When Is A Slip Not A Slip?

[elcee 3,343]

Those of us that have been banded all know what a slip is. It is when the stomach pushes up past the band . It is caused by not following our post op diet instructions, eating too quickly, vomiting etc etc. Slips are bad because they mean that we might have to have surgery and could even lose our band.

But wait...............

Now there is new information.

It seems that a slip is not a slip. It is a dilation of the stomach above the band. That it can be caused by overeating or eating too quickly.So in simple terms it is referring to a stretching of the stomach above the band.

What frustrates me is that nothing is clear and that every new piece of information seems to contradict the last. I know that there is ongoing research and that new things will be discovered but they never seem able to explain any of them fully. You can go to some of the Dr's websites and read the info there and some of it appears to contradict itself. Even on the famed Dr Simpson's website ( I mention him as he is often quoted as an expert)

Many people have been advised to only eat a cup or less of food as more will stretch the pouch but now we are being told that there isn't really a pouch. We are also being told that food passes through the band in approx a minute(unless of course we get stuck). Well if it passes through that quickly then how is it even possible to stretch the pouch that we may or may not have? In 1 breath they are saying that overeating causes slips, pouch dilation etc but in the next they are saying the food doesn't sit in the "pouch" so then technically that can't be possible.

I have decided that there is 1 side effect from the band that is not widely spoken about. Headaches and mental confusion from trying to understand it all. Maybe it isn't necessary to understand, maybe we just need to learn to accept that it works and not worry about the how but that is not something I can do. I have always questioned everything. Plus how are we supposed to ensure that we don't end up with serious side effects such as slips if we don't really know how they happen?

[Lapbandster 496]

You hit it on the head! Right on!

I have decided that there is 1 side effect from the band that is not widely spoken about. Headaches and mental confusion from trying to understand it all. Maybe it isn't necessary to understand, maybe we just need to learn to accept that it works and not worry about the how but that is not something I can do. I have always questioned everything. Plus how are we supposed to ensure that we don't end up with serious side effects such as slips if we don't really know how they happen?

100%

I think (and my doctor has told me this too), that the band works a little differently for each individual. We need to learn how to work with it in a way that we can live with and stop getting so nervous. After seeing the videos of the famous Dr. O'brian, I realized that this is not black and white, heck its not even one dimensional. Every doctor has their own ideas/theories, and many overlap and contradict each other.This is something that we each have to define for ourselves and work with it the way we can. (obviously within reason, and without being unwise)

[Sojourner 2,446]

I guess the cold, hard facts of even the band are debatable...just the as about every other medically related topic. There is new research which may change the "rules" as we have known them to be...quite confusing to say the least.

I guess, that as in numerous other areas as well, there is no "one size fits all" answer.

We should do our best to adhere to the "rules" as we know them, and do so with the reality and understanding that we will not be perfect in our compliance, and that the rules can change along the way of our journey.

And I agree...never stop asking questions! Our health and well being may depend on it...

[Summerrain 520]

Well said elcee and I've heard so many people say that yes you stretch your pouch because food sits in your pouch. My understanding has been that if food sits in your pouch then that means a stuck moment and that means you will either vomit it up or it will pass with pain through your band. If you view dr Paul o'briens videos on you tube he shows what happens as you chew your small bite of food and how it travels down your esophagus and then gets squeezed through the band. I've asked him about this a few times as these wls forums can be so confusing at times. He has also told me yes some rules may change as they do more studies as years go by. One rule that has changed been when to fill patients. He used to do it at four weeks but with the studies he undertakes and with the results that come out of these studies he explained that fills are done at three weeks as that's when most people find the hunger is returning.

I love reading the forum posts and the majority are extremely helpful but many are also confusing.

[Terry Simpson 13]

There are three classifications of slips:

(a) Pouch dilation above the band. This happens when people eat too fast on a chronic basis. This leads to reflux and heartburn, as do all of the slips

( Pouch dilation with slip. The pouch dilates, as it dilates it pulls up stomach above the band. This is the most common type of slip that we deal with

© Pure slip. Easiest surgically to deal with- happens when something gets stuck and people try to force it out.

Slips are a complicated topic - and they are best avoided by (a) Not having the band too tight ( not eating too fast

food goes through the band quickly- or we hope quickly. If it stays above the band for too long it can cause problems.

We have more on our site at azlapband.com/blog -- hope you find the information helpful there.

[elcee 3,343]

Thanks for the extra info. It's great to have input from a Dr.

Can you give any additional explanation on how the dilation occurs. If the food is passing through in a minute I still don't see how this is possible.

[hookieluv 11]

How do you know if your band has slip, my band revived 4-24-2012. And at time of operation the doc put 2cc in the band , as of today sept 10,2012 I still havnt recived a fill, my deal is that up unroll about a week and a half ago, I had a hard time eating bread or chicken if to dry , I would get plugged up , then all the sudden a week and a half ago , I could eat breads , dry chicken , I can eat anything , I was wondering if my band might of slipped? Or is it that it's lose now and I need a fill? Oh and I got app in nov 30,2012 to talk about a fill but , doesn't sound to promising , that would make it 7 mo. Sense my operation with no fill, I'm confused as can a band stretch and become lose that's why the fills? Or could it be that my band really did slip?