2nd lapband and still having issues

[Short and Chunky 230]

I got my first band in July 2012..we got along great. I lost 120 pounds and felt like a million bucks..then the slip happened in April, 2014. Thought I was going to die. I was rushed to the ER in an Ambulance- vomiting blood and unable to hold down spit. My band was removed via emergency surgery. for the next 6 months I tried to be good but not happening. Gained 40 pounds..The doctor said he could put the band back in and he did December 2014. Since then, I have gained another 20 pounds. I have had 3 adjustments and one "super fill"..well, you wouldn't know it. I can (and do) eat anything I want and a lot of it. I feel like a PIG. My clothes are too tight and I am miserable. I wonder if I even have a band in place. now to top it off I have developed "mystery pains". joints, muscles, back and even my hands.. I wonder if my body is saying get this "alien baby" out of me. The doctor had talked about RNY but I was scared and I had enjoyed such success with the band I never gave it a thought. DUMB I should have listened to my inner self. My insurance would not approve a sleeve. Well, here I am, 7 months post-op and miserable. I don't know where to turn. If they take the band out, I know my insurance would never approve RNY now. I am not sure another fill is the answer either. If I do have a band in the correct place. too tight would mean another slip and I sure don't want to go through that again. Anyone out there had this issue and what did you do about it. I am 63 years old..5'2" presently 211 pounds. I used to walk daily and completed a 15K this past February (9.3 miles). Today, all I do is SIT. I tried to walk today and went about a mile. Now I am in pain again. This is nuts. I was in excellent health just a few months ago. What is going on? I have had blood work, but no answers there. I don't know if they are looking in the right place. Please give me your 2 cents. I have always trusted this site to give me good advice and I really need it now.

Thanks: Short and Chunky (Melinda in Florida)

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@Short and Chunky I'm so sorry to hear about the slip and all that you are going through. I would want to know that the band is in the right place and working properly. Can you schedule a floro or barium swallow with your Dr? Then you can see along with the Dr. how quickly or slowly things are moving through the band and maybe adjust properly from there.

I know there are several on here who have had their bands replaced with new bands, and I hope they will come out to give their experience and advice. All I can say is that I know since I had to have my band unfilled due to a dilation and then went back for fills I haven't felt the same, and weight loss is really non existent for me. I haven't gained but I am not losing either....I feel like I am at a stalemate right now.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

when my band slipped and I was unfilled I was able to get the band back to correct place. my problem was that my esophagus couldn't handle my pouch. once my pouch even got a little full my esophagus spasmed. my doctor tried to give me little fills but in a 14 cc band I was only able to fill to 5 cc. so no restriction. he refuses to try again. his reason is that my problem will always be present and could cause permanent damage. on Friday I am going in for a bypass. I need to lose enough wt. to get both of my knees replaced so its really important.

[Short and Chunky 230]

Thanks guys for your posts. I felt so alone in this. Lisa I will ask for a barium swallow. I have had them before and they do say so much. Frustration is such an awful thing and it only leads to more issues. I hope to see the doctor within the next few days to get some answers and get back in the saddle once again. I want the old, skinnier, healthier me back. I felt so much better - but I also know that I have to dig deep and find my old "will power" too...that appears to have taken quite a beating. I'll keep you all posted on what he says. Thanks again for the support - you all know what it means!

Melinda in Florida

[Debbie3sons 1,936]

@Terrydumont how did you find out about the esophagus what was the symptoms if you don't mind me asking send me a message if you don't want the negative comments , because we know how that goes & ouch good luck on your surgery for your knees .

[terrydumont46 1,954]

I don't mind. about a month before I found out I had begun suffering from reflux. I told my surgeon and pcp. they increased medications for reflux and I took measures like not eating after a certain time and sleeping upright. on the 4th of july at a party I started to have severe chest pain. I could actually see my heart beat or I thought it was my heart beat right through my shirt. I went home and took my blood pressure and pulse and all was normal. so on the first day after the holiday I went to the surgeon who ordered a barium swallow. in the pictures it showed over 20 esophageal spasms. I didn't even have any pain at that time so I can only imagine what the one that caused pain and was throbbing looked like. so the symptoms are reflux, sliming and pbing all foods, pain and I mean severe pain . they unfilled my band and slowly over 6 weeks my diet changed from liquid to full liquid mushy and than regular. although the band went back into place it was just a small slip my esophagus still showed distention, and elongated and spasms. tried to do fills but the reflux was immediate as were pbing all the foods. hope I answered your question. and I don't blame my band. I blame the pa for not ordering a swallow when after a year I had suddenly got reflux and pbing. this is my message to all concern. be a advocate for yourself and your band. always demand a endoscopy or barium swallow when things start going wrong.

@Terrydumont how did you find out about the esophagus what was the symptoms if you don't mind me asking send me a message if you don't want the negative comments , because we know how that goes & ouch good luck on your surgery for your knees .

[Short and Chunky 230]

Terrydumont - that sounds awful. So sorry for that experience. I know the pain you are talking about and how scared you were. A slip is no joke and something that should be dealt with ASAP. You may not die, but boy do you think you will. The doctor told me that I could have actually "killed" my stomach with the restricted blood flow. So glad you are doing better. I didn't blame by band either and I don't blame it now, I think this is a case of the doctor not "listening" to the patient and/or the patient not being totally clear as to a situation.

Melinda in Florida

[Debbie3sons 1,936]

Good to know , that I haven't had some & I say some of the problems because for a while , I did have a couple of those symptoms but haven't for a while now & I just had barium & flouro & All is good.