Why remove the band!

fabfatgrl · June 15, 2007

I am considering having my band removed; I'm suffering greatly from gastric reflux; had a fundal plication (stomach wrap around the esophagus) prior to the lap band because of severe reflux; I've had all the saline removed (supposedly) and still suffer; I take nexium twice daily,eat last at 4pm-not even Water,elevate my bed and still have constant reflux-so severe fluids come out my nose while sleeping; I have had band 2yrs and have lost 80lbs-about 20 from goal; any advice or encouragement? my doc says removing the band "might" help.

What does your gastroenterologist say? Honestly, I would go with his and your surgeon's opinion... rather than us random folks on the board. :rolleyes:

Was the reflux worse when you had a fill?? Even though you still suffer now, is it at all better?? That might give an idea as to how the Band is impacting this.

Still, go with the specialists... I'm sure they understand your disease and the issues the band could cause.

kalamazoo · June 15, 2007

prior to banding my reflux was a bit worse than it is now but not significantly; the fundal plication relieved it completely; after getting the band filled sufficiently to have adequate weight loss, the reflux returned; I had a small amt of saline removed with no improvement even after increasing my nexium dosage. So, the surgeon removed all the saline he could get out; however, I still have days when I can't eat much at all; mostly I dont eat because it makes the reflux worse. I dont have a GI dr as this surgeon is a general surgeon who specializes in gastric reflux and does lap band surgeries,too. I am planning to speak with him again and suggest I get an upper GI/barium swallow to see exactly what is going on when I eat-is it the band or something else causing the reflux. I had an endoscopy that indicated I had mild inflammation from the reflux, the band was fine, and the hiatal hernia was still repaired. He thought removing the band might lessen the reflux and it would allow him to wrap the fundal plication tighter as he modified it due to my wanting to have the band placed a few months later. I really dont want to have the band removed but some days when I'm getting depressed :cry about having to live miserably with the reflux I consider it if there's a chance it would work; wish I had more assurances and wish my insurance would cover replacing the band if the reflux remains the same. I'm just really disappointed in what's going on and wanted encouragement from anyone that might have had the same type experiences. thanks everyone.

nbjen · June 15, 2007

Kalamazoo-

When I went to my seminar in January '07 before I was banded my Doctor told our group that poeple that had the reflux surgery could not have lap band..... Not sure if that's his opinion or what as I didn't think much about it because it wasn't a factor for me. My Doctor said he had that surgery and couldn't have a lap band because of it. Maybe you should do some research and find other people who have had lapband and the reflux surgery.... Good luck, I can't imagine how you live with it because I do have reflux but it is okay with medication. Good Luck!!

Mr Soots · June 16, 2007

I also had a similar experience. My band was put on in 2004--at that time, there was only one size band. The band was tight when it was put on, and over the years, I have never been able to sustain a fill. Subsequently, (with no fill) I developed GERD (massive reflux) and barretts esophagus (BE). I attributed these to the tightness of the band, but my surgeon didn't agree with me. (My surgeon believes in most cases, the band will eliminate GERD.) Finally, after having a fluroscopy, it showed a very large hiatal hernia (which failed to show up on an endoscopy). So, I had the band removed, hernia repaired, and a much larger band put on. It was instant relief.

So in my case, I believe my stomach was too big for the band, which then caused the hernia, which then caused the GERD, which then caused the BE. Good luck to you; I fully understand your misery.