Lots of Problems (so close to goal weight!)

[KristineNote 0]

Heya, I have lost about 125 lbs and in a month gained 10 lbs back. Why? I had to get my band drained.

I've been having diahhrea since September. So I finally made a Gastro appointment. Six weeks ago he did a upper endo and a colonscopy. I was just diagnosed with really bad acid reflux and one ulcer in my esphogus. After having this procedure done I was unable to get much food down and was in constant cramping. I hadn't gone number 2 in a week. So when the pain became unbarable after 7 days, I went to the ER. They said I was really dehydrated and then because at the time I was 175, we both (the ER doc and I) thought it'd be good to drain my band. I mean just 15 lbs from my goal weight and I am having a lot of problems.

I went back the next night in severe left shoulder pain. They did a chest xray and saw I had a large air bubble which caused referred pain froy lap band.

Two weeks after the procedure I had a low grade fever every day, until two weeks had passed and then it was just gone. I made a follow-up appoint with my gastro because of my low grade fever, my mild Constipation (I went twice during 14 days after my procedure), and my stomach tenderness. He said "it's IBS, just watch what you eat, take Fiber and Probiotics and talk to your lapband doctor and family doc"

So I went to my lap band doctor, he ordered an upper gi series to rule out a few things. He said if the upper gi series is fine, then he'll fill my band in a few weeks.

I went to my general doctor who gave me some nerve pain meds for my constant shoulder pain (it's managable now) and ordered some blood tests/urine tests. So I did that on Monday. My gi series is tomorrow. She thinks the upper endo rattled something with my band and is causing complications. I'm now 25 lbs away from my goal and I really really just want the band back to normal. I'll live with diahrea. Gaining weight after loosing constantly for 16 months is such a bummer.

Right now I'm having constant stomach tenderness, and my right side feels really tight. My port sight (left) is really tender to the touch, still. I have to take stool softeners now, which is amazing cuz after like 8+ months of non-stop daihrea, I'm now having solid. Weird and not fun. I'm also peeing all the time now, I think I have a UTI, but am unsure. The urine test should say if I had one, so I'm sure my general doc will call me if I had that result. Maybe lol. I'm hungry all the time, my stomach hurts when I walk.And I'm either bloated really badly, or 10 pounds went straight to my upper stomach.

It took the ER doc like 5 sticks with a giant needle to find my port. My lap band doc said something about blood pooling, or something, I don't remember.

Also, I'm a very stressed person and have lots of anxiety. So I assume my personality has some part in why I'm sick. But my anxiety has never effected my physically this badly previous 6 weeks ago.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

You would risk having diarrhea constantly and be dehydrated to keep weight off. What in the world are you thinking. This in no way is funny and you need to think seriously about your health issues and not gaining ten pounds.. I really think you need to rethink everything you just typed. Health issues vs having the band is so not worth it.

[KristineNote 0]

During the 8 months of diahrea I had no pain. I never had dehydration issues either. It's just my stools weren't normal.

I perfer that over this which is constant pain, fluxuating fever, and my stools now are so hard I have issues going without stool softeners. Even the stool softerners aren't really helping. Before the upper endo/colonscopy I just had one issue. Now I have tons of issues. If i could choose, I'd go back six weeks and never get the test done! The only good thing about that test is now I'm on some kind of drink for my ulcer. Though, I would have never guessed I had an ulcer. I enver experienced heartburn since my lapband surgery.

I'm pertty sure my 8 months of diahrea were all stress related, too. I'm just so easily worked up.

[TheDuchess 106]

I believe you have to maintain a specific weight for up to 2 years before your body will recognize it as it's new "survivial weight" - which means until then your body is fighting to get back up to size because it truly believes you are killing it.

Be consistant! And take pride in that awesome amount you've managed to lose :]

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

It seems to me you have issues going on and you need one doctor address them. Right now you've got your band doctor worrying about your band and your GI doc worrying about the bowel issues, but still no one is giving you solid answers what's wrong.

So your band is ok- but then why do you have reflux and heartburn? Was your band too tight? It bothers me greatly your band doc isn't concerned about this because if you have reflux you're at high risk for band erosion. The fact you have esophageal ulcers is a warning you're already heading in that direction.

You then go from diarrhea to Constipation and a lot of other pain. And your GI doc is writing it off as IBS? Even with a fever? Again, you have some serious warning signs of bigger things going on and IBS definitely isn't the cause.

I understand the last thing you want to is gain weight but right now that should be your last concern. You need to get to the bottom of all these troubling symptoms and treat the cause not the random symptoms.

Best wishes.

[dawalsh 919]

My God, I 'm sorry for all your problems but just reading the tone of your letter that you're a very anxious.

First off, you've got to let that ulcer heal and you've got to be more selective of what you eat now that you know you have an ulcer.

Your doctor is correct in diagnosing you with IBS. It is very common in people who have WLS but you have to take care of your health and then go back to having your band filled.

If I was worried about gaining weight I could have gone back to smoking to keep the weight off. I gained 70 lbs when I quit smoking but I will NEVER go back to smoking. Smoking curbed my appetite but I won't go back, my health is way too important to me.

So get yourself better first then you can take off the weight that you gained.

I wish you good luck