Tilted band?

[Pittsburgher 261]

So yesterday I had a xray done to confirm weather I have a Realize band or a LapBand AP standard. My Dr actually had both in my surgery note. Anyway My Xray showed I have a tilted band. The office called to see if I was having any problems eating, or with.nausea. I am not, so they want me to get an upper gi on friday to check it again. Not sure what this means.

Please help.

[lisacaron 5,075]

Hi Pittsburgher,

How did the doctor NOT know what kind of band he placed...? That makes me question the surgeon, and then to say you have a tilted band...also makes me question.

I'm not saying that it's not possible to have a tilted band, but I would want to double check with another doctor before going for all kinds of tests etc. especially if I was not having any kind of problems. It just makes me question what's going on....

[dawalsh 919]

Well, you know, my doctor gave me info to register for my lapband. After registering I received a wallet card in the mail with the type of band I had, date of surgery and how many cc's my band could hold. I have a 10cc Lapband.

I sure hope everything works out for you. I've heard of a slipped band but never a tilted band.

[Pittsburgher 261]

In regards to the surgery note, my surgeon has a pre written note she uses. In the pre written note it says Lapband AP but if she placed the Realize band she would erase the Lapband AP pre written text and write in Realize . In my case she did not erase the Lapband AP part but still put Realize as well . So my note actually says I have both a Lapband and Realize. My surgeon looked at my upper gi following surgery but it was not very clear to see what actual band was there. So she just had me get another xray. Now they confirmed my band. But the xray shows a tilt in my band. They called immediately to see how I was doing. And asked if I would get a upper gi. I have confidence in my surgeon. And think it was just a mistake on the surgery note. But for my sake will get a upper gi done on friday to make sure.

[mrsto 2,925]

In regards to the surgery note, my surgeon has a pre written note she uses. In the pre written note it says Lapband AP but if she placed the Realize band she would erase the Lapband AP pre written text and write in Realize . In my case she did not erase the Lapband AP part but still put Realize as well . So my note actually says I have both a Lapband and Realize. My surgeon looked at my upper gi following surgery but it was not very clear to see what actual band was there. So she just had me get another xray. Now they confirmed my band. But the xray shows a tilt in my band. They called immediately to see how I was doing. And asked if I would get a upper gi. I have confidence in my surgeon. And think it was just a mistake on the surgery note. But for my sake will get a upper gi done on friday to make sure.

Aside from what may or may not be wrong with the band, I would tell your surgeon to suck up the costs of the tests. She doesn't even know what she implanted in your body, and you should not have to pay the price to find out. Just my 2 cents.

[lisacaron 5,075]

In regards to the surgery note, my surgeon has a pre written note she uses. In the pre written note it says Lapband AP but if she placed the Realize band she would erase the Lapband AP pre written text and write in Realize . In my case she did not erase the Lapband AP part but still put Realize as well . So my note actually says I have both a Lapband and Realize. My surgeon looked at my upper gi following surgery but it was not very clear to see what actual band was there. So she just had me get another xray. Now they confirmed my band. But the xray shows a tilt in my band. They called immediately to see how I was doing. And asked if I would get a upper gi. I have confidence in my surgeon. And think it was just a mistake on the surgery note. But for my sake will get a upper gi done on friday to make sure.

Oh yes definitely go and get that test done, and then come back and let us know what the doctor found out! I have never heard of a tilted band before, though have heard of people who had issues with the tubing and slipped bands and that could be the same thing since it's not sitting where it was intended.

I'm glad your not feeling any adverse affects, and checking it out is totally the right thing to do. I just know if it was me I would be driving my doctor crazy with a million questions about it.

@dwalsh. I sent in that registration for my band...and my hubby's and never heard back from them! Wallet cards are great when your traveling though now they can see through you with those scanners

[catfish87 3,471]

So yesterday I had a xray done to confirm weather I have a Realize band or a LapBand AP standard. My Dr actually had both in my surgery note. Anyway My Xray showed I have a tilted band. The office called to see if I was having any problems eating, or with.nausea. I am not, so they want me to get an upper gi on friday to check it again. Not sure what this means.

Please help.

Looking at what you wrote, I say no worries!

Your surgeon has quite a bit of experience, several members on here she has done. You say you don't have any symptoms of problems.....don't get worked up over it. LOTS of people on here you'll read or hear about their doctors didn't know which band they were gonna use until they acutally got in there and looked things over. Not that uncommon at all. Should the surgical notes have been better......YES. But the notes aren't whats gonna make you successful with this.

As a question...what is a "tilted" band actually? Did you see it on the fluoroscopy? My band is at an angle....as are almost every one I've ever seen....and I don't have any problems either. 4+ years post op.

Heres what mine looks like.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/168149-heres-what-my-restriction-level-looks-like/

[Pittsburgher 261]

That is how my surgeon does it, she makes the decision which band to use during surgery. And yes the note could have been clear. I have no problem with the note mistake, it happens.

On my xray it showed my band tilted. I looked at the xray and it was kinda side ways. Im sure that is what is concerning her. But I have no symptoms. Im not trying to get myself all worked up. I will worry on friday when i get my upper gi. The PA and NP will both be there during the upper gi.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

doctors make mistakes. my surgeon moved to florida after my surgery and the next surgeon made a mistake putting down on his notes i had a 10 cc band. i was getting fills according to that info. and than i was changed to a pa whom i love and she looked at my surgical notes and found i had a 14cc band. i am caught up now on fills and maybe reaching the green zone. am i angry, no, the mistake actually gave me more time to get used to the band and to learn all i can about fills and what to expect.

the one question i have is do i need to know what type of band i have? i don't think the subject has ever been brought up.

[Pittsburgher 261]

I would say yes . If anything happens you should know what kind of band you have. I asked and I got my answer for my medical info. Always nice to know.

[kll724 3,055]

My port is tilted due to my weightloss. But, I like others have never heard of a tilted band. My surgeon was able to take out fill when he discovered it. He suggested that a t some point I may want it replaced with a smaller port. Possibly this is your problem, too! Best wishes, and I agree have the tests done. if you are not having a problem, i would not think you have to worry! Karen..aka..kll724

[Pittsburgher 261]

Thanks for your reply! Im not sure what is going on yet, I always over worry about everything. Im trying to be calm until friday when I get an upper gi done, hopefully its nothing to worry about, but I will let everyone no.

[Pittsburgher 261]

Ok so today was the day. I had my upper gi done with the dr and PA in the room with me, I felt so special lol. After the 100 images I felt like they took, and all the diffrent angles they did, my band is fine.

They did say my band is in a diffrent position then post op, they said it could be from my anatomy. But it did not slip, it is where its supposed to be, just angled diffrent then there used to seeing.

My port is downward, but they can still get to it, the dr actually gave me a fill with fluro while we were already in getting the upper gi to get a closer look.

The dr said there is absolutely nothing to worry about. After my fill I could see the barium going down much much slower, hopefully I will notice a diffrence now. I now have 6 cc in my band.

I will follow up in 4 wks and the dr said they might do another upper gi just to see if anything changed. Im very pleased with the caring of my dr . I wish I had took my phone back with me to take pics or video because It was awesome images.

[catfish87 3,471]

Ok so today was the day. I had my upper gi done with the dr and PA in the room with me, I felt so special lol. After the 100 images I felt like they took, and all the diffrent angles they did, my band is fine.

They did say my band is in a diffrent position then post op, they said it could be from my anatomy. But it did not slip, it is where its supposed to be, just angled diffrent then there used to seeing.

My port is downward, but they can still get to it, the dr actually gave me a fill with fluro while we were already in getting the upper gi to get a closer look.

The dr said there is absolutely nothing to worry about. After my fill I could see the barium going down much much slower, hopefully I will notice a diffrence now. I now have 6 cc in my band.

I will follow up in 4 wks and the dr said they might do another upper gi just to see if anything changed. Im very pleased with the caring of my dr . I wish I had took my phone back with me to take pics or video because It was awesome images.

Fantastic news!!!! So glad everything went well for you. Another great testimony as to what fluoro can SHOW. Congrats!

[Pittsburgher 261]

Yes I was worried going in, and when they kept taking a million pics but in the end im so glad they did everything they did.

That was my first time with a fill under fluro, pretty cool.