my band is slipped, will it ever be ok again

[vicki's band 0]

I had a barrium swallow today cause i have been having extreme reflux and even couldn't swallow Water at times. they said it is pretty bad and i have to stay on liquids for 2 weeks and will probably have to have surgery. I am soo scared, has any one else experienced this and how did you do. any advice is so greatly appreciated. they said if they try to tighten it again it will probably slip again. they totally deflated me today. what causes this..

[scottyd 0]

I have been through this. I have traveled this road in the last 2 months. I had a revision surgery. My band slip as found jan 6 and I went into surgery 2 hours later. I however had Fluid all taken out of my band dec 26th as my stomach swelled and closed off and I could not even get Water down. I vomited 3 days so bad. I don't need to go in to this. I was stuck in a blizzard here in South Dakota. So I could not get to the Dr. all this was part of the crap deal of my band slip. I however did have a surgery to fix it. The band was removed and replaced the same time. It all fall under the same rules as the first band surgery. it is like doing it from square one. liquids soft foods chew ya ya ya. trying to get the sweet spot back is a mess. I was running perfect before the bump in the road. I am a positive person and all things happen for a reason. the good thing is my stomach is in good shape, liver looks great. No signs of erosion. all positive. So I fall in the 2 to 5% of the cases that have issues. Big deal someone has to be one of the few to fall below the line. You know to hold the system accountable. So here we are. I know your angry. well maybe. look at the bright side. your loosing weight. getting healthy. It could be worse. You might say Really? yes it could.

[vicki's band 0]

I have been through this. I have traveled this road in the last 2 months. I had a revision surgery. My band slip as found jan 6 and I went into surgery 2 hours later. I however had Fluid all taken out of my band dec 26th as my stomach swelled and closed off and I could not even get Water down. I vomited 3 days so bad. I don't need to go in to this. I was stuck in a blizzard here in South Dakota. So I could not get to the Dr. all this was part of the crap deal of my band slip. I however did have a surgery to fix it. The band was removed and replaced the same time. It all fall under the same rules as the first band surgery. it is like doing it from square one. liquids soft foods chew ya ya ya. trying to get the sweet spot back is a mess. I was running perfect before the bump in the road. I am a positive person and all things happen for a reason. the good thing is my stomach is in good shape, liver looks great. No signs of erosion. all positive. So I fall in the 2 to 5% of the cases that have issues. Big deal someone has to be one of the few to fall below the line. You know to hold the system accountable. So here we are. I know your angry. well maybe. look at the bright side. your loosing weight. getting healthy. It could be worse. You might say Really? yes it could.

thanx for getting back to me scott as you know there arent too many people to talk to about this since we are the minority. I still dont know how this happened, cant find much about it online even. do u know? I too couldn;t keep water down it was miserable. I hear alot of people go in right away for surgery so why is my doc waiting and having me come back tues. he says sometimes they correct themselves but usually will not hold a fill without prolapsing again. Im glad I have u too talk too.... thanx vicki

PS also, is there any complications or negatives to having the band replaced, or is it just like getting it the first time. is the surgery as painful as the first one.

Edited February 27, 2010 by vicki's band

[scottyd 0]

I do know that they like the band to calm down. before they do surgery, I had my band drained for 2 weeks before they discovered the slip so I went right into surgery. Your doc is just doing what is best for you. I am sure you can get liquids down now. Correct? take it easy as it will get better. Some will say it is good / so will say oh hell no. I am with the band an always will be. I love it. So I have a few problems. Well I did some stupid stuff too. I drank some Pop. ate some foods I should not have ate. I did get the flu. I am human and not perfect and will never claim to be. I am well versed in what I should and should not do with the band. I do know right from wrong.

[vicki's band 0]

thanx again scott, I cannot imagine my life without the band either and now I am hearing that insurance does not always pay for a rebanding, and that scares the crap out of me. I have such terrible hearburn right now and all im drinking is Water and broth, but my stomach is so swollen that I think it is just sitting in my chest...

[Teacher07 3]

Vicki most insurance companies won't pay for a "rebanding" persay but yours would be a revision and most insurance companies do cover one revision per lifetime of the member.

[vicki's band 0]

Vicki most insurance companies won't pay for a "rebanding" persay but yours would be a revision and most insurance companies do cover one revision per lifetime of the member.

Oh thanx teacher, what is the difference between a revision and a rebanding? do you know the stats on revision, does it usually work as well as the first band?:wink2:

[Poppyred 0]

If you had a band slipped would you know it right away??? or does the doctor do a ultrasound??

[vicki's band 0]

If you had a band slipped would you know it right away??? or does the doctor do a ultrasound??

For me the symptoms were not being able to swallow anything, not even Water. it was total obstuction. But like Scott said a barrium swallow will be the concluding factor.

[vicki's band 0]

On mine which is still pending they are going to pay for the removing the band. as for the replacing it. that is in question still at this time. But we will see what happens!! with mine. it all takes time and all of a sudden all the bills come due and what will be payed and what wont.

I'm surprised the doc would do it without pre authourization. did you have a revision or a replacement?

[Teacher07 3]

As far as I understand a replacement would be if you had it completely removed and a new one put in. A revision is fixing things like slips. If you have your insurance book it should tell you right in there.