Giving up on my Band

As many of you know, I've been trying to keep my band, hoping my reflux, vomiting, stomach pain, GI motility issues weren't band related.  My GI doctor thought that with medications for IBSc, once things got moving again, my symptoms would subside and I could possibly get a fill and start losing again.

The last 2 days, despite being "regular", I'm having all of the above mentioned symptoms again.  Had to leave my son's house last night because of it...we were planning to stay the weekend, but I felt so bad, we came home.  I had a rough night and emailed my PA for an appointment...

The last couple of days, in addition, I've been having port pain, which I've not had since the first weeks post op.

I'm so sorry you've had so much trouble but I've moved over so you can sit in the boat beside me.  I was trying to regulate me and my eating habits but had way too many complications and the tubing starting coming out of my body thru an old incision so I THOUGHT I was going in to have the tubing take out.  But no.  The idiot surgeon (not my original surgeon) took out the port as he said it was compromised (which I guess means infected), cleaned off the tubing and shoved it back in there and opened the band completely.  I should have sued the guy as that incision was open and draining for 10 months.  And, yes, I went back to see him several times and he kept treating me but nothing worked.  In the year since then, the incision has burst twice and the last time I gushed more blood and puss that I thought I'd wet my pants.

The band isn't for everybody.  I've seen lots of people it was not good for and few people who have actually made it work for them.

But with any WLS, you have to have a lifetryle change....just as if you hadn't had the surgery at all.

Good luck to you.  I had considered the sleeve until yet another surgeon told me that within 5 years of any bariatric surgery, the patient will start to gain the weight back and could gain it all....if they don't stick to a strict diet.  Forget it.  No more port pain or tubing problems and no other surgeries for me.  I thought I was going to be able to eat small portions of anything but that truly was not the case.  It was back to 30 carbs per day (I can eat that in salad dressing) and no popcorn and no cookies and no ice cream and no and no and no. 

So, I'm saying "no" too.  No thanks.  I'm done!!!

You've given it more than a fair chance hon time to let it go! There is no point in suffering anymore.  Hope this ends the suffering.

I second Hislady's post. You have given it a really good fight but when it is time for it to end there is no sense in dragging it out. You d0on't have to continue in pain. I sure wish you luck with what ever you end up doing and hope you will feel fantastic after.

Thank you all for the kind words.  I hope I can move through the process quickly.

Sorry, SM.  You'll feel a whole lot better really soon, so at least there's that. I'm really sorry you're suffering.

xoxo

You gave it your very best try and it simply wasn't working. You have really put up with a lot and I wish you all the very best. Kate

I think I knew my band and I were through when my boyfriend said, "It seems like you have to plan your day around your band, what you can and can't do....having a back-up meal if the one you cook doesn't work for you.  I just feel sorry for you." 

He was genuinely concerned.  Since being sleeved, I never, ever let my WLS plan my day (except for the first 4 weeks of a very limited diet while healing).  Any lack of weight loss, etc., has been totally ME, not my sleeve.

I hope you are able to get relief soon.  Unfortunately, even though there are several success stories on this board, a good majority of us have suffered issues with the band. 

Someone else just recently said something very similar to this, Melly. She was telling me that she never knows if she'll spew or not, so she hates going out to lunch with coworkers. She was feeling bad that no one even asked her to go anymore.

I knew my band HAD to come out  when my son literally begged me to have it out.  And it broke my heart. He was so tired of seeing me crying, weak, and in pain. I regret how much my decision to get the band affected him. I kept hoping the pain would stop at some point, but I was only fooling myself.

I'm so glad that your sleeve is working for you.

Thanks, Nicci!! 

I know everyone gets tired of hearing this, but for ME, the sleeve is EXACTLY what I was told the band would be.  The bonus is, no fills, EVER. 

Like your friend, I was so cautious when eating with co-workers.  I always had to insist we go somewhere that had soup!  I remember I HAD to tell my boyfriend about having the LapBand on our first date, only because I didn't want him to get concerned if I took one bite of food and ran to the bathroom. 

I was starting to depend on alcohol to eat.  By drinking a couple of glasses of wine, my band would "open up" and let me eat more solid protein.  No good.........I can't have wine for lunch and breakfast!  ha ha ha  Well, I could.........