Frustrated doesn't begin to describe it...

[pooky032281 8]

I was banded in September 2010. It's been all uphill since. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had a total thyroidectomy three months later. My weight loss has been slow, like at a turtle's pace. Then when I finally was down 50 lbs, I got pregnant. I had horrible morning sickness and was hospitalized for intractable nausea/vomiting. This was Nov 2012. At that point my dr removed all my fill. My son is now 7 months old, I still have no fill because I'm breastfeeding, however, I'm having issues with things getting stuck and vomiting again. I'm starting to have some serious "buyers remorse" and wishing I would NEVER have had this stupid band placed. Has anyone else had any experiences like mine? What happened with you and your band?

[IndieAllie 36]

Dear Pooky,

i am so sorry you're going through this and have been going through this for some time.

I am a band to sleeve converter because like you, I had serious remorse over my band. It was NOTHING but complications, pain and NO weight loss to add insult to injury. I got stuck EVERY day for 5 years until I finally decided to have it removed on the advice of my surgeon who said "Don't even consider getting pregnant with your band still in".

Now, granted, MANY women do and have healthy pregnancies. My band had tilted and was in a dangerous position. Have you considered your options (I'm sure you have) of having your band removed and a sleeve conversion performed?

I have had such amazing results with mine and not getting stuck is like Christmas every day.

Again, sorry you're going through it.

[lisacaron 5,075]

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Congratulations on your little one!!

My advice to you at this moment in time is to give your bariatric surgeon a call and have him check out what's going on with your band since all these events have transpired for you over the last year or so.

Hopefully there isn't anything wrong and he can help either get it back on track if you want to start losing, and/or discuss some options with you to get you at least feeling better.

Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Most bandster's do not have so many good/bad experiences while being banded so you're experience is not typical and fortunately you were banded so it's reversible where if you would have had another WLS and experienced problems, you would be stuck with that surgery.

My advice is to demand a fill under fluoroscopy to see where your band is and if it's still operable?

[cheryl2586 3,053]

If you are vomiting everyday your band could be slipped. You need to call your surgeon because this could be a complication. I wouldn't wait any longer especially if you are breast feeding.

[pooky032281 8]

Not vomiting everyday, just now and then. At this point, I have no desire for fills because I refuse to compromise my milk supply.

[MandaMom23 684]

Sounds like you've been through a lot! Congrats on your new little bundle

You really need to contact your surgeon if you're having issues with your band.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Getting a fill will not compromise your milk supply. The more you breast feed the more milk you will make. The amount of times you feed your baby believe it or not your breast know how much your baby needs.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

what cheryl said is true. it's the amount of time your baby feeds will determine the amount of milk you put out. this is an excellent time for you to contact your doctor. have your band placement checked with a simple upper gi. it's fast and easy. once it has been checked than you and your doctor can determine how to proceed. you can eat enough healthy food to breast feed your baby and lose wt. all those exercise programs for mom and baby's would make you and baby feel great. don't be to discouraged. you don't know yet what the problem is. and i just don't know why whenever there is a post like yours we always get a band to sleeve person posting. no one talks about how many sleeve and bypass end up with a band on their stoma's. also you need to consider your insurance company. they may have restrictions on having the band removed. please call your doctor i don't want you to be this miserable when you may not have to be.

[pooky032281 8]

Having been a labor and delivery nurse for eleven years, I know how the supply/demand cycle works for milk production. My doctor was the one who refuses to do anything until I am done breastfeeding my son. She says the human body requires an additional 500 calories above what I need to provide HEALTHY, rich milk for the baby. So I'm pretty much stuck until he's done nursing. Thank you all for the words of encouragement and letting me vent.

[grace234 1]

I can definitely relate. I inadvertently got pregnant 7 months after the surgery! I had such severe morning sickness - hyperemesis - I was in and out of the hospital, had the band totally unfilled. I took Zofran all 9 months. It was pure hell and even with the band empty it got too tight near the end of the pregnancy so I just threw up more.

As for today, I am five years out and 5lbs heavier than when I got the stupid band to begin with! For the last year have been getting fluoro fills every 3-4 weeks. He could not get it filled right as it turns out I have borderline achalasia where my esophagus severely spasms. I would go home totally loose, and two days later I would be unable to swallow. He documented this for a year, had me get a motility study, and has declared the lap band a medical failure and wants me to get a revision to RNY - if I get the sleeve I will have the same reflux problems. The only reason I can get RNY is because the lower portion of my esophagus opens and closes correctly. If it didn't, I would not be a candidate at all. I don't think I can prove it but I think the achalasia was caused by the band. So now I am tentatively going through revision steps and trying to decide if I want to have such a major surgery.

Anyway, sorry for everything you have gone through. I too wish the band would just disappear. It has been an absolute nightmare.

[Bandarella 223]

I can definitely relate. I inadvertently got pregnant 7 months after the surgery! I had such severe morning sickness - hyperemesis - I was in and out of the hospital, had the band totally unfilled. I took Zofran all 9 months. It was pure hell and even with the band empty it got too tight near the end of the pregnancy so I just threw up more.

As for today, I am five years out and 5lbs heavier than when I got the stupid band to begin with! For the last year have been getting fluoro fills every 3-4 weeks. He could not get it filled right as it turns out I have borderline achalasia where my esophagus severely spasms. I would go home totally loose, and two days later I would be unable to swallow. He documented this for a year, had me get a motility study, and has declared the lap band a medical failure and wants me to get a revision to RNY - if I get the sleeve I will have the same reflux problems. The only reason I can get RNY is because the lower portion of my esophagus opens and closes correctly. If it didn't, I would not be a candidate at all. I don't think I can prove it but I think the achalasia was caused by the band. So now I am tentatively going through revision steps and trying to decide if I want to have such a major surgery.

Anyway, sorry for everything you have gone through. I too wish the band would just disappear. It has been an absolute nightmare.

Just to clarify: achalasia is defined as failure of the lower esophageal

sphincter to open in response to swallowing. You may have esophageal dilation if the sphincter randomly fails....Rny is often used to treat achalasia. Perhaps removing your band, waiting 3-4 months then redoing the manometry might open up other options for you. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.