It’s been about 7 years since I had my lap band surgery. I weigh 162. This past month my indigestion continues to get worse. I haven’t had any kind of adjustment in at least 3 years. I can barely eat because the pain and burping starts. I’m curios to know if others experience this so long after surgery? And what do you do to make the situation better. I’ve begun to lose weight again which makes me very happy, but I’m weak and could really do without the gas pain. It’s becoming almost constant.

My friend it sounds like now is the perfect time to seek professional medical care. Please call your surgeon ASAP and tell him/her what is going on, and I am willing to bet that they will get you in ASAP. With the symptoms that you describe that may be several major medical issues.

Bands sometimes can develop problems after several years (like you are experiencing). They like to slip out of place and can even "dig" into the stomach and/or liver (called "eroding"). These problems can feel like heartburn and indigestion. Please do get checked out. If your surgeon finds a problem, your band will need to come out.

This is also a good time to do some research into switching from band to sleeve or bypass. (Sometimes sleeve isn't an option because of scar tissue.. so check into both possibilities.) Depending on your situation, they sometimes will do a band to sleeve or bypass revision in one surgery.. sometimes they want you to heal for a while without the band before converting.

Here's hoping for good news from your surgeon! (And if you don't have a surgeon right now, you need to find one to keep up with your care... you are a bariatric patient for life.)