Band Complications Five Years Out?

[JaimeSTL 4]

It has been a long time since I've posted here. I'm looking for some insight into my situation.

I was banded 2/28/08 and had amazing immediate success. I lost 105 lbs in the first 7 months after surgery. I then found out I was pregnant with my third child. Unfortunately, we lost our baby girl at 20 weeks. I didn't lose any more weight, maintained for about 6 months, then weight started creeping back on. I got pregnant again 11 months after losing our daughter. While I was pregnant with my last child, I had a lot of reflux, had almost a complete unfill and gained a lot of weight. The baby was born 9 weeks early, I lost my baby weight, but gained it back plus some while she was in the NICU for two months (lots of eating on the run and stress) and before I knew it, I had not only gained back all the weight I lost, I also packed on an extra 20 pounds. In the last 6 months or so, I've managed to lose about 35-40 lbs.

During the summer of 2011, I started having a lot of abdominal pain on my left side, very similar to the pain I had when I had gallbladder attacks, but on the left instead of the right (gallbladder was removed April 2009). In Sept 2011, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I had an upper GI on July 2011 and my surgeon thought the band looked okay, but wanted to scope me. I didn't have insurance at the time so it never got done. I've had off and on severe upper left side abdominal pain since then. I have reflux, some times throwing up multiple times a day, some times not at all. On a few occasions, I have thrown up bright red blood.

Today, I ate and felt fine. An hour and a half or so after I ate, I started feeling sick. I had no signs of stuck food, but I started sliming. I ended up vomiting, not violently at all, it just came up, but there was bright red blood again.

Anybody have this happen? I also have had fills since my last pregnancy, but restriction doesn't last more than a day at absolute most. Most of the time, it seems like my band isn't even there. My last fill was in March 2012 and I've just given up on them since then. I'm considering a band to sleeve revision if my insurance will cover. In the meantime, I'm just trying to get an idea of what might be going on in there.

[hely88 883]

Wow so sorry you have had such a difficult time. I would strongly advise you find a way to get the fluro and make sure your band is ok. Then you can get back on track and continued success. Reflux is usually a sign of being too tight. Please take care of yourself. Your family needs you to be healthy.

[Maddysgram 6,159]

I too am sorry you have been going through so much.

IMHO, you need to see a Dr asap. Throwing up bright red blood, really?

This is not something any of us are qualify to advice on, other than call your Dr. PLEASE!

Keep us posted

[JaimeSTL 4]

Oh yes I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow. We will finally have insurance as of next week. Today was the first occurrence of blood in a few months so I guess my body is reminding me to get checked out.

There is no way I am too tight. I can eat anything and have zero restriction. I had severe reflux before I was banded and it went away immediately after surgery.

[laurigee 545]

Yikes, blood??!!! Don't wait to long before seeing your surgeon!! Make sure you tell them about the blood! That just doesn't sound good! Please let us know what the doctor says!

[Baba Wawa 543]

Please, please see your doctor ASAP. Keep us posted on the outcome.