Confused...What does this mean

[seppi 0]

I had a fill yesterday after being unfilled since March. The doctor put the saline in, under flouroscope and I had intense pain right around the band area, I told him that it hurt and he backed off a bit. He had me drink some barium it started to go through and then came back up. He took a little out and the same thing happened again. We did this several times and he said that apparently the liquid wan't getting moved through into my stomach. He asked if this is what I felt when I had reflux, I told him no, the reflux was just chest pain. I ended up getting .2cc put in. My first fill was 1.6cc then the second put me to 2.6. That was all removed in march after becomming extremely tight. The doctor said htat if I still had problems he would do a motility test. What the hell is that? He then went on to say that if that was a problem the band would have to come out.He said to eat very small quantities and to eat slow. I always do that, well almost always. I really don't understand this whole thing. I have never in my life had reflux. I asked the doctor why this was happening, he said that he really didn't know. Has anyone ever experienced this? What can I do to fix it?

[Teresita 0]

Wow I'm sorry to hear about this problem. Have you asked Dr. C about it?

[Alexandra 55]

Seppi, a motility test is to see if your esophagus is working correctly--if it's moving food and Fluid down into the pouch the way it should. Evidently compromised esophageal motility is a risk with long-term bandsters. I'm not clear why it's such a big deal, though it's true that band removal is what doctors say is the only fix.

But even if you have such a problem, I don't see what that has to do with pain when you are tight. Was the pain there even before you drank barium?

[Elisabethsew 50]

Are you diabetic? Reduced gastric motility is sometimes a problem if you're diabetic.

[seppi 0]

I had no pain before the fill was put in, you know how they put a lot in and then back off as they watch it on the screen. When it was tight is when I had the pain. It went away when he reduced the fill but the barium wasn't moving very well until he pulled almost all of it out. I don't know why I would have a problem with motility, I have been banded for a only a year.

I am not diabetic, at least I don't think I am, blood work always comes back great.

Things are going down very slowly today, If I drink slowly. I get a golf ball lump if I take a large sip of Fluid, it goes up, and then sits, takes a while to finally go down. It's just really strange because there is little fill in there. Prior to the fill I had to eat slow and chew a lot or it was going to come back up. I am a bit confused. 45 minutes to drink a Protein Shake seems like a bit much. With no fill I could eat a lot, just slowly.

[Alexandra 55]

I can't imagine what the pain was from, or whether it has anything to do with the motility. The good news is that you're OK for now, and the doctors haven't said anything needs to be done right away. But I think you're on the cutting edge that long-termers reach between too tight and just right. It can really take only a very tiny bit of fill to make a big difference at this stage. Taking it really slowly would be wise at this point, of course, and I really hope you don't experience any more pain! "Coming back up" is reflux, which is caused by the esophagus not doing its job effectively.

Please let me know how you're doing! I'm very interested in your experience because I'll be in exactly the same boat if I get a fill next month. I was told back in April exactly what you were told yesterday, and I'm a bit nervous as to what they'll see at my next fluoro exam.

[seppi 0]

OK. SO the pain is all but gone. I am able to drink liquids OK. I spoke to the MA at the doctors office, he told me that I should be OK as long as I can drink. I tried to do a shake, made it too thick and had to dilute it because it was just sitting, like a brick, in my chest. The MA told me that I could go to the emergency room for an unfill, I don't want anyone touching my band, port, fill body...that doesn't know what they are doing. I am not too full just having some trouble getting things to pass through. Before the fill I had some of the same stuff happening. Once it passes I am fine.

[ofps 1]

I used to get that feeling quite a bit when I started foods. When I took smaller bites, it helped but didn't go away. If I mixed the food with sauces it also helped. Finally I just had something a little softer, or just liquid. I go for my first fill next Tuesday, and am apprehensive about it, since I've had this when open all the way. I've had this before I had surgery, and I just flushed it down with drink, but now I can't do that. I was told that there is a ledge in the esophagus that sometimes doesn't go down when it's supposed to, or can be enlarged. My mom has always had this problem and she's never been banded. But she learned early on to only take small bites. I'll keep watching the posts and also try to remember to post after my fill. I'm so glad there is a place to get info and feedback.

ofps