Major setback!

My band slipped...right down to the bottom of my stomach. I don't know when it happened or how.  I started vomiting and just couldn't stop...nothing stayed down, not even liquids. I thought maybe it was a virus and waited till the 3rd day to call my surgeon (big mistake). I spoke to her and she had me admitted to the hospital. She was going away so I was under Dr. Roye's care for 2 days. I had heard so many good things about him through some of you ladies so I did not worry and felt confident. Nice guy, soft spoken but wish I could of met him under different cir****tances. I had the barium swallow test but there was some issues with it. Radiology. They felt things were fine but both Dr. Roye and Dr. Ryder felt it was enough to show the slip. I DID NOT want the test repeated as it was pure hell for one vomiting constantly. We went ahead with the revision, the surgery itself took over double the time line of the original surgery. The after math was double the pain. I am 5 days out and I'm still miserable in so many ways but I can drink.  After the original surgery I had several occasions where I would vomit. I followed my band rules very well. My only weakness was eating slower. Instead of the required 20-30 minutes, it was taking me roughly 15 minutes to finish a meal. I was measuring out my foods to 1/2 to 1 cup and would eat till I was o****asionally about 1-2 hrs after...I would feel uncomfortable. The only way to describe the feeling is if someone had kicked me in the stomach. It would sometimes cause me to vomit. The slip could of happened due to these episodes however, my surgeon said there was already scar tissue forming around the band so it had slipped some time ago. She also said this could be the reason why I had so much restriction with no fill. At this point...it really doesn't matter. It is what it is! In my revision, nothing was removed, just corrected. Instead of those 4 little incisions and 1 bigger one for the port. I now have 3 bigger incisions and 2 little ones. If I have another slip...the band has to be removed. I'm trying to stay positive right now. I'm very nervous. I don't feel very blessed at this point.  Was it the right surgery for me(?)...I don't know and I'm not sure I'll ever know. With that being said....I still have no regrets about going with the band. It's removalable and that alone helps alot.  I don't want to discourage anyone. We are all different and so are our bodies! I adore my surgeon. She's caring and listens. I chose her because she worked on my husband a couple of times in 2005 (non-wls related). There was no question in my mind who was going to be my surgeon when I made this decision.  I just want others to be aware things do happen. Please be careful, please follow your rules and if things don't seem right...call your surgeon ASAP!  I'm back to square one with my meal plan. Tuesday I get to start full liquids. I'm looking forward to that. I haven't had any food for 12 days. I'm on liquids and I'm concentrating on my meal time line. I'm doing well and will continue to work on that. Hopefully I can continue to go forward from here.  I hope everyone is doing well.  Take care!   

I'm SO sorry to read about the problems you have had!  I hope you will feel much better soon.  Thank you for sharing your story.  If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.

Sorry to hear you have had so much trouble, but glad that they got everything fixed.  Hope all goes well this time and you have a speedy recovery. dave

I'm so sorry you had to go through all this.  Please take it slow - I pray you are feeling better VERY soon. Pam

I'm so very sorry for what you are going through. My prayers are with you for a healthy speedy recovery....Also thanks so much for sharing your story Dr. Roye performed my band surgery and even though I feel he is one of the best anything can happen when you are dealing with the human body...please keep us informed of your recovery. God Bless

Sorry to hear about your set-back.  You are fixed now, lets all cross our fingers that you will have no more difficulties.  I guess you can understand, now, better that anyone, the possible complications they explained to you prior to your surgery.  I remember Dr. Roye being very graphic explaining the possiblity of a slip, it kind of made me think twice, but I am extemely happy with my band.  I'm sure once you are feeling better and things are back to "normal" you will be happy too.  That is what I wish for you.  Please don't give up!!!!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with your for a speedy recovery.   Thank you so much for sharing this with us.  I personally take complications with anything for granted and have a "not me" attitude sometimes.   Hope you feel better soon!

I never had that "not me" attitude but I did think it wouldn't happen "now" to me because I followed my rules very well. I certainly didn't think vomiting a meal here and there would cause me to slip. I lurk the main board alot and read alot of stories. I thought I was doing quite well compaired to other complaints. I've never had a "stuck" episode. Yet people are having them all the time and doing quite well. Like I said...our bodies are all different. It certainly was an eye opener! I was also told from my surgeon if you've had 1 slip, the chances are greater for another. That's why it will have to come out if there is another. I will have to search another route. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.  

I'd like to thank you all for your kind words. This board has helped me alot...in so many ways. I don't post or comment alot but I'm here lurking and supporting every one of you. We all have many things in common and most of all we all want to succeed. We can and we will! I'd like to add a few thoughts.... When I went into this surgery. I had a few worries but they quickly disappeared. I never wanted to dwell on the "what if's". After all...."what if" I remained morbidly obese for the rest of my life? Noone knows what the future holds. My own mother didn't even realize I had a BMI that listed me in morbidly obese. Of course we all knew I was overweight but I too just thought I was obese! Anyways...the worries I carried were due to a flipped port, never a slip. After all...why would I slip...I was doing pretty well. Never had anything get stuck and what's alittle vomiting. When doing ab work I had to remind myself to be careful because my port might flip. If you read the main band board...you'll see that not every "slipper" has the same symptoms. Some are in alot of pain, I was in none! Some are able to drink but not eat. I wasn't able to hold anything down. Then there were some just like me. Stay positive and don't dwell on the what ifs. Life is way to short living in fear!! Follow your rules but always listen to your body. Don't be afraid to call your surgeon...that's what they are there for.  If you feel your surgeon is giving you the run around...find a new one! This is your life and your body and you are trusting them to guide and help you through this.     On a better note...I'm feeling better today. I'm hoping everyday gets better.  Have a good week!

Wow! Thanks for sharing your story with us! Anything can happen to anyone. I hope your up an around and feeling better soon. Take it one day at a time and know we are here for support any time you need it! Jules