Hello all. I am back from my hospital trips. Thankfully I finished at Walsall just in time to dash back and take Mr TB for his x rays. They took lots of x rays of his left lung and the area around his heart. Now we have 3 weeks of waiting for the results
.
Well I was fascinated by my appointment even though I came away with no idea what has been going on - because they could not give me an explanation. The procedure was done by the radiologist assisted by the bariatric nurse. They asked me lots of questions about what I had been feeling, when the symptoms started etc. The radiologist then did a lot of poking and prodding of my stomach and then they started taking the x rays. I could see the screen which was slightly behind and to the left of me while I was lying flat. I could see when the needle went into the port - still took three attempts even with the x ray! They then withdrew the fluid to see how much was in and sure enough the 4 ml was still in there.
The bed was then tilted until it was vertical and I was sort of standing on it. It meant I could not see the screen which is a shame. I was then given the barium fluid to drink as they refilled the band. Needless to say the barium or whatever it is they give you was vile:9529:. I finished it and then they said I needed more fluid. Thankfully they gave me water. They put in 8 ml which is 4 more than I had and when I tried to drink I could feel the water was not going down so they immediately withdrew 1 ml and I felt the difference straight away. The radiologist and I then had a discussion about the amount and he left it at the 3 ml in. So I now have 7 ml in a 14 ml band.
The bariatric nurse was trying to explain why I had not been feeling restriction but to be honest I was not sure what she was trying to tell me. She said she would ask that I be given an appointment to see the surgeon in 4 weeks or shorter and she said he could consider giving me another fill then depending on how I get on.
So they could not explain the loss of restriction or what is causing the pain. The bariatric nurse said that they would not operate on the lump until I lose the weight. Hello...that will probably take 2 years - what am I supposed to do in the meantime? I will wait until I see the surgeon and discuss that. I am feeling pain in the area of the lump now, which I was not before, so I really do not want to have that for the next two years.
It is a real shame they do not do all fills like this. I did get to see an x ray of my insides and the radiologist assured me everything seemed to be ok and the port and band are where they are supposed to be.
I was given another cup of water and told to drink it and wait 20 minutes to make sure there were no problems. It seemed fine so I left. I have just had a cup of black coffee and admit I can feel a small pain in the centre of my chest - like the start of heart burn. I am sure its due to tenderness from the fill. I am now back on 2 weeks liquids then 2 week mushies so I will see what happens.
I have just cleared Waitrose of their consommé soup
and have a pan of home made soup bubbling away which I will be on for the next few days. I want to stay low carb through the next 4 weeks to see if that makes any difference to things.
I am relieved nothing appears to be wrong and that I have had a fill. So I am hopeful thing will start to move again.
A lot of what I have been experiencing has probably been down to the huge stress I am under and with my hypertension rebound. I am resigned to going back on the bp meds so in a month or so I may start feeling a lot better. In the meantime I am going to get more rest - I am very tired and slept a lot over the last few days.
Sorry for the long post but I thought it might be useful.
tranquil x
