Hi Jax,
When I had the barium swallow on 4/5/12 I was surprised to find out that my band was actually too tight. It had been a really long time since my last fill. My esophagus was also dilated ( possibly from over eating or just from too much food sitting there since the band was soo tight). I guess that's why I felt like I didn't have very much restriction. So they removed all of my fluid from the band in order to give the esophagus a chance to reduce back to normal size over time. I have also been having some pain in the stomach area on my left upper side so I am scheduled to have an upper endoscopy on Friday 4/27/12. Even though I don't want to have it done, I am glad that they ordered it. I just want to make sure nothing is wrong and I want to know if there is any erosion. That is the only way to really tell if you have erosion. Normally they cannot tell if you have erosion by the barium swallow. I certainly don't hope that there is any erosion, but if I do that is probably the only way my insurance will pay for the sleeve. The insurance person at the doctors office says it is really hard to get BCBS of Alabama to pay for WLS. They do everything they can to get out of it. Also I learned that BCBS of Alabama will only pay for one WLS in your lifetime. Luckily my first one was paid for by UHC or I would have no chance at all. We will see after Friday what my future holds.