Lap Band Refund

I think the manufacturers should be forced to get a band and then tighten that sucker up till they can't swallow their own spit. Then feed them steak the rest of their lives. Bwahahaha!

And choke while they're sleeping... and have acid creep up their throat all day... not be able to eat for a yr...

What gets me most is that if you look at human anatomy, the diaphragm is RIGHT THERE... right where the band is on the stomach. The Vagus nerves run right through there. Did the medical "geniuses" who came up with the lapband REALLY not bother to think that MAYBE, just MAYBE having a hard object up against such a sensitive area might cause a problem in most people?  I have to think that money trumped logic in this situation.  It's like they thought, "Well, by the time the public catches on, we'll all be rich and whoop dee doo."

I only wish I had known THEN what I know now, ya know? 

 Is that why your shoulder still hurts Nic?

Yes, ma'am!  I don't know what the surgeon did to me during surgery but I know that I should have had the band removed immediately. I was told it was "just gas" and to "ride it out..." And it's been over 9 years now that the left shoulder pain has hung on. When I had the band, it was enormous... stabbing, sharp, nonstop pain. Sometimes I couldn't even stand up.
After I finally got to a point where I couldn't even lift my head off the bed, my young son begged me to have the band removed. It was because of him that I finally decided that enough was enough. The sheer terror on his face made me realize how stupid I was being. I was convinced that the damage had been done and removing the band wouldn't make a difference. I fought tooth and nail to actually keep the thing that was killing me because I was so afraid of being fat again. Now, I AM fat again... but man oh man, I love being able to work out and go for hikes and not have chronic and debilitating pain. 

I had the band removed in an emergency surgery and felt much better immediately. Because of the damage it did to my diaphragm and the Vagus nerves, though, I still get left shoulder pain occasionally. I'd say maybe once or twice a day I'll get a sharp stab... it catches me off guard... but then it goes away, at least.  For instance, last night as I was getting into bed, I bent over to arrange some pillows and I got a sharp stab. I gasp because it takes my breath away... and my husband always looks over at me sadly... because he always hopes that the last time was THE LAST TIME. But it takes a long, long time to heal.

Anyone who starts experiencing left shoulder pain randomly needs to address it immediately to avoid permanent damage. It's really a drag!

 You are not fat. Don't say that. 
I am so sorry that hurts so bad. What a quack.
Does meds help at all?

Well, I am fat right now, but I'm really OK with it. I'm working out and taking care of myself. I've kind of come to grips with the fact that I'll never be a thin person. That doesn't mean I'm not trying to lose weight, but it's not my sole focus anymore, honestly.

No meds helped with the referred pain, unfortunately. I spent sooooo  much moolah at chronic pain clinics and nothing helped. It really stunk a lot.

I know this is totally gross and probably TMI, but I had such an impossible time going to the bathroom while banded that now... even so many years later... I don't take it for granted. I'm like, "Yay! I can go poo!"   I'm sure my hubby and son would appreciate it if I didn't scream it every single time I went into the bathroom... but tough titties. I'm doin' it!     Toldja... too much information.

When you can't eat any vegetables or fruits, potty time is not fun!!

I could rarely poop when I had the band. The longest I went was almost 2 weeks. That's when I had to have emergency surgery because my stomach was twisted around the band. The surgeon who saved my bacon told me, "You're totally full of ****!" He never minced any words.  

The worst part was, I had seen my initial surgeon only a day or two before and told him that I hadn't had a bowel movement in a week and a half. And he dismissed me. He was angry that a friend came with me to the appointment (I couldn't drive while being in so much pain) and he sat with his arms crossed, glaring accusingly. That was the day I knew I would die if I didn't find a different doctor. I should have pooped on his doorstep! 

 Well, I am fat too. Trying hard to lose more weight and do the best I can. I will never be thin either. I was in my mom's tummy but that is about the last time.