I got my band 5/25/02 by Dr Kuri at 30 years old. I'm about to turn 42 and I had my band removed today after finding out that it was causing my A-Fib (atrial

fibrillation).

A-Fib is a type of heart palpitation problem. A fellow bandster told me that when her band slipped, she started getting heart palpitations. Her cardiac and

lapband doctor told her that once her band was fixed, her heart beat would return to normal. And sure enough, after surgery it was perfect again!

So that's what prompted me to make the correlation that my lapband may be causing my problem too. After bringing it to the attention of my doctors, both

my cardiac and lapband doctor think the A-Fib will be cured with my band removed.

I'm now on a mission to spread the information about this serious lapband correlation with heart problems.

Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions. I just hope I save someone else the trouble that I have been through for the past 3 years of taking

medication and going to doctors for A-Fib.

Debbie Hoffman

5/25/02 Dr Kuri

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Unfortunately, this is one of the many problems linked to the small 4cc bands and why both the US and UK refuse to use them.

What angers me is so many in Mexico are still using the 4cc band to cut costs- despite the dangers like this. Dr. Kuri being one of the worst offenders, even lying to people telling them the 4cc bands are better. It's truly despicable in my opinion.

Best wishes and thanks for sharing your story as a warning to others.

_{Actually, my friend who had heart palpitations had the newer band. I had 3 possible scenarious given by my doctors for the heart problems. One has to do with the Vagus Nerve that runs through the stomach and when stimulated, it can cause heart arrhythmias. The 2nd explanation is that the placement of the band lies directly over the left ventrical which is susceptible to heart beat problems. The last explanation from them had to do with the esophagus...when experiencing bad acid reflux, the esophagus can affect the heart lying directly beneath.}

_{Actually, my friend who had heart palpitations had the newer band. I had 3 possible scenarious given by my doctors for the heart problems. One has to do with the Vagus Nerve that runs through the stomach and when stimulated, it can cause heart arrhythmias. The 2nd explanation is that the placement of the band lies directly over the left ventrical which is susceptible to heart beat problems. The last explanation from them had to do with the esophagus...when experiencing bad acid reflux, the esophagus can affect the heart lying directly beneath.}

Oh I agree, it's possible with the newer bands as well. It's all based on your anatomy, the way the way the vagus nerve runs and how sensitive it is, and how tight the band is.

But it's pretty rare with the newer larger bands because they don't put the same pressure on the vagus nerve, whereas with the 4cc bands it's (scarily) more common and one of the reason they're not allowed to be used in the US or UK anymore.

That is scary. Did you have a heart problem to begin with?

Interesting information, as my cardiologist recommended I should consider the band. I have what is called dyastolic dsyfunction, excerise induced. Anyway I have the 10 cc band lost weight the first year, a little more the second year and in 2012 I developed irregular heart beats which they called PVC's. How have discovered the band has slipped so just wonder if this is the cause of the PVC's. I actually don't feel the PVC's, nor do I have any problems with the band even though the doctor says it is coming out. When I don't know just waiting. But your information is interesting.

I have palpitations often. Prior to my band being emptied, I was having them constantly. I have an almost 3 year old band that has not slipped. My GI and cardiac symptoms are due to esophageal damage from the band. The lower esophageal sphincter and distal esophagus spasm, the food or Water I'm swallowing distend the esophagus, putting pressure on my heart, causing arrhythmia.

This is confirmed by months of tests and worsening of symptoms despite having an empty 11cc band that never slipped.

It's now being discussed in the bariatric community whether there should be esophageal manometry required prior to AGB or VSG since they both create high pressure on the LES, which can damage the nerves and cause achalasia which may or may not resolve after band removal.

Achalasia occurs in 1:100,000 in the general population. My doctor says he's seeing it in 1:100, not a huge risk, but if you have it, it's a difficult condition to manage and is miserable.

I also have mild gastroparesis and IBS which has worsened since my band was emptied.

Strange you mention IBS. I have developed that since I've gotten the band, and it has been worse for the past year. I guess I am one of the fortunate ones, that if everything had gone correctly and my other dr's office would have listen to me and checked the band occasionally, it might have not come to the point where it now has to be removed. I really feel for those of you who are having so much difficulty as a result of the band. I love my band, but new doctor, gave me two options RNY or sleeve. I've elected RNY, I am afraid of the studies that will crop up as they see certain trends done on the sleeve and it's problems. Going to go with the tried and true even though it can have complications also.

Strange you mention IBS. I have developed that since I've gotten the band' date=' and it has been worse for the past year. I guess I am one of the fortunate ones, that if everything had gone correctly and my other dr's office would have listen to me and checked the band occasionally, it might have not come to the point where it now has to be removed. I really feel for those of you who are having so much difficulty as a result of the band. I love my band, but new doctor, gave me two options RNY or sleeve. I've elected RNY, I am afraid of the studies that will crop up as they see certain trends done on the sleeve and it's problems. Going to go with the tried and true even though it can have complications also.[/quote']

What is RNY?

My doctors gave me 3 possible reasons for the lapband/heart palpitation connection.

1. The Vagus nerve runs through the stomach and when stimulated by a tight band or a full stomach when overeating, it can cause irregular heart beats.

2. Bad acid reflux issues can cause esophagus irritation or esophagus enlargement which can affect the heart that lies beneath.

3. The lapband is placed in such a manner that it sits directly on top of the left ventricle which is responsible for the A-Fib.

In response to someone's post:

I never had ANY heart problems prior to the lapband. The A-fib started when I was in labor giving birth and had pushed for 3 hours. I ended up in cardiac intensive care for a week and they ran a ton of tests on me and couldn't find anything wrong with my heart.

Now that I made the A-Fib/lapband connection...it just all makes so much sense.

On another note, I also started having hyper-Thyroid problems after having the band a few years. I have Grave's Disease to be precise. There again, studies have shown a connection between a stimulated Vagus Nerve and overthyroid stimulation.

I don't want anyone to get paranoid but I just want to mention it for anybody looking for answers to similar issues.

dettie211 in response to "what is RNY" it is just short for Rouxen-Y gastric bypass.

AZbanster thank you for explaining, that is more than I've gotten out of my three doctors. And the strangest thing is I'm borderline hypo-thyroid which has just developed last year (running another test next month). I have been worried about Grave's Disease as it does run in families and my mother had it. But she didn't have a thyroid problem as that was the first thing they looked for. Anyway this forum is great. As there are noticeable other problems other than just slippage, acid reflux, erosion of which have come up in studies. Haven't read anything on the heart or thyroid until now.

Hopefully in the future there will be diagnostic tests that will be used for all bariatric surgeries that will rule out future problems. I will soon have my band 8 years and so far it has been totally successful for me. Hope everything works out for you.

I was diagnosed with begnin ectopic heart beats which i was assured has nothing to do with my band - but i wonder....

OMG, I'm calling a doctor monday morning. I'm getting this thing out of me. I have heart palpatations all the time, been diagnosed with A fib. I know in my heart that is what is causing it because I don't think its ever been right. Long story, but thank you so much for posting your story. God Bless. Let us know how it all turns out.