Total Lap Band Failure - Nothing Doctor Can Do

[grace234 1]

I was banded several years ago and my doctor said he can't do anything else for me. I have severe esophageal spasms and it is causing stomach acid to stay in my throat, causing me to choke at night, etc. He said what I should consider is revision to gastric bypass, but I have to see a specialist first to make sure I don't have some disorder where my esophagus does not open and close correctly. The biggest hurdle is my BMI is 37 and I have no co-morbidities - he said having pcos will not be enough - and he says insurance is going to give me trouble about that. I will likely have to appeal. And revision surgery scares me a bit. I am not going to purposely gain weight - my psychiatrist will never write a letter if I do that. I am so bummed out. He had been doing fluoro fills and it looked like the band was way to tight so he was shocked when he did a transnasal endoscopy how lose the band actually is. I have put so much work into this. This just sucks.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Did he remove all the Fluid from the band and did it make any diff?

[grace234 1]

All the Fluid is gone but I am still having problems. The band likely will come out after I see the specialist. But the revision is questionable.

[hopingtolose2013 81]

You should be covered bc of the side effects of your band. However, if your not..gaining weight to qualify wouldn't be a terrible thing IMO. I have been over 35 bmi many times in my life but I wasn't when I decided to have the sleeve. I did gaim weight for it and am thankful I did. It wasn't a stretch bc I would of gained it and lost it again and gained it again. So I just gained it quickly..25 lbs. Also when they do your height..slump. just don't stand up as straight as possible. Just sayin. I would of been still yoyoing and miserable. I didn't lie...I had been that weight before. I just met their dumb requirements. I say jump the hoops...whatever they are. But if you need it bc ur esophagus is acting up..that's a whole different condition...and should be treated as such.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Any symptoms before banding? I think many of us have similar concerns since WLS is not what mother nature intended but what can you do?

Do you blame the band, the doctor, life? What was your BMI pre surgery?

[grace234 1]

My BMI pre-surgery was 38. I had sleep apnea and it went away. Two sleep studies show no more apnea. I do have PCOS but my doctor said that wasn't enough. I was also on a different insurance policy. The insurance I have now makes it a lot harder. I had no acid reflux problems ever until I was banded and there was really no way to catch it. My doctor said it happens in a very small amount of people. Unfortunately if they find I have Achalasia he said he cannot do a revision because it would be too dangerous to rearrange stuff. I am still processing all of this but I am so depressed.

[hiddnstar 167]

Im so sorry to hear the problem you are having. One of the symptoms I had were esophogeal spasms and signs of reflux (must have been silent reflux). In my case, my body could not support the band. I struggled with it for 3 years before having the band removed. I feel so much better now!

I am finding that I learned a lot during those 3 years and I am continuing to lose weight! Don't give up hope of reaching your goal, even if you can't revise. I was pleasantly surprized that I really did develope new eating habits, have a different relationship with food, and am not afraid of being hungry!

I'm also finding that healthy foods are calling my name and when I eat something, like for instance, ice cream, it really doesn't taste that good -- and I can take it or leave it. I just recently realized that!

So, please know that all is NOT lost ! Continue on with your intervention; use the energy from your commitment, realize that you are in charge band or no band.

I empathise with you and wish I could give you a big hug. Try to regroup and show your strength. You're going to succeed no matter what! Come what may!

~hiddn

[Lovelyheart 2014 1]

Wow, I have been also choking in my sleep, I woke up at least 4 times in the last 4 months choking! Sorry that you have to go through this but I'm happy that I came across your post so I can also check myself out to see what's going on with me, My primary care doctor did suggest that I have another sleep study. The first one I had back in 2011 before my surgery showed no signs of sleep apnea! Hang In there and don't give up!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this.

May I ask what size band you have?