My Band Saga....To Be Continued!

Thank you all for the support and comments.  Whew I had to get all that out there LOL.

Leila, he had to unfill the band,  the burning was beyond severe. - I literally can't even describe how bad it was and letting all that acid sit in my pouch and esophagus could have cause even more damage.  I did ask him if it was unfilled would he be able to tell if I had a slip and he said yes.  There was only a week between my unfill and my upper GI so I would be shocked if it was a bad slip that it went back that soon.

Thankfully my new Dr. doesn't have this heart set on the band and he seems optimistic about trying to make things better for me either way. 

To many, you would think that if you have no slip, hernia, erosion or anything significant to report on the band that most doctors would insist it stay in and you work with it.  Thankfully my surgeon is on my side that regarldess of what shows up something is not right, which affects my quality of life and overall weight loss success and eating right.

I certainly hope however there isn't any major or permanent damage.  That is scary to think of.  I realize anything is possible.  One thing I do wonder about thought is the statistics of a slip and of an erosions...it seems like since more people are banded those rates have increased and I have not seen them refelcted in reports.

Whatever is going on, I am hoping for the best outcome possible. Trying to let the stress not get the best of me.  No doubt the next 10 days will be loooooooooooooooong (sigh) but hopefully I can hang in there and not dwell so much on being hungry and somehow be able to manage with the chest discomfort.

One day at a time...one day at a time.  Will update as soon as I know more......

Best,
Nikki

Two things:

I feel that any of these issues could have happened to any one of us. Any surgery is a risk and it is so hard to see someone suffering. I hope you are able to find out what is going on. When we don't know what is happening in our own bodies that is simply one of the worst feelings in the world. Sadly, I feel that we think that the medical community as a whole is a lot more competent and full of answers than it really is. Just continue to stay positive, vent when you need to, and demand answers and second opinions whenever you can.

(In response to, but also somewhat OT and generically speaking) one of the replies)
Secondly, no disrespect to anyone, especially the OP, but I wish to point out the study referenced at bloomberg.com is not only a summary of a publish study but the study itself has a small sample size made up of clients from over a decade ago in a country with a wholly different medical and legislative board then ours here in the U.S. and even the U.K. It is unfair to make any claims regarding generalization to the current band population or statistical significance with this data. I have taken many a statistics class in my time and have also been involved in several from both ends. It is a personal irk of mine when studies are discussed in lay perodicals as they are way too easily manipulated and edited to show only part of the story.

This is not to say that if you are one of the many people experiencing complications that it doesn't matter because of course if something happens to 1 out of 100 people and you are that one it sure as hell is significant to you but it is still important to understand how to read, interpret, and apply study data to our own lives.

I feel it is not only necessary but crucial to our forum for people to post when they have band issues. As a pre-op that is all I wanted to read. I wanted to know everything and anything I could about what could happen, what does happen, and how it affects the lives of everyone around us. Please keep us posted on what happens and never feel afraid to voice how you feel and what is going on with your care. Good Luck.

Thank you VrplSword for posting that about the study.  I agree, but don't have the skills to express myself as succinctly as you did. 

My heart goes out to you - -you've certainly been through an awful lot.  Thank you for sharing your story. When I was researching the daylights out of wls I appreciated detailed, well balanced, and objective statements of personal experience like you shared-- they were by far the most helpful to me.

I know if I had to deal with fills/unfills pain and terrible reflux I would certainly be looking to revise to something else.

How awful it took so long to get that gall bladder out! I used to work with a gentleman that had severe stomach/digestion issues for years and no obvious signs of gall bladder problems. He suffered for so long (even telling him it was all in his head) before the doctors finally agreed his gall bladder should come out. After the surgery he was fine.  

I wish you the best,

Trixie

Nikki,

I feel your pain.  I had to have my band out and bypass done because of the severe heart burn.  Even when I had 0 fill in the band I still had heart burn.  And I had severe pain like you would not beleive.  When I told my surgeon either you remove band or I was going to he was all for revision.  I had so much pain and had a low heart rate from the wonderful band.

I know the band works for some people, for me my health got worse and I was greatful to have it removed.

Does your insurance cover the sleeve?? Research your options before making a decision!!


Tamara