signs of needing band removed??

[fatandoverit 1]

Hi all.. I was banded May of 2007.. Down approx 63 pounds!!!!!!!! woohoo

Once I felt restricted at about 2cc.. i spent a lot of time pbing.. usually daily. I was just eating too fast.. i have slowly gotten things under control. Last time I was in I told my doctor it seemed like I could eat quite a bit and she said she worries about pouch dialation.. See this was before finding the perfect restriction so I really don't think I was stretching it.. I mean sometimes I would be really full and sometimes not.. My thing was if I am not full then keep eating.. right.. Not anymore. I have become quite disciplined.. My thing is.. how do you know if you have damage. I am sooooo afraid that I would have to get it removed and then face the ultimate failure. It consumes my mind. I have no symptoms. No pain.. i get full easily in fact I even get full from liquids. The only slight irritation I may have is a very small hint of reflux but barely enough to notice. Somebody please put my mind at ease.

ps.. i am getting an upper gi in about three weeks but I need peace of mind now!!

[Rubyjade 2]

Unfortunately you wont know until you have had a barium swallow, most likely. However, I stretched my pouch about 18 months ago and I can tell you right now I KNEW something was wrong. I could eat way too much (and I was not being disciplined - I would drink with meals which I NEVER do now) and I had the worst heartburn you can imagine, all the time. I don't think it's too unusual to have a little reflux (I still get it sometimes) but when it gets to be all the time, then that is a definate warning sign!!! I hope everything goes well for you and nothing is wrong. Unfortunately it's something only a doctor can diagnose. I just know that in my case, it was obvious. Good luck.

[fatandoverit 1]

what did they do about the stretching?

[Rubyjade 2]

They put me back on liquids only for a week to let any irritation ease off. I could have all Clear Liquids and stuff like Tomato Soup and slimfast for a week. Then I was on mushys for another week. It wasn't fun but it scared me enough to do the right thing. They said if I had continued with that same behaviour, my band would have slipped. It didn't and now I'm ok.

Edited April 28, 2008 by Rubyjade
forgot something

[Marimaru 7]

From what I've heard, even if you've stretched your pouch, they'll just empty the band and put you on liquids, or just put you on liquids to give it time to settle down.

[Elisabethsew 50]

Some people have symptoms and others don't. If you're really concerned, you can ask your surgeon to do some diagnostic testing.

[HeatherO 7]

If it were me, I would go back on liquids for a week. At least you can have the peace of mind that you are doing the right thing while waiting to be seen. If it is stretched, you would have to do it anyway.

[DJSEVEN 0]

Are you talking about your stomach was stretched?

My NEW doctor told me today that mine had stretched and he needed to remove my band. He said it did not slip but my stomach was too big.

I didnt want to have surgery right away and I am going to find a new doc to give a second opinion.

This was the first time i have seen this new doctor and I had felt that it was just a little odd he wanted to do surgery to remove the band and then possibly do a new band.

I think in the meantime i am just going to try the liquid thing...

How was it for you. we you able to be filled after you did the liquids?

Thanks

[fatandoverit 1]

I too would be very leary of the new doctor.. sounds strange. I am doing liquids because I feel like my stomach might need a break. I changed my appointment to Tuesday the 6th because I am a worrier and I am going crazy. I really only worry about a slippage due to pbing too much. I really cannot eat that much. Mentally I would be ruined if I had to have it removed but really i think that is only in extreme cases. I don't have any symptoms really.. just paranoid. I will let you all know after my barium swallow on tues.