question for you veterans

all this talk about slips has me worried...ive had this dull aching pain in my chest for weeks....doesnt hurt to breath...pc doc says i have a touch of asthma ..so i contibuted it to that....im on meds but it hasnt gone away....i havent had a fill since august.....i have good restiction and i burp alot.....i dont taste any acid like when heartburn  or reflux.....i havent had a stuck episode in weeks .....im gonna call my band doc tommorrow to see if i can get it checked to make sure its okay.....but are these symptoms of a slip ? and it doesnt hurt ...just very bothersome.....

As with most things, different people can get slightly different symptoms. But the most usual ones for slips are increased tightness, in extreme cases to the point of not being able to swallow even liquids,  and severe reflux/heartburn.

But if in doubt, get it checked. Better an unnecessary doc visit than leaving it and finding it has got worse!

Kate

I am 3 years out and just recently had a slipped band, but mine slipped down, not upwards.  Not all slips are upwards, which is what Kate is discribing.  A downward slip can allow you to eat more, stall your weight loss or cause you to gain more.  I just had a revision myself.  If your doctor has a fluoro x-ray, I would definitely go in and check it out.  My doctor was able to see my band thru the fluoro x-ray. I believe had he not seen that, he would have never known that it was slipped and would have continued to fill me and make matters worse. I'm so happy my doc has a fluoro x-ray!!

Yes, sorry. If the band slides upwards, it can be round the oesopahgus and so is too loose and cannot be tightened. I should have added that but it is much less common. In the more usual slip, the stomach slides up through the band and so the narrowing caused by the band is filled with stomach tissue and so becomes blocked.


Extract from Stroh and Monger 2006.

What is Lap Band Slippage?

One of the long-term complications of lap band surgery is called “Lapband slippage" and can be defined as “when the Lapband and the stomach pouch are both prolapsed."  This means that the lap band has shifted position and the enlarged stomach pouch has also shifted or twisted so that food does not go through the lapband into the rest of the stomach. This may result in pain, discomfort, decreased appetite and inability to eat or drink, and vomiting. Lapband Slippage does not happen immediately but may take several months to develop. 

Large Lap Band Pouch

Lap Band Slippage generally develops in a progressive manner. As food intake is increased, the stomach begins to stretch and grow and the patient may stop losing weight or start to regain weight.  At this point, patients may only exhibit an enlarged stomach Lap band pouch.  This can be medically treated by deflating the lap band to release pressure and slow the growth of the pouch (successful in 70% of cases, or surgical treatment can be considered). However, if the enlarged lapband pouch continues to grow, the lapband progressively rotates until both the lap band and the enlarged pouch become prolapsed, resulting in Lap band slippage.  This is followed by functional stenosis (narrowing) of the stomach.  

 Lap Band Slippage

Lapband Slippage Symptoms typically include progressively worsening reflux, vomiting and epigastric complaints, which may increase to sudden near-total dysphagia (inability to swallow or eat anything, including saliva).

My band almost slipped 4 years ago and I do remember having 'pain and a throbbing pouch" in the chest area where the band is located, if you are concerned you need to see your doc to be on the safe side.

good luck

The first two years, I felt like a totally basket case reading all the post on here. I was so nervous about slipping, erosion, port flipping, etc. I think you begin to chill out a little when you adjust to living with the band. Don't let everything make you antsy to where you can't enjoy this journey. Don't get me wrong...I'm not advising anyone to ignore anything. I would try to remember that there is an element of natural fear when you call your doctor to get his thoughts on it. He/she is used to getting calls from nervous new patients. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Best wishes!!

ty all for you responses...i can eat my normal meals...drink my 65-90 ounces of sf kool aid......im going to call tommorrow anyways ...they keep calling me because i havent been in ...i had a slight gain so i was ashamed but i need peice of mind too.........