocked they did not have a needle long enough to reach your port... in an ER no less!! I am an RN and I cannot imagine that somewhere in that hospital they could not procur a proper needle.

[carol285 145]

Even with the band & especially as a women our weight rarely declines or even stays the same on a daily basis so don't beat yourself up trying to attain that! Everything and everything effects our daily weight, from the time of month, to if we ate a bit saltier food then usual, to not drinking as much fluids. You are doing great so try not to stress yourself while your tummy heals from it's trauma!

[Mimi2three 5]

I had the same issue but it happened during the day and I was able to get into my dr. I also had reflux so bad that for the first few weeks my eating was limited. I did gain a few pounds but did not worry about it. It plus more came off when I started my fills back.