Band erosion - after 11 weeks!!

[Maincat 14]

Hi,

I went for my first fill after 11 weeks post op. It failed because the Fluid did not get to the band, as the tube appeared broken. Now, the surgeon is suggesting that it could be band erosion. Excuse me? 11 weeks and the band may have eroded?:huh2:

Anyone with any experience of this?

[*susan* 1,709]

Wow, that is awful soon for erosion. I think I would probably question if the band was placed correctly to begin with. I am so sorry you are having these problems. Please keep us posted on what happens.

[Bel 1]

No offence, but your doctor sounds like a twit. The stuff the band is made of is very tough, it takes more then 11 weeks to eat it away, unless you have a super-stomach lol.

Ask for a barium swallow to see if there is a leek or its positioned wrong, it sounds suss to me. I would also take the stills of the swallow to someone else for a second opinion

Bel

[Cadets71 1]

I am not a physician, but my understanding of band erosion is Not that the band itself erodes but rather that it erodes into your stomach muscle. It would not necessarily take very long for that to happen.

I hope you will be okay and that you'll be fixed up in no time.

Mary

[Desdemona 48]

Wow --Steve----Terrible!! Please keep us posted.

[socalgal3 4]

My understanding of band erosion is that the band actually works itself through the stomach tissue. This would take some time I assume, but I'm no doc. What you are describing sounds more like a leak in your tube or a disconnect in the tubing. An endoscopy and/or barium swallow should get to the bottom of it. I hope it all works out. I've seen your before and after pix and you are doing great! Best of luck and keep us posted!

[MerryHearted 20]

How bizarre -- I've never heard of an erosion happening so soon after surgery. (not that I'm an expert! :thumbup:) Do keep us posted on what happens. If it does turn out to be erosion, I'm curious what the doc thinks might be the cause of it happening so fast -- an infection?

[Sades 4]

Sorry to hear that. I hope your doctor is wrong and it's not a serious problem. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Maincat 14]

Thanks for all of your posts.

I really don't think it's an erosion issue, but I talk to the hospital next Monday morning to discuss it with them. I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a great day:smile:

[Candle 11]

I've never heard of erosion happening so fast either. Hopefully they are wrong.

Keep up posted! Good luck

[Wheetsin 714]

It would be physically impossible for erosion to prevent Fluid from getting into the band. The two simply are connected. I'm not a doctor but I don't have to be to understand basic physics.

Imagine that you take a hollow flexible tube, like surgical tubing, and tie it around a hotdog. Maybe the tubing is too tight or moves too much or whatever, and begins to cut into the hotdog. You'd still be able to blow through the tube. Same basic premise here.

Your surgeon sounds like a twit. Rather than follow up with him/her, if I were you I would seek someone else - a second opinion at the least. I know that if my surgeon said that to me, I would no longer feel comfortable enough with their level of competence to trust their advice.

[Maincat 14]

I've just spoken to the Surgeon's lead nurse. She is going back to him to ask if the endoscopy is really necessary. My guess is that he will say yes it is. He wouldn't want to lose face in front of his staff would he?

I'll be emailed by the nurse in due course - hopefully today. I'll let you know the result.