Lap Band not working for me

[Mugz 0]

I had the LAP-BAND® surgery done a about 3 years ago everything went great, I lost over hundred pounds, then I had band slippage. The doctor went in and fixed the slippage but since then I have gained back 80 pounds. I been going back and forth in adding and taking liquid out. This has been going on for a little over a year. At times it was too tight and I would have Fluid or food come up in the middle of the night. But now when I eat I feel the food stop and I feel full for a few minutes and then I can feel the food slip by the band. And other times there is no resitance and the food goes down with no problem and on a few occasions the food feels stuck and comes back up (Doesn't seem like any particular food causes this for me). I have been back to the doctor at least a dozen times for fills, the last time I went in and they decided to do a xray on me while I drank some fluid. The xray doctors told me that it look like my band is too tight and I should not add anymore to it. But how can it be too tight, It seems that I am eating with little or no resitance. :thumbup:

[sandylane 0]

I had the same problems and even had a flouroscopy done in March 2010 because I kept complaining that I wasn't getting a fill. There wasn't any restriction. They withdrew some Fluid to actually see how much was in my band and it turns out there was only 4cc in the band and it was discolored. They suspect band erosion. You would have thought they could see that on a flouroscopy? Anyway, I'm getting an upper GI done this week to see if they can actually see the band eroding into my stomach.

[mousek 4]

What would cause the band to erode? Would like to avoid if possible. Any advice would be helpful. I'm sorry to hear that your both having a difficult time.

[sandylane 0]

I think it has to do with how the surgeon sews the stomach over the band to hold it in place. It they sew it too tight blood doesn't get to that area of the stomach and it eventually erodes. The band literally grows into the stomach. There are other threads on here about erosion and one has a surgeon from Cincinnati that gives a really good explanation. I had my band installed Dec07. This is a typical complication 10% or so have this problem. The band will have to be removed and the stomach stitched up.

[mousek 4]

Thank you for the info. I have located the other link with the doctor as well.