Red 42
novice bypasser
I've thought long and hard about making this post because I don't want to frighten prospective banders. I know many have had lots of success with their bands but I also wanted to update those who have known me over the last year since I had mine fitted on 25th May 2009 and have followed my 'eventful journey'...I haven't posted in ages because of ongoing problems and the effort it takes to talk about it, but here goes.
I had my band fitted on 25/5/09 privately. By the time I had my 1st check up and barium x-ray on 1/7/09, my port had flipped onto it's side and couldn't be accessed to do a fill. My provider corrected my port on 16/7/09 (another operation) during this time I had no aftercare and no dietician chats even though I had paid for it and should have had these every month.
By September, I started thinking of needing a fill but as the dietician was the one to determine as and when these were to be done, it took me until 22nd October to get a clinic appointment for a first fill after lots of pleading for an appointment...the dietician chats never materialised.
On 22nd of October, I went for a fill and the nurse, after several failed attempts told me that my port had turned again, so no fill was done. I contacted my provider who after lots of humming and huffing said that because my underwritten period(guarantee) was up in November, any further surgery would have to be paid for...after paying £7000 for my initial surgery, I couldn't afford to pull out extra so had my GP refer me to the NHS surgeon...fast forward to March 2010 and I get my first appointment with NHS surgeon who after many attemps at accessing the port, couldn't get the needle in and wanted a barium swallow done because by this time I'd had pain since banding when trying to lie on my left side, months of constant stitch pains in my left side and problems keeping food down, my eating was and still is very inconsistent and painful.
Yesterday (17th May 2010), I saw the NHS surgeon again who said that the barium swallow showed the band to be in place correctly with next to no restriction as the barium had flowed freely, but because I was in constant pain should strongly consider having the band removed as that was the only way to confirm it was that causing the left sided pain. He also said that the muscles in the gullet on rare occasion can fight against the band which could be why even when taking a broken up tablet I feel like I'm trying to squeeze down a football.
So, I've made the decision to have my band removed. Living with it over the last 6 months has been pretty rubbish, really just existing I suppose and although I'm sad that it's not been right for me, I can't continue living with pain and poor eating as my body is fighting it, not working with it as I had hoped it would....I'm just waiting for a date now to have it removed.
thanks for sticking with this and reaching the end
I had my band fitted on 25/5/09 privately. By the time I had my 1st check up and barium x-ray on 1/7/09, my port had flipped onto it's side and couldn't be accessed to do a fill. My provider corrected my port on 16/7/09 (another operation) during this time I had no aftercare and no dietician chats even though I had paid for it and should have had these every month.
By September, I started thinking of needing a fill but as the dietician was the one to determine as and when these were to be done, it took me until 22nd October to get a clinic appointment for a first fill after lots of pleading for an appointment...the dietician chats never materialised.
On 22nd of October, I went for a fill and the nurse, after several failed attempts told me that my port had turned again, so no fill was done. I contacted my provider who after lots of humming and huffing said that because my underwritten period(guarantee) was up in November, any further surgery would have to be paid for...after paying £7000 for my initial surgery, I couldn't afford to pull out extra so had my GP refer me to the NHS surgeon...fast forward to March 2010 and I get my first appointment with NHS surgeon who after many attemps at accessing the port, couldn't get the needle in and wanted a barium swallow done because by this time I'd had pain since banding when trying to lie on my left side, months of constant stitch pains in my left side and problems keeping food down, my eating was and still is very inconsistent and painful.
Yesterday (17th May 2010), I saw the NHS surgeon again who said that the barium swallow showed the band to be in place correctly with next to no restriction as the barium had flowed freely, but because I was in constant pain should strongly consider having the band removed as that was the only way to confirm it was that causing the left sided pain. He also said that the muscles in the gullet on rare occasion can fight against the band which could be why even when taking a broken up tablet I feel like I'm trying to squeeze down a football.
So, I've made the decision to have my band removed. Living with it over the last 6 months has been pretty rubbish, really just existing I suppose and although I'm sad that it's not been right for me, I can't continue living with pain and poor eating as my body is fighting it, not working with it as I had hoped it would....I'm just waiting for a date now to have it removed.
thanks for sticking with this and reaching the end
