Dr C--your advice on endoscopy?

megan · July 4, 2006

Just curious as to your opinion on this. I keep hearing people say to get one at least once a year, but my doc doesn't seem concerned about my sudden hunger....let me give a brief summary.

11/04- banded.

Have had 5 fills, the last one almost a year ago--currently at 3.5cc

1/06- I had an esophagram, doc says fill is tight, but all looks good (the

films were sent via dvd/cd to out of state doc).

2/06--Reached goal weight.

4/06--I started getting a slight burning in my throat in the middle of the night but no reflux. Started taking a chewable pepcid before bed, problem solved.

Current: Restriction is still good but for about 2 weeks now, I have been getting very hungry very shortly after I eat--sometimes less than an hour later! Nothing else seems to have changed in terms of restriction or anything else, but I am just HUNGRY! I am still keeping it to 3 meals a day, but this hunger is unexpected. I don't remember feeling this way ever--even pre-surgery I would stay full after a meal for longer than this...

Does this sound like an issue to you? Could I need more of a fill? My

restriction doesn't seem to have changed....I keep reading about complications people are having...do you think its a good idea to have an endoscopy? Could extreme heat have anything to do with it? Its been miserable here in Missouri lately....

So far this journey has been a piece of cake--have never pb'd, only had 2

instances of stuckage, that passed with an hour....really quite easy. It scares me to think that something is wrong now.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Jessica

Trace Curry · July 4, 2006

I think it's a good idea for bandsters to have a scope at some point, maybe not necessarily every year regardless, but somewhere between the 1-2 year mark then as needed. It's hard to say what's going on with your case, but it's better safe than sorry I think.

Dr. C

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND

DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

megan · July 4, 2006

Thanks for the reply Dr. C!

This may be a dumb question, but it is necessary to have a band doc do the endoscopy? (or does someone in radiology do this?) I ask because the doc who does my fills is 4 hrs away....and my surgeon is in tx. I have had an esophagram before here, then sent the dvd to my tx doc. Is that how an endoscopy works?

Thanks again!!

Jessica

Trace Curry · July 4, 2006

Jessica,

I would say it would be preferrable but not mandatory to have a band doctor do the endoscopy.

Dr. C

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND

DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Thanks for the reply Dr. C!
This may be a dumb question, but it is necessary to have a band doc do the endoscopy? (or does someone in radiology do this?) I ask because the doc who does my fills is 4 hrs away....and my surgeon is in tx. I have had an esophagram before here, then sent the dvd to my tx doc. Is that how an endoscopy works?

Thanks again!!

Jessica