How will you know if your band has slipped???

August 8, 2003

How will you know if your band has sliped? I know mine has not but how would you know? Its been ten day since I had my band.

and how many Sutures are tied ususaly to keep it in place. I beleive I have 3 different sutures to hold the band in place. Thanks for your responses in advance.

Kiera · August 16, 2003

There is no way to know for sure other than having your doctor do an xray/floroscope of your stomach. That is the only real way to know. But there are some symptoms to watch for - the sudden inability to eat anything without vomiting, strong pain in your gut, blood if you vomit, that is all scary stuff in any event but it can indicate that your band has slipped or you have some other serious stomach problem going on.

Some people experience slippage and have NO symptoms of any kind and keep right on losing weight. If you have no symptoms then you probably have nothing to worry about. My doctor told me that he always has the fills done with the floroscope with the swallow test so that they can see how restricted you are and also so that they can check on the band, the placement of the port, etc. I hope that helps. ;-)

amberose · August 17, 2003

When my band slipped, I couldn't even swallow my own saliva without having major pain in my upper chest, and then I would have to force myself to throw up because it was just too painful. I couldn't drink anything at all, and I got seriously dehydrated and had to be on hospital IV's for three days until I couold go back to Mexico and have my band fixed. The thing about my slip though was that it happened only about three days after I had the band put in, so I really didn't know what was going on. I imagine that the longer you have the band in, the easier it would be to tell if it slipped. Because it does take time to get familiar with the strange physical and emotional effects that come with the band, but we get used to them, and it's almost like we've become gifted at reading our bodies because we've gotten used to paying so much attentin to even the slightest discomfort in our stomach's. So I wouldn't worry too much about not knowing about a slip, I think you'd catch on faster than you think you would.

Suzy Q · August 17, 2003

Thanks for the great responces. Very infomative.

Susan

August 22, 2003

Thank you

August 22, 2003

Thank you

August 22, 2003

I Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate your comments, and they have help my understanding more about band slippage.

nikkip · June 1, 2007

Hi There,

My band slipped last month and I just felt I could eat more and there was a funny feeling in my stomach like the food went in then dropped. After a few days I started getting acid reflux and the worst thing I got was coughing all night one night. The food was just coming up in the form of acid.

I insisted on having a flourscopy x ray and it showed the slippage. I had an op to reposition it on 26 may and am on liquids now. I was banded in November. Hope that helps. x

duobinis · August 12, 2007

Hi There,
My band slipped last month and I just felt I could eat more and there was a funny feeling in my stomach like the food went in then dropped. After a few days I started getting acid reflux and the worst thing I got was coughing all night one night. The food was just coming up in the form of acid.

I insisted on having a flourscopy x ray and it showed the slippage. I had an op to reposition it on 26 may and am on liquids now. I was banded in November. Hope that helps. x

HI. I was banded in May of 06 and for the past three weeks have been coughing at night, spitting up crap, and feeling like I have something stick in my throat. Do you think my band has slipped?

nikkip · August 13, 2007

Hi Emmy,

I think you should talk to your consultant or nurse. I live in the uk and I suspect you live in the US so I don't know what the aftercare is like there, but you should be able to speak to someone. Did you follow the liquid diet then the sloppy and eventually the meats etc? We were told no bread and rice for at least three months after our op.

I would get it checked out just to be safe. Hopefully all is well. Good Luck

Nikki x

pmcclen2 · August 17, 2008

Hi, I don't know if I have a band slippage or not..this is my full liquid period..I have two more days before full liquids..I've missed two appointments...but, I will see my doctor tomorrow morning. I was wondering if it was at all possible for me to know how if I am (LORD FORBID) experiencing a lapband slippage...I have a pinching pain or it feels like a a shorter version of a charlie horse...(cramping pains in an arm or specifically a leg FOR ME) ...its directly under the scar where my port is located..it feels like I'm using those muscles too much thats all..but, if any of you have had this feeling let me know..b/c I'm trying to figure it out...if its nothing...plz reassure me..I know that sometimes..ppl don't have symptoms..but, I don't vomit..although I haven't had a fill anyway...yet..tell me something plz:unsure::mad2::smile::huh2::huh2::huh2:

nan73 · August 18, 2008

pmcclen2, the pinching pain & cramping is natural because the area around the port is still cut, bruised and swollen from surgery and slowly recovering.

I've had little port site pains on and off for the past 2 1/2 years since I've been banded and that has nothing to do with slippage (has to do with bad posture in my case).

Honestly, I wouldn't worry, I know exactly what you mean and it's just your body getting back to normal.

Edited August 18, 2008 by nan73

nan73 · August 18, 2008

To answer the original question, I've had a (possible) slipppage a couple of months ago. My only symptoms were light to medium pain in the gut for several hours after a solid meal and vomiting (real vomit, not PB) a couple of times.

One Saturday morning, after my fourth (and worse) vomit episode the night before, I had trouble keeping yogurt down, so I decided to stick to liquids for the weekend and call my doctor on Monday.

We then did a complete unfill and I spent 2 weeks on liquids and mushy food.

We did a fluoro 2 weeks later, which didn't show anything (that's what I mean by "possible slippage" - we think it was a slippage that healed itself with the unfill and gentle food).

I know I got off lightly, mine wasn't a traumatic experience at all. I just went back today for my first fill after all this.

IllinoisLoser · August 22, 2008

:crying:I am one of those that wonder if my band has slipped. I have lots of restriction, in the mornings I drink coffee slowly, about 11 am I can drink a can of v8 juice. At lunch I have a 100 calorie snack pack, later in the day I have a small sugar free pudding. At dinner I have some liquid Soup or mashed potatoes and gravy. I can eat tomatoes but not the skin. I have had my band for two years but did not take get fills for my first year (long story) I had my last fill in January or Feb of this year. I have not needed it again. I am still really tight. I have lost really well but I do get tired of eating soft stuff all the time. meat make me throw up really bad. I love Chili and it makes me throw up to. So I blend it. I can drink very easy in the afternoon and evenings. I can eat ice cream ok if I do not have something prevousily stuck in there. Sometimes I go to bed and wake up with that burning in my chest and coughing and then I sit up for awhile and it goes away so I do not eat for a few hours before I go to bed. Any thoughts on this.

nikkip · August 22, 2008

Hi I think that you should get this checked out. I know that the coughing at night is a sign of a slippage because I had it. Do not wait it is better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully it is not too bad and something can be done. Good luck

Regards Nikki