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Topic: Having weird pain?
I am having this weird pain like where you have a pain when get something stuck in your pouch or are full. It started last night and when I woke up this morning it was still there and it is starting to worry me. It is a constant pain but it comes and goes and feels kind of tight. I am just wondering if it something to be worried about and heck maybe I am having a heart ache? I am over a year out from surgery and have had no complications!
I am having this weird pain like where you have a pain when get something stuck in your pouch or are full. It started last night and when I woke up this morning it was still there and it is starting to worry me. It is a constant pain but it comes and goes and feels kind of tight. I am just wondering if it something to be worried about and heck maybe I am having a heart ache? I am over a year out from surgery and have had no complications!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain!
Topic: RE: No More Band for Me
HI, In my case I was diagnosed with pouch dilation that coupled with inadiquate weight loss meant that my insurance woudl cover my revision. You're over 2 years out - if the band was going to work for you it already would have.
Why did you have an unfill? Are you having any symptoms such as reflux (especially at night) or the abillity to eat more now than you could previously at the same fill level? If you had done well with the band and were just going through a little rough stretch I would say tough it out, go back to basics and see what happens.
If you are not happy with your quality of life with the band - low weight loss, food issues, reflux, etc, then your fist step should be to get an upper gi to confirm/rule out a mechanical problem - slip, dilation, etc. If you can document a problem with the band that gives you a leg up on getting insurance to pay for a revision.
If there is no mechanical problem with the band then you may have to look into a self pay option. A lot of people on the VSG forum were selfpay due to lack of insurance coverage for the VSG (Cigna is covering them so I was truely lucky). Even if there is no mechanical problem IMO the band may just not be the right tool for you so changing surgeries may make a world of difference.
I know it has for me. Let me know if you have any questions - sometimes I don't get OH notifications so you can email me any time - [email protected].
Good luck!
Why did you have an unfill? Are you having any symptoms such as reflux (especially at night) or the abillity to eat more now than you could previously at the same fill level? If you had done well with the band and were just going through a little rough stretch I would say tough it out, go back to basics and see what happens.
If you are not happy with your quality of life with the band - low weight loss, food issues, reflux, etc, then your fist step should be to get an upper gi to confirm/rule out a mechanical problem - slip, dilation, etc. If you can document a problem with the band that gives you a leg up on getting insurance to pay for a revision.
If there is no mechanical problem with the band then you may have to look into a self pay option. A lot of people on the VSG forum were selfpay due to lack of insurance coverage for the VSG (Cigna is covering them so I was truely lucky). Even if there is no mechanical problem IMO the band may just not be the right tool for you so changing surgeries may make a world of difference.
I know it has for me. Let me know if you have any questions - sometimes I don't get OH notifications so you can email me any time - [email protected].
Good luck!
Lynn C ~
Banded 9/12/2005 ~ Revision to VSG on 9/7/2010 ~ Losing again with a Keto lifestyle
Topic: RE: No More Band for Me
Hi there Lynn, It looks from your profile that you may have already had your revision surgery. I was wondering what the complications and process looks like to have to convert from band to VSG. I had the Realize Band 5/08 and lost about 50 pounds +/- and haven't lost anything in a year almost and had to have an unfill and several "re"-fills and I still have not been able to get back to a sweet spot. Did you have other complications? I'm just wondering if I should seek revision or just try to work it out on my own still. Thanks for any advice! Melissa
Melissa ~ 11cc Realize Band
Experienced a leak in my port, and had no restriction for over 9 months. Had leak repair surgery on 1/31/11 and am back on my journey again! :)
Topic: RE: Leg Edema and low protein
I have sucess with apple sider vinegar (shot size and same natural honey) in an 16 oz bottle with water and a little honey. I put a ankle strap on my foot at night and by the next day all the swelling is down. It comes and goes and at first I thought this was really weird until it worked. It is best to make sure it is REALLY cold before you drink.
Topic: RE: IUD stopping effects of RNY?
Jill, I have not used Mirena before, but Mirena does have a hormone component to it. I use Nuvaring, and because of the low dose of hormones it releases, my weight loss has slowed to a crawl. I will stop using it this week, and I am having Paragard put in. I do believe that any hormonal birth control will sabotage the surgery...just my opinion..
Topic: RE: Abdominal Cramps left side between ribs and stoma pouch
Ask for a cat scan and/or MRI and/or xray. It took all three to diagnose my intasussception last month. (and I am 7 years out with no earlier history of blockages.)
Ask to see another physician oreven better a bariatric surgeon for a second opinion. It is your life and your body. Good Luck
Ask to see another physician oreven better a bariatric surgeon for a second opinion. It is your life and your body. Good Luck
jadeland
on 10/27/10 3:23 pm, edited 10/27/10 3:23 pm - MD
on 10/27/10 3:23 pm, edited 10/27/10 3:23 pm - MD
Topic: RE: SEVERE Hypoglycemia
Hi. I am almost 5 years post op. I too developed severe hypoglycemia but did not see a dr until I started passing out with seizures. Took months of testing to get diagnosis of Nesidioblastosis. You mention your diet doesn't affect your drops. This is true. I see some teling you to change your eating habits. If it is nesidioblastosis, your pancreas will super secrete insulin when it feels like it. Doesn't matter how often you eat, etc.
I had an 85% pancreatectomy. It saved my life. Unfortunately, the pancreas can regenerate itself. Now I am having hypoglycemia again. The drs do not know how to treat it. The drs want to reverse my RNY but say they don't know if it will help. I don't know if I want to go through that right now.
My advice to you is see an endocrinologist. PCPs do not know enough about this. There are medications that do work for some. Octreotide, Diazoxide, Acarbose. They didn't work for me but may for you. There are tests that can be done but must be done at large hospitals with experts in endocrinology. Don't put it off as it will get worse. Don't wait until the passing out and seizures begin. I lost my job due to constant passing out. I have been on disability for 18 months. I have confirmed brain damage from the many severe episodes of hypoglycemia. It forever changed my life. Don't mean to scare you but this is a serious thing and you must seek the help of a specialist ASAP. Take care.
I had an 85% pancreatectomy. It saved my life. Unfortunately, the pancreas can regenerate itself. Now I am having hypoglycemia again. The drs do not know how to treat it. The drs want to reverse my RNY but say they don't know if it will help. I don't know if I want to go through that right now.
My advice to you is see an endocrinologist. PCPs do not know enough about this. There are medications that do work for some. Octreotide, Diazoxide, Acarbose. They didn't work for me but may for you. There are tests that can be done but must be done at large hospitals with experts in endocrinology. Don't put it off as it will get worse. Don't wait until the passing out and seizures begin. I lost my job due to constant passing out. I have been on disability for 18 months. I have confirmed brain damage from the many severe episodes of hypoglycemia. It forever changed my life. Don't mean to scare you but this is a serious thing and you must seek the help of a specialist ASAP. Take care.
Topic: RE: reverse gastric bypass
Folks,
Is it possible for us to gather a list of doctors who can reverse gastric bypass? Who are the pioneers? Who have the best success? Facilities to avoid? My colleague is really suffering after gastric bypass and after some years of trying to "make it work" has had enough. So the question is: if you could go to any surgeon at any facility in the world to get a reversal, who would it be?
Is it possible for us to gather a list of doctors who can reverse gastric bypass? Who are the pioneers? Who have the best success? Facilities to avoid? My colleague is really suffering after gastric bypass and after some years of trying to "make it work" has had enough. So the question is: if you could go to any surgeon at any facility in the world to get a reversal, who would it be?
Topic: RE: Adhesions & Hysterectomy after RNY
Stephanie:
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear that you have gone through so much. I hope that all continues to be well with you and that you stay pain free. ((((HUGS))))
Topic: RE: Adhesions & Hysterectomy after RNY
I have had three surgeries post RNY that involved cutting out adhesions. I noticed on another post you mentioned you had spasms also. Can you believe my first surgeon told me that adhesions didn't cause pain? I thought I misunderstood him, so I took my mom to my next appointment. I was told for years that my adhesions were the cause of my spasms, it ended up being only part of the problem.
I had constant abdominal pain after my original RNY. About one year post op I had surgery to repair a hernia and cut out adhesions. My doctor did knick my bowel causing a leak. So I had surgery the next morning to repair the leak and they cut out even more adhesions. But I also had a leak after my RNY. There is always that small chance. But the chances that it happens twice are very small and by two different highly qualified surgeons are even smaller, I say it's just my body.
After the surgery to remove adhesions I was pain free for about six months before more complications returned. My adhesions would cause my bowel to kink causing numerous partial bowel obstructions. My last surgery was in August. They went in to remove a blind loop of bowel and cut out numerous adhesions. This time they removed a lot more adhesions than the first two times. There is a chance of course that they might grow back, but there's always that chance that they might not or might not be so bad depending on their location!
I wish you the best of luck!
Stephanie E
I had constant abdominal pain after my original RNY. About one year post op I had surgery to repair a hernia and cut out adhesions. My doctor did knick my bowel causing a leak. So I had surgery the next morning to repair the leak and they cut out even more adhesions. But I also had a leak after my RNY. There is always that small chance. But the chances that it happens twice are very small and by two different highly qualified surgeons are even smaller, I say it's just my body.
After the surgery to remove adhesions I was pain free for about six months before more complications returned. My adhesions would cause my bowel to kink causing numerous partial bowel obstructions. My last surgery was in August. They went in to remove a blind loop of bowel and cut out numerous adhesions. This time they removed a lot more adhesions than the first two times. There is a chance of course that they might grow back, but there's always that chance that they might not or might not be so bad depending on their location!
I wish you the best of luck!
Stephanie E
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