Hiatal Hernia repair Lap band NIGHTMARE

I thought it only fair to give everyone a true update on my condition.

I was banded on 3/24/09….. The nightmare did not begin until I was 1 week post op. I was banded and had a hiatal hernia repaired. I was unaware that I even had one until surgery had ended.

I week later when I was to begin soft foods everything would get stuck in by chest nothing would go down. I thought I was doing something wrong. I begin to PB on EVERYTHING I tried including water. I contacted TR and went in . They thought that maybe there was too much fill on my band so we began the horrendous process of remove the fluid. Be mindful that at this point I am 2 weeks post op. OH MY GOOD… the pain was indescribable. They removed 1cc and gave me a glass of water. CAME BACK UP! To the xray room where 3 attempts were made to see if any further fluid was in my port. At this point we did a barium swallow and it simply SAT there in my chest and did not go down....

My GOD I was and still am fearful of how this will all turn out.

Sent to the hospital, at this point I am dehydrated and was admitted strait from TR and the surgeon. When admitted they placed me on an IV of course and morphine to be administered every 2 hours. Day 2 they sent me for a endoscopy to go down my thought and see if there was any blockage. OMG…..They said they would be putting me to sleep for the procedure but unfortunately the sleep medication did not work and because my blood pressure begin to fall the just went for it. WIDE AWAKE they went down my throat into my stomach and too pictures. Guess what…. NO BLOCKAGE…

So ask what’s the problem why can’t you swallow then….Well, the Hernia repair. This fix caused my esophagus to stop working. Actually the diagnosis is that the hernia caused my esophagus to stop working. Prior to the surgery the esophagus had to do no work. Once repaired my esophagus now has to learn how to work again I was advised that the nerve grows at the rate of a fingernail. In conclusion I have been PB every day several times. I am still on liquids 3 weeks out and still can barely get water down.

I am still thanking my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Although this is not what I anticipated I have PB 4x’s today. It makes me cry. I am sick of being sick. What ate drank yesterday won’t work today.

First of all I am so sorry for you and my prayers are with you. I'm sure the worst is over! I've been considering the band for months now-going to a seminar next week. Thank you for being honest-seem to only be wonderful success stories and I know they can't all be! Thanks for the info. & feel better!

oh my gosh. That is something that is unfathomable. No one would ever expect that complication. I hope for you that once all is said and done that you have smooth sailing and don't have a care in the world - you deserve it after the ordeal you're faced with. My sister always says that if god brings you to it, he'll bring you through it -so keep your faith strong!

i am so sorry you are going through that. i had my band dec23rd. and he also did a hiatal hernia repaired but thankfully i didnt have comlications. i really pray you will feel better soon. im down 5o lbs. now and feel great.

I was banded 3/27/09 and I too had a hiatal hernia repair, which was a very large tear per my surgeon. I had to stay on a liquid diet a couple of days longer as I could not keep anything down either, however I am healing fine now. Scheduled for my first fill Monday, which I am ready for as I feel now with no fill in the band I can eat way too much and I have only lost 16 lbs., and not much of any of that was after the surgery. Good luck, hope yours gets better soon