I belong to the Slipped Band club

born2swim · April 15, 2008

Well, I had my slipped band repaired over a month ago. I had a difficult recovery because the surgery was pretty traumatic to my stomach. I had a lot of pain where my band was (I also had a hiatal hernia repaird). So, my heart wants to believe that the pain was from the hernia... not the band. I was getting better, but then I got a fill last week and was cleared for exercise. I followed the post-fill diet and did some moderate exercise (weight lifting, but not overdoing it). Well, the pain is getting worse again. It's like this burning/pulling pain under my sternum... then if I take a deep breath or lie down funny, the pain radiates up my left neck to the level of the thyroid... and if I cough hard or something, the pain shoots up to my jaw. I don't know what to make of this. It is worse since the fill and that worries me. My surgeon said that if the pain persists after surgery, the band is coming out. So... I haven't told him I still have the pain. I was terrified it was the band and I was praying it was the hernia instead. Now, I don't know what to make of it. I will tell my surgeon soon... but I am so scared he will want to remove my band! :huh2:

Has anyone else had this pain???? :thumbs_down:

Parvathi · April 19, 2008

The first time I was banded, I had residual pain, off and on (like sharp shooting pain up my stomach) for quite some time. It was mostly around the port area though.

The second banding I didn't have anything like that. I assumed it was because they didn't touch my port during the rebanding.

You should definitely talk to your surgeon about this though. I realize you don't want to lose your band (and make sure to stress that to the surgeon), but you also don't want to take risks with your health and body.

Let us know what he says, please.

born2swim · April 19, 2008

Yeah, I suppose I should talk with the surgeon. I have also been having a terrible amount of time with burning (like acid burn), but no food regurgitation. The radiating pain really hurts sometimes. I have an appointment soon, so if I still have the pain, I will bring it up then. For the acid burn, I just got a script for Prevacid and hope that it helps...

Parvathi · April 19, 2008

Prevacid worked wonders for me whilst I was on it for reflux. I wasn't even able to drink my morning coffee for a while, until the doc gave me a prescription for it.

new_smile · April 22, 2008

I just had revision surgery a month ago too - fixed a hernia too - and removed the gall bladder. That was BRUTAL!! But, I am not doing any lifting yet -I was told to wait a little longer. Maybe because I just had a Tummy Tuck too with muscle restriction.

I do however feel fantastic so far with no more reflux. I get filled on Thursday and will report back if there is a change.

Some bad news though - gained some weight - maybe as much as 10 pounds!!! (afraid to look)

Let me know what you find out :glare:

born2swim · April 23, 2008

Prevacid worked wonders for me whilst I was on it for reflux. I wasn't even able to drink my morning coffee for a while, until the doc gave me a prescription for it.

The Prevacid is helping with the burn! :tt2: Thank God! I don't know how long I will stay on it, but I know it is not uncommon for band patients to need live long acid blockers (or at least until goal weight). I'll be on this for a while I bet!

born2swim · April 23, 2008

I just had revision surgery a month ago too - fixed a hernia too - and removed the gall bladder. That was BRUTAL!! But, I am not doing any lifting yet -I was told to wait a little longer. Maybe because I just had a Tummy Tuck too with muscle restriction.
I do however feel fantastic so far with no more reflux. I get filled on Thursday and will report back if there is a change.

Some bad news though - gained some weight - maybe as much as 10 pounds!!! (afraid to look)

Let me know what you find out :thumbup:

Dear God... revision, HH repair, and lap. chole all at once?!?!?! OUCH! I bet the weight lifting restriction is for the tummy tuck. I hear that you need 2-3 months sometimes before you can lift weights (just form what I hear).

The Prevacid has pretty much stopped all the acid reflux (and the surgery stopped all food regurgitation). I should be getting another fill the first week of May... but if the surgeon doesn't like the pain that I still have, I don't know what will happen. I get the pain when I lie down (every time I take a deep breath) and sometimes when I am sitting/standing. It really hurts (say a 7 on a 1-10 scale... but right after surgery it was a 10). We'll see if the surgeon thinks it is normal to have that 2 months out. It will be 6 weeks this Friday!

Sorry you have gained weight. Yeah... um... I am exactly the same weight I was when I had the repair (and I could be a couple of pounds heavier but I have been afraid to step on the scale for the last 2 weeks). Sigh... starting over is SOOOOO HARD!:tt2:

bayou46 · April 28, 2008

Have had band since 7/06. In the past year didn't think a fill was needed, thought there was still some restriction because of constant vomiting. Finally went for fill and band has slipped down, pouch is larger than it should be. Had fill any way, haven't felt the need to throw up but, dr thinks if fill is removed maybe it will repair itself. Does anyone know what the chance is that stomach will slide back through the band?

new_smile · April 29, 2008

I didn't even know my band had slipped!! I just found out when I woke up from the gall bladder/hernia repair. I wish they didn't fix it because I found out yesterday I have gained 24 pounds!!!!!! MMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I guess being able to eat after all these years has inspired my appetite. :lol: (

Good news is I get my fill on Monday May 5th. Wish me luck!

Saintluver · April 30, 2008

What does a slippage feel like? How do you know if you have had one? I got the flu over the weekend and was vomitting a LOT. Dr. called in medicine to stop it and it worked, but now I am paranoid that I could have slipped the band. I have no pain, still eating normal. Just curious!

born2swim · April 30, 2008

Have had band since 7/06. In the past year didn't think a fill was needed, thought there was still some restriction because of constant vomiting. Finally went for fill and band has slipped down, pouch is larger than it should be. Had fill any way, haven't felt the need to throw up but, dr thinks if fill is removed maybe it will repair itself. Does anyone know what the chance is that stomach will slide back through the band?

Yeah, the stomach can slide back down through the band! Some don't need to surgically repair their bands (while others do). I hope yours responds to the unfill!

born2swim · April 30, 2008

What does a slippage feel like? How do you know if you have had one? I got the flu over the weekend and was vomitting a LOT. Dr. called in medicine to stop it and it worked, but now I am paranoid that I could have slipped the band. I have no pain, still eating normal. Just curious!

I didn't have pain or anything with my slip. Now remember that I also had a hiatal hernia, but I couldn't keep a fill. I kept getting obstructed and would have to remove some fill. Then remove some more when I obstruct. Then more, then more... then just left it empty. I eventually couldn't eat anything solid and lived off oatmeal and milkshakes. I became deficient in Protein and B12.

Some people when their bands slip, they feel it and go to the ER with pain and vomiting. Now, I did have to go to the ER due to salad getting obstructed (when my band was empty) and that was very painful and the vomiting wouldn't stop. I was in the hospital for 2 days. When the vomiting stopped and I could get down clears, they did a barium swallow and found no slip or hiatal hernia. It wasn't until February that my hernia was seen and the slip was evident ONLY in surgery. Go figure. After I left the hospital, I gave up veggies, meats, and breads/pasta/rice. My story is rather different because I had my band slip A LONG TIME AGO and it just tore up my body. I was so sick by the time surgery came along. I looked horrible (no color in my face, hair breaking off and falling out due to lack of nutrition). It sucked! I am on the mend now :unsure: