Newly banded and struggling

[mellie2162 0]

Im so glad to have found this board. I usually post on OH but they are mainly success stories there and I really want to talk to someone who might know what's wrong. Here is my story:

I was banded on 5/19. For the first week after surgery I felt fine. I really didnt want anything but liquids and I was very gassy, but nothing extremely wrong. By day 10 I started getting upper back pain right behind my breasts. I thought it was probably the gas settling and tried not to let it bother me. By day 12 the pain was radiating around under my breasts and in my left side. That weekend I ended up being admitted to the hospital. I was dehydrated and my BP was low. They did cat scans and found nothing wrong. By day 16 I went back in to see my surgeon because the pain in my side was becoming extreme. He said that maybe some Fluid had been left in at surgery and he extracted a little over 1 cc out of my band. I felt immediate relief from the stabbing pain, however, I am now extremely sore across the top of my abdomen (feels like ive done 100 sit ups). That is starting to get a little better each day. The issue Im having is this. I have no appetite. I can drink fluids fine and Im thirsty for Water. If I eat yogurt or pudding I can only do 3 teaspoons and thats it. I cant even do half of a slimfast. broth is fine but I just dont have the appetite for it. I have been losing about 6 pounds a week because Im just not eating. Im going to see my primary doctor on Monday and she will be scheduling an upper GI.

My question is this...have any of you had this problem or know of anyone like this? I feel like such a failure. At this point I just want him to take this band out of me now. Im afraid he wont want to. My husband had the band a week before me and has not had 1 problem. I just dont get this.

[2911plans 16]

Hi Mellie. I was banded on 5/28/09 and I am in a lot pain as well. I can't drink much and if I do it intesifies the pain I feel on my left side. I went to see my surgeon one week after the band and he told me it was gas pains. I too want to feel better. I am praying for this to get better with time.

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Mellie - I think the upper GI is a good start. The fact that you felt immediate relief when he took 1 cc out could be because you were swollen due to surgery and even 1cc was too much. As for the other pains, I do think it could be gas and just your body healing from surgery - the port placement taking the longest to heal. As long as you are getting fluids in and not getting deyhydrated, I think you will feel better each day. I had pain for weeks afterward, especially the port, but unfortunately my appetite returned but was only allowed the Clear Liquids for 2 weeks. You've only been banded for 2 weeks - so if you can only do clear liquids that's okay. Just make sure you get enough to drink and let's hope the upper GI can shed some light on all of this. But this is the most important thing of all - you are NOT a failure. You are doing everything right and everyone's experience is different. I was starving 5 days after surgery, had to do those clear liquids, had a lot of surgical pain but no gas pain. Had port pain for weeks. When my 2 week follow up appt. was canceled, I told them they had to advance me (over the phone) to mushies because my cat's food was starting to look good. You're doing fine, just give your body some time. A month from now you'll be posting about eating mushies and soft foods. Good luck.