HELP! Pain and PB even with liquid.

Hello all, I have been reading wisdom but haven't felt that I had much to offer thus far. I hope you will help me now - this is getting scary! My LapBand was done the end of May. I had a small fill after 6 weeks but didn't feel any restriction then had another mid August. Since that fill, I have struggled with knowing that full is full and drinking won't wash the food that feels stuck down (causes PBing - duh!). I have had some inconsistent pain with eating, belching, concerned that I would lose it, mostly in the morning. I was on vacation for a month (and LOST WEIGHT! Yay!). Now I'm back home for the past week, and I have had pain with all eating - even soft foods like cottage cheese. Yesterday, everything hurt (even straight liquids) and I couldn't keep anything down. This morning, I didn't try to eat - just sipped my protein shake and it came up. I had thought that I irritated my pouch by trying to eat too much and need to give it a rest but don't know how if I can't even drink! Anyone else have this trouble? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your support.

Layla, Sorry I am not familiar with PB or the band very much. However, you should call your doc first thing in the morning and get their input. Your pouch could have an ulcer or slippage or other issues and only they can tell you. I hope you feel better and get a definite answer from your doc Robin

Hi Layla, You need to get an unfill IMMEDIATELY. I recently went thru this myself, was unable to swallow my protein shakes and then ulitmately drink water or swallow my own spit. I don't know if you are close enough to go to Dr.Ortiz *(he was my surgeon too), I know that his staff is great and they would get you in for an emergency unfill. Dehydration is nothing to play around with. I had 3 fills and my band gradually tightened up on me to the pt where I ended up going to the ER for a complete unfill. I have had no saline in my band for the past month to rest my band and esophagus. My fill doc prescribed me Nexium which helped calm down my stomach acids. You will probably need a fluro to make sure your band didn't slip. Keeping your band as tight as it is the #1 cause for slippage. I was worried mine had but the fluro showed it was still in proper place, just severely irritated. I cannot stress how important it is to do this soon. Don't worry about losing weight for now and let your band and stomach rest for a few weeks. You can then get back on track with a smaller fill and get the weight off. Good luck to you! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/168/160 5'7''

Thanks for your concern! I did call the Dr this morning and he just said he thought I had irritated the pouch so suggested high doses of Pepcid. I started it this afternoon. Had some chicken soup broth that stayed down. Just taking it easy for now. Do your numbers mean that you have lost 73 lbs in 6.5 months? and you're 8 lbs from goal? If so, that's GREAT! 160 is still a long way off for me..... ~layla~ 05/29/06 270/225/140 5'7"

Glad to hear you are feeling better Layla. I hope that the Pepcid helps your tummy. I know I feel WORLDS better taking the saline out of my band for the last month, though I didn't lose any weight during that time. I had 2.5cc put in yesterday and I am determined to get to goal now. Oh and BTW you are doing great yourself~~55lbs in less than 4 mos is INCREDIBLE!! You will be in Onderland before you know it. Keep up the great work. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/166/160 5'7''