Band Erosion

[kmt1973 92]

I had an egd done this past Tuesday. The doc told my husband that there's some erosion and will see me in his office on the 17th(I was still sleeping). My man didn't ask any questions. Have any of y'all experienced this? Do you know what I could expect?

Edited August 6, 2015 by kmt1973

[ezbeinggreen 50]

I hate to be the one to tell you this but if you have band erosion, your band will have to come out and you won't be able to get another one. I strongly suggest taking it out sooner rather than later before it causes any more damage. It won't stop eroding and will only get worse. Your surgeon will likely advise you to wait at least 6 months for your stomach to heal - depends on the damage done - before getting a revision to RNY or VSG, or try to go it on your own. My surgeon made me wait a year and by then my insurance no longer covered any bariatrics.

I was banded in Oct 2007 and my band had completely eroded into my stomach by year 4. It was removed Sep 2011. My surgeon suspected erosion year 2 but took a wait and see approach. 2 years later I ended up in the hospital for 10 days and nearly died. By then the band had completely eroded into my stomach.

There are a few reasons why erosion happens but most of the time, it's nothing you did wrong. Your body is likely rejecting the foreign object in your body. They say it happens in 2% of band patients but I think that statistic is old and a lot higher now.

Edited August 6, 2015 by ezbeinggreen

[kmt1973 92]

Everything I've looked up about it says the same thing. Same as you. My drs p.a. mentioned that when he takes bands out that he does a conversion then and there.

I'm sorry for what you have gone through. That Dr was wrong in not doing anything for you from the beginning. If it's eroding, common sense would be it would only erode more over time. How are you doing now?

[ezbeinggreen 50]

I know some people can convert from band to something else in one surgical procedure, but i would be cautious about a single procedure after band erosion. Erosion is basically the band growing into your stomach, it is eroding through the stomach wall, basically eating it away. So there must be some damage done (the stomach does heal quickly though). Once the surgeon removes the band, that area may be too weak for another procedure right away - I guess it will depend on how much damage the surgeon finds once he removes the band. Hopefully it's minimal in your case and you can do it all in one shot! I think this is why most surgeons prefer RnY over VSG after band erosion - the bypass does not occur anywhere near the area damaged by the band.

I'm fine now, no complications once the band came out except I regained ALL the weight I lost. Since it has been 4 years, I am hoping my stomach is healthy enough for VSG vs RnY. RnY still scares me a bit. I have a friend 10 years out dealing with major Vitamin deficiences (she has to get Iron infusions now). During one of the info sessions I attended, a woman was trying to get her RnY reversed because of the same problems. I have a consult with a new surgeon on 8/12.

Good luck - let us know what your doc says!

[clover 0]

My band eroded completely into my stomach back in June had removed by emergency surgery because of pain and vomiting. I had the band for 7 years before complcations started. The recovery was hard even today got a wound infection where port used to be. Also I let the symptoms go on for to long with out going to the doctors. I have lost a lot of weight and really scared of putting weight back on with out the band. I payed for the band my self in the UK.