I had a barium swallow test today, under fluoro. The good news is, my band is perfect - no slip, no erosion, etc.

The bad news is, my esophagus is not. It is dilated "all the way up", to quote my doctor.

I was prepared for the worst because I can't eat a lot, so I didn't think it was esophageal dilation. But I have a very tempermental band. Say the wrong thing to me at dinner and it closes up like a virgin on prom night. The net results of that happening a lot would be esophageal dilation, of course.

Dr S took out most of my fill and made me swear to eat only liquids and mushies for the next 3 weeks (almost 3 weeks - May 7th). Then we check it again.

I was banded 11/29/04 and this did not become an issue until a few months ago. My symptoms were on again/off again PBs and some reflux. But some days I could eat "normal" stuff - even ribs, chicken, etc. When the reflux became more frequent and I began to experience an irritated esophagus, I decided to have it checked out.

This is probably an issue that will resolve itself. At least I hope so. But 3 weeks on liquids/mushies is gonna be TOUGH. Everyone, please send me good vibes and words of encouragement.

Carlene,

Good Wishes to you during this time. I hope things go well for you.

Gail

Carlene

Thanks for the post, just had .5cc put in on monday and I think it's too tight. I'm having constant reflux/regurge and taking tums all the time. I was thinking about having .25 taken out Monday, now I will be for sure. Be thankful it's something that your body can heal on it's own with surgical intervention. Good luck!

oops meant NO surgical intervention

Carlene

Thanks for the post, just had .5cc put in on monday and I think it's too tight. I'm having constant reflux/regurge and taking tums all the time. I was thinking about having .25 taken out Monday, now I will be for sure. Be thankful it's something that your body can heal on it's own with surgical intervention. Good luck!

Wise move. A too-tight band is the number one cause of not just esophageal dilation, but slippage, as well. I was VERY lucky to have dodged that bullet.

Plus, after several months, it was damaging my esophagus and my lungs. You do NOT want to cause Barrett's Esophagus - a precursor to esophageal cancer. What happens is, the esophagus tries to protect itself from the ravages of the stomach acid by growing new tissue that is similar to the tissue in the intestines. But in doing so, the body changes the cell structure and literally invites cancer to set up housekeeping therein.

Esophageal cancer is very painful, and almost always fatal.

All kidding aside, you can do this! Come here and scream, yell at folks, TYPE IN ALL CAPS! We'll help you through this!

Thanks! Yesterday I ate Slim Fast, (canned) Soup, yogurt, chicken broth, and applesauce. The applesauce was the highlight of my day, and I don't even like applesauce. How sad is that?

No more canned soup, though. It is just gross (except for tomato, which I can handle). When I was a baby post-op, I made soup out of all kinds of veggies that aren't generally considered soup material, like black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes - thick soup, but no "lumps". I think I'm going to revisit those. They were much more tasty and satisfying than the canned stuff.

Only 16 days to go.

Hi,

I've been unfilled for the last month for a hugely dilated esophagus. We discussed partial unfill/liquids vs. total unfill/regular diet. I went for the total unfill.

Yesterday, I had my repeat UGI. My esoghagus is totally back to normal. I've also lost a few pounds and much to my amazement I haven't had major hunger problems. I've lost weight because I've actually been able to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, replacing all simple carbs and soft foods, and othewise kept my portions the same. I also upped my cardio.

I have an appointment for a re-fill next week. I'm relieved that I haven't done permanant damage, but I'm ambivilant about adding Fluid back as I've been doing so well unfilled. Just having the band in place gives me good hunger control. I never got my pre-banding hunger monster back.

When I decided that I wasn't going to be able to let the band do all the work for me, my attitude towards eating changed. However, I don't completely trust myself to keep these changes for the long term. So, I will probably try a moderate fill.

I hadn't PB'd in about a year (probably the same time I'd been dilating from being too tight), had only occasional reflux, and had no soft or hard stops, so I'd been self-limiting my portions to apx 1 cup prior to finding out I was too-tight/dilated.

Good luck with your unfill.

Lucky

1/31/05

274/153 5'8"

Congrats! I hope I get news that good at my next appointment.

My doc didn't give me any options. In fact, he first said total unfill and liquids/mushies for two weeks. Then he took pity on me and decided to leave a little bit in.

I kind of wish I had had a "last meal" between the partial unfill and the healing diet. I am curious to know just what I can and can't eat. And I would LOVE to have had a steak.

I have been almost totally unfilled for one week now, due to a large esophageal dilation. I am allowed only liquids and mushies. I have not cheated, but out of self-pity I have eaten some things I should not have.

In the last week, I have had:

3 kinds of beans

2 kinds of potatoes

4 varieties of soup

many flavors of LF yogurt

SF Popsicles

SF fudgesicles

applesauce

ice cream (the real thing, but only the little Dixie cups and only one per day)

SF Jello (with FF topping)

lots of hot tea, SF peach tea, and bottled water

Starbucks non-fat latte

SF pudding

left-over chocolate from Easter (almost all gone now, thank goodness)

If in doubt, I put it in the blender to make sure it's "legal". Sometimes it turns out yummy....sometimes not. I could have eaten blended "chili soup" but anything spicy right now burns my throat - it's that irritated.

Pretend like you are a newbie doing the post op diet.

That's what my mom wanted me to do instead of having surgery.

Ooooh Carlene, what a bummer! I keep going to the complications forum and coming out depressed!

BUT, the great news here is that your situation is completely able to be fixed! That's the great thing about the band; most complications are fixable.

I'm sure your esophagus will heal and go back to normal, and in no time you'll be doing great again.

A great liquid I found is to make homemade vegetable soup and then blend it. It's delicious and packed with Vitamins. I have this if I PB or if I'm sick in general.

Keep us posted!

Carlene, good luck to you. I know how things get when you PB a lot. I hope it all works out for you. Julie

Carlene-

My thoughts are with you! I am currently unfilled AGAIN and have already experienced a slip, so I totally understand. The head hunger is the hardest, so stay busy! You have made it through a week and YOU CAN DO IT til you are healed. You "old timers" are a very valuable part of this group and your experiences can teach us all. Thank you for sharing.

Good luck Carlene. When I was having my first fill back in 2001 (on 9-11 if one can imagine), I went with a Bandster from NZ who was having trouble with esophogeal dilation. They unfilled her for a month, and things went back to normal for her. Hope you have the same result.

Good luck Carlene. When I was having my first fill back in 2001 (on 9-11 if one can imagine), I went with a Bandster from NZ who was having trouble with esophogeal dilation. They unfilled her for a month, and things went back to normal for her. Hope you have the same result.

Thanks! I hope so, too. My doctor seemed very blasé about it, so I guess it happens a lot. I know I have gained weight though, and I am sooooooooo mad at myself for that. I can't believe how hungry I get, or how much it takes to fill me up! If I had to live without my band, I think I would go into deep, deep depression.

My honest opinion is that since dr's have gotten smarter about how they stitch in the band, over time we'll see less slips and more dilation. I've been struggling with it off and on because I pack the pouch. I know I do and it's stupid.

Not only is Barretts a real concern, so it this bit of fear my dr threw into me....

The esophagus is a muscle. If you keep overtaxing it by overeating, the muscle will fatigue and shut down. He told me of a woman who had lost all her weight but had to have the band out because her esophagus just shut down.

THAT is some scary sh-t.

btw Carlene I'm pulling for you. What you are doing will really help. When I did small bites and liquids my esophagus bounced back fast. However...go back to the old ways and it will dialate again. Tough balance. Hang in there, kid!