Advise PLS....Is my band too tight or did it slip...or what?

[STIZGRIL 0]

Hi All,

I got banded in December 09'. Prior to surgery I had heart burn daily and was diagnosed with reflux. After surgery my heart burn went awy for 3 months total. This path month I have been having heart burn daily again.

My last fill was in January (2nd fill since Dec). The first fill I got 2 cc's and was not enough as I was eating a lot so I went back and got another 2 cc's and has been tight ever since. I can only eat a few bites before feeling full and often I end up sick.

I have lost 18 lbs since January and can keep liquids down. I went to the doctors recently who told me not to worry about the heartburn with my history of heartburn and the fact I can keep liquid down. He said to take pepcid for 4 weeks and call him.

Does this sound right?

It did go away for 3 months total and now came back...?:thumbup:

Everything I read online says that heartburn is a key sign to slippage. Or do you think that my band is just too tight and causing irritation thus stomach acid? IDK....what too think...

If you have slippage do you have stomach pain or other symptoms? How do you know?

And if you have slippage do they have to operate? I paid out of pocket for my surgery and doubt fixing slippage is done free.:thumbup:

Edited March 9, 2010 by STIZGRIL
added ticker factory

[vlp1968 83]

My doc. said if the band slips you cannot keep anything down. I'm not sure if that includes fluids or not. I hope this didn't happen to you. I too am self pay and hate the thought of needing another surgery. You are correct, they don't do it for free.

[SuzanneG 1]

My heartburn was gone for a year and then suddenly came back after a fill. For the entire next year, I had endoscopy, and fluro fills/unfills and the heartburn persisted.

For some reason my band kept feeling tighter and tighter, so recently, before going on a cruise, I had .5 taken out (a lot for me) and the heartburn is GONE.

So based on my own experience, I'm thinking maybe you are too tight. Keep in mind that my doctor did not feel that I was too tight when looking under fluro, they just took the extra out to give my stomach a rest because I kept getting stuck.

Now I'm comfortable and don't plan to have the extra back in anytime soon.

[trinity2008 0]

At 3.5 cc's I suffered major heartburn/reflex. It wasnt until i had gallbladder surgery that led to major complications (3 ERCP's) that my doc decided to give my stomach a rest (complete unfill) from all the inflammation caused by the ERCP's ( Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) - basically i needed stents in my bile duct to prevent bile backing up into my system. After the complete unfill, most of the severe reflex went away but now I take Kapidex which works wonderfully. Now 6 months post-op from ERCP, I had my band filled 6 weeks ago and another fill yesterday at 3 cc's. This time we are trying to stay away from 3.5 cc's if we can avoid it, because I did suffer major reflex at that level - and post nasal drip from allergies doesnt help either - so the stomach swells around the band, but no severe reflex yet (could be due to the Kapidex). I do have occasional heartburn here and there, but taking Pepcid A/C and Tums with my Kapidex works like a charm. Its been a long time since i have experienced any vomiting (knock on wood) and severe reflex. If this continues with you, perhaps having a slight unfill and acid reflex medication may help you.