Long Time no Post, but now have a question

I had Lap Band surgery on 23 Dec 2004 with excellent results.  To date I am down over 80 pounds and extremely happy with the results.  However, in the last 2 years it has been quite rocky. 

In March of 2010 I started feeling sick and thought it was the flu.  Now mind you I haven't had a fill for almost 3 years prior to this.  I felt tired and kept having urgent runs to the batroom for throwing up or diahrea and feeling tired and down.  The worst part was the burping and the awful smell of rotten food.   I started out at about 156 and after about 2 months went down to 134.  I am 5'7".  This did not look good on me at all.  Even the doctors stated I looked "horrible". 

After a few months, the Drs were thinking it was parasites and other issues.  Long story short after Endoscopy and Colonoscopy and gall bladder scans they decided it was my gall bladder.  I had it removed in Oct 2010.  All while having my band emptied. 

After the surgery (and gaining 30 pounds) the Doctors decided that wasn't the issue and maybe it was IBS.  Well just recently, In January, I started having the same symptoms again.  Including the awful burps again.  Has anyone else had this issue? Doctors are stumped.  I am not too full, and food seems to go down just fine?  Is it me or my band just being fussy?  Just wondering if this will pass or if they need to remove another body part?!?!?!?!

Thank you.
Tracy

Wow- sorry your having trouble. I have no clue, but just wanted to say keep working closely with your doctors. I hope they figure it out soon! Feel better!

Tracy,

I know this is going to sound like quite a reach, but recently when researching an article about the correlation between cervical spine abnormalities and fibromyalgia, I learned that fibromyalgia is associated with IBS and gastrointestinal inflammation. I have fibro and don't have those issues, but another hallmark of fibromyalgia and chronic fatique is that tired, down, sick-with-the-flu feeling. I'm not saying you have fibro, but it might be worth looking into that more. You can get some feedback from other patients as well as medical professionals at any of several Linked In discussion groups, such as this one: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Fibromyalgia-Chronic-Pain-LIF E-Magazine-4064519?home=&gid=4064519&trk=anet_ug_hm,
and also at fmcpaware.org.

Jean

Tracy, so very sorry you are going through this!  Please keep us informed. Thoughts and prayers going to you.

It could still be the band too. We are finding that after 2+ years lots of folks have issues with the band tightening even tho it looks open. I think it is built up scar tissue but that is only my opinion, but lots of folks end up having to get unfilled or revise because after awhile they can't hold a fill without that tight, vomitting feeling. Myself I've been empty for several months and it's so good to be able to eat healthy food again. I didn't think I was tight but eveidently it was too tight for me.
It does sound like you may also have the fibro Jean spoke of and I think that makes us way more sensitive to tightening.

I am going on 7 years, anytime I start having ANY unusual issues with reflux, eating, or coughing, I visit my surgeon, I recently had a small unfill after I got a cold in December and my band tighten up and I kept coughing.

As we live with the band for many years WITH RESTRICTION we must take care of our health. Sometimes we must get saline removed to let stomach tissue settle down around the band and let it rest for awhile and when I feel better I will add more saline. This has worked for me for the last few years and so far I have no damage to my band or body, if something does not seem right it probably IS NOT.

I feel this is PART of the aftercare with the lap band, it is just like having a cold or stomach flu if you don't feel good you go to the doctor and get medicine -- same apply with living with the band, you get saline removed and let things rest and heal and resume again when you feel better.

Regarding burping and rotten food smell, I've never experienced this before, the only time I burped too much was when my band was dangerously too tight. When the band is very snug for long periods of time, food can get trapped if it does not move through properly, when my band is a bit tight I usually chew papaya enzymes to clear my pouch, it helps with digestion especially with restrictive surgeries.

I do not take my band for granted and I have no interest of getting a revision to another surgery and I want to keep my band in good health and as long as I live and anytime something does not seem right, I don't question this board, I see my band surgeon. Good luck.