I got my band Jan 2013. I got it filled very tight in only 6 mos. 10 3/4cc in a 14 cc band because I was not feeling any restriction. I seemed to be fine. I could feel the band when I pressed my stomach because it was so big but I thought all was okay. It did take me a really long time to eat meals 45 min to 1 hr. but I could eat anything from steak to very large vitamin pills and no throwing up. I did have the feeling that things were going slow down my throat or even stopping before they entered the pouch. I lost about 80 lbs. But in April 2014 I had my first of 3 hospital visits because of esophageal spasms. My throat locked up behind my adam's apple. I could breathe but could not swallow at all. A CT scan and EGD showed all was fine except for ulcers at the gastro esophageal junction. They recommended removing some fluid from the band. My Bariatric Dr. said if I am not throwing up then there is no problem. 2 more hospital visits including bleeding ulcers at the gastro espohageal junction and more CTs and EGDs show no band slippage or erosion so all agreed the band was not the problem including my Bariatric Dr. & his nurse. After a 4th visit to Urgent care because of esophageal spasms and pain I demanded that fluid be removed from the band. The Drs' nurse got overly gung ho and removed 9cc of my 10 3/4 cc, she recommended a fluid diet and a Barium Swallow before she would refill the band. She suspected a dilated esophagus also. The barium swallow was very thorough, because pouch problems were suspected the xray tech. had me swallow something like an alka seltzer that foamed up. He said I could not burp it out during the procedure because it was pumping up my stomach so he could see the stomach and pouch. The results showed that I do not have a dilated esophagus nor has the band slipped, but I HAVE NO POUCH. The band abuts the bottom of the diaphragm just below the lower esophageal sphincter. When I went back to my bariatric Dr. he said that everything was normal and there were no problems. He wanted to know why I was there. When I told him about the hospital visits he said the band was too tight. When I told him about no pouch he was silent. I asked him how I should eat and what I can do to make this work. I asked if I had been using my esophagus as a pouch because I had none. He didn't answer any questions. He said he has several other people like me and that they "seem" to be getting along. He said if I have any problems he could offer to remove the band. I can not find any other people like me on any support group. I know enough to know this is not right. I paid my money for a lap band system that includes a small stomach pouch to make it all work right. I am paying cash to get a second opinion from a local Bariatric surgeon who specializes in revision surgery. But I can not afford any procedures from him. I don't know what to do with my original Dr. who is covered under my Medicare Advantage insurance. This guy has made it plain he wants out of the lap band business and only wants to do gastric sleeves. I am hurt, abandoned and confused. In the short term I plan to reinflate the band some because I am gaining back my weight. I guess I will eat real slow so I don't pile food up in my esophagus.
