band slip/dilated esophagus

[DeniseyB 1]

I am 5 1/2 years post op. I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off. Have always been very careful and taken care of my band. About 6 weeks ago, got a stomach virus and threw up several times in a 12 hour period. Afterward, couldn't get any solids down, liquids were a struggle. I figured I had some inflammation so went to thin liquids for a few days and was able to get those down. I called my surgeon's office and they could see me in 4 weeks...yes 4 weeks. I made the appt, still having difficulty, reflux at night, etc. Over the 4 weeks the issues resolved, no more reflux, eating and drinking fine. Since I was still just a little tight in the mornings, I kept the appt. I had a barium swallow which shows my band has slipped up to the bottom ofmy esophagus and my esophagus has mild dilation. I have to go back tomorrow for an unfill. Does anyone know the average success rate in getting a slip to correct itself. I paid cash for my surgery the first time and don't wanna do it again, but the band has changed my whole life and I don't want to lose it.

[lisacaron 5,075]

I had a minor pouch dilation and I had my band unfilled for about 3 weeks. To help the stomach and esophagus return to normal size and to keep from regain I was on a liquid diet for 3 weeks while the band was unfilled and the dilation was able to reset.

The trick is to allow the stomach and esophagus to relax and heal a soft easy digestible diet is what's needed. It was not horrible since we do that often when we have fills unfills. It was like being on a pre or post op diet.

Listen to you Dr. and what they advise since I did not have a band slip...this could require more invasive intervention. I hope you feel better soon. Please let us know how you are doing.

[DeniseyB 1]

Thanks Lisa. I go in for the unfill and a game plan tomorrow. From what I've read the problem is usually too much stomach has slipped up through the band. From what I saw on the esophagram, I have no stomach above the band at this point. It is all the way at the base of my esophagus. Hopefully, the unfill and liquids will be the game plan. I will keep you posted.

[violetsmum 6]

I am 5 1/2 years post op. I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off. Have always been very careful and taken care of my band. About 6 weeks ago, got a stomach virus and threw up several times in a 12 hour period. Afterward, couldn't get any solids down, liquids were a struggle. I figured I had some inflammation so went to thin liquids for a few days and was able to get those down. I called my surgeon's office and they could see me in 4 weeks...yes 4 weeks. I made the appt, still having difficulty, reflux at night, etc. Over the 4 weeks the issues resolved, no more reflux, eating and drinking fine. Since I was still just a little tight in the mornings, I kept the appt. I had a barium swallow which shows my band has slipped up to the bottom ofmy esophagus and my esophagus has mild dilation. I have to go back tomorrow for an unfill. Does anyone know the average success rate in getting a slip to correct itself. I paid cash for my surgery the first time and don't wanna do it again, but the band has changed my whole life and I don't want to lose it.

[violetsmum 6]

I am 5 1/2 years post op. I lost 120 lbs and have kept it off. Have always been very careful and taken care of my band. About 6 weeks ago, got a stomach virus and threw up several times in a 12 hour period. Afterward, couldn't get any solids down, liquids were a struggle. I figured I had some inflammation so went to thin liquids for a few days and was able to get those down. I called my surgeon's office and they could see me in 4 weeks...yes 4 weeks. I made the appt, still having difficulty, reflux at night, etc. Over the 4 weeks the issues resolved, no more reflux, eating and drinking fine. Since I was still just a little tight in the mornings, I kept the appt. I had a barium swallow which shows my band has slipped up to the bottom ofmy esophagus and my esophagus has mild dilation. I have to go back tomorrow for an unfill. Does anyone know the average success rate in getting a slip to correct itself. I paid cash for my surgery the first time and don't wanna do it again, but the band has changed my whole life and I don't want to lose it.

Hi I'm 6 years post op and I've been having similar problems since last May. Had a complete unfil in December and now waiting for the barium swallow appointment to come through.

I'm still in quite a lot of discomfort a lot of the time. Mornings are pretty bad with the reflux and I'm still bringing majority of what I eat back. But now with the band deflated I'm also ravenous most of the time bIt can't eat very much either. What a nightmare.

Anyone else has similar symptoms?

[ABLOND 92]

Good luck and definitely keep us posted please

[DeniseyB 1]

I had a partial unfill today. My surgeon thinks this will take care of the problem. I seem him again in 7 weeks to reevaluate.

[Short and Chunky 230]

Good luck to you all. I had my band 3 1/2 years, lost 124 pounds and was doing great until my doctor moved and I had to get a new doc. In no time, my band was overfilled. It slipped. The reflux, night coughs and rapid weight loss..it was crazy until April, 2014 when I began vomiting blood, could not sit or lay down, horrible pain - I thought I was going to die - rushed via ambulance to the ER. I could not even sip Water. After a total unfill (a different surgeon - #3 in the mix), cat scan and complete bed rest for twelve hours, the band had to be removed as it was restricting the blood supply to my stomach. For the next 6 months, I went without my band - I felt OK, but was ravenous when it came to food. OUT OF CONTROL was an understatement. I gained 50 pounds in less than 6 months. I went from a size 8 to a size 14/16 and climbing. Fortunately, I was continuously seeing the #3 surgeon and he saw my struggle. December 29, 2014 - he put my band back in (secured a different way I think) and I feel fantastic. So glad to have my little reminder back. I have lost 20 pounds in the weeks since surgery and doing great. No fills yet and don't really think I need one yet. We did discuss doing RNY - but I weighed 208 and he doctor thought I would lose too much weight and that could cause a whole bunch of issues (I am 5'2" and 63 years old). So, we went with the band again. I am so happy. I walk every day 3-4 miles and my portion sizes of food is back to the way they should be. Have I eaten a "no no" - sure - we all do from time to time, but now I know it will only be one cookie and not the whole bag..one or two chips and not the whole case..Good luck with whatever your decision is and whatever the results but I for one am so glad to have my band back. It is part of me. I plan on taking this part of me when I leave this life. I will be so careful. As for the cause of the slippage - the doctor says he has no idea...sometimes, they just slip. He did say he did not think it was anything I did to make it slip - that was a good thing. The journey continues....

Melinda in Florida

[DeniseyB 1]

Glad you got your band back. I'm hoping and praying that I get to keep mine. I was a binge eater prior to being banded and was gaining8-10 lbs per year. The band helps me to control that. It didn't however change the way my brain thinks about food. I definitely need it to stay.

[jnm4179 0]

Is anyone experiencing GERD and aspirate pneumonia with the lap band while they are sleeping? I had my surgery June 2010 and my doctor thinks I may have had some slippage. I go in to have an upper GI tomorrow to see what is going on. I would love to hear what others are experiencing with their lapband after several years living with it. I am very satisfied with my band, but I am suffering with heart burn and acid reflux. I take 40mg Nexium twice a day that seems to help. I would be so disappointed if my band is removed because I have had so much success with it.

[Brigiter 40]

Hi, Im thrilled for finding this app, I did my Lapband 3 years ago it went great! Until 4 months ago I started having horrible reflux episodes while sleeping. About 6 events per night coughing terribly and I tried everything even sleeping in a seated position. So my Lapband had to be unfilled, my esophagus was swollen and dilated and dr does not recommend filling it again, in these months with my unfilled band I have gained 18 pounds. I'm still at this moment a low BMI patient but I'm going for the sleeve on May 5th. Has anyone had this experience? How is the sleeve on low BMI patients? I would appreciate to know about someone with similar experience