Baba Wawa

Perhaps you're acquainted with Dr Rachel Dees?

I wish my esophageal dysmotility was flying "fast and loose" with the facts. If it was 11% in 1995 and according to the doctors I'm seeing, saying they're seeing a dramatic increase within the banded population, who knows what the actual % is today..,

http://www.sutterpacific.org/bariatrics/conditions/lap-band-complications.html This is the copy I was referring to. It's published here by a Bariatrics practice in San Francisco.

Unfortunately, this information is contained in the Bariatric Professionals portion of the website, which now requires a password and access code provided by Allergan. Much of the website has been rewritten, again, and as usual, intended to cover their a**. I've posted the link before. I'll see if I have the information pasted somewhere.

This is a growing trend. The sleeve is comparable to band, except in regard to aftercare. It's a restrictive surgery, without a device that can fail or cause problems on its own. The recovery from sleeve is longer and a bit more difficult. The risks are a bit more, but not huge. Doing a sleeve on a previously banded stomach is much more difficult...higher complications, longer surgery. There has to be open mindedness when discussing surgical options...things change. If I'd had my knee replaced 5 years ago, I'd be wishing the newer options were available then...

My primary concern is with the frequency of follow-up visits to the physician. I've read that monthly visits are required. I travel a lot, and having to go monthly would be burdensome. Does a Lap Band recipient need to plan on monthly doctor visits forever? Is it just for the first few months, then tapers off? With Lapband, aftercare is frequent and essential. A minimum of 4 visits to the bariatric surgeon the first year is pretty average and some require more frequent check-ups. If, for instance you get a fill, it's a bit too much, you need to go back to get some removed...if your surgeon is close by, no big deal. Many wls patients travel long distances for surgery and follow up care, so this can be a problem. After the first year, my doctor expects to see his patients for fills and an annual check of the band. Next issue - I'm having a hard time getting a clear picture on the rate of complications. Some research suggests that an awfully high percentage of Lap Band patients end up with complications that require additional surgery to correct. However, various Internet user groups and polls of Lap Band patients tend to indicate that most people are quite happy with the Lap Band and glad they got it. This could be explained a couple of ways - 1. people feel that the Lap Band is worth getting despite the complications; or 2. complications are over-reported or over-emphasized. Allergan's own site, cites a 25% removal rate. There is a trend within the bariatric community of growing concern over the impact of banding on the esophagus. In speaking to my doctor the other day about my esophageal issues, he told me he is and his affiliated hospital are considering discontinuing gastric banding and are recommending other procedures. He treats esophageal issues too, so is very concerned about cases like mine. If you look up "achalasia/gastric band" on sites such as Medscape, or just google it. Many of the studies that support gastric banding are old or limited in size. Like any other medical device, it can fail. I know my band is responsible for my situation and I was absolutely compliant. I'm having my band removed in June. If you decide to do a band, get an esophageal manometry test. This test can detect asympyomatic esophagus issues that the band can aggravate causing debilitating and truly miserable problems. It seems like a lot of people initially get a lap band, then end up having it removed and receive either a gastric sleeve procedure or gastric bypass. I'm not sure my weight and over-eating problems are quite severe enough for a gastric bypass, but I'm wondering if I should opt for a gastric sleeve. If I'm going to have surgery under general anesthesia anyway, might as well do something that's less likely to have complications, require less maintenance, and be more likely to work. The problem with bands is that you could suffer damage, making a revision to another surgery more difficult if not impossible. One thing that is clear to me, knowing what I know today, is I would opt for a vsg. One surgery, yes it's irreversible, yes the intitial recovery is harder and surgical risk is a bit more, but once you get thru that, you're done. My advice is to research every surgery, talk to doctors who do bands, sleeves and DS. Get the pros and cons and be open to hearing "negative nellies" and their message. The "rules" around banding are constantly evolving and vary from surgeon to surgeon...how can you be sure you are compliant when the guidelines you are to follow vary so much. Yes, there is a lot of room for patient non compliance, there is as much room for surgical practices to vary in their perception of what compliance is. Best of luck to you. BTW, I've lost almost 100 lb....70 from the band (emptied a year ago) and almost 30 from band-induced achalasia. The 28th is my 3rd bandiversary, but sadly I won't be celebrating my weight loss, but I will be hoping to regain some esophageal function after my band is removed.

The shoulder pain and difficulty with solids might mean you need a tiny unfill. Sometimes even .01cc removed can help. I would check with the doc.

First off, your doctor sounds very unprofessional. Second, vomiting is not normal, band or no band, in the absence of illness, motion sickness, etc. in addition to talking to a nutritionist, get a new bariatric surgeon and a barium swallow to determine why you're vomiting. This is a very big red flag and shouldn't be ignored. Best of luck to you.

Mine is coming out in a couple of weeks. It caused a lot of damage to my esophagus which I hope will improve after removal, though there's no guarantee. Why are you removing yours?

Intolerance of liquids without a recent fill is a huge red flag that your esophagus is irritated. I had 3.5 cc in an 11 cc band, all fluid out a year ago, since then have progressed to full on achalasia. See your doctor ASAP. A small unfill might make a huge difference!

Since we all got here by not following dietary guidelines, it's no surprise that many struggle with adhering to "the rules" for preoperative and postoperative eating and exercise. Empathy and support is asked for in many different ways. Sometimes it's in the form of "confessing" to cheating. Whether insurance covered the surgery or not is irrelevant. Self sabotage is how we got here. Dealing with "head" issues throughout the process is essential to success.

No, I'm saying that perhaps we should be supportive of the person posting her experience, even if you wonder why the doctor proceeded to remove the band. Perhaps there were other mitigating circumstances. To say Tricia gave incorrect information given to her by her doctor isn't supportive. It's done, she's moving on, so should everyone else. She has a very positive outlook considering having had two babies, surgery and being pregnant again, why diminish that with questions and criticism? PS Alex won't allow anyone to delete their account.

Thank you for sharing your story Tricia. Your doctor guided you in the decision and while not everyone here agrees with that decision, it is what happened in your situation. Since I have seen post after post on another group with people developing severe esophageal issues 3-5 years out, unrelated to compliance, I think it was a good decision. You used your tool, are about to be a mom of three and have learned new eating and lifestyle habits you'll carry forward to continue your success. Sometimes our doctors decisions are questioned by those who should refrain from commenting unless they can be supportive of the person, if not the decision.

Since the band is in direct contact with the vagus nerve, which is responsible for managing the entire GI tract, it can be the cause of these types of problems. Nerve damage from abdominal surgery can cause a multitude of problems directly related to the vagus nerve. It regulates other essential functions, like heart rhythm, too.

...like achalasia...it sucks. It feels like you are stuck, but you're not, at least not stuck at the band. The food is stuck in the esophagus, but feels very similar. When only 1/100,000 people without bands get it, and you see posts constantly of banded people getting stuck on water, yogurt, having "fickle" bands, tight for no reason, it cannot be ignored. Bands are not fickle, and while hot weather, TOM, other external factors can cause TEMPORARY problems, symptoms like these that persist, despite modifying diet, hydration, etc are a huge red flag that things aren't right. I'm still undergoing expensive, uncomfortable and time-consuming tests to determine the best course of action for my situation. I know removal is inevitable, but there may be several more Sx in my future due to this band. I've kept down 2 meals in the last 7 days, losing about 3 lb per week...

No, you're not alone. It's very hard to read the "cursive" and light colored fonts. I usually copy and paste it into the reply box, read it and decide if I'm going to reply. When you copy and paste on a mobile device, it changes it to a more readable font.

I use a product called "Dimmers", believe it or not, my 21 yr old granddaughter bought them for me. They work in any bra and keep the "high beams" from shining:)

Could be a hernia, but since they don't cut the muscle to attach the port, it's unlikely. During surgery once the band is in place, the tubing is cut to length, and the port end placed near the desired port placement point. There is a small incision to insert the port, attach port to the rectus muscle facia and attach the tubing. There could be a small hematoma in the area or as you suggested, scar tissue. I'd wait and see.

I keep liquid ibuprophen on hand for those times I really need relief from my back pain. I take one dose, wash it down with at least 16 oz Water. This is a once every month or two thing. I also cannot take narcotic pain meds because of my motility disorder. The pills can get hung up at the stoma and cause direct injury. I was told no pills, liquid very infrequently. http://www.everydayhealth.com/ulcer/pain-relief-for-ulcers.aspx How NSAIDs Affect the Stomach Lining NSAIDs work by lowering the levels of enzymes called cyclooxygenases (abbreviated as COX), which in turn lowers the production of another substance called prostaglandin. Decreasing COX and prostaglandin helps in controlling inflammation, but is not so good when it comes to keeping the stomach lining healthy. This makes it harder for the body to maintain the stomach’s protective mucous lining, control the amount of blood flow in the stomach lining, and control how acidic or alkaline it is inside the stomach.

So sorry you're suffering. Hopefully the medication will help.

Often medical supply stores will rent you a cpap machine, here. Maybe this is available in Canada too. BTW, it is illegal in the US for a private party to sell these machines.