ME_choc_lab

Hi All, I hope I might be able to find some help in a decision of whether to have my band removed or have it converted to Vertical Sleeve. (I can't bring myself to do Bypass and my husband is VERY against Bypass due to a friend having severe complications.) My band has slipped three times and I am facing my fourth surgery. For some reason every time I get the stomach flu and get sick... my band slips. I have had my band for two years and most of that time it has been unfilled due to a slip, unfilled due to post op or minor fill due to going slow on fills. I have managed to lose 55 pounds and keep it off, but I can't keep having slips every time I am sick. I have two children at two different schools and my husband and I both work so there are lots of opportunities for germs to come into our house. Do others that have the band slip so easily? I liked the fact that the band was relatively unintrusive, but I have feel it is time to do something that will not cause me to have surgery every 9 months. Luckily my insurance has covered the cost to date, but I see them refusing if this keeps happening. I have had two different surgeons (both work at the same practice) and both are in a Center of Excellence and have a good reputation. I am beginning to think there is just something wrong with my stomach and it doesn't like the band. Any help or advice is appreciated! Donna

Each time that I have had a slipped band my main symptom was severe acid reflux at night. This would happen several times every night even if I was sleeping with my head elevated. This last time my band became so tight I could not even drink liquids. Once the fill is removed from my band the symptoms go away, but my band remains slipped unless I have surgery to repair it. I wish you luck and hope your band is still where it is supposed to be. If I learned anything from this experience it is to see my doctor right away if I suspect a problem and keep asking questions until I know what is happening with my band. With me they have done a barium swallow each time to diagnose the problem.

Hi marmar, Yes the doctor did sew the band quite well to the stomach. In fact the last surgery I had was with the second surgeon and when I went in this time he was greatly surprised it had slipped again as he was very careful to suture the band to the stomach. Good luck on your journey!