3.5 yrs banded with trouble

oasiskel · August 20, 2008

Hi all,

I went to Mexico in Mar 05 and got my lap band. At first I loved it. I initially lost about 40 lbs and those came off pretty slow. Since then I have played around with another 15 pounds up and down and back and forth.

I've had several fills. All done with the scan and a barium swallow. I've never been over-filled. But each time I got a fill I had serious issues with my esophagus. The last time was about a year and half or more ago, and the problems with my esophagus have only increased. So, I never went and got another fill. food gets stuck and I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest until it finally passes and sometimes can take a while. I take small bites and chew, chew, chew. I can barely tollerate meat or anything soft or sticky or dry. Pretty much leaves ice-cream right?

Several months ago I woke up in the middle of the night with major chest pain. I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. It turned out it was my esophagus going through some kind of spasm.

I just had an endoscopy with my gastro doctor and he informed me that on the inside there is no evidence that I even have a band! Looks like nothing is wrong with my esophagus that taking my band out won't correct. And my port bothers me a lot!

I have decided I want it out! I have to find a bariatric surgeon who will remove it or go back to my dr in mexico. (Who I loved by the way.) Either way I am sure it is really going to cost some money. Unless the insurance I have now will pay and it's a global insurance so that may be a possibility?

I wanted to find out if any of you have had these same issues. What exactly you found out was wrong and what you've done to remedy your situation.

And yes I would consider the MGB at the same time.

Sorry this got a little long.

doubletrouble · August 20, 2008

I have had the same pain. You can try a few things before having band taken out. First go back on a liquid diet for a few days then advance to pureed then soft foods. Second try to drink somethink warm before you eat this will decrease any swelling you have around your band site. Also ask your doctor to have some or all of your Fluid removed from your band and start over again. I also find if I do not eat after six at night I do not have a problem while sleeping. The pressure that you feel in your chest is actually the reverse pressure of your band. Like something is stuck. Modify your diet and see what happens, Good Luck

privatedancer7 · August 25, 2008

Hi all,
I went to Mexico in Mar 05 and got my lap band. At first I loved it. I initially lost about 40 lbs and those came off pretty slow. Since then I have played around with another 15 pounds up and down and back and forth.

I've had several fills. All done with the scan and a barium swallow. I've never been over-filled. But each time I got a fill I had serious issues with my esophagus. The last time was about a year and half or more ago, and the problems with my esophagus have only increased. So, I never went and got another fill. food gets stuck and I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest until it finally passes and sometimes can take a while. I take small bites and chew, chew, chew. I can barely tollerate meat or anything soft or sticky or dry. Pretty much leaves ice-cream right?

Several months ago I woke up in the middle of the night with major chest pain. I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. It turned out it was my esophagus going through some kind of spasm.

I just had an endoscopy with my gastro doctor and he informed me that on the inside there is no evidence that I even have a band! Looks like nothing is wrong with my esophagus that taking my band out won't correct. And my port bothers me a lot!

I have decided I want it out! I have to find a bariatric surgeon who will remove it or go back to my dr in mexico. (Who I loved by the way.) Either way I am sure it is really going to cost some money. Unless the insurance I have now will pay and it's a global insurance so that may be a possibility?

I wanted to find out if any of you have had these same issues. What exactly you found out was wrong and what you've done to remedy your situation.

And yes I would consider the MGB at the same time.

Sorry this got a little long.

I had the same problem with my esophagus and after 3 hospitalizations my doctor and I opted for removal. I am still having some spasms which according to some specialists due to the band. I am working with an esophagus doctor to remedy the situation. I hated to lose the band but it was best formy health. Good luck to you.

Private Dancer 7