AZnikki

I am in Phoenix (Surprise actually), AZ. I am having a lot of trouble with my band. I have had a port replacement and two unfills for extended periods of time. I am now having problems again. The latest news (today) was that after reviewing last week's Upper GI results, my Dr. wants to do an EGD. I asked the nurse why we were doing it and she said, "The UGI report showed that your stomach has possibly herniated through the band." I had no idea what that meant, so I asked, "Does that mean that the band slipped?" and she kinda said "yeah" under her breath. I've heard that many people after having a band slip don't try another band but that the next step is to have a sleeve or bypass. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with this and/or has any information on this. This lapbandtalk.com forum has gotten so huge, I don't even know where to find things anymore, that's why I came to this forum. Please help. I'm really nervous and scared. I don't want to lose my band!!!

Hi there...I was reading this thread and I saw your post and thought I'd contact you. I have had an almost similar situation. The Reflux was getting worse regardless of anything I took and I had EXTREME pain in my chest like behind my sternum that sent me to the ER 3 times. Of course, I never have any luck at the ER when it comes to LapBand issues, so they kept treating it like it were something else...can't remember all the details. I finally went in to see my lap band doctor. He took action immediately. He unfilled me--well, took 2 cc's from the 4 that were in there. I immediately felt relief. I finally got an upper GI done and they just got the results. They called today. now they are doing an EGD (while I am under). I asked the nurse, "Does this mean that my band has slipped? and she said, "The report shows that the stomach may have herniated through the band." I'm not sure what that means. So, I repeated, "Does that mean my band slipped?" and she said, "Yeah." Anyway, I still don't really understand and I don't know what I should be anticipating as the "next step." What did they do for your slipped band??? Any info that can be provided would be so greatly appreciated!!!

WOW! That IS a far way to go for your surgery. Consider this also--how long after your surgery would you be returning? The reason I ask is that I tend to have more restriction if I go up north into the mountains...I'm wondering if you'd be in total pain being in the altitude?!? (assuming that you are flying)--Also, I've heard that it's difficult to get someone to do postop if they didn't do the surgery. But who knows...you might fnd someone. I'd make SURE they will guarantee that they will treat you BEFORE you go ahead with it. Also, consider the pre-op stuff too...it might be hard to coordinate all of that with a doctor that far away...I'm not sure how far into this process you are, but it's somewhat time consuming for the pre-op stuff (it was for me anyway). Anyway, good luck to you.

WOW! I WISH I could eat garlic knots and not feel terrible! LOL...I do know what you mean though about the "sludge"! A friend of mine on here suggested to me to drink a cup of hot water with lemon before eating and that breaks the "sludge" up. I seem to have a problem if I drink anything too soon after eating. Even just a little bit of a drink and I have to get it all up. Sometimes I even drink purposely so that I can get it all up if I've got food stuck. :0(

I've looked back about 10 pages on the threads and didn't see anything like this...but I was just wondering...has anyone noticed specific situations or times when you feel more restriction? For example, obviously, I think most people feel more restriction in the morning. I actually can't usually eat lunch at my scheduled lunch time, but sometimes about an hour later or so, I'm fine. I usually can't eat a whole lot until dinner time...which is the WORST time to have a big meal...obviously!!!I also have felt more restriction when I went into higher altitude. I asked my doctor if the altitude was the reason I couldn't eat anything for three days and he said it was VERY possible. I also notice that I seem to have more restriction if I am congested or allergies are acting up. Are there any other situations that YOU've noticed when you feel MORE restriction that at other times?

Although fills seem like a simple process when I go in, I imagine that there's a reason not just ANYONE can do them. I'm thinking that there have been MANY good reasons posted on here as to why we should NOT be doing our own fills...infection, insurance, leaks, etc. I'm thinking that if something is wrong, my doctor stands a better chance to realize it than I do. I mean, for example, my surgeon (I've since had to change doctors) noticed that I had a leak in my port because he could withdraw as much as he had put in...I don't think I could've known that...they are trained professionals and there's a reason they don't "allow" us to do them. We are dealing with sensitive equipment here folks...not to mention the only bodies we have (like 'em or not)!

I had the same problem about 3 days after surgery. In fact, I was supposed to go back to work that day, but I was concerned that it might be a blood clot. I went to the hospital and it wasn't. They said though that a lot of time because of the swelling and gas and stuff that their can be pain in the extremeties first and especially to the lower extremeties...if you are still having pain, get it checked out just to be sure there are no blood clots...but you gotta go with your instinct!

WOW...such similar stories! I too have had exactly what you've been referring to. I have had strep throat for a week and all the congestion is starting to losen up--I wonder if that's what's making me feel so tight. I have hardly been able to eat the last few days. HOWEVER, I was ALSO up in higher altitude for the last two days...I wonder if THAT has any effect on all of this too? I know I feel restriction more so on some days than on others--and I also usually feel more in the mornings--but lately, it's been ALL day--my last fill was Labor Day weekend when I had a port revision and he put 6 ccs in my 10cc band...usually by now I would feel very little restriction at all...but...it looks like I may be losing a few pounds too :0)

This is so funny! I get nasal drip...if food gets stuck, my nose starts to run and then I KNOW I'm going to throw up! In fact, as soon as I throw up, it goes away. I just thought it was my crazy body!

Man....I'm so sorry you're hurting...I remember the pain all too well! I found relief from things like hot tea also. The shower and heating pad and of course WALKING was VERY helpful. My neighbors must have thought I was crazy cuz it was so hot when I had mine that I could only walk for a few minutes so I'd just walk to the corner and back a few times then go back out soon after! As for the M.O.M....yeah...full dose is rough! I regretted taking it as soon as I did, and at that I HAD taken half! Best advice on that--read on here first! I think sometimes we have better advice or suggestions than our doctors...we're the ones experiencing it and learning from doing! Good luck to you! Hang in there...it gets better every day! :lovechoc:

Thanks so much for the advice/information/support...so guess what all?!?! I got it approved...here's what happened: The first CPT code that they used got denied--it was 43886 (revise gastric port, open)...then, I called Tricare and asked about a bunch of CPT codes that I found on google and one of them was on their list of approvals...they said it has to be proved medically necessary and have prior approval...but...today, I got the approval!!! I'm not sure what it means yet, but the CPT code that I suggested to the dr's office was 43771 (lap,revise adjust gastric band)--the lap indicates laproscopic. So, anyway the reason I don't know what it means is because one of them says approved and then another one with the same CPT code says approved with modification...I'm not sure if that is because my doctor will be doing it outpatient or what?!? Regardless, I will be calling surgeon tomorrow and will hopefully have surgery on Friday!!! Woo HOO!!!! For those of you trying to get approval through Tricare (maybe even other insurances) TRY THIS WAY...the CPT codes are universal--it's just up to each insurance company as to what/how they cover it. Anyway--I'll post again once I talk to the doctor tomorrow!

Has anyone had to get a port revision through Tricare? If so, please contact me. I'm having some trouble with approval and I've got a leak in my port!:biggrin:

Hey there...I was not already approved for the bypass, but I did go through the procedure for getting approved for the lapband with Tricare and it was fairly painless. I can't imagine that it would be that big of a deal. Did you ask your surgeon about it? Tricare has been SO easy to deal with (on my end anyway) on getting it all done. My approval took place right after Tricare started covering the bands! Good luck to ya!