Hi all,
I went to Mexico in Mar 05 and got my lap band. At first I loved it. I initially lost about 40 lbs and those came off pretty slow. Since then I have played around with another 15 pounds up and down and back and forth.
I've had several fills. All done with the scan and a barium swallow. I've never been over-filled. But each time I got a fill I had serious issues with my esophagus. The last time was about a year and half or more ago, and the problems with my esophagus have only increased. So, I never went and got another fill. food gets stuck and I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest until it finally passes and sometimes can take a while. I take small bites and chew, chew, chew. I can barely tollerate meat or anything soft or sticky or dry. Pretty much leaves ice-cream right?
Several months ago I woke up in the middle of the night with major chest pain. I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. It turned out it was my esophagus going through some kind of spasm.
I just had an endoscopy with my gastro doctor and he informed me that on the inside there is no evidence that I even have a band! Looks like nothing is wrong with my esophagus that taking my band out won't correct. And my port bothers me a lot!
I have decided I want it out! I have to find a bariatric surgeon who will remove it or go back to my dr in mexico. (Who I loved by the way.) Either way I am sure it is really going to cost some money. Unless the insurance I have now will pay and it's a global insurance so that may be a possibility?
I wanted to find out if any of you have had these same issues. What exactly you found out was wrong and what you've done to remedy your situation.
And yes I would consider the MGB at the same time.
Sorry this got a little long.
