jdinsc

This could just be a case of a too-tight band. You have all the symptoms. Maybe you just need an unfill. I get the shoulder pain when I'm too tight or when I've eaten too much. I've had a too-tight band and a slipped band (original band in '03, revision in '06). The difference was the reflux was unbearable with the slipped band...I couldn't even lay down without choking. My too-tight bands the reflux was milder, and didn't burn as much, and I could get a minor-unfill and the reflux went away immediately. I'd recommend an unfill (either all or part) and then monitor the reflux. Then you'll have your answer.

Thanks everyone for clarifying DS for me. Fabfatgrl: Thanks also for posting those statistics. After all, it's the OUTCOME that matters, right? My doctor continues to be adamant against DS surgery. When I mentioned I'd heard of a surgeon that would revise the band to DS, he positively panicked! He insists DS results in smelly stools, so bad it could risk a relationship! ("You can never share the same bathroom again.") I haven't really heard this on the board, so why do you all think he's being a drama queen?? Another question: What are the dietary questions with DS? And is there the same "full to capacity" feeling that there is with the band, or is it different? My replaced band finally has a bit of restriction (after 3 fills, one month apart). I have about 2.4 ccs right now and I get tight only if I eat bread or chicken. The good news is that I have stopped GAINING weight. I'm gonna try to stick with it (no pun intended) until I find the sweet spot, but with one failed band under my belt--and the realization that my body will go immediately back to the way it was--I need to have other options in mind. JD 237/145/180 banded on 1/2002 rebanded on 3/2006 P.S.: Guys: What are your dietary restrictions with DS?

Sue: This was a fantastic post. As always, you're a great teacher. I think I remember seeing your posts on that old site. I have no doubt that the bra fitter at Nordstrom was nothing but impressed. My second fill on my new band hasn't actually done the trick yet. Just minimal restriction so far, but I'm not giving up yet. Think good thoughts for me!!

Well, it's a long story but I just had my band removed and replaced. Seems the tubing broke, which is ultimately why my fills gave me restriction for 24 hours and then it all just "went away." My doctor suspected slippage but then when he did an endoscopy he found that my band tubing was "in pieces" and he removed and replaced the band. Needless to say, when I woke up I was a bit surprised by the turn of events. :faint: I haven't had a good fill on my new band yet and am starting to play head games with myself already about the band not working. I went from 240-145-170 (now) and none of my clothes fit. I'm really hoping my first fill does the trick. However, I mentioned to my doc that if this band doesn't work, I want it removed and I want DS surgery. He told me that DS screwed with ones digestion and that I would "smell like an 80-year-old woman" and that people who lived with me would not want to use the bathroom after I did. Can any of you who have had DS surgery explain why you went that route, and how it's working for you? Is any of this true? Obviously I'm hoping my band works this time--please think good thoughts--but a little education never hurts. JD Banded 1/2003, weight: 237 Hit goal weight 2005: 145 Band stopped working 2005: 162 Rebanded 3/2006: 165 Just ate dessert: 170

Me too: When my band slipped, I had major reflux. I was chewing Prevacid tablets after almost every meal, plus I was really tight. Not to encourage any bad behaviors here, but when my band slipped I actually reached my goal weight. But the reflux was too much. My doctor ended up removing all the Fluid from the band and the band fixed itself. Then I could eat like a freakin' horse. Put back the 20 lbs I lost when I slipped. But that's a whole other story for another thread. Have the fluid removed from your band and see if it helps. Then you can have fluid gradually added 'til you find your sweet spot. Don't let it go on for too long if you're refluxing. I hear esophogeal erosion is a real risk! JD

For whatever it's worth... My band slipped and I was WAY TIGHT afterward, so the fact that you have no restriction now sounds like something else. Dunno what, but let us know what your doctor says, I'm really curious. JD

Hello all you wise people who have told us your erosion stories... We are all grateful that you continue to share your thoughts with us. Here's my question: If read conflicting stories about whether people with eroded bands lose restriction. Were you restricted when your erosion was diagnosed? Also, logically speaking, if the band has eroded into the stomach, shouldn't that cause MORE restriction and not LESS? Thanks in advance, JD

Thanks everyone for your input. The Barium swallow showed the tube bent, but there wasn't any discernible leakage. However I've read elsewhere on this site that a tube gets weaker when it's bent and can leak pretty easily. As I said, my doctor thinks it's only a matter of time. Sigh. JD

Bandsters and ex-Bandsters: I've had problems with no restriction so my doctor did my last fill under fluro so we could see where things were at. Looking at the pictures it was very clear that the tubing that connects the port to the band is "tweaked." Usually the tubing meanders around, but in my case the tube bends into a sharp "V" at one point. My doctor said this wasn't anything urgent--the fill still worked and wasn't obstructed by the "V" in the tubing. However, he suggested that if the "V" didn't undo itself it might only be a matter of time before the tubing degrades or breaks at the point of the "V". Anyone ever seen this one before? Thanks in advance for sharing... JD

DeLarla- Your posts have been really educational, and I feel like I've been going through this alongside you. For whatever it's worth, I've been seeing Dr. Billy too (was banded by someone else) and your posts validate that he knows what he's doing. I can't tell you how much better this makes me feel. I'm really hoping I don't have erosion. My only symptom is that my fills aren't working and I can eat everything in sight. And I'm hungry a lot, which was the point of going thru all that surgery in the first place, wasn't it??? I've put on 10 lbs. just like that, and I know I'm capable of putting all 80 back on if I'm not really, really careful. Question: Why do you think your removal was worse than your "installation"? Should the removal be easier for the surgeon? You are a pioneer. Thanks for the information and we're all pulling for you. JD Banded January 2003 Dr. Katkhouda, USC University Hospital 237/150/164 (yikes!)

Wow, Sarah, that's a really interesting option. Never occured to me that the tubing could be perforated. Come to think of it, I actually did have a bad fill experience when the doctor's nurse did the fill once. (Never again.) He didn't actually poke me multiple times, it was more like a toilet plunger going up and down. (Sorry for the graphic there.) I'm afraid to ask, but... what did your friend end up doing? How is she? JD

Okay, you experienced bandsters, here's a real mystery. I do have an appt. with my doc in a couple weeks, but I thought I'd arrive prepared with some ideas. Earlier this year, after a long plateau of no weight loss, I had a fill that took me to 1.8ccs of Fluid (in my Bioenterics 4cc band). I knew I was too tight within the first several days but thought it might be swelling. I started getting acid reflux and PB'ing a lot but I liked the weight loss. I actually made it to my goal weight, but the acid reflux was too much and my doctor removed some fluid. I think I was down to 1cc. Well, I could eat like a horse, and I did. It's amazing how old habits die hard. Within a month I had put on 10 lbs. It was like there was no band at all. I went back to the doctor and he filled me up with 1.4ccs. Still, nothing. No restriction. I could eat white meat chicken, take a Multivitamin horse pill, and an untoasted bagel. (All at one sitting.) So I went back and begged him to fill me some more. After prodding, he second-guessed the original fill amount and put back 1.8ccs of fluid...the amount that originally made me too tight...and made me stay and drink Water to make sure everything went down and I wasn't obstructed. Guess what? I can still eat like a horse. No restriction at all. No pain, no redness or swelling, no port issues, feeling fine. No little voice inside my head saying "something's wrong." Just a big voice inside my head saying, "Your underwear is getting tight!" Thoughts/suggestions/theories? Thanks much, everyone. JD