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Dilated Esophagus- The Dangers Of Not Following Your Dr's Plan



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I've wanted to get back on track for the past 3 or 4 months. But everyday it was the same thing - tomorrow. So now, 26 pounds gained back and it's out of my hands. Dr. Says that I have a dilated esophagus.

That explains a lot. The rock stuck in my throat, the difficulty swallowing even Water at times, and the vomiting and foamies. If there is one thing that I hope banders get from this post, it's that overeating is actually dangerous! I thought no big deal, I'll just gain a few pounds. Wrong, it can cause permanent damage and now I am faced with the possibility of having my band removed.

I am on a very restricted diet now. 3 Protein shakes and 1 yogurt a day (I can mix in 1/2 c fruit with 2 of the shakes). I'll do this for a month. Then after that, I'll have 2 oz soft Protein and 1 oz veggie twice a day along with 1 Protein shake for 3 months. At that point I'll go back for another upper GI to see if the esophagus has healed.

My band was working, I was ignoring it. I did this to myself and I am ashamed. Please take care of yourself and follow your doctor's plans. Overeating (and eating and drinking at the same time) can cause serious problems. God bless.

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Oh my gracious!! I had no idea that could happen. I'm new to my band - 11 days post op so I haven't really had time to ignore the band yet. I am thankful to you for sharing your story so those of us just beginning our journey can learn. I think its just as important to learn what NOT to do as it is to learn what TO do. I really really hope & pray that you heal up and don't have to have your band removed. Please feel better and stop beating yourself up - we all make mistakes. Feel better!!

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Thanks for sharing We dont realize what "a little extra" food or drink can do to us. Please keep us posted and let us know how you are. I will be praying for you

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I've wanted to get back on track for the past 3 or 4 months. But everyday it was the same thing - tomorrow. So now, 26 pounds gained back and it's out of my hands. Dr. Says that I have a dilated esophagus.

That explains a lot. The rock stuck in my throat, the difficulty swallowing even Water at times, and the vomiting and foamies. If there is one thing that I hope banders get from this post, it's that overeating is actually dangerous! I thought no big deal, I'll just gain a few pounds. Wrong, it can cause permanent damage and now I am faced with the possibility of having my band removed.

I am on a very restricted diet now. 3 Protein shakes and 1 yogurt a day (I can mix in 1/2 c fruit with 2 of the shakes). I'll do this for a month. Then after that, I'll have 2 oz soft Protein and 1 oz veggie twice a day along with 1 protein shake for 3 months. At that point I'll go back for another upper GI to see if the esophagus has healed.

My band was working, I was ignoring it. I did this to myself and I am ashamed. Please take care of yourself and follow your doctor's plans. Overeating (and eating and drinking at the same time) can cause serious problems. God bless.

I have had the stuck symptoms a few times. Really hurts up to my throat. Now I am concerned that this might be happening to me. Most of the time I am good with the eating but sometimes it happens even when I'm following doctors orders??? Good Luck with starting over.......I hope it works for you. CAT

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Sorry to hear this. I hope you heal quickly. Thanks for sharing.

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Thanks for posting this sad information. Good luck and cheers on your recovery.

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Sorry to hear about all the problems your are having. I haven't been banded yet, date is set for January 13th. And I just realized that's Friday the 13th!

I saw your post a couple of weeks ago looking for a buddy in northeast Florida. I'm in Jacksonville. Would love to email you and help each other out.

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I sent you a message on your profile with my email address.

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I hope you heal fast and have no further problems. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am new to the band too. Mine was put in Dec 14. So far everything is great! Very little pain and I am the liquid diet right now.

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Thanks everyone. I have had my band for two years and I started out doing great! I lost 125 lbs, got into a size 10 (which I was very happy with). I am now up 26 lbs. Today is day 2 of liquids only and I'm kind of hungry, doing a lot of sipping- crystal light is my favorite.

Take care of yourselves and stick to your doctor's plan. There is a reason for his directions and you don't want to learn the hard way!

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Ive been guilty of the same thing, so have we all, dont beat yourself up over it. Im sorry this has happened, at least this torturous diet will get that 26 lbs back off, i hope its not too tough to stick to and that it does the trick.

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Im sorry to hear that hope all gets better. Thats exactly why I dont understand people when they say my doctor said not to drink soda but can I. He said to not drink alcohol can I? He said not to do this or that can I? If he said not to do it then dont test your band. Its for a reason people. No one realizes also when you over eat you are forcing the band into the wall of the stomach which equals erosion. If he tells you drink Decaf then do it. I dont miss coffee, alcohol, or soda. You have to learn its not about what you want but what is best for you. We all need to take a lesson from this and do what the doctor says to do and not ask everyone if its okay to do this or that when your doctor told you not tooooooooooooooo

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I'm so glad I read these posts. I've ben banded since 11/04/11 and had my 1st fill on Dec. 13th. Now I've had the "stuck" feeling and know I've been pushing my luck with the things I eat. Sweets go down easy and I'm going through the "office" holiday treats like 1-2 is ok since they' don't get stuck. I really need to reach out to others going through it since I know I have food issues that the band won't cure.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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