it has been nearly 4 years since I had my band. 2 years ago I started gaining a little weight - not much - but I know I was eating wrong. About a year ago I started having itching all across my abdomen and a bruse-like spot to the right of the port. Now I have gainede about 15 pounds back of the 75 I originally lost. My abdomen is tender and sensitive. Sometimes I get a sharp type pain. I have constant IBS symptoms - have not had a solid bowel movement in weeks. I went to my doctor and he says I am gaining the weight because I have learned how to eat around the band. I agree that I do that - but not constantly. My abdomen seems hard at times - not soft. Last night it actually felt like the band had moved because I could not sleep on either side. Today the tenderness is there constantly. I have tried to go to a different surgeon but they seem to have a club because none of them will see me since they didn't do the original band. Has anyone else experienced these types of problems? I worry that the band has eroded and that there might be some type of infection. What would infection symptoms be like? I don't want to overact but I don't want to ignore something serious. Does anyone else have any ideas? I am in the Louisville, KY area if you know of anyone I can talk to.

Although your symptoms could be band related it sounds like something else is going on here too. You should see your PCP and/or a gastroenterologist. You might need to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see what is going on.

These symptoms sound serious enough not to be dismissed. Your weight gain is probably unrelated to these symptoms. You need to find a doctor who will investigate this and obviously your surgeon is not the one to do it. Good luck.