My band has slipped after 3 years of being banded

[GayleTX 1]

Well, I joined the Slip Club just this afternoon.....after 2 years of successful life with the band.

I went for a routine fill 6 wks ago because I had quit losing - doc did a flouro, said my pouch was dilated. So he unfilled it and said eat light and come back in a week. After doing some board research, I went on liquids, waited 6 wks and could tell things were still not well - I still had restriction and even had one PB (first in a year!).

So I went to a different clinic today and they told me after 2 xrays just what I had already 'diagnosed' myself......my band has slipped - badly. I don't know why or when. I've been extremely compliant, have not overfilled my pouch, haven't vomited in over a year and that was not bad. So....I'm on liquids for 7 days, mushies for 7 days and I go back (Unless I have a problem of some sort and then it's 'get back ASAP' they said). Apparently a slipped band can be serious business.

I'm trying not to panic - but this band has changed my life, it has saved my life, in fact. I don't want to lose it! I'm so very afraid of going back to having diabetes and high blood pressure and not being able to walk and living on medication (I don't take anything at all now and I run all over the place!). So....I'll just go by the rules and hope for the best.

I have said all along we are just willing rats in an experimental lab but I didn't care - it was working for me! So maybe the doctors will learn things from us and our slippages that will make ife better for someone on down the line.

Best wishes to all of you.....we'll make it through this!!

Hugs,

Gayle

[socalgal3 4]

Gayle-

I'm so sorry to hear that your band slipped! I hope all goes well with the liquids and mushies. If you have to have surgery to repair the slip, I've been there and it's not so bad. Hang in there and keep us posted.

[Kat817 19]

Hugs to you Gayle---will be hoping for the best for you and your band.

Kat

[GayleTX 1]

Thanks for the kind words and well wishes, SoCalGal and Kat.......the liquids are going fine - I still have no appetite or desire for food even after 5 days of liquids - I'm having visions of my lower stomach being wadded up in my pouch and keeping it feeling 'full'...that's probably not the case but that's what I see in my mind's eye.:w00t: The only symptom I'm having is a slight burning sensation where the esophagus empties into the pouch....feels like an ulcer feels if you've had that experience. U'm going to cut back on my coffee...maybe that will help.

I'm so thankful I have lots of good Protein on hand and that I really enjoy them. Mice Milk is very soothing to an irritated pouch....so sorry it's going out of productin. But Labrada Lean Body is almost as effective....just not quite as good.

Best wishes to all of you!

[Kat817 19]

Probably a good plan, Gayle, even Decaf coffee and tea were killer when I had ulcers years ago.....hope yours feels better soon.

I know exactly what you mean imagining how your stomach and band look at this point. I visualize every nuance of how I eat, and how it is!! It helps me!

Keep in touch!!

Kat

[ukangel 0]

Thanks for the kind words and well wishes, SoCalGal and Kat.......the liquids are going fine - I still have no appetite or desire for food even after 5 days of liquids - I'm having visions of my lower stomach being wadded up in my pouch and keeping it feeling 'full'...that's probably not the case but that's what I see in my mind's eye.:eek: The only symptom I'm having is a slight burning sensation where the esophagus empties into the pouch....feels like an ulcer feels if you've had that experience. U'm going to cut back on my coffee...maybe that will help.

I'm so thankful I have lots of good Protein on hand and that I really enjoy them. Mice Milk is very soothing to an irritated pouch....so sorry it's going out of productin. But Labrada Lean Body is almost as effective....just not quite as good.

Best wishes to all of you!

This is a description of how I am feeling. I have not eaten anything thicker than a runny yoghurt. since my fill a week last Wed. I have also completely lost my appetite ansd I am so tight you can hear Water gurgle as it goes down and i have even pb's jello! Do you think the best plan of action is to have a complete unfil to give everything a rest, then have it filled under x-ray? Or should I ask fo rthe x-ray first?

[flygirlincolo 0]

I had the 4cc band until 3 days ago which I had a major slippage and he replaced my whole band with a new bigger one he also told me that they dont use the smaller one any more I am also 3 years out from initial banding! If any one has question feel free to ask I am good with sharing my experience so every one is informwe!

[jbflorida 1]

Does EVERYONE get some kind of complication? Slippage, reflux, etc.? I have read so many success stories, but is this a surgery in which complications should be expected? And is it worth it?

