I am so glad I found this forum!
I have encountered difficulties since my lap band two years ago! It's been about ONE YEAR since my band was emptied due to reflux (I would wake up vomiting on my pillow). Upon draining it, I got my first good night's sleep without reflux in a LONG time.
It first appeared that my surgeon had done my last fill too aggressively and made my band too tight. After a swallow study, my NEW doctor (the original had changed hospitals) discovered that my esophagus had stretched and dilated. He had me wait three months to see if it was healing. Three months later it was smaller but, too large still for him to safely begin filling again.
Finally, after almost a year of waiting, I had another swallow study and my esophagus has hardly healed at all. I had esophageal manometry which showed my esophagus functioning MOSTLY normally and, two days later, I underwent an upper endoscopy which revealed what my doctor believes to be a "fundoplication." It appears that during the lap band surgery my surgeon affixed part of my stomach to the back of my esophagus! This, apparently, is a surgery sometimes done to relieve GERD but, why did he do that?!?! I had NEVER suffered reflux and, after further research, this procedure MAY LEAD TO A STRETCHED/DILATED ESOPHAGUS AND WORSE REFLUX!
I am so frustrated and depressed now. After dropping over 75 pounds I've gained about 35 back.
Has anybody else heard of fundplication being done with lap band insertion and, if so, have you had similar problems?
