i went yesterday for my preop appt. and i was told i have a nutcracker esophagus and a hiatal hierna. he gave me the option to go ahead with the band but i have no idea what to do...i hope someone can help me....please:confused:

I have no idea what a nutcracker esophagus is, but many people have hiatal hernias - these are sometimes repaired in surgery.

Since you're not sure what to do, maybe you should go back and talk with the doctor to get more information about these conditions and weigh the pros/cons?

Thanks for talking to me.... i was also told that i do indeed also have a hiatal hierna. who would guess?? he said he would repair it when the procedure was done but he has not had any patients with nutcracker. it is a condition that causes spasms esophagus 5% bariatic patients of the population have it. I would have to be in the 5%! anyway he didn't tell he to go one way or the other since he never had a patient. I am scheduled for 07/29.

Edited July 18, 200917 yr by penny62

I dont know much about nutcracker esophagus either, but in my experience amongst peple I know, bands plus hiatal hernias can be a recipe for disaster. I personally would want that hernia fixed - is that not an option during the surgery?

it just seems to me people with hernias are often the ones that cant take fills - they swing between being underfilled and not losing to being unable to swallow Water. I have a friend that had no end of trouble and was really unsuccessful with her band, they decided to replace the band with a newer model, went in, found a hernia. The surgeon fixed it, placed a new band and voila, text book lapband journey ever since.

Enchanted...I see you are doing quite well with your weight loss. any complications along the way??? i hope that will be me soon!

Yes., the hienia will be fixed during surgery. I'm really not worried about that, it's the nutcracker...i guess it feels like you are having a heartattack sometimes and you can treat it with nitro

Oh, that's good news. I'd be wary of a surgeon who'd want to band you without fixing it!

Do you have any symptoms? Difficulty swallowing food, pills, liquids? or chest pains?

No, nothing..... I was surprised that i had both and finding out at your preop appt was really not the time to tell me. I wish they would have contacted me earlier! I read somewhere that someone could not be restricted because they could not take the tightness and felt as though food was getting stuck. I have the choice also to have gastric but from the beginning I decided I did not want to go that evasive.

Edited July 17, 200917 yr by penny62

Well maybe if you're asymptomatic, you'll stay that way? I'd probably get the sleeve instead, if it were me. But honestly before I even got the band it all scared me so much I probably wouldn't have done it at all! :scared2: if that makes sense. Now, having had the band almost a year, it's totally do-able and WLS in general isn't as frightening as it was.

Good luck to you, whatever you and your docs decide! :wink2:

Thanks so much for the input. I talked to my PA, she said that the GI specialist didn't think it would be a problem but it also could. If the time comes when i cannot be restricted, we can let it be if I am losing or if it is causing problems, it can always be removed. So for now I am staying with my July 29th surgery date. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me!

Edited July 19, 200917 yr by penny62

It can all be a little overwhelming sometimes, can't it?

I'm thinking that since you don't have symptoms, you can probably manage it. Lots of times our bodies respond to our stress levels etc, so if you don't worry about it, it might not be a worry, if that makes sense?

You have a good attitude; I am sure it will all work out well for you!

Things have mostly worked out for me, Penny. I've not lost any weight for a number of months - and even gained a bunch (12 pounds) in May. It's about food choices and I'm on the right track once again.

No complications from the surgery itself.

xoxo