Emergency unfill! Watch out for creeping dehydration!!!

Last weekend, it was cooler than it had been in days (it was in the mid-80's as opposed to 95+), so I decided to do some yard work.  I spent about 4 hours outside on Saturday weeding and edging our flower beds, power-trimming, and power-edging along the sidewalks.  I perspired buckets while I was working.  I drank a lot of water before and during, and afterwards, when I took Madeline to a kid's birthday party, I drank 2 glasses of water and a whopping 4 glasses of Crystal Light lemonade in the space of 2 hours. On Sunday afternoon, I ran errands and planted some flowers.  Perspired buckets again.  Drank a lot of water and iced tea. On Monday, I worked and drank my normal amount of water. I noticed my band getting tighter since the end of last week.  I didn't think anything about it other than to enjoy the increased restriction -- I could only eat about 1/2 cup of food -- and wonder if I could put off having a fill for a couple more weeks.  I'd been loosening up before that.  But the increased restriction wasn't a problem really.  I knew better than to eat, say, bread (which makes me get stuck), but I did eat a tiny piece of prime rib.  No problema. So yesterday when I got up, I noticed my morning tea gurgling a bit through my band.  I decided to fix thin grits for breakfast.  After 3 bites, I was stuck!  It hurt and burned really bad for an hour or so, and finally, I let myself barf.  Felt better.  Took 2 well-chewed Tums and a few small sips of water, and a few moments later, the pain was back.  It was about 10:30 at this point and I needed to get to Costco to get a cake for a baby shower at work that afternoon.  I'd stayed home from work because it was my job to fetch the cake.  I literally had to stop the car on the shoulder of Rt. 32 right outside of NSA and throw up.  (Thank goodness the MPs didn't catch me!  There are signs posted that say "no stopping for any reason.")  Felt better, but by the time I left Costco, I had to throw up again.  I took Madeline to her grandparents' house in Bowie, then drove on into work in DC.  Right outside of DC, I threw up on myself in the car.  I called my coworkers and asked for someone to meet me and carry the cake and other food up (which fortunately was in the back, far away from me while I was getting sick). I sneaked into my office, cleaned up a bit, then called Johns Hopkins Bariatric Surgery, and spoke with one of Dr. S's admins, who told me to come in ASAP.  So, I drove from DC to Baltimore.  While I was driving, his nurse Nadia called me and we talked about my symptoms.  She told me to go to the ER and tell them I was one of Dr. S's bariatric patients when I signed in, and they'd rush me through. That's what happened.  While I was with the triage nurse, Nadia and John, Dr. S's resident, met me and after asking a few questions, unfilled me completely.  7 cc's gone and within 10 minutes, so was the pain.  Then they sent me for an upper GI.  Fortunately, the upper GI showed that my band was in the right place.  I then sat there with Nadia and Dr. Gupta, another surgeon in that group, drank some water.  It goes without saying, I'm on liquids for a week, then I have to start mushies again. Nadia and the doctors who examined me are pretty sure my stomach swelled because of dehydration.  Did you know that dehydration can make your internal organs swell??  Neither did I, but now I know, and you should too.

OMG!!!  Edie, how HORRIBLE!!!  I'm SO sorry you went through this.  But I'm so glad you did the right thing and called Dr. S, I'd always heard good things about him and this just confirms it.  I'm going to tell Heather Modi to take a look at your post, I consider her an "expert" at the band, and wonder if she was aware of this. Please take care of yourself and keep us posted! Hugs, Tia

Wow Edie, I am so glad that you are ok now.   Thank goodness for great doctors.   Take care and please let us know how you are doing. hugs, Tell Madeline that Gianna and Gino always talk about her and wonder how she is doing.

Edie, do you know what caused the initial dehydration to begin with?  Have you been throwing up at all prior to this?  How's your hunger at this point?  When I was unfilled for a month my hunger was REAL hunger every couple of hours.  It was awful.

Nadia thought it might have been yardwork without proper hydration.  I was drinking water, but not enough, apparently.  I was outside about 4 hours on Saturday morning.  Despite wearing SPF 45, I am a bit pink, too.  FWIW, I had also done a little yardwork in the heat for the last couple of weekends, so maybe I was residually dehydrated a bit.  I know my restriction for the past couple of weeks has been awesome.  Maybe it was caused by low-level dehydration. Pat thinks that when I water-loaded on Saturday afternoon, I might have shocked my stomach and contributed to the swelling, and it's true starting Saturday afternoon, I was very restricted.  I didn't eat much at all after that. I am not hungry right now.  I wasn't hungry yesterday.  I did have some tomato soup for dinner and some hot chocolate later on.  I wanted to get some calories in, even if it was just a few.  My stomach seems a bit shocky still.  I'm waiting for the hunger to kick in.  I'll have the raw vegetables ready.

Yeah, could have been gradual.  Good on the liquids.  Definitely stick to the warm stuff so the swelling goes down.  I know being tight like that from swelling can hurt and the unfill is a wonderful feeling! lol  I'm at 7cc right now and the restriction is okay, but I'm also 12 weeks preggie.  I have oddly enough been eating less since I've been laid off as of last Thursday.  I need to tell Pat about the pregnancy and then get her to not overreact and want to unfill me.  My Peri doesn't want me to have any removed until it's necessary and it may never be.  As long as I can get in 1,800 calories in she says no unfill.  Although the idea of 1,800 calories makes me ill! hehehe Pre-op I'd never say that.  I like to shoot for 1,600 and if I have an extra snack it's okay.  I don't want to gain much other than baby and fluid.  I only gained 20 with Kylie so I'm sure we'll be good.  Surprisingly enough I never ate for 2 pre-op.  I'm glad you are feeling better, treat your pouchie good, I know you will!  When did Pat say they'd start to refill you?

So sorry to hear what you went through.  Thank god there were able to resolve it for you.  Your post is very helpful for anyone with a lap band or getting a lap band. it is wonderful that you shared your experience in such detail.   Take care of yourself!