LapBand, get 'stuck' all the time - revise to Sleeve?

I haven't been on OH in a long time.

Long story short.... 2 yrs. ago I had my Band surgery. At max. I had lost 52 lbs. - now at 38 lbs. (regained 14 lbs. since last October).

I constantly get 'stuck' in my esophagus. I've had this problem since I've had my Band. I've discussed this with my surgeon, repeatedly. He asked if I'm chewing enough, taking small enough bites, etc. I do all of that. Also, my Port bothers me when I lean against the sink to do dishes, etc.

Bottom line - I want the Band and its port OUT.

Is this problem only Band related?

Your input will be greatly appreciated. I want to feel FULL, not stuck!

PS: I've put this same post on the Sleeve Forum.

Hi Kathi,

I'm glad you asked this question on the sleeve forum, as well. You'll find more answers there than here, probably. You see, a lot of people on the lapband forum get very upset if someone says that you should probably get the band out for better quality of life. (Seems to be seen as "negativity," for some reason.) But, I'm going to tell you, anyway... you should probably get the band out for better quality of life. It's amazing what we can put up with  (and for SO long) in the name of weight loss. But at some point, it's better to save your body from further damage caused by the band (and the band does cause a lot more damage than people realize.) 

I assume the saline has already been removed from your band, right?  Your esophagus might be dilated, causing food to kind of get "caught" as it's working so hard to push the food down. You know your own body... you know when things aren't right. Did your surgeon do any sