Banded 1 1/2 Years Back Pain & Breathing Issues

BeacheeGirl · 01-16-2008, 08:56 AM

Hi everyone, it's been a while.

I was banded in Mexico in June of 2006 by Dr. Joya. Everything was great and then I stopped losing weight about 6 mo's ago. I get my fill's done by Dr. Billy. I have had 2 fills and nothing, I still have a bit of restriction but BARELY. I keep telling him no restriction and he said that is because I am under 200 lb mark and the band won't do anything for me anymore. He mentioned that they should do an Endoscopy but no one ever called me to do it, they probably just got busy and he forgot to tell the nurses - fast forward a few months.

I started to have lower back pain like a burning sensation a few months ago. I thought maybe it was because I sat at a desk all day long and have for years and it was just catching up with me.

Now over the last few weeks that pain has moved up my spine and I have HORRIBLE lower back pain and upper back pain too.

YES, I HAVE HAD MY GALL BLADDER REMOVED

Yes, it does get worse when I eat.

I also have started to feel a tightness in my chest like I can't breath all the way right. I can't get a full breath and it almost feels like I am going to start wheezing.

I contacted Dr. Billy in Ventura, CA and they scheduled an Endoscopy for Tuesday next week. I also contacted my Primary Care physician and he thought it might be an infection or something and scheduled a Chest Xray. The Endoscopy is first though.

The pain is so bad I wake up with it, I go to bed with it, if I eat it is worse and now I am starting to have nausea as well.

When I breat I get sharp stabbing pains in my back.

Please let me know if anyone has been through this, I am slowl deteriorating worse each day.

sfeiner · 01-16-2008, 09:11 AM

If you can't get in to see you PC Dr right away I think you should go to an urgent care or ER facility. There are so many things it sounds like...pneumonia is one....pancreatitis is another...galbladder...Please see someone right away. (nurses advice)

BeacheeGirl · 01-16-2008, 09:29 AM

I did see my PC but all he did was listen to my heart, chest, temperature and he said everything seemed normal. Prescribed antibiotics and told me to get a chest x-ray if not better

TheGh0st · 01-16-2008, 09:41 AM

Please do NOT wait until next week to address this. You need to get in to a Doc TODAY. I repeat TODAY!!!!

The symptoms sound a lot like the ones I had with my gallbladder but then again I don't like what you are saying about the lack of restriction, and how the doc thinks once you get under 200 pounds that there won't be. That's a bunch of hogwash in my non-medical opinion....

RANT AGAINST DOC - I am not a doctor, nurse or affiliated with the medical practice in any way, but I have seen the bands, held them in my hands. At one support group they even passed it around with a syringe inserted in the port so that you could but the band around your finger and fill it up to feel how it tightens. On my little finger I was easily able to fill it full enough to actually hurt my finger. There is no way that wouldn't give someone restriction. My docs office insists they could fill anyone tight enough to make it impossible to even swallow water, no matter what there weight.... END OF RANT

Sorry about the rant but it does make me worry that your pain could somehow be band related. Did your doc pulled the fluid out of your band to see if there was as much in there as his chart says their should be? Is it possible that you band has a leak? If it did it shouldn't cause an infection like this but who knows?

Please get in today even if you have to go to the ER. And keep us posted.

mary1094 · 01-16-2008, 10:01 AM

I really think you should go to the ER or make your DR do something for you today..

sunsett · 01-16-2008, 10:22 AM

When did you see your Dr? You need to call him and tell him that your pain is worse and that you are going to the ER.

I agree wioth everyone here GO TO THE ER and then let us know how you are.

TheGh0st · 01-16-2008, 10:24 AM

Don't ask me how I missed your comment about your gallbladder already having been removed. This makes me even more worried for you. If the pain is so bad it hurts to breathe I'd be beating on my doc's door telling him to run more tests.

Sometimes docs really annoy me. I had gall badder troubles off and on for years before a doc ever correctly diagnosed me. They tried to say it was indigestion, a pre-ulcerous condition or even just a muscle spasm. It wasn't until I was drug down to the ER by my DH against my wishes that they finally got it diagnosed. Even then they really didn't pay me much attention and were about to send me home until I decided to quit putting a brave face on my pain and started hamming it up a bit. Making myself cry and moan with the pain rather than holding it in like I'm use to.

ForwardLeap · 01-16-2008, 10:44 AM

Hi -by the way I live in Kansas City also! Missouri side.

I was just wondering if you have ever been told you have a hiatal hernia?

The reason I ask is I had prior to band GERD it is where reflux scars your tract and makes swallowing hard. Sometimes you have to go in and have your tract stretched so you can swallow. I also had boughts on pnemonia that for some reason took many rounds of antibiotics and they could not clear it up-I still had all the wheezing.....

Several years go by I am still struggling with wheezing, pains, ect...My husband was transfered to Kansas City so I got of course a new doctor. One morning I woke up with terrible sharp stabbing pains and could not catch my breath. DR said go to ER. I ended up being admitted-they thought I was having a heart attack-I was not.

After a ton of test, even the ultra sound on my gallbladder came back good--DR ordered more test. One of those was a test that showed the gallbladder actually working. Mine was not-Alas one of the problems was brought to light.

Dr. then ordered another Endoscopy which I had just had surgery 1 month prior (endoscopy done then) and was a little put out that I was having another 30 days apart. Again it showed a large hiatal hernia....but did they fix it? NO..crazy

So when I went to the Surgeon for the lap band I insisted the hernia be repaired....I can not believe the difference NO MORE WHEEZING, no more heartburn, no more pains in my back (which felt like someone stabbing me with a knife!) I can breathe like a normal person. I do not feel what I termed snap crackle and pop (i felt this often when I would try to take a breath in-which is why I kept going to the doctor for years thinking it was my lungs; and it was hard to breathe! I felt like I could not expand my lung all the way)

The surgeon told me he has performed hundreds of hernia repairs and mine was the largest he has ever seen. He said it was much worst once in there then the films showed him. It took a really long time to fix but I am soooo glad.

You may want to ask about this--may not be your problem but after all the time I felt miserable I am glad someone finally investigated further. I share this because I was being treated for something I did not have! I also was being in a way pushed aside because a film did not tell all the story. My moto now is to be in charge-it is my body and I do not have to be miserable I just have to find a Dr who will listen and investigate.

Also I am confused about being under 200 pounds and the lap band; I have heard many people that are at 130-150 that the band helped them get to that weight. Maybe it is the type of band you have?

I hope you are able to feel better soon!

Christie

BeacheeGirl · 01-16-2008, 12:11 PM

Thank you for your input. Yes, I called Dr. Billy and he is getting me in today. The pain is sooo bad. I am really scared. I am at work and I am just gritting my teeth because pain is so bad. Sometimes it is a burning pain that is there but I can deal with, other times it is stabbing me and I feel I can't bear it.

TheGh0st · 01-16-2008, 12:36 PM

Forward Leap - I don't want to hijack this thread but am curious who your doc was. Could you send me a Private Message, I'd love to chat some more.

BeacheeGirl · 01-16-2008, 01:57 PM

I will let everyone know tomorrow. Has anyone ever gone through similar symptoms??????????????

BeacheeGirl · 01-17-2008, 10:18 AM

Dr. thinks I was probably too tight. 7.5 in 10 cc band. He drew out all fluid and bank pain and breathing much better within a few hours. Willl still do Enco Upper GI on Tues to make sure. Will let everyone know.

TheGh0st · 01-17-2008, 10:49 AM

Glad you found some relief. Hope the endoscopy can confirm whether there was any other underlying cause or if you were just too tight. Don't get me wrong being too tight is nothing to take lightly. Has your doc asked you to do anything like switch to a liquid diet for a day or two? Even if he didn't I'd be tempted to baby my band and stick with liquids or mushies for a couple days if I were you. Let us know how it goes.

ForwardLeap · 01-18-2008, 02:39 AM

So glad to hear your feeling better! It is good to cover all the bases-just to make sure. I know as I said before, I think that you have to be assertive about your health!

Christie

sunsett · 01-18-2008, 09:12 AM

When is your scope?

glad your feeling better. Continue to baby yourself and your band!