13 years since surgery CONSTANT PAIN

In may of 2003 I had the lapband put in. I have had 4 or 5 incidences of inflamation (that is what the doctor said) and chest pain here and there. I became pregnant in 2005 and had all fluid removed...about a year later, I had a small amount of fluid put back in but had no real success with true weightloss. I became pregnant in 2010 and had fluid removed again. I became pregnant again in late 2013. ALL 3 deliveries were csections. My daughter was born in august 2014 and about 5-6 weeks later, I began having major issues with acid reflux and abdominal pain. I have severe anxiety and began to think I was dying. I had an EGD and CT scan done and I was told it was just gastritis and put on PPI for a long time. I took myself off because they just kept increasing the doses and nothing was helping. Diet changes helped. I have had intermittent abdominal pain since then. I had a pretty bad flare up of abdominal and side and back pain in September of 2015 and had several tests run again to just be told it is IBS. I am not in the middle of another (the worst yet) case of abdominal and back pain and again, chest pain. My anxiety is through the roof. I went for cardiology appointments again and everything tested fine. The cardiologist is convinced it is my lapband and wants me to see a different bariatric surgeon for help. I am scared. I want this thing out. I am afraid it has caused permanent damage. Any one out there have similar experience? HELP!

I have. 

Also had the band in 2003. Nothing but severe, chronic pain from it. Also, I didn't have anxiety before, but I sure did develop it while banded. I think the Vagus nerve really does get affected more than ever divulged. It regulates so much in a body and the band's presence just screws it all up. I have gastritis, too. 

Get it removed as soon as possible. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel after the band is out. We get used to being miserable and start to think it's "normal." You WILL feel better when it's out. 

Best of luck to you, melbc. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. 

Thank you! I appreciate the comment! I hope it isn't a fight to get it out! When did you get yours out?

I had mine out a couple of years after I had it placed. It got to the point where I could barely lift my head off the bed, I was so weak, so it was an emergency removal. Then the weird post-surgical stuff started- sneezing to the point of passing out every few days, chronic hiccups... but the left shoulder pain was lessened immensely and the sneezing and hiccuping lasted about a year or so. My diaphragm was damaged as was my Vagus nerve, so that's what caused those odd symptoms. The band does a lot of damage. It's the biggest mistake I ever made. I hope you can get yours out very soon and feel better! Even if you have to fight, do it. It's important. You deserve to feel good. 

So is everything normal now?

Well, not normal, exactly. I feel a million times better than when I had the band. I still have ulcers, gastritis and diaphragmatic damage. I also have diverticulitis episodes that screw me up, big time. My guts have never recovered from the damage the band did. But like I said, I feel a million times better than when the band was in my body. The other stuff is manageable through diet and medication.

Thank you for sharing everything with me!!

Of course! I'm very sorry you're going through it. I really feel for you. 

I'm going TUESDAY to see a new dr. Hopefully this won't be a big fight :/

Best of luck. I think most docs realize how damaging the band is now. Hopefully yours is one who agrees that it needs to be taken out. It's disappointing, isn't it? I know I went into this thinking it was "the answer" for me and I was ready to do everything right. Make sure you take time for yourself after you get it removed. It's kinda hard, even though you feel better physically. If you ever need to talk, I'm here.