Enlarged pouch & small slip

[staceface09 5]

I have recently been told by my doctor after an upper gi that I have an asymmetrical pouch and a small slip. He showed me an example, which when I googled it later, it looks just like pouch dilation. Wouldn't this qualify for a revision? I should have asked more questions but it didn't sink in until I started reading posts on here. I didn't think I had much to worry about because the doctor seemed like it wasn't a big deal. He said we would "keep an eye on it" and if we get to the point it gets worse then he would recommend the sleeve. I have been living uncomfortably the past few years with horrible heartburn, port pain, waking up choking on acid, vomiting, some days I can eat a lot some days I get stuck and vomit.. And now weight gain. I feel so fat and like a failure. I have gained so much weight in the last few months. My dad told me that I have "really packed on the pounds!" And I need to get my "belly tightened". I feel like at any moment I am going to split my pants. I just bought a bunch of new clothes too last year for winter and they are so small compared to how big I am now that I literally sat in my closet and cried. I had an adjustment at my last appointment, even though he said I have what is considered a small slip and that my pouch is enlarged, but I don't feel any restriction. My band was previously too tight and I suffered thru it for two years thinking it was normal and my husband lost his job so we lost our insurance. Now we have Medicaid and although they cover visits to the doctor, I don't know if they cover the revision surgery. I am also scared to death of surgery because I went to the complication forum and read a few horror stories. ????????☹ that really scared the heck out of me!!

️My doctor also said my bmi may not be high enough but I'm 5'4 and weigh 203 pounds...and I think I'm still gaining. This time last year I was 165.

What should I do?!?!

I called another bariatric doctor but my family doctor won't write me another referral.

Help!!?

[BonitaF 30]

I'm no doctor but I'd be getting another referral no matter what it took. My band. Started with a slip and then eroded COMPLETELY into my stomach. I had a gastric bleed and ended up in Intensive Care. I'm not you but I'd be at least talking to a BARIATRIC doctor.

[staceface09 5]

Oh no!!! I'm glad you are okay now!

I am so afraid it is headed towards something horrible. The bad part is... That was my bariatric Doctor

[liannatx 897]

I am surprised they did a fill with a slip! My doctor did an almost complete unfill to see if it would right itself... but that was the beginning of my band issues. It did right itself, and when I started getting fills again it totally slipped... resulting in a complete unfill. I had the older 4cc band though... and once I started having complications it was never good for me again after that.

I don't think the BMI qualifications are the same on a revision as on the original surgery.

[BonitaF 30]

I truly don't mean to be an alarmist but I would find another opinion. I came very close to dying--I was on a business trip 2,000 miles from home and by the time I got home I was in serious condition. Be firm and demand a referral.

[staceface09 5]

Mine is a 4cc band as well. I was banded in 2007. I was surprised that they did a fill too. He took 1 cc out a month ago, I gained weight, then had the upper gi and he told me all of that, but since he didn't seem worried I didn't think it was anything, and he put .5cc back in it. I am freaking out now. I am going to self pay for another consultation with another doctor because I am soooo scared that something like that will happen to me ☹

[BonitaF 30]

As I said, I don't mean to be an alarmist but my experience was profound. Better safe than sorry is now my motto

[IrishGermanRN 151]

I am in the same place you are. I was banded in 2009 and put on almost all but 10 pounds. I did have a small slip 3 years ago and had a complete unfill. a few months later they did a fill. Now I have 1.2 in my band and they advised to not go higher. That was 3 years ago. That is when my weight gain started.

I am now going to have the band removed and have the Gastric Sleeve 1/20.

When in doubt, always get a 2nd opinion.

Edited December 23, 2015 by IrishGermanRN

[Momto3redheads 18]

I was banded in 2009 & did real well until about 2013 -- then I had a slip & my doc unfilled my band for a month to let it settle...during that time I gained weight & after we started trying fills again we could never find a sweet spot again. I had pains & would throw up all the time, it was awful. I finally got my band removed in 2014 & then battled my insurance to be approved to get the sleeve. (My doctor's office will not do it all in one surgery anymore as they have seen too many complications.) I finally got approved & had surgery a week ago. I am excited about my new journey. Hang in there and fight for what is right for you!!!