I have got an announcement

Unfortunately, due to all of the problems I have been having with my band, it became medically necessary to have my band removed.

Many of you followed along with my tales of woe...the days of not eating, excessive vomiting of water, unrelenting pain, total unfills, chills and shakes, complete tightness in spite of being unfilled..etc.  you have listened to it all.

Unfortunately the incident that began on march 28 th and has continued for 20 days has now been resolved.  I took your advice and got a second opinion.  On Tuesday  4/16 I went to my GP explained my situation and asked for a referral,to a GI.   He was happy to do so b/c he wanted me to have an endoscopy and CAT scan.  Before I got the referrals, the following day I was in so much pain that my doctor sent me to the ER.  Based on the CT scan there, I found out I had a slipped band and part of my stomach was crimped up.

Transferred to another hospital so they could take the band out immediately.  

It has been a week now....I am healing up fine and dandy....but I am sad, fearful, disappointed, and confused.

Where do I go from here?  I worked so hard for 2 years to lose the weight and work this body into a fit one.  Will it all slip through my fingers?

I am eating real food again....super hungry ALL THE TIME....feeling a little reckless because I can eat tortilla chips ... what now?

Words of encouragement or advice would be much appreciated.

It's official....I hate my band.

You know the saying:  "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"---well, that's why you haven't heard from me in months.  My band is out to get me....I am sure of it now.  Here's my tale of woe.

You may remember that I have been all over the place with fills and un-fills since I got the band almost 2 years ago. I got a complete unfill last June (2012) and have moved up to 2cc in September 2012.  Should be fine right???

WRONG.
 
My band and/or tummy are just not happy with each other.  I have found that I have a SUPER DUPER small pouch  (24 cc).  A year ago my dr. said that "was a bit on the small size but no big deal."  (I wanted to say to the dr:    Uh....maybe that is why my band is so sensitive to .1cc fill.......ya think???)

After several very strange band events the last two months, resulting in throwing up 10-15 times in one day...not being able to hold even water down, sleeping for 12-14 hours to try and reduce swelling, etc.  I know it's not "food poisoning"--which is what the support group leader suggested.  I know it's my band.

On the 28th of March I had a little issue with dinner...not stuck but some excessive burping through the evening.  Had a hard time eating the next day, so mostly did mushies. (Was going through some serious stress at the same time....student confided she is pregnant.  oh boy...now what?) Saturday was the same...lots of tightness...eating very little.  Sunday morning......repeat.  By Monday, April 1st, I was very unhappy--couldn't keep water down....bad pain, woke up two nights in a row with reflux.  I went to dr. on 4/2 in tears and got a complete unfill.

Dr. looks in my chart and note that I had an upper GI last June and an abdominal ultrasound and everything with the band looks great.  No slips.  He comments again that my pouch is tiny.....this time he mentions that most pouches are between 30-40 cc.....I am 24cc....half of what some "normal" pouches measure.  Hello!  Why is my pouch so small in the first place???  Is this why my body is soooooooo sensitive to fills, hormones, food, stress, the moon being in the 3rd phase?? 

Unfortunately, even though I got an unfill,  I still couldn't even get broth down for several days.  By FRIDAY 4/5,  I have essentially gone through an entire week not eating and barely drinking---each sip brought nerve pain in my back and tons of burps.  Called dr. office and was advised to continue with clear liquids through the weekend.  Come in on Monday if still a problem. 

At this point I am worried that I will get dehydrated, mad at myself because I MUST have done something to cause this, wondering what is "really wrong with my band," etc.  Why did I choose "lap band?"  What do I do if something is wrong and I have to pay to get it removed?  How come I hadn't heard of the verticle sleeve back then??

Bottom line, I am still on liquids and mushies.  Eating maybe 1/4 cup of food 3 times a day.  I hope that things work out and I am able to eat solids again some day.

Ugh!!!   I am so jealous of those of you who love their bands.