Lab band erosion

[Guest joturner]

Yesterday i went to Endoscopy & was told that my band had eroded into my stomach. Has anyone had any experience or know anything about this. I have only had the band for 2 years. You could actually see the band on the pictures from endoscopy. I must now get the band removed. My dr told me that i am no longer eligible for another band. He suggested that i know get gastric bypass surgery. I am extremely nervous about this. THe surgeon also told me that i have a hole in stomach and that the band is the only thing plugging the whole up from where it eroded. I have recently been vomiting and have not been able to keep anything down without taking protonix.

I just want some suggestions or questions that i should be asking? Does anyone know what caused the erosion to happen.

scared in houston

[kellymoos 4]

Donali had erosion and had her band removed, do a search for erosion at the top of this page.

Who was your doctor and was your only symptom vomiting?

[DeLarla 22]

I'm really sorry. This is the most devastating news for any of us. We all have to worry about erosion all the time. Nobody can tell you exactly what caused your erosion, but this is what I know for now.

The surgeon that placed your band may have nicked your stomach during your original band surgery, and that nick could have gotten infected, which could lead to erosion. Infected ports can also lead to erosion. It is said that use of NSAIDs (like Motrin or other anti inflammatory medications) can cause problems and potentially erosion.

Several of my friends have had their bands removed due to erosion. Who was your surgeon that placed the band?

I am truly sorry and wish there was something I could do to help. I'm going to let my friends know about you (the ones that had their bands removed.) They would probably be willing to talk to you on the phone, if you'd like.

Please get your band removed as soon as possible. I just heard another Lopez patient has erosion, but hers is very small so Lopez said she can keep her band a little longer. But yours sounds much more severe, so take care of it as soon as possible.

I just saw one friend who had her band removed several months ago, and she looks FABULOUS (K.H.) She said she gained a little, but she's still maintaining an incredible loss.

Good luck to you.

[Guest joturner]

sure i would love to hear from someone with the same problem. I'll give u my number in a minute as i am not currently home. My only real symptom was vomiting. The x-ray's looked good. My dr's name is Dr. Spivack. i am only 2 cases out of 800 that this has happened. I am just thinking i want to get the band removed and not get the bypass surgery.

[sherita 0]

ok whoa.....now I am scared, I had my band 5/18 with Spivak- I did alot of research and found that he was the best... I am sooo sorry to hear about your erosion- I will say my prayers for you and wish you the best of luck-hang in there!

Sherri

[donali 57]

Jo -

Devastating news - I am SO SO sorry.

However, believe it or not, it is not the end of the world - it just feels like it is.

I had to have my band removed after 17 months, 40% erosion. Dr. Lopez was my surgeon, both for the installation and removal.

I would suggest that you have your band removed IMMEDIATELY. Did I say IMMEDIATELY?!?! Particularly since you are vomiting constantly, I would say that this is an emergent situation.

There will most likely be some residual stomach damage, at least at first - how/if this will effect you, I have no idea. I know that for myself, nearly a year after removal, I can still get that "stuck" feeling occasionally. I consider myself lucky. Most of us eroded patients seem to have no major ill effects, but I have heard of a couple of people who have had severe consequences, and major residual stomach damage.

Some have gone on to have the bypass, some have been rebanded. Most of us are trying to maintain on our own - I am slowly regaining, but am still working on my habits.

Here are some links to info and my stories:

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2256

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2725

http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showth...=&threadid=2250

http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showth...=&threadid=2274

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2298

Here's a link to the Yahoo! Eroded Bandster Group:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ErodedBandsters/

[Guest joturner]

i am no longer vomiting. i have been taking protonix. i am able to eat and keep food down. what was done for your surgery. u said u had 40% erosion. was the band removed and they just plugged up the hole or was your stomach stitched where the erosion occurred. the removal procedure was not totally explained to me.

[Guest joturner]

don't be scared. i would have much rather done this than the bypass. just be sure if u start having complications like a lot of vomiting or pain at your access port (which i did not have nor fever) that u go see a GI dr. b/c like i said the xrays looked fine. they also looked fine in JUne of last year as well. who knows how long the band eroded b/c i did not really display any symptoms of band erosion.

[Guest joturner]

thanks for all your responses. i'll be back online in about an 2 hours. i look forward to your comments.

[donali 57]

Hi Jo -

I'm embarassed to say that I don't really know what was done at my removal surgery - I can only assume that some stitching needed to be done - Dr. Carmen insisted that there was no repair needed, but Dr. Lopez spent a lot of time testing for leaks... Soooo... My logical side says of course there had to be a least a few stitches where the band had started to erode, but I guess now I'll never know for sure...

Best of luck.

[HamuChan 0]

My Dr told me that erosion is caused by the stomach acid up next to the band. Sounds weird. He wants me to take Nexium every day to "prevent" erosion.

So sorry about this! I hope all goes well.

[cmfapple 0]

Hi,

I just found out that after 2 years I need to have my band taken out due to erosion. I have loved my band. I lost a 100lbs and I can't see my life without it. The erosion didn't go all the way through my stomach but my Dr. did tell me that I will need stitches in 2 spots, where the band was attached. I am meeting my Dr. this evening and he will discuss the removal surgery in more detail. I am honestly in such disbelief. I am so sorry for what you are going through but it has helped to see I am not the only one out there that has gone through it. Thank you!