LizinBoston

I had my band placed 3/06 and only have .1cc fill in my 4cc band. I have had a lot of problems being too tight, pbing, and was put on protonix for gastritis. I wonder how long I can keep it up! I haven't had a scope or any other studies to see how things are going in there... I'm going to ask my surgeon about it next week. Has your weight loss been successful? Keep in touch! Liz

Dr. Vernon at Brigham & Women's Hospital did my surgery as well. She's great, but has a very busy practice!!

I have also had similar issues. I was banded 3/14/06 by Dr.Vernon in Boston and have lost almost 80 lbs to date. I have had lots of problems feeling too tight. Currently I have only a .1cc fill in a 4cm band and occasionally still get stuck and pb (approx 1/week). For the most part I just have to avoid certain foods: chicken, other dry meats, breads (these are some of my worst offenders). My surgeon couldn't really explain it; she thought maybe the fat pad where the band was located was larger than normal and was causing the band to be tighter than average, and with weight loss the tightness would improve- but I've lost 80 lbs and it's still tight?? In fact told me she only had one other patient like me, and she had to have her band removed. I am so happy to see that there are others in the same situation and are still having success. It's so frustrating sometimes because I can tolerate "garbage food" very easily, but want to eat well. I just hate feeling stuck!! And I am afraid of potential damage to my GI track :mad: One of my new favorites that I tolerate well is meatloaf made with ground turkey or lean beef. I had an upper GI before surgery and it did not show any hernias, and my esophagus motility was fine. Maybe it's something that the band does to it? Glad to see that there are others. Let's stick together!! Best of Luck to all!

Thank you

Does anyone have info on hiatal hernias after being banded?? Thanks, Liz

Hello there- I sent a post out to you a couple of weeks ago re: having left sided abdominal pain radiating to back & reflux noted after moving heavy furniture. I did have episodes of reflux prior to surgery 3/14/06- some pretty bad, but have been great since surgery. My pre-op upper GI just saw mild reflux- no mention of dysmotility. I am still experincing mild abdominal pain, no longer radiating to back, & having reflux (now sore throat/ sometimes hoarse- feel like my food goes down fine, but have constant burning in my throat all day). My surgeon has not been very supportive- has me on Priolosec am & afternoon and 20 mg famotidine at bedtime. She also completely unfilled me a week ago Monday (banded 3/14/06 & had total fill .7ml with good restriction). I think I'm noticing some relief, but not 100%, like I was prior to shoving that heavy eliptical trainer with all my might!! I asked her about a possible hiatal hernia, and she said I couldn't have given myself one & thinks maybe an ulcer, or band could have slipped a bit (I have been able to eat, drink normally- even before unfill). I asked about an upper GI as you suggested, she told me to let the meds work a bit longer (it has been 2 weeks/ max dose 1 week), then we would talk. In your experience, what is your opinion? Have any of your patients given themselves hernias after being banded? How long can it take for a PPI to work? Do you have any other suggestions? I would appreciate any words of wisdom. Thanks, Liz

I have been feeling fine, until Monday afternoon after I moved my bedroom around.... A while later I started experiencing discomfort/pain/ muscle pulling/ gnawing in my back from my left shoulderblade down to about the end of my ribcage, along with that have been having indigestion, and belching. My surgeon says it's "classic" acid indigestion and to take pepsid or prilosec. I am able to eat and drink normailly, but feel like something more serious is going on as it's not going away. Has anyone else experinced similar symptoms? It just seems like too much of a coincidence that it started after moving heavy furniture.... Thanks for any input, I'm scared. Could I have caused a hiatal hernia, or slipped my band??? Liz (0.7cc total fill after a 0.3cc unfill in 10 cm band- good restriction).

I think my band may have slipped- since Monday afternoon I have been experiencing acid reflux and pain on my left side from my shoulder blade, down to the end of my rib cage. I am able to eat and drink normally, but am just worried as this has never happened before (banded 3/14/06 10 cm band total fill 0.7 cc with good restriction -50lbs). If it is a slip, I thought it had to be surgically repaired? I was looking through this old thread and someone mentioned a complete unfill as the fix- in the same thread you said a slip was "easily fixed". Let me know what you think. I left a message with my surgeon. Liz :phanvan

i'm having a horrible pb episode right now after having bbq chicken. i have a really tough time with chicken, but i thought after having a bit of an unfill i would be better- anyone else having problems with chicken??

Can we swallow biotin capsules or do we have to take a liquid form? I was told by my surgeon not to swallow pills?? Liz :confused:

I take Flintstone's Complete and 1000-1500mg Calcium w/ Vitamin D. It seems fine, the only thing I wonder about is something for the hair-loss?? Is their a supplement that's good to thwart hair-loss? Liz

I had my band placed 3/14/06, and was having some restriction w/o a fill; on 5/1 I had 1cc injected into my 10cm band. I felt really restricted so 6/5 I had .3cc taken out, and am feeling much better! I was just curious if anyone else had a similar experince, and how their weight loss has been?? Eventhough everyone's anatomy varies- as do band sizes, it seems odd to me the difference in restriction people feel with the same sized bands and corresponding fills. Thanks for the input! Liz

Glad to hear you are doing okay! Take care of yourself!! Liz