Here are the facts. I was banded over 2 1/2 years ago. I have recently started having heartburn on and off and reflux at night. My band is pretty tight and i have trouble taking my daily medication because it takes so long to go down (after i split them). My band is tight enough that i find that i have trouble eating healthy food - it doesn't go down. I haven't lost weight in about one year but i haven't gained either.

Now before you go and tell me to go to my doctor, i have done that. My surgeon thought maybe the band had slipped and so i had an upper GI and esophagram, along with a gallbladder ultrasound. The tests came back as "some reflux, no esophgitis" and positive for gall stones. YOu know surgeons though since the test showed no slippage that was all the surgeon had to see. In his mind there was nothing wrong with me. I watched during the test though and i noticed that my pouch has expanded and looked like a "spade" on a playing card. I was wondering if that is what people call a "muffin top". The problem that i have is that i was the first person my surgeon banded so therefore i am the first person who is having issues like these. I don't think he knows what to do about it.

So my questions are:

1. Anyone have an experience like mine?

2. What do you think about me changing doctors to one who has more long-term bandsters?

3. Anyone want to diagnose me (unofficially of course)?

3. Esophageal Dilatation ?

Hey that's a good guess. I work in the hospital where the Upper GI was done and i was able to read the doctor's report. That was something he mentioned.

Laura:

Because you are this doctor's first band patient, I highly recommend you find another doctor with more experience because of the trouble you're having. You might want to ask your primary care doctor to recommend someone.

Hope you feel better soon.

Sue

Mine slipped. I went a long time with a slipped band because no one really thought it had slipped. I did a barium swallow and they "tipped" me during it in the machine. Voila!! They saw the pouch falling back into itself. Not only did I have the wrong sized band in me, it had slipped because it was too tight. After it was fixed, no more reflux either:)

Was the doctor in the room during the barium swallow? I had a radiologist in there but he had never seen a band before!

Yes he was, on a Sunday morning the Saint LOL. I felt like a milkshake- back and forth and then he was like "there, there it is". Good on him!