Swallowing Problems / Dysphagia

[Beth Jenkins 0]

Members,

I had a thyroid cyst removal surgery 5 months after having my band installed. I have had problem after problem with food getting stuck, and thinking it was the band. My Dr. swore the band wasn't too tight. I had 7.5 cc's in a 10cc band. ENT Dr. who removed the cyst said it was a bit more invasive than he thought, they removed lymph nodes and some fatty tissue as well as some bone. Said I might feel nerve endings that hurt when the healing happened. I know can touch my chin and feel it about 4 inches below where I touch my chin. I had an endoscopy done to stretch my throat, the band was loosened for that proceedure. Then found out my thyroid is now enlarged, now I have nodules in thyroid, they are benign noncancerous, so the drs don't feel they need to be removed. They don't feel they are infringing on my esophagus or impeding my swalling. So I had the band retightened to 7.0cc's, and now I am right back where I was before, can't swallow. But, band Dr. says band is not too tight when looking under fluroscopy while drinking berium.

Has anyone here had throat surgery and had similar problems...if so how did you over come the difficulty getting food down? I am stuck and get sick on 65-70% of meals. I am sick of being sick! Any thoughts...

Beth

[Marimaru 7]

I haven't had throat surgery or any issues from it, but even though your band doctor says it's not your band, maybe you should ask him to take the Fluid out until whatever this is gets resolved.

Also, if having the Fluid out of your band helped when you had the endoscopy, then I would say signs do point to it being the band. I know the last time I was at the doctor's, it was for an unfill and when he had me do the barium swallow, he said he thought it looked pretty open to him, but I had some taken out anyway, because I was having issues with solid foods as well.

[chris hall 0]

Members,

I had a thyroid cyst removal surgery 5 months after having my band installed. I have had problem after problem with food getting stuck, and thinking it was the band. My Dr. swore the band wasn't too tight. I had 7.5 cc's in a 10cc band. ENT Dr. who removed the cyst said it was a bit more invasive than he thought, they removed lymph nodes and some fatty tissue as well as some bone. Said I might feel nerve endings that hurt when the healing happened. I know can touch my chin and feel it about 4 inches below where I touch my chin. I had an endoscopy done to stretch my throat, the band was loosened for that proceedure. Then found out my thyroid is now enlarged, now I have nodules in thyroid, they are benign noncancerous, so the drs don't feel they need to be removed. They don't feel they are infringing on my esophagus or impeding my swalling. So I had the band retightened to 7.0cc's, and now I am right back where I was before, can't swallow. But, band Dr. says band is not too tight when looking under fluroscopy while drinking berium.

Has anyone here had throat surgery and had similar problems...if so how did you over come the difficulty getting food down? I am stuck and get sick on 65-70% of meals. I am sick of being sick! Any thoughts...

Beth

I have not had lapband surgery but I had a stomach stapling and the same thing was a problem with me. I couldn't swallow anything but cheetos! I lost but was developing cardiac problems. I had it revised and for almost a year I still had everyday swallowing poblems. I still occasionally have swallowing problems. My sister had Lapband and I tried to talk her out of it because I remembered the nausea. Sure enough not long after her surgery the throat started spasms and the swallowing was impossible. Today, the surgeon injected Botox in the esophagus to try to relax the spasms. It was a first, for I think, anyone to do this type of injection. She wants the Lapband removed, and I agree. She also, was developing irritation and a small ulcer where the stomach acids were coming up next to the Lapband and not going down, but burning and irritating the stomach lining. The weight lost is great for people but too many side effects. I have lost 80lbs. in a year just not eating anything white is my rule! Think about it sugar and flour products. It's easy. Anyone interested in my diet can email me chall9494@aol.com:biggrin: Chris

Edited August 31, 2009 by chris hall