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View Full Version : Complications Leading to Complete Unfill



Maryb
11-13-2006, 09:02 PM
After returning from a 2 week vacation, I had my usual 3 days of tightness. Unfortunately after the 3 days, I kept getting worse to the point I could not get water down.

Like a dummy thinking it would just go away...I waited until I was week and desperate. I called Doctor Sunday to see what I should do. My Doctor wasn't on call so his partner told me to do suppositories and not have anything to eat or drink for 6 - 8 hours. Then try tiny sips of water. If I still couldn't keep it down call my Doctor back next morning.

Monday morning I call my Doctor. Get a Barium swallow test today was my answer. So I call to schedule my Barium Swallow. Then my Doctor's office called me back to make sure I got the appointment. Then they called me back again and said to call them and let them know how I am doing after the test. Then they called back again and said that the Doctor wants all his patients to come in monthly now and for me and my daughter to schedule appointments ASAP.

A friend takes me to the SurgiCenter in Houston for my Swallow. I was totally blocked! They did a partial unfill, then another swallow... still not going through. They do a total unfill, things start working finally!

I was told is was a good thing I didn't wait any longer to come in. My band had not slipped, and my pouch wasn't dilated yet....but I was dangerously close to have one or the other or both.

Lesson learned! Painful burning swallowing and can't keep water down....call Doctor and schedule Barium Swallow!

I immediately felt better! I drank a whole bottle of Ozark. I was beginning to dehydrate (cotton mouth). I then had Iced Green Tea. Later I got some of the Miracle Egg Drop Soup everyone keeps talking about. It tasted so good, my throat didn't burn and my tummy was happy again.

I have to stay on liquids for 3 days and then mushies, etc... In 2 weeks if I am ready I can go back for a fill.

What caused this you ask? They said I probably got something stuck that totally irritated my band and caused swelling and thus getting nothing through the port. Thinking back over this week I think I know what the culprit was..... Coconut! Note...no more coconut for me!

I will keep you all updated on the life unfilled and refilling.

PhotoNut
11-13-2006, 09:13 PM
Wow Mary! I'm so glad everything is ok, and that you're ok. And now..

*fwaps Mary for waiting so long in that condition* haha!

Good lesson learned, and hopefully everyone will learn from your experience! Being too tight is NOT a good thing and shouldn't be "tolerated" in hopes of it changing on its own. It's just not worth the risk.

*hugs Mary* Glad you're ok my friend!

Tricia K.
11-13-2006, 09:14 PM
Wow, Mary! I'm glad to hear that you're able to drink and eat something without pain or burning. Keep us posted. :)

Maryb
11-13-2006, 09:33 PM
Thank you my friends. I kept thinking one more day I would be fine. I only had 2 fills in my whole 8 months of banding and was doing great on just 1.0 CCs. I never dreamed I would need an unfil!

I was even afraid of getting a partial unfil in December like my Doctor wanted, so I would stop losing weight. I thought I could just eat a little more to stop losing. I upped my calories to at least 1500 and managed to not gain or lose on my 2 week vacation. Real Life often changes our best layed out plans.

Kathy
11-14-2006, 05:51 AM
Well done, Mary! Well, once you finally called your doc...I'm sorry you waited so long in misery! Egg Drop Soup is Da Bomb. Love that stuff! Thanks for the good reminders. Glad you are all better for now!

HeatherGurl
11-14-2006, 12:24 PM
So glad you are better!!! Take it easy.

paula
11-14-2006, 06:48 PM
Hey Mary, Ive got it!


After returning from a 2 week vacation, I had my usual 3 days of tightness. Unfortunately after the 3 days, I kept getting worse to the point I could not get water down.

I think it was the vaca that caused it! :D
Next time you plan one, call me! Ill go in your place.
I'll remember to stay clear of coconut, and promise to give you detailed info on the vacation. PROMISE!

Deal?

Nana~
11-14-2006, 07:58 PM
Wow Same boat as me! I had the swallow today and unfill!
Unexplained tightness after no issues with fill 6 months ago.
Strange...
Nana~

Maryb
11-15-2006, 12:04 AM
Thanks Paula that is so sweet of you to offer to take my place!

Nana, Maybe we have discovered a Mystery Lapband Phenomenon!

Kathy, OMG! Egg Drop Soup is GREAT! I never knew it tasted so good! I went to three places today to see if I could get it on my side of town....no luck. I will check out the other side tomorrow. I got some at the Galleria Mall, so maybe our Mall will have some.

housecatgirl
11-15-2006, 12:03 PM
Where can I find the recipe for the egg drop soup? I fear I may be in the same situation and need a complete unfill soon. I have had three small unfills and I am still tight as can be. The weird thing about me is that every time I go they say my band and pouch look fine under fluro! Maybe it's just psychological and my body is used to pb'ing now...I don't know.

PhotoNut
11-15-2006, 12:14 PM
Hey Mary..

I just wanted to say that I FREAKING LOVE YOUR TICKER!!

*laughs* Yay Mary!

How's life with no fill? Remember.. just because you can, doesn't mean you should! *winks*

Maryb
11-15-2006, 11:46 PM
Life with no fill is very good right now! I have not had one single PB since my unfill. I have been sticking to soup, but ate some of my daughter's Lo Mein with my Egg Drop Soup for Dinner. I picked out all the chicken and vegetable chunks before cutting up into small pieces before eating.

I am still using Fitday.com to track my calorie intake. Today I actually made it back up to 1200 calories. My target calories to maintain is at least 1500 per day, but I am not going to push it to get there. Tomorrow I have to start working back up to my 60 grams of protein and 25 grams of fiber.

Oh, I have noticed that I don't burp nearly as much without the fill.

kebsa
12-25-2006, 11:36 PM
Hi Launa
If you continue to feel really tight despite the unfills and you know that you are following the band rules, dont let the radiologists etc lead you to assume that it is psychological. I persisted with this situation for years before finally finding out that I had developed another condition that affect the mucle and nerve supply to the esophagus, any fluid in the band at all makes it too tight for me. Unfortunately as it took so long to find this out that although the band is still in place and the pouch has not streched, I have a diverticulum in the oesophgus that I have been told was caused by a partial tear leading to a permanent weakness. My situation Is very unusual but I whish to god that I had stood my ground when I felt that it did not feel right despite following the rules. I had had barium swallows that looked ok until they made the barium a thicker consistency(not the usual fluid) that there was a problem