Enlarged esophigus

lynnviewlil · May 18, 2009

I had Lap band surgery about 4 yrs ago. I am a slow looser. In the summer I got my last fill and right after it I got real sick with Pneumonia. It might have been caused by reflux. Then I found out I needed rotator cuff surgery and my family Dr advised me to weight til after that surgery to get a fill. I recovered from that surgery and I couldn't get an appointment with the Dr til Jan. On Jan 1st I fell and broke my arm so I had to weight another 6 weeks for a fill since I couldn't drive. I had my fill on a Thurs followed th directions they gave for how to eat but I realised that something wasn't right. I had no restriction. I went back in a few weeks amd they wanted me to do a swalloe test. I had trouble getting an appointment at a time that was suitable. I decided I would wait til summer. But then I realises that I was putting on too much weight. and could eat anything. I had the test today and the person that did the test said my esophigus was as large as my stomach and I was refluxing. He said my band was too tight since there was some back up. Has anyone else ever been told sbout this. What can they do? I had some restriction before the last fill but none now. Ill get the official diagnosis in a few days when the Dr sees my teat results. Help!!!

Cleo's Mom · May 18, 2009

This happened to me. I was too tight and everything was backing up. My esophagus became slightly swollen as did my pouch. It also caused a small slip. I was experiencing pain, reflux and heartburn. After a slight unfill, I felt much better. My follow up upper GI 6 weeks later showed an improvement, but it still was a little swollen. You need to give your esophagus a rest. Good luck.

5jacks · June 24, 2009

What do you mean by a slight rest? They have taken my fill all the way out due to an esophigal dilation. Am supposed to wait 6 weeks and go back in on July 6 to start with fills again. Guess I'm questioning now what it is I'm supposed to be eating in the mean time?!?!? When I called the surgeons office, they said that anything I ate could go right through so it didn't matter. Guess I'm second guessing that advice and was trying to get input from some of the other bandsters! Thanks for any help you can offer.

hefftynetty · June 25, 2009

I have been unfilled for about 2 months now, after two Upper GI's showing my enlarged esophagus. My last appt I thought I was going to get a fill and they informed me I have to have surgery to fix the problem or it will never work the same. I go Tuesday to talk to my surgeon, I can not wait, I am tired of not feeling that restriction anymore! Good Luck, I hope yours goes down, having surgery again sucks, but I am hoping it is a fresh start for me to start losing again, since I have been about the same weight for 2 years now!

Alexandra · June 25, 2009

My doctor also mentioned that my esophagus is enlarged, but I have no symptoms that I can detect. It's up to me to keep my bites tiny and think about my esophagus when I'm eating--sloowwly--and I'm just going to keep on going. The last fill I had was two weeks ago or so, after a year of what felt like an empty band (though I know it wasn't completely).

Good luck to us!!