Thinking of band removal. Poss causing my digestive issues? Anyone with similar?

[4pugmama 1]

I was banded in 9/2011. Prior to then, I had not had any health issues other than being obese and some irritable bowel symptoms for a few months due to stress. Over the last several years I have felt by body sicken/weaken. I have bloating all the time. I belch like a drunken sailor all the freakin time!! Starts first thing in the morning and goes all day. I have discomfort almost every day all day from trying to burp and not being able to. I get gas pains in my bowels almost every day, sometimes so severe I cannot move. I never know what type of food is going to set me off or if its just from too much gas in my body. Carbs/sugar seem to trigger severe gas pains but not always. I eat SO much healthier now than before. I have cut out dairy, most wheat, most processed foods. My family dr thought perhaps my symptoms were diet related but I don't think so. I have major weakness of my muscles. I used to be so strong. It doesn't take much to make my muscles sore. I know they have atrophied some because I didn't get enough Protein in the beginning (I don't think I ever have). Now I try to eat the recc amount but I am unable to tolerate Protein shakes. They give me horrible gas. I have tried several high quality brands, different Protein sources, but my body rejects them. My neck, back, hip mucles are stiff and tight all the time. I take really high quality Vitamins, Calcium, magnesium, Iron, fish oil, but it doesn't matter. I still feel like my body is slowly falling apart. I am SO tired all the time. I have had extensive bloodwork which only shows that I am hypothyroid (I take medication for it) and I have a low level of whole body inflammation and a low level of mold bio toxin in my body. My malabsorption panels always come back normal. I have been on a proton pump inhibitor for the last four years (on Dexilant for last 2 years). I am unable to stop taking it. My stomach burns like crazy if I miss a dose. I have tried to wean off but wasn't able to go less than 1/3 capsule. I can no longer tolerate even a drop of alcohol or anything acidic, both make my stomach feel like its on fire. So basically I'm stuck on a PPI for the rest of my life. I get a sharp pain in my left side sometimes. Sometimes just for a moment or sometimes it persists for a day or more. Its worse when I breath in (maybe scar tissue at the port site?). I have had several upper GIs, all normal, had a fluoroscopy to check my restriction, came back normal, had a barium swallow study, normal. About 4 months ago I had all 9ccs taken out of my band (I didn't realize it was that tight). Over the years I had about 5 separate fills with no issues. With my unfill though, the dr had a very difficult time getting the needle into the port, took him 4 attempts and was pretty painful. When he removed the Fluid it felt like someone was stabbing me at the band site for about 5 hours. The dr hadn't had anyone experience that pain before. The nurse said it could have been from the band being over tight for too long. It was scary and really painful. I talked to him about having it removed but am scared I'll regain. I have lost about 70 lbs and have been able to maintain my weight with no restriction so I have some hope that I'll do fine without it but I also know I still have the strong urge to overeat and sugar binge sometimes.

I am currently under treatment for a suspected babesia infection (blood parasite) which can cause a whole array of symptoms. I'm not convinced my issues are due to infection because I am one month into treatment and do not feel any different. I am wondering if despite all the normal tests and my band looking fine, my body just doesn't like it. I am wondering if anyone has had similar issues, especially with severe burping/bloating/gas pains. Or maybe there is something else going on and I'm just blaming the band. I am not interested at all in having any other weight loss procedures. I see my family dr in 2 days and am going to ask her for an abdominal MRI. If I don't start feeling better despite treatment for the infection then I think I should have my band removed.

[2muchfun 8,927]

I'm sure you love your PCP but you should be seeing a specialist. A gastroenterologist should be able to answer your questions? I have little faith in PCPs as a whole. They're fine for minor illnesses but are clueless when it comes to specific organs. If I'm having cardiac problems, I see a cardiologist. If I'm having joint pain, I see a rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon? I have kidney stones so I see a urologist and a nephrologist. My PCP is clueless when it comes to kidneys.

Your symptoms are not familiar to me but maybe someone else might have an answer? Hope you can identify your problem and keep your band too? I don't think I could tolerate living as you are and I see why you're looking everywhere for answers?

tmf

[Bandarella 223]

Since many insurance companies require you to see your primary care physician first and get a referral, you might not be able to schedule with your GI doctor without seeing the PCP. Also, pcps, most of whom are family practice physicians or internists are as competent or incompetent as any specialist. Being a primary care physician doesn't relegate them to the bottom rung of competency.

On a side note, one of the hallmarks of a band placed too high is no restriction and hunger, although in my case I DID have good initial hunger control. For the first 18 months or so, my band seemed to work fine, had early satiety, no hunger for 3-6 hours after eating and I lost 70 lb. When I began having complications, and my band surgeon was not concerned, I turned to my gastroenterologist who had been treating me for IBS for 15 years. This led me to removal last year. In the last 9 months with my band I lost another 30 lb due to achalasia caused by my band being placed too high.