Serious Advice Needed

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since I have been on here...mainly because I've been feeling lost and somewhat helpless for quite some time now. I got banded back in 2009. I lost around 50-60lbs and have been maintaining that since. What's my problem, you ask? Where do I begin?

I have a VERY hard time keeping food down. There are days I can take a sip of water and it comes right back up. Other times, sometimes even on the same day I couldn't handle a sip of water, I can eat a full meal with no problems as long as I eat slow and chew really well. I feel like I take advantage of those times because I don't know when I will be able to hold down food again.

I went to see my surgeon about this when it first started happening and he sent me for an Upper GI Series. The results showed that things were passing through like someone who hadn't had surgery so they didn't understand why I was having a hard time keeping food down to begin with.

I am at a stand still here. I had a OBGyn appointment and my doctor, who was also banded, made me feel like crap because last year I was 234 and this year I was 235. I quit smoking 2 months ago, I don't have any real health problems at this point...I just don't know what to do anymore.

I avoid eating outside of my house because I am afraid I will have a stuck episode. I work 8-4:30 and the girls I work with can't understand how I go all day without eating. It's hard. I don't know what to do or think anymore. My family has been really supportive, especially when I have to run to the bathroom after every single bite. But do I just stop eating? Once the food comes up, I feel like I can eat more and like I should try to get at least something to stay down. My last resort lately has been popcorn-- idk why it stays down, but it does. I haven't been back to my surgeon because they just kept saying they didn't know what was wrong. I have been thinking about finding a new doctor and unbanding all together. Aside from the popcorn, I don't even really eat unhealthy foods anymore. My fridge is stocked with fruits and veggies and I mainly bake or broil chicken for dinner.

Someone, ANYONE, please help me. I am at a loss and I don't know what to do anymore. This whole "vomiting" business can't be good for me.

I couldn't eat anything solid while banded and I didn't even have saline in my band. The pain was incredible... left shoulder, gut, esophagus... it was crazy. 

Tests showed that things were "fine."  I dealt with it by living on liquids. I became anemic and malnourished.

Had another test done by a different doctor a few months later because I hadn't had a bowel movement in more than a week and was in enormous pain. Turned out that the band caused my stomach to twist around. My intestines were twisted into a configuration that made passing anything absolutely impossible. 

Had corrective surgery. Did nothing to help the inability to eat and I still had chronic pain.

Suffered for too long yet again. Had the band removed. Felt like a living being again.

I still have pain from the damage the band caused, but it's nothing compared to the pain I had while I had that horrible thing inside my body.

I'd advise having the band removed because right now your body is suffering. Your esophagus is going to end up damaged, I'm sorry to say, and your quality of life sounds like mine was... horrible. 

 

I'm sorry to be blunt. I hate that you're going through this. I've seen it over and over and over for the past decade.And I can't even sugarcoat anymore. The band is damaging. You'll feel better when it's NOT in your body. It's amazing what we can "live with" in the name of not gaining weight. But after it's over and done, you look back and think, "My God, how did I live like that for so long?!" 

Best of luck to you. I'm terribly sorry you're in this situation. 

 

I was banded 2/09 and have been where you are.  I went thru your whole story than onto waking up in the middle of the night choking on acid.  I too even had the UGI showing everything flowing thru and the surgeon said I needed a fill

I was slowly unfilled over the last 9 months with my band and started losing (I had gain all mine back at one time) again.  But I would start tightening back up and they would again unfill more.  I finally broke down and begging to just have it out.  They found the port was tipped in side of a capsule of scare tissue which was attached to my innards and movement caused pain as did the fill/unfills.  There was also scare tissue under the band building which caused some tightening.  They still can't explain all the wide open totally tight, like as you said in the same day.

I had the band totally unfilled before it was finally removed.  I was able to fight my insurance with a once in a lifetime WLS policy and was sleeved 1/22/13.

Good luck and I hope you get relief soon.

I can't share any personal experience on this but just to say that you really need to push your medical team. You can't live like this! It must be awful.

my very best wishes and I hope they work out soon what the problem is.  Kate

Rachel....I am not a band patient but I advise you to find another surgeon and get a second opinion.   I know many very successful band patients ( my niece is one of them ) but I also know many many people who have had nothing but issues with the  band including feeling like a "failure" due to the band not working for them.    None of us deserve to feel like a failure due to one WLS not working for us or giving us issues.    When you do see a different bariatric surgeon.....talk to them about getting a revision to the sleeve.     If you aren't familiar with the sleeve...that surgery they reduce the size of your stomach by 75%.    I know very few people who have had any issues with it.    Please don't delay in seeing another surgeon.    Your vomiting will cause your band to slip and you don't want any permenant damage to be done to your body by that band.   You will be in my thoughts and prayers.    Please don't delay !!!

 

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

This is simply "the norm" in band lief and I, too have these things heppening. I can eat all teh ice cream and carby stuff but no veggies or meats want to stay down. I am active and cannot even drink enough water to get through a hike on a hot day. Today is my appointment and will tell the surgeon it is medically needed removal because I am chocking in my sleep, cannot eat an adequate amount of food. IF he tells me I will just go back to the way I was, I will tell him, I already can. HAe eaten bad food up teh scale with the band. IT is good food I cannot eat but want to eat.

You MUST find another surgeon and get that thing out of there ASAP. The reason everything looks fine is because scar tissue builds up UNDER the band so it doesn't show on tests but it blocks the food from going down. If you aren't empty please get unfilled right away. Plus when you throw up do only liquids for a day or two so your tummy can rest and stop being irritated. By trying to eat again right away it keeps the stomach irritated and ready to vomit again. I know so many people who have suffered like this and the only relief was removal of the band or at the very least emptying the band. Keep pushing until someone listens, this is a very dangerous way to have to live.

Thank you all for your replies. They gave me the courage to make an appointment with my doctor and to look up other surgeons should I not get the results and answers I desire. I am still incredibly nervous and unsure about where I am headed on my journey, but I am happy to know there are so many wonderful people on here I can turn to for advice. I have really taken into account everything you all have shared and said. Thank you again and I will be sure to keep you all updated.

Peace and Love

Wishing you the very best, Rachel. I'm glad you are seeking medical help. I hope you'll be okay.