Feeling Like A Lap Band Failure

[NJMomma 3]

I don't think my body wants this lap band. I lost 75 total, 35 of it in the first month. I didn't reach restriction until 6 months later, at which point I had a really bad stuck episode that I never healed from. I kept pushing it, thinking it would get better, got to the point where I couldnt swallow my own saliva so they had to completely deflate me. Over the next three months I had zero cc's, and gained 25 pounds back. Slowly had saline put back in, but couldn't loose any more weight, but at least didn't gain. Had my last fill on June 17th, felt like I was at a great spot. We came to Florida (which coincidently, is where that stuck episode happened...didn't fly, maybe the heat makes me tighter?) on Friday, all was good. Monday I had a Protein Shake for bfast, half a slice of pizza for lunch, everything went down smooth. That afternoon I felt it get tight, and over the next few days, it got worse and worse. By 8:00 last night I couldn't take it anymore. Found a hospital with a barbaric surgeon on staff, but of course by the time I was admitted, he was gone for the night. I went to his office this morning and he completely deflated me. Back to the beginning, again. I'm beyond upset. Right now I'm at a 50 pound loss, which is due to a long period of Protein shakess, exercising and counting calories. What has the band done for me? Why did it tighten up out of nowhere? I'm going to get a scan we I get back from vacation in 2 weeks to check for a slip. If there is one, at this point, I don't want it fixed. Just take it out. Seriously bummed.

[readytogoforit 172]

what have the docs said? is your band ok, no slippage? don't give up yet. do you really want to go back to your old life????

I know it seems like "dieting" right now but, hold on 'til the docs can give you a more definitive answer.

[marfar7 1,532]

"Found a hospital with a barbaric surgeon on staff, but of course by the time I was admitted, he was gone for the night."

Sorry, no advice. I just had to laugh at the typo, I think! Is it sposed to be "bariatric surgeon" or did you actually mean "barbaric surgeon"?

Thanks for the LOL!

Marci

[SageTracey 608]

A barbaric surgeon? I'm guessing that was predictive text but if it was true, then you would be glad he was off duty by the time you got there! OK, that's the Australian sense of humour coming through.

I'm really sorry that you are having so much difficulty with the band. Good luck with moving forward.

[Toddy 758]

Had to laugh about the barbaric surgeon, too! Anyway, very similar thing happened to me. I irritated by band while on vacation last week. I knew I needed to go back to liquids only for at least 24 hours,, but didn't. I ended up in horrible pain in the ER. Had 3 cc's removed. No more pain, but the beast has been unleashed and I have no restriction and am hungry all the time. I have learned my lesson: I will not abuse my band again!!

[elcee 3,341]

I didn't reach restriction until 6 months later, at which point I had a really bad stuck episode that I never healed from. I kept pushing it, thinking it would get better, got to the point where I couldnt swallow my own saliva so they had to completely deflate me.

To me this says that you may be expecting something from your band that it is not able to give. That is probably not your fault. If you were not educated properly prior to surgery then you may have unrealistic expectations.

If you are looking for something that will give you a feeling of fullness or stop you eating the things that you shouldn't then you are never going to be happy.

But if you can recognise your band for what it does do and learn to work with it then I think that you can probably achieve success.

Jean Macmillan posted a very good article the other day that I think you should read, it may help you a lot.

[NJMomma 3]

HA! Yes, typo! Bariatric lol

I don't really have an answer right now. The dr this morning just told me to hang in there until I can get home. Unfortunately, the symptoms of a slip and being way too tight are very similar. I won't know until I get the scan.i honestly don't think there is a slip. I wasn't sliming or vomiting. Only had heartburn and AWFUL back and chest pain. A mouthful of Water gurguled it's way down for like 2 minutes. Not fun!

[NJMomma 3]

To me this says that you may be expecting something from your band that it is not able to give. That is probably not your fault. If you were not educated properly prior to surgery then you may have unrealistic expectations.

If you are looking for something that will give you a feeling of fullness or stop you eating the things that you shouldn't then you are never going to be happy.

But if you can recognise your band for what it does do and learn to work with it then I think that you can probably achieve success.

Jean Macmillan posted a very good article the other day that I think you should read' date=' it may help you a lot.[/quote']

Not quite sure where you're getting that from. I was properly educated before I had this done. I got stuck on a piece of iceberg lettuce, not a bucket KFC. I know the rules and am following them all. What did I do wrong to make my band get tighter out of nowhere?

[elcee 3,341]

It wasn't the stuck episode, your original post makes it sound as though you were getting your band adjusted tighter and tighter.

[NJMomma 3]

It wasn't the stuck episode' date=' your original post makes it sound as though you were getting your band adjusted tighter and tighter.[/quote']

Nope, both times I became too tight, the fill was at least two weeks before. Came out of nowhere the second time. First time was from the lettuce.

[mrfreeze3308 1]

an upper GI might be needed to see if it slipped i had to have one because i was getting very hard stabbing pains in my chest when i tried to eat. but it turns out with all my regurgitation the area around my band was swollen then Dr left me empty for just under 6 months (not fun) i gained 30 of the 60 i lost and now I have 2cc's back in it and has helped a little but I am still not loosing but not plowing thru food like i was. it is so discouraging to not be like the people in the commercial, but i have to try again. (grrrr) good luck