MelissaWisconsin

Hi, I have had the lap band for a little over 10 years. I had lost 100 lbs but gained 30 back. I recently found out my band migrated. I was having severe acid reflux, regurgitation, and sleepless nights of choking and puking. I finally had some testing done & they found my band migrated and there was a hernia above it and my lower esophagus was having issues pushing food through. I got my fluid taken out on Friday & I am finally able to sleep again. I am really shocked about how strange it is to be able to eat things I wasn't able to for 10 years, I am also enjoying taking a drink while eating. I am going to revise to the gastric bypass surgery & was wondering if anyone has had better success after a revision from the band to bypass? I can't do the sleeve because of my acid reflux issues. I tried to avoid bypass, as to why I had the band to begin with. Something about moving my insides around didn't sit well with me. I also see horror stories about dumping and blood sugar issues. I don't want to gain all my weight back because of a band issue & also don't want to have a removal of one thing and nothing to replace it. I am not sure how fast this will all go, they said they could do emergency surgery if I was still having issues, or do it as a normal surgery. My insurance covers revision. Hopefully soon before I gain all this weight back. I'm enjoying trying different foods I had to avoid for the past 10 yrs. hahahaha.

I got some interesting pictures of my insides today. Reason for Multidisciplinary Case Review: lap adjustable gastric band by Dr. Johnson on 6/6/2011. Had emergent fluid removal from band with dr. Svendsen on 9/10/21. She had been experiencing severe reflux, regurgitation, choking at night, night time cough, vomiting nearly everyday and abdominal pain after eating, Some of the symptoms have resolved after the fluid removal. She continues to have heartburn and epigastric pain. A comprehensive review of imaging and relevant past medical history occurred. Upper GI Series (9/8/2021): Gastric band located below the diaphragm with widening phi angle measuring 66 degrees. The proximal pouch has migrated into the chest consistent with a hiatal hernia. There is dilatation of the distal esophagus and esophageal dysmotility Upper GI Endoscopy (10/6/21): - Tortuous esophagus. - Normal esophageal mucosa. Biopsied. - Z-line irregular, 38 cm from the incisors. - 2 cm hiatal hernia. - Gastric band slipped 2-3 cms distally. - Body and antral gastritis. Biopsied. - Multiple duodenal polyps. Biopsied. biopsy Results (10/7/21): A) DUODENUM, POLYPS, BIOPSY: 1. Gastric (fundic) heterotopia 2. Normal background duodenum; negative for celiac disease 3. Negative for dysplasia and malignancy STOMACH, ANTRUM, BIOPSY: 1. Normal gastric antral mucosa 2. Negative for Helicobacter C) ESOPHAGUS, DISTAL, BIOPSY: 1. Normal esophageal squamous mucosa 2. Negative for reflux changes and eosinophilic esophagitis 3. Negative for columnar mucosa Staff present from ANW, UTD, MCY & Shakopee Weight Management including Surgeons, Advance Practice Clinicians, Bariatric Nurse Clinicians, Registered Dietitians, Psychologists She has completed her preoperative evaluation and has been judged to be a good candidate for surgery. Plan: A Laparoscopic conversion of adjustable gastric band to roux-en-y Gastric Bypass and hiatal hernia repair would be an excellent choice to meet her goals for weight loss and comorbidity resolution. The plan is to proceed with scheduling for surgery.

I would be interested to know as well