Slow Burn...is it a symptom of something bad to come?

Trip2bme · July 22, 2006

Not to bring up all the dilation answers again, but I'm looking for SYMPTOMS of slippage, dilation, other maladies.

I have experienced a soft, mild burn around my band site on and off for the past 2 weeks. It is usually much worse when I am hungry...I also notice it when I eat too much.

Any ideas? Anyone else with a burning sensation?

giveyouthemoon · July 24, 2006

Ok. I have been diagnosed with dilation of the esphagus and pouch. My symptom was that suddenly I felt zero restriction. I could and did eat everything in sight. It was like one day...hey, it's all fine. The next day...gone.

My dr called the dilation "a prelude to a slip".

He says if 1) I get reflux and/or 2) I can't eat that those are sure signs of a slip.

Now...if you are concerned, don't wait on it. GO SEE YOUR DR. S/he will probably order an esophagram. Better to be safe than sorry. I felt SO silly insisting on an esophagram but glad I did. I caught my problem early while there is still time to fix it. I've been eating TINY portions for about a month and restriction has returned. The good dr and I think I'm back on track and that's a success story.

Even if your esophagram shows nothing...you'll be glad you did. Go forth! Let us know how it works out!!

cathmo · July 25, 2006

Hi Karen,

So your doc said that if you have reflux and/or your can't eat, that you might have a slip? Hmmmmm, I have been having both of those for a few weeks now.

I'm confused a little. You said that you didn't have any restriction, is that correct? And now the restriction is coming back? I am having WAY too much restriction. My fill doc doesn't think it's a slip, but I have been thinking otherwise. I have not been able to eat solid food, and having pain when liquids or soft foods go through the band (or what I perceive as the band). I'm also having pain in my back, inside my left shoulder blade. I have to sleep on a heating pad at night most of the time now. I'm going in for some tests soon.

Thanks for your post!

Cathy in Arkansas

Ok. I have been diagnosed with dilation of the esphagus and pouch. My symptom was that suddenly I felt zero restriction. I could and did eat everything in sight. It was like one day...hey, it's all fine. The next day...gone.
My dr called the dilation "a prelude to a slip".

He says if 1) I get reflux and/or 2) I can't eat that those are sure signs of a slip.

Now...if you are concerned, don't wait on it. GO SEE YOUR DR. S/he will probably order an esophagram. Better to be safe than sorry. I felt SO silly insisting on an esophagram but glad I did. I caught my problem early while there is still time to fix it. I've been eating TINY portions for about a month and restriction has returned. The good dr and I think I'm back on track and that's a success story.

Even if your esophagram shows nothing...you'll be glad you did. Go forth! Let us know how it works out!!

giveyouthemoon · July 27, 2006

I'm confused a little. You said that you didn't have any restriction, is that correct? And now the restriction is coming back?

Yeah, for me it was like one day I was PB'ing and the next day I could eat ANYTHING. That sudden loss of restriction is a prime symptom of a slip so I was FREAKED OUT. Thus why I got the esophagram which led to the diagnosis of dilation of the esophagus and pouch. Not so bad that I need to be unfilled, but bad enough to be concerned.

I am having WAY too much restriction. My fill doc doesn't think it's a slip, but I have been thinking otherwise. I have not been able to eat solid food, and having pain when liquids or soft foods go through the band (or what I perceive as the band). I'm also having pain in my back, inside my left shoulder blade. I have to sleep on a heating pad at night most of the time now. I'm going in for some tests soon.

The easiest way to know for sure is to get an esophagram. Does your dr do fills under floro? Mine doesn't but others on here do and their dr has seen problems that way. Maybe you can ask your doc to look under floro?

It sounds to me like you are WAY too tight. Getting a bit of an unfill would be the easiest test. Being too tight like you are is a good way to get a slip that you don't want. Tell your fill doc what you told me, that you can't eat, it hurts, pain at night. I'll bet he'll want to do an unfill.

Remember my surgeon's motto about fills. It is better to be a bit too loose and able to eat a couple extra bites of something healthy than be too tight and be driven to bad behaviors, meaning eating things that will go down which usually aren't filling or healthy.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!

cathmo · July 27, 2006

Thanks for your response, Karen!

Actually, I haven't even had a fill yet! There's nothing in the band. That's what puzzling me the most. Anyway, I've decided to go see my surgeon in Mexico next week. I couldn't wait on the doctors here anymore! It's like always having to jump through hoops to get any tests run. I'm so disillusioned right now. My fill NP ordered a gall bladder test for me, and I faxed it to the hospital so that I could make an appointment. Then the scheduler told me that I would have to get an ultrasound before I could get the test that my NP (Meggin) ordered. Meggin specifically told me that I didn't need the ultrasound, and I told the scheduler, but she said that they determine from the ultrasound if I actually need the other test. ARGH!!!! Blasted....... the other test is the one she ordered SPECIFICALLY. I'm sitting here hurting and getting weaker by the day, and they are telling me that I need another order for the ultrasound!???

Then also, I couldn't get in to see a gastroenterologist until Aug 10! I finally said "enough of this"! I'm tired of suffering. I'm off to Mexico so that I can get the care that I need. Sorry for my rant.

Cathy