My nightmare journey with a band

[Listywood 0]

Wow! This is the first time I have been here. I have been sick for over a year now after being banded in March of 2006. I have been to so many doctors that I feel insane. Last June I started a journey that is still going on.

I had my surgery in Mexico (there were no doctors doing lap bands in Boise, Idaho where I live) and just a few months after that I started having problems with pain on my right side. Went to a doctor that wanted me to have my gall bladder removed. I refused and got a second opinion from a gasterologist and he wanted to do an endoscopy. In a few weeks the pain went away and I did not go through with the endoscopy. That was in June/July of 2005. Everything seemed fine.

In June of 2006 after a really tight fill the February before I started getting a sore throat. My whole neck hurt. I felt really weak and tired all the time. I went through 2 rounds of strep throat medicine and still my throat felt tight and sore a lot even though the strep throat was gone. I was exhausted all the time. They tested me for Mono and I had high levels of Epstein-Barr Virus but never did find anyone to tell me exactly what that meant. One doctor would say it was nothing but an old infection the other telling me that I would possibly be sick for up to a year with Mono.

Finally in September I had so much trouble swallowing that I was feeling seriously mal nutritioned. Still very weak and having trouble concentrating I told doctor I wanted someone to look in my throat and make sure something was not growing in there. She sent me to a gasterologist. It took a month and 1/2 to get an appointment with him. In the mean time I went to Salt Lake City to have the band unfilled. (closest place I could go to have that done.) The unfill seemed to help a lot and I did have some improvement. But still I was worried. I still could not eat much and vegetables and fruit were not a part of my diet at all let alone meat.

I saw the gasterologist in mid November. He scheduled an endoscope for Jan. 4th. He was very confused about my symptoms and did not seem to think it was band related either.

The endoscope showed nothing I guess except some swelling. My husband and I misunderstood him the day of the procedure and thought he said I had an ulcer in my lower esophagus. My next appointment with him was on March 13th. My first question was how long would it take this ulcer to heal and he claimed he never said I had an ulcer. I was doing better thinking all that time that I had an ulcer and that was the reason I was not able to eat anything but liquids and soft food. It was just going to take time. He scheduled a barium swallow test for two days later on the 16th.

During that test the radiologist told me he had never seen an esophagus in a person my age act like mine. (I'm 49) He said it was just quivering and I basically had just a drain. (I would make lots of embarrassing noise while eating or drinking I might add) He knew of nothing that could be done. I was devasted and it took 2 weeks and a lot of begging and crying to get back into the doctor who would not return my calls. I was a mess. All they would tell me on the phone was that I needed a hiatal hernia surgery. I was freaked.

My husband went to the next appointment with me on April 4th (the soonest I could get in) and he must have scared the doctor by just looking at him. It was as if the doctor had still not read the report of the last test. He told us that the surgeon that they had told me to contact for surgery for a hiatal hernia would not do the surgery. They basically did not know what was wrong with me and I would have to find someone else. Without saying it directly he been dropping hints that because I went to Mexico they did not want to deal with me. He said he would call the radiologist as soon as he had time. That evening around 5 pm he called and said he had called the surgeon and found out that others had been having these problems and the band needed to come out. Supposedly the surgeon will do that. They would not know the extent of the nerve damage to my esophagus for 3 years because nerves healed slowly if at all. Oh and by the way that huge hiatal hernia was not huge and did not need surgery all of the sudden.

Yesterday I had that test done where they go through the nose and down into the stomach. I was told by the doctor that did it that my esophagus was fine and working well. I don't know what to think now.

I see the surgeon next week on the 24th.

This has been a nightmare. A roller coaster of doctors saying things and then recanting. All I know is that I am close to losing my job for missing so much work. I am pretty sure I am uninsured with anything relating to the band. I am feeling insane and am still suffering. I am living on Ensure and Soup and ice cream. I am trying to get a leave from work and they are not budging either because bands are not covered. I am in a pickle.

I have lost close to 70 pounds and I am grateful for that even though I could still stand to lose 50 more. Many of the health problems I suffered from being over weight have vanished. But now I have a whole set of new problems that are really scary. I want the band out of me. I want to be healthy. I don't know if I will be able to find a doctor to touch me in the US. However the nurse keeps telling me I would be crazy to take such a drastic measure of having the doctor in Mexico remove it. Maybe I was crazy to go to Mexico to have this done but I think the doctors in the US are making me insane.

Sorry this is so long. But I needed to get it out. Has anyone heard of a Mexican banded person getting help having a band taken out? Is there any possibility of having my insurance cover such a thing. I will keep you all posted on what happens next after I see the surgeon next Tuesday.

Am I sorry I got the band? Yes and no. I know many people who are banded who have had no problems and lost all their weight. It is luck of the draw I guess. I do not fault my Mexican doctor. I am shocked that these bands are basically uninsured if you have problems. If I have any advice it would be to go through the exhausting years it takes to get your insurance to pay to have a band put in. Then if you have problems surely you would be covered and the doctors would be more willing to treat you.

Patty

Banded 3-17-05 260 lbs

today 195 and perfectly happy with that weight.

[girlinnyc 0]

i'm sorry you're having such terrible problems. i think if you fight the insurance co--they may have to pay a surgeon to take out the band. you might need to hire a lawyer to fight the insurance co--but it might be worth it.

having my own problems at the moment--i think i have a slipped band--am having an endoscopy on thurs--then i see the surgeon may 1. i think this happened due to extreme spasms in a vomiting incident (sorry to be graphic) last week....

there is never any guarantee with surgery---is there? (no).

best wishes for a successful outcome.

-girlinnyc

[chubster808 0]

Wow, reading your story, I dont feel so bad about my own band woes. Mine seem minor in comparison but still an annoyance. I am fortunate to have easy access to my surgeon and whole bariatric team. Hope you find a good doctor that will address all of your complications!

[Alexandra 55]

Listywood, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles! Even though you were banded in Mexico, you are entitled to medical care in the States if you are having serious trouble. Your insurer may say that band-related issues are not covered, but emergency procedures or anything that is medically necessary to restore your health should be (or they are leaving themselves open to a lawsuit).

It sure sounds to me like you have serious esophageal issues and your band should come out. Maybe you had them before banding and therefore weren't a good candidate, or maybe they're being caused by the band, but either way the current situation is unhealthy for you.

I am positive there are qualified band doctors in Idaho, if not precisely in Boise. You need an experienced band doctor to take over your care and get your band removed. Check with your state's department of insurance to see what your carrier's responsibilities are with respect to emergency procedures. Your doctor can present the case that removing the band is medically necessary and get the surgery covered. Think of it this way: If you had cosmetic breast implants and one of them ruptured, that would be an emergency and treatment would be covered.

I know there is a vibrant community of Idaho bandsters. Connect with them and you should be able to get some support and assistance. Post a message here in the Idaho section for a start, and also check out band2gether.net.

Good luck!!!