Baba Wawa

I know this name is not liked here, but there is a fibromyalgia forum Over tHere. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/fibromyalgia/a,messageboard/board_id,7624/action,recentPosts/page,2/ Tried to PM you but couldn't. Hang in there. I live with chronic pain and I also wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Where do you live? My doctor does fills under flouro. He's in Federal Way at Virginia Mason. 253-874-1604

Please read my blogs, especially "history"http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/7388-the-band-and-i/

Call your doctor please. This could be very easy to fix, little unfill, or a sign of something more serious, like a slip. Please post again to let us know you're ok

Cheryl, there is some discussion regarding a link between aspartame and auto-immune disorders, such as fibromyalgia. It was thought by many to be the band, but now it appears to be diet related. I don't know if you use aspartame, but if you do, avoiding it might help your condition. I don't use it, since it gives me aural migraines. Hope you feel better soon.

I personally think that your medical team needs to be fired. Barium, food or water retained in the esophagus isn't normal under any circumstances.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/169256-just-had-an-upper-gi-confused-now/ I was confused when I logged on and saw this as a new post today. Any bariatric surgeon who thinks esophageal dilation is no big deal, is incompetent. SOC for this is a complete unfill to rest the esophagus, with a trial fill (very small amt) after about6 weeks. As I stated in your earlier post; you got 2 oz of barium, the pouch is about 2 oz capacity. IF your stoma was tight, a bit of the barium could be in the esophagus, but certainly not most of it. You might be having early signs of damage to the EGJ. A manometry test is required if this persists after an unfill and 6 week rest. Our PCPs, GI specialists aren't familiar with the band and the effect it can have on the esophagus. They will, for the most part take a dilated esophagus very seriously.

This describes a high pressure system with banding. It's not good for our esophagus. It was published on a competing website, so left off that portion of the link. I also posted a link to his blog, which this is a part. articles/choice-of-bariatric-procedure-a-philosophy-obtained-in-20-years-of-bariatric-practice-2/ Dr Michael Roslin http://nwhsurgicalweightloss.org/blog/choice-of-bariatric-procedure-part-1-a-philosophy-obtained-in-20-years-of-bariatric-practice/ Excerpt: Most importantly, the band does not impact any of the hunger signals that we have been able to study. I also question its mechanism of action. The band functions to create a high pressure zone just past the esophagus, the tube that transports food from the mouth to stomach. As the pressure is raised, the esophagus has to work harder. Until the pressure reaches a certain point, the patient feels little restriction. Once too high, the pressure has an adverse impact on the muscular esophagus. This results in patients having heartburn or dysphagia when the band is too tight, and then feeling no restriction when loosened. Proponents of banding believe that there is an ideal point, or green zone. My experience has shown that this exists for some people. For others, the band can be frustrating to both patient and provider.

PS to Britney, there are no medications to treat the esophagus once achalasia sets in, at least in the US. Take care of it now, so you don't have to suffer later

That is just one way of developing esophageal dilation. A malfunctioning LES also causes dilation, often to the extent the pt develops mega esophagus and requires esophectomy.

I like light and fit ff by dannon, too. I add 1/4 cup of kashi go lean to it and it keeps me full for hours!

I go every two weeks...I went back as soon as I was able to lay face down on the table.

Unfilling a bit, reduces the pressure. You might lose better with less. I still go 4-5 hours without hunger and my band is just sitting there like a loose ring on a finger. It takes me forever to eat, I drink Perrier with meals, cause it helps to open the LES, and still get the hunger dimming response.

Yep, what you see is based on your search history. Even ordering a pizza for your kids will generate pizza ads.

That's what I thought was happening. It's the LES that won't open, in that situation. The band doesn't and can't get tighter and looser just randomly. It can seem to tighten over time due to scar tissue, but won't loosen. The only way it can feel like that is the lower esophageal sphincter failing to open in response to swallowing. Mine was intermittent and progressed to constant over a few months. If barium is just trickling through the STOMA, then you most definitely need an unfill ASAP. That might resolve your esophageal issues with just a part of the Fluid removed. It's the back pressure from the band that causes nerve damage at the gadtroesophageal junction. Even eating exactly as told, the pressure occurs. Banding is a high pressure system, as is vsg. More GI doctors are recommending esophageal manometry pre-op, since there is a growing consensus that the intolerance to the band can be predicted and those pts given different options for surgery. Have you ever felt stuck on Water or even yogurt? It's not your band stopping it. Fickle bands, first bite syndrome, getting "stuck" on soft foods and liquids are all signs of a potential problem. When so many report these things happening, it looks like a normal part of banded life, but it's not. It's a warning sign.

If you had just 2 oz barium and it was in your esophagus, that's an esophagus problem. It can lead to major problems in a short period of time. Please read my blog post "History" paying attention to the time between last June and present. I'm not trying to scare you, but save you from my experience. I belong to a band complications group on FB which has several members with this history. There is a phenomenon called psuedoachalasia, which usually occurs with underlying disease, but is occurring quite often in banded patients and is a relatively new development. I have what appears to be end stage achalasia, 0% muscle activity shown on manometry, but I'm hoping with my band removed, will resolve. I've been told to expect treatment ranging from feeding tube for 6 weeks to allow the esophagus to rest and regain some motility to removal of my esophagus. It's not something to mess around with. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3174396/

NSAID drugs like ibuprophen, naproxen sodium, work in a couple of ways that could cause stomach irritation, inflammation and ulceration. Direct contact of the gastric mucosa and NSAIDs can cause injury. NSAIDs in the blood inhibit production of protective enzymes leaving the lining more vulnerable to injury. The band puts a significant amount of pressure on the stomach wall an taking NSAIDs exaggerates the effect this has and can lead to band migration (erosion).

It can be scary, but also informative. It's important to be aware of little signs that if left alone can turn into bigger problems. Ignoring things like reflux that returns, and other seemingly innocuous things can lead to damage. I bookmarked these pages for reference just in case. If you are going into this fully informed, you know that the band isn't a lifetime device and when it's time for removal, there's no pop-up timer to tell you. Best to be prepared and alert. Best wishes to you.

Do you really need Percocet day 3? I had liquid Vicodin and took one dose. I cannot believe they ordered you pills! Maybe call and ask for liquid meds.

People can be so insensitive! I order soup when I go out and ask for a side plate to share with my husband...one or two bites on the side plate, no comments Why did your pouch dilate? Mine did, just slightly last year when my stoma just closed up, almost completely with very little fill. Since a complete unfill in June, I'm still dealing with band damage to my esophagus. Eating is a pain. Sorry you're dealing with this, I hope removal goes smoothly, hugs!

Call your doctor the minute you read this. Vomiting to the extent you describe isn't good under any circumstances, let alone with a band. Also, just because you had only one adjustment does not mean you can't be too tight. Everyone is different. Some people don't need fills at all. You could have a slip with prolapse and have part of your stomach that isn't getting circulation and necrotizing. Vomiting is NEVER "normal" with wls.

Thanks everyone...it's hard to wrap my mind around this situation, for sure. I'm lucky to have the "expert" in this type of problem close to home and he takes my insurance

It's a sign that something is wrong, not necessarily that your band is too tight, but that you may have eaten a bit too much, too fast or didn't chew enough. If it happens a lot or appears to be getting worse, you need to see your band doctor.

You've got to take it easy on yourself! You're human, fallible and succumbed to temptation. Naturally thin people do it too, enjoy it and don't beat themselves up over it like we do. Hugs AJ, you will get right back on track. Now wipe those tears and pat yourself on the back for being brave and accountable