I am trying to learn all I can.....thanks.

[Alexandra 55]

Does EVERYONE get some kind of complication? Slippage, reflux, etc.? I have read so many success stories, but is this a surgery in which complications should be expected? And is it worth it?

I am trying to learn all I can.....thanks.

Not EVERYONE has this sort of complication, absolutely not. Everyone posting in this section likely has had some sort of complication, or they wouldn't be posting here.

To my mind, even the worst complications with banding aren't as bad as what could go wrong with more invasive WLS procedures. I've had three surgeries now related to my band (initial, removal, replacement) but each one was outpatient, minor, and pretty easy. I was back at work in every case within three days.

Is it worth it? That depends on how much being morbidly obese impacts one's life. For me, being banded has made an enormous difference and even with all the "complications" it's been very much worth it.

[Eugina de Haas 0]

dO YOU HAVE THE 10CC BAND NOW? IF YOU DO, DO YOU LIKE IT BETTER. I NEED TO GET MY 4CC BAND TAKEN OUT OR FIXED! I WONDER WHAT TO DO. THANKS! gINA

[coolcrystal 1]

I wonder how many others had a "tight fit" with the Inamed 4cc and it slipped? That might be a good poll. I understand that now they don't use that band any longer... is anybody else hearing that?

My doctor uses a 10cc AP band and a 14cc AP band and says he doesn't use the small bands anymore. He also said that the 10cc band pretty much fits on everybody and that rarely has he used a 14cc band, but he doesn't know until he gets in there. I got the 10cc. It's only been a week, but even when I was really swelled up, I haven't had any problems with acid reflux, pb'ing or anything like that. On day 2 I did slime when I drank too much for the first time.. it was like my mouth watered and I felt like I wanted to throw up, but it passed within 5 seconds. But that's because I didn't follow the directions probably and got to overanxious to "sip, sip, sip".. I did more like "drink, drink, drink". lol.

Good luck to all of you that need to have your bands replaced. I'm sorry to hear that this has happened with the 4cc bands or whichever band you have. I'm sure it's a tough thing to go through... :thumbup:

[Stacy429 0]

I haven't been on here in a while. My life got busy after the weight loss. Now I'm having problems & I find myself back here. I have lost 90lbs. January 26, 2008 will be my 3 year bandiversary. I have been aspirating at night & when I went to the doc he said it sounds like I have a slip. I go in for a barium swallow Wednesday. He says my band will have to be replaced. I just had to get this off my chest.

May i ask what you mean by aspirating? Because for the last two nights I have been feeling like something was in my throut or maybe just thightness. It's hard to explaine! I do not need to cough or anything just a strang feeling. Could you please explain in more detail?

Thanks,

Stacy

[Sherrirbgr 0]

May i ask what you mean by aspirating? Because for the last two nights I have been feeling like something was in my throut or maybe just thightness. It's hard to explaine! I do not need to cough or anything just a strang feeling. Could you please explain in more detail?

Thanks,

Stacy

Hi -- aspiration is when the Fluid in your small stomach (or stoma) backs up and you suck some into your bronchial tubes. You will DEFINITELY cough, because the lungs know there's not supposed to be liquid in the air! For me, it was like if I started coughing, it would get worse and worse, almost like asthma. It woke everybody up in the house during the night.

I'm off to Albany Monday for the EGD and the final verdict.

[Stacy429 0]

Hi -- aspiration is when the Fluid in your small stomach (or stoma) backs up and you suck some into your bronchial tubes. You will DEFINITELY cough, because the lungs know there's not supposed to be liquid in the air! For me, it was like if I started coughing, it would get worse and worse, almost like asthma. It woke everybody up in the house during the night.

I'm off to Albany Monday for the EGD and the final verdict.

Thanks for the information! How did the EGD go? Hope everything is OK!!!!

Thanks,

Stacy

[GayleTX 1]

Got good news at the fill center yesterday.....did the barium swallow and Xray showed that everything had fallen back into place! I had been on liquids for 2 weeks and had no hope of it going back where it belonged - but it did! They did put in a tiny fill and today I ate a small normal meal with no problems.

They did tell me, tho, that once a band slips it is prone to slips again so that I need to be very aware of any symptoms.