Has anyone ever had an erosion? Why do some people get them? What are the symptoms? What's the cure?

There's a lot of causes. Sometimes chronic over eating, or NSAIDS, or carbonation, or a totally unrelated medical condition. Of course a slipped band can cause it too.

Symptoms range from none at all to pain, reflux, and vomiting.

If your band has eroded into your stomach, the only "cure" is removal of the band.

I think it is a very small like 1 or 2 % that have erosion.

How long have you been banded?

I have had my band for 2 years. I lost about 50 lbs in the first 6 mos but have since gradually gained it all back. I decided to get my act together and went back to my surgeon and because I felt my band was too tight (I hadn't been able to eat dense foods like meat without pain) they totally unfilled my band and sent me for an upper GI the next day. The radiologist told me that it looked like my band was still pretty full and asked me if I had taken antibiotics lately. I had, about 3 weeks ago for a sinus infection. She thinks, because the pills were pretty large, that they didn't go thru my band and dissolve in my stomach. They dissolved above my band, in my pouch/esophagus! She thinks I have a "pissed off" lap band. Swollen and irritated. I go back in a month for another upper GI and check up and they said it should be settled down by then. In the meantime, I'm following the rules because now I'm scared and worried that it's worse than that. I had been eating too much, gained weight, my band was too tight... I have not been throwing up, never have ever since I've been banded, but I do get pain where my band is, even now that its empty. They prescribed me Prilosec, which I think is helping a little. I'm just worried that I've eroded. Is that something they can tell from an upper GI?

P.S. My band had not slipped. It was still in the right place.

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that. Your doctor when you were first being consulted about the band should have told you that any medications you take after you receive it should be very tiny, liquid, or chewables. From now on when you have to see your pcp or other physician, make sure you let them know you are banded so that they can prescribe you medication accordingly and if for whatever reason the pill is large, do like I do and cut them in half and take. They should be able to tell whether or not it is eroded with the upper GI. I sure hope it isn't. Just try and get back on track with eating healthy and smaller portion meals. Stop worrying and get back into practicing good habits. I hope it works out well. Please keep us posted. Good luck.

Thank you velmasmall. They did tell me that but for some reason, probably because I was already abusing my band, I didn't think the pills would hurt me. HUGE mistake :-( Believe me, it will be only liquid or chewable for me from now on! I am back on track and have lost 9 pounds this past week :-) Hopefully being good to my band again will fix all of this.

Yeah! Congratulations. That's awesome news. Good luck.