frodofailed

Thank you, Lisa. It has been amazingly awful. The blood is coming from the band irritating my esphogus. It's causing a bleeding ulcer. I wouldn't wish what I'm going through on anyone. I am the poster child for the "what could go wrong" symptoms. What really puts the cherry on the sundae is that my surgeon wants to immediately replace my band while he removes it "because I've had such great results." Sure, I've lost a lot of weight, and if that is the only litmus test of success, then I am definitely a success. I have no energy though, can't exercise any longer, constantly have acid reflux and am in pain always...but to me, that's not great results. That's being prisoner of a band.

Hi. I'm sharing my story because I'm hoping I might actually help someone avoid what I've done. Here's my story. I struggled with being overweight and eventually being obese until I was 36, when I chose to get banded. I was banded December 2003. I had some complications such as severe dehydration and swelling of the band site immediately after surgery, which made me want to die, but I got through it. I followed every detail of my post surgery to a T. I consumed no more than 3 grams of sugar. I drank my protein. I didn't cheat ever. I took my supplements. I exercised by working up to running 67 minutes five days a week on the treadmill. Seriously, I was the perfect "bandster." I reached my goal of 111 pounds lost in six months. I was a medical marvel. They even put me in a public television show. I looked great. I now wear a size 4, sometimes a 2. I had circumfrential abdominoplasty, so my butt and stomach look great. To look at me, you'd say, oh, wow...I have to do that!!! I must admit...I do LOOK good. However, things aren't always what they appear. I was never able to tolerate any fluid in my band, as it made me unable to even drink water without regurging. Do you know how awful it is to be thirsty and not able to drink water??? So my band was always empty. That wasn't good enough. It started self-tightening, especially during any stressful situations. I'm sure nobody ever endures any of those, right? So when my band self tightens, guess what? Can't eat without puking. I mean, I can't eat anything without puking...not soup, not protein shakes...nothing. Food just clumps in my throat until I vomit. After a few years of living like that, intermittently not being able to eat without vomitting, but sometimes feeling okay, my band slipped. Now I vomit up toilet bowls full of blood, and have to go to the ER to get rehydrated periodically. My children nicknamed me "Pukey," and know exactly why I run to the rest room at restaurants, at home, in parking lots, wherever we are. I've become so good at puking I do it without anyone knowing. I wanted to have the band removed, but my insurance wouldn't cover removal, even with a medical necessity complication. I finally got insurance to cover it, but the surgeon is taking forever. I'm dying. I feel awful every day. I feel sick when I wake up and have to puke up the spit I swallow in my sleep. Several times a week, I wake up to vomit coming out of my nose in a choking, agonizing display. It's all very sexy. I am having the band removed next week, if I live that long. I just wanted to share with you my experience. Yes, I lost weight and got that body I always wanted, but my insides are shot, and I haven't felt good for a whole day in so long I can't remember it. There you have it.