I think my band needs to come out
I will make this as short as possible. I'd like your general thoughts and feedback, especially if you've had a similar experience.
Band placed 12/2007.
Total weight lost to date is 161 lbs
No issues, ever except for one slight unfill last year when I got sick.
Last till 5/2011
No issues until:
3-4 weeks ago, started to feel nauseous, light headed, couldn't eat much, felt really sick. I did not think of my band. I have had no issues with it, so assumed I was just having a virus or whatever.
7/7/11 woke up, vomited coffee grounds. Went to ER, they drew labs and did xray. Said everything looked ok and sent me home.
7/8/11 went about my normal day, didn't feel well. Light headed, nauseous, no appetite.
7/9/11 woke up, vomited more coffee grounds. Back to the ER. Labs this time abnormal, but only that WBC was 30,000. Ct scan looked ok except ER dr thought band looked like it slipped. They did not admit me because my surgery wasn't there and my surgeon was only in the next state. He told me to call them.
After leaving ER, I called surgeons ofc from parking lot. They called me back, I told them everything. Surgeon said go to hospital I had surgery at, he was arranging a direct admit for what he thought would be an emergency surgery for band revision/removal.
I go, I get admitted. Surgery didn't happen that night. Next day, 7/10, surgeon looked at ct scan from other hospital. Only thing he could tell was band was horizontal and should not be. He decided to do an upper gi series before surgery to confirm. At this time he deflated my band.
Upper GI series showed everything flowing through ok, although slowly because I was extremely swollen and inflammed from my stomach up through my espohagus. Surgeon was unclear if band had slipped said it was so hard to tell due to all the inflammation. He said all that inflammation caused an obstruction at the opening which is where the vomited blood came from. Surgery for revision/removal was canceled because he felt it was unsafe to do so with all the swelling. Said putting a breathing tube down my throat would be an issue and all the swelling/inflammation is a high risk for hemmorhage. He felt the bleeding would stop since he deflated the band and I was discharged home, told to come back in a week to repeat upper gi. We'd determine at that time whether or not I need a revision.
TODAY: I went to work though I had a note to state home. Anyway, still having sharp left sided belly pain even after deflation. Then chest pain at noon, started off feeling like someone punched me in the jaw, then chest tightness, short of breath, pain radiated to left arm. I was rushed to ER by my boss (thankfull Iy I work in a hospital). All cardiac tests came back negative. ER doc thinks the inflammation in my stomach and esophagus are creating chest pain/pressure. They stabilized me and sent me home telling me to f/up with surgeon sooner than one week as previous stated.
I have an appt Wed morning. I'm fairly certain my band needs to come out. At least in my mind, I am. I don't know what's going on exactly but I'm at my wits end. I feel like HELL and my entire left side hurts from my shoulder to my hip with sharp pains generalized in my stomach.
If my band had eroded into my stomach would this show on the Upper GI series? Any other thoughts/ideas of what might be going on or any other similar experiences?
Band placed 12/2007.
Total weight lost to date is 161 lbs
No issues, ever except for one slight unfill last year when I got sick.
Last till 5/2011
No issues until:
3-4 weeks ago, started to feel nauseous, light headed, couldn't eat much, felt really sick. I did not think of my band. I have had no issues with it, so assumed I was just having a virus or whatever.
7/7/11 woke up, vomited coffee grounds. Went to ER, they drew labs and did xray. Said everything looked ok and sent me home.
7/8/11 went about my normal day, didn't feel well. Light headed, nauseous, no appetite.
7/9/11 woke up, vomited more coffee grounds. Back to the ER. Labs this time abnormal, but only that WBC was 30,000. Ct scan looked ok except ER dr thought band looked like it slipped. They did not admit me because my surgery wasn't there and my surgeon was only in the next state. He told me to call them.
After leaving ER, I called surgeons ofc from parking lot. They called me back, I told them everything. Surgeon said go to hospital I had surgery at, he was arranging a direct admit for what he thought would be an emergency surgery for band revision/removal.
I go, I get admitted. Surgery didn't happen that night. Next day, 7/10, surgeon looked at ct scan from other hospital. Only thing he could tell was band was horizontal and should not be. He decided to do an upper gi series before surgery to confirm. At this time he deflated my band.
Upper GI series showed everything flowing through ok, although slowly because I was extremely swollen and inflammed from my stomach up through my espohagus. Surgeon was unclear if band had slipped said it was so hard to tell due to all the inflammation. He said all that inflammation caused an obstruction at the opening which is where the vomited blood came from. Surgery for revision/removal was canceled because he felt it was unsafe to do so with all the swelling. Said putting a breathing tube down my throat would be an issue and all the swelling/inflammation is a high risk for hemmorhage. He felt the bleeding would stop since he deflated the band and I was discharged home, told to come back in a week to repeat upper gi. We'd determine at that time whether or not I need a revision.
TODAY: I went to work though I had a note to state home. Anyway, still having sharp left sided belly pain even after deflation. Then chest pain at noon, started off feeling like someone punched me in the jaw, then chest tightness, short of breath, pain radiated to left arm. I was rushed to ER by my boss (thankfull Iy I work in a hospital). All cardiac tests came back negative. ER doc thinks the inflammation in my stomach and esophagus are creating chest pain/pressure. They stabilized me and sent me home telling me to f/up with surgeon sooner than one week as previous stated.
I have an appt Wed morning. I'm fairly certain my band needs to come out. At least in my mind, I am. I don't know what's going on exactly but I'm at my wits end. I feel like HELL and my entire left side hurts from my shoulder to my hip with sharp pains generalized in my stomach.
If my band had eroded into my stomach would this show on the Upper GI series? Any other thoughts/ideas of what might be going on or any other similar experiences?
CT scans rarely show anything with band complications, I've found.
The pain in your left side that is radiating to your shoulder is from the inflammation irritating your Vagus nerve system.
It sounds as if your band slipped or your stomach prolapsed. Maybe there's erosion, as well, causing the extreme discomfort.
I was diagnosed with a fluorscopy Xray. My band had slipped and was eroding into my gut. The CT scan had shown no problems, however.
Good luck. I hope everything goes well for you.
The pain in your left side that is radiating to your shoulder is from the inflammation irritating your Vagus nerve system.
It sounds as if your band slipped or your stomach prolapsed. Maybe there's erosion, as well, causing the extreme discomfort.
I was diagnosed with a fluorscopy Xray. My band had slipped and was eroding into my gut. The CT scan had shown no problems, however.
Good luck. I hope everything goes well for you.
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
Thank you. I thought that as well, with the fluroscope. Isn't that an upper gi series? I had to drink some barium while they did a bunch of xrays.
Surgeon said it was too hard to tell anything because of all the inflammation? I'm so confused and down pissed off. I don't know what is wrong with me.
And in between posting the first post and this one I dry heaved for five minutes. At least no blood came out this time, but wtf.. it didn't feel good. I'm so done. About ready to lose my freakin mind.
Surgeon said it was too hard to tell anything because of all the inflammation? I'm so confused and down pissed off. I don't know what is wrong with me.
And in between posting the first post and this one I dry heaved for five minutes. At least no blood came out this time, but wtf.. it didn't feel good. I'm so done. About ready to lose my freakin mind.
I had my band out today. It seems like more, and more are getting them out after so many years. For some reason many of us we hit the 2-3 yr mark and prolems arise. I am sooo happy it is out. I am getting the sleeve in 6 wks after all the adhesions the band creates heal.
The nurse at the hospital told me they have patients having them removed daily! Sad but true.
Good luck to you. The recovery is a breeze. Mine was out at 12 and have already been to the store.
The nurse at the hospital told me they have patients having them removed daily! Sad but true.
Good luck to you. The recovery is a breeze. Mine was out at 12 and have already been to the store.
It sounds like band erosion to me, but I'm not a doctor. As far as I know, an upper GI series won't necessarily show band erosion, but an upper endoscopy would. After all you've been through, band removal does seem indicated.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Jean
Jean McMillan c.2009-2013 - Always a bandster at heart
author of Bandwagon (TM), Strategies for Success with the Adjustable Gastric Band & Bandwagon Cookery. Bandwagon for Kindle now available on Amazon. Read my blog at: jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com
(deactivated member)
on 7/12/11 12:22 am - Des Moines, IA
on 7/12/11 12:22 am - Des Moines, IA
If it were me, I would want the band out in that situation. I would want to heal and then get the sleeve. You will have to do what feels right for you. I'm sorry you are going through all of that, it sounds miserable. Please keep us updated!
Kristi
Kristi
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