Esophogeal dialation

vluckey · June 19, 2007

Since I had my baby in March I've been super duper tight. Right now it's still tight, but kind of livable. Right after having my baby I literally lived on Protein Shakes for 5 weeks. Couldn't hardly drink Water or anything else.

So, I had a barium xray done and they said that my band had not slipped, but I was very tight and my esophegus was dialated. At the time, we had discussed putting the larger band in and I decided to wait a little longer to see if it let up.

It did, a little. But all of the sudden I have bad reflux, that night time choking thing and I can barf by simply leaning over to toilet and letting it flow on out.

I have a scope scheduled for the 28th, but has anyone had anything similar to this? (Especially the dialation) What do they do for it? Should I get the larger band? Could I have something else?

Come on band experts!!!!

Iluvharleys · June 19, 2007

I think I would wait to get all my tests in before I decided on anything. You might be able to have all the fill removed and do some medication to see if it helps you. Good Luck!

vluckey · June 20, 2007

Sorry, I forgot to mention, I've been unfilled since about last October due to pregnancy. However, I didn't have any of these problems until immediately after giving birth by c-section in March.

txbbwstrwbry · June 20, 2007

vluckey,

I recently developed this problem about 6 weeks ago which ended up causing me to lose a lot of weight of approx 25 pounds in less than 3 weeks mostly by vomiting and not holding down a single ounce of Water. This in turn caused me to seek a doctors medical advice as I was afraid of how sick I was becoming and how weak I was.

Well, needless to say, I spent 10 days in the hospital and just released a few days ago. I had to have the band removed from all the vomiting and within the last 6 weeks my port slipped (even from being stitched in place) by 5 inches downward. The cath tubing came apart from the port and from the band causing it to free float around in my abdomen. Then to top it off, the lap band itself managed to work itself up about 2 inches upwards (even from being stitched in place) with all of this, the doctors (a team of about 10) was hoping the band would deflate with the cath tubing not being connected to the band but instead it still stayed completely inflated.

So, after all the testing that was done being in the hospital they figured the best thing to do was to remove it as I was having so many complications from it. And I must say, best choice I made for myself personally. I was probably not a good candidate that should have had it done in the first place. But, hind sight is 20 20 :paranoid

Anyway, if you are having these complications now, please be careful and have all the testing done that your insurance carrier and your doctor will allow before going any bigger. It sounds to me as if you are already having problems and you might want to have it deflated to get some release from it for a bit of time and then have it re-inflated. Make sense?

Just know this to anyone else that reads this. I'm not saying don't get the lap band or do. However, there is more research out there now that suggests that the band is only good for 5 yrs and then it is to be replaced. This is recent information that is out there about this device.

I had complications as soon as the band was placed and my doctor was a nightmare and refused to listen. So, just make sure that you do your homework on this gadget because it can get messy down the road.

Now, I have to contend with more scars and healing all over again. But, I feel more like myself than I have in 5 yrs and feel that I will be able to be healthy which I haven't been able to experience in a long time.

Sincerely,

Txbbwstrwbry

Mr Soots · June 21, 2007

After 3 1/2 years of being banded, and the last year suffering from esophagitis, GERD, and ultimately Barrett's esophagus, I had the band removed last week. Prior to band removal, the surgeon did a fluro and discovered a huge hiatal hernia (stomach pushed into my esophagus). So he fixed that, took off the old band, and put the brand new supersized band on. It's been wonderful ever since, and all the prior problems appear to be eliminated.

My first band was too tight right from the start and over time, all these other symptoms surfaced. Don't wait if you're having problems.

vluckey · June 21, 2007

Thank you both for this information it is very helpful. I'm sure that there is a major problem with my band, besides the enlarged esophogus. I am really undecided as to what to do. I'm half way wanting to go with the larger band, half way wanting it out.

I almost can't wait for the scope to find out what is wrong.

The worst part of this band is that they are now finding out things about it that would have been nice to know before.

vluckey · June 21, 2007

Txbbwstrwbry, I just reread your post.....HOLY COW! What a freakin mess. It really makes me frightened for all of these people who have flown to Mexico and/or self paid and don't go to the doc when they start to have problems. I mean, I know that their can always be problems, but it does seem like the longer you have it, the problems crop up.

I hope you're doing much better. Thanks for following my posts. I'll be sure to consult with you from now on!

txbbwstrwbry · June 21, 2007

vluckey,

Its ok!! Really no worries now. I feel a lot better after having it removed personally. I just wish I had known then what I know now :cry Then, I probably would have done something different.

But, don't get me wrong, before having the band I was on a very strict diet and exercise program for 6 months with a doctor watching me closely. She wanted to prescribe diet pills to help with what little progress I had made. So, it really came down to a fight with the insurance company. Go figure, at the time the surgery was $35,000.00 and they wouldn't go in halves on diet pills with me. So, they paid for the surgery instead. Now really, what sense does that make, I tell ya!! :rolleyes:

But, don't give up by any means!! Just pay attention to what your body is telling you and voice your concerns ahead of time before.

Sincerely,

Txbbwstrwbry

susannah · June 21, 2007

vluckey,
I recently developed this problem about 6 weeks ago which ended up causing me to lose a lot of weight of approx 25 pounds in less than 3 weeks mostly by vomiting and not holding down a single ounce of Water. This in turn caused me to seek a doctors medical advice as I was afraid of how sick I was becoming and how weak I was.

Well, needless to say, I spent 10 days in the hospital and just released a few days ago. I had to have the band removed from all the vomiting and within the last 6 weeks my port slipped (even from being stitched in place) by 5 inches downward. The cath tubing came apart from the port and from the band causing it to free float around in my abdomen. Then to top it off, the lap band itself managed to work itself up about 2 inches upwards (even from being stitched in place) with all of this, the doctors (a team of about 10) was hoping the band would deflate with the cath tubing not being connected to the band but instead it still stayed completely inflated.

So, after all the testing that was done being in the hospital they figured the best thing to do was to remove it as I was having so many complications from it. And I must say, best choice I made for myself personally. I was probably not a good candidate that should have had it done in the first place. But, hind sight is 20 20 :paranoid

Anyway, if you are having these complications now, please be careful and have all the testing done that your insurance carrier and your doctor will allow before going any bigger. It sounds to me as if you are already having problems and you might want to have it deflated to get some release from it for a bit of time and then have it re-inflated. Make sense?

Just know this to anyone else that reads this. I'm not saying don't get the lap band or do. However, there is more research out there now that suggests that the band is only good for 5 yrs and then it is to be replaced. This is recent information that is out there about this device.

I had complications as soon as the band was placed and my doctor was a nightmare and refused to listen. So, just make sure that you do your homework on this gadget because it can get messy down the road.

Now, I have to contend with more scars and healing all over again. But, I feel more like myself than I have in 5 yrs and feel that I will be able to be healthy which I haven't been able to experience in a long time.

Sincerely,

Txbbwstrwbry

Hi strawberry, Sorry you had to go through all that. :rolleyes: Do you have a reference for the research that you read? I have not heard that the band needs replacing after 5 years, and my clinical practice here in Australia is one of the leading centres for lap band placement in the world. The surgery has been performed here since 1994.

Hope that you feel better anyway.

Susannah