So tired of being sick

born2swim · November 22, 2007

I have had fill-unfill so many times this past year. I throw up too often. I have reflux and am on 2 GERD meds. I had GERD per-op and this is really bad. I feel nauseated all the time. I gravitate to soft cold things like ice cream, milkshakes, slush drinks, because they don't hurt as much going down. I am getting over esophagitis and my 3rd episode of gastritis in the last few months.

My surgeon and I are going to give my band another shot and see if I can tolerate a fill. I am gaining weight due to the liquid calories, but when I try healthy food (veggies, meat, etc) they reflux much worse becasue they take longer to digest. I am so tired of this! We did a scope and it doesn't seem like there is anything to worry about (except it showed esophagitis and gastritis). Fluro didn't really show much (one time it looked more vertical than the second time done a week later). I got violently ill after the last fluro (vomiting/wretching and I don't know why).

Do people just stop tolerating the band? The first year I had the band was bliss. Now, it is hell. Anyone else out there feeling the same thing? I am already researching VSG. If I obstruct with this last fill (like I did with all the last fills this past year), I am tempted to "give up" on my band. I'm just so sick of being sick! :faint::sick:rolleyes

ndbeekeeper · February 25, 2008

Sounds just like me. I expell almost everything I eat...and sometimes even just fluids. I drink something...lean over the toilet and out it comes. I have very few things I know I can tolerate. I have the bad problem of being able to tolerate alcohol when nothing else works and have therefore found myself drinking too often. I look sick as hell...too skinny..hair falling out..SICK TO DEATH OF BEING SICK ALL THE TIME!!! I can soooo relate.

socalgal3 · February 25, 2008

I am sorry that you both are struggling. Please keep in close contact with your doctor regarding these issues. As far as liquid calories, please try to make wise choices like Protein Shakes and low-cal Soups. If you are dying for ice cream, try fat free frozen yoghurt. liquids will not stay with you and therefore it is easier to gain, but you can still attempt to make healthier choices than ice cream and milkshakes. Make sure you are taking chewable or liquid vitamins. That should help with Hair loss. Go back to basic band rules like chewing thoroughly and eating slowly. I hope you both find peace with the band soon.

born2swim · February 25, 2008

You know, I have been like that for the last year. I can only do liquids and mushy foods on good days. There are days where I can't even keep Water down. My band has been empty for months. It started out as not tolerating fills, then not tolerating an empty band, now not tolerating the band at all. It turns out, after 14 months of tests, imaging, and appointments, I have a hiatal hernia. It was missed on 8 fluro's, 2 scopes, and by 2 other bariatric surgeons. It finally performed for them and without a doubt I have a hiatal hernia. They said once I get that repaired, all my symptoms will be gone. Unbeliveable. After this long, they finally saw the hiatal hernia. It is a sliding hernia, so it wasn't "performing" at the previous tests I guess. I'm just glad to know it can be fixed. I can't tell you how band I have missed salad!!! Last time I ate it, I landed in the hospital for 2 days for intractable vomiting. 5 weeks after my repair... I will be eating salad again!!!

ndbeekeeper · February 26, 2008

Oh God...I crave salad. I crave any veggies as I haven't eaten them in at least a year. I know if I was able to eat real food I would make good choices cuz I am craving all the good things. But still stuck with sippin milk or Water and nibbling watery mashed potatoes.

jbflorida · March 2, 2008

So--knowing what you know now, what would you tell someone considering this surgery? (I hope you feel better soon....)

Valerie617 · March 4, 2008

Well, it took me a while, but I went for an unfill today. Over the past month, it was becoming more and more difficult to keep food down. I tried to work with the tightness of my band because I thought temporarily, it might jumpstart my weightloss (stupid, I know).

So I thought, I'll just drink Protein shakes, Soups, soft food for a couple of weeks - things just got worse and I could only sip a little bit of a shake and then wait 15 minutes or more before I could take another sip.

Today my doctor removed 1/2 of my fill. So far today I've been able to drink a whole Protein Shake and Soup. He told me to stay on liquids two days, then mushies for two days.

I go back in 6 weeks for a floro so he can take a look at how my stomach is doing. I hope I'm OK and that my band hasn't slipped.

I appreciate everyone's input on this forum. At least I'll be well-informed. Thanks everyone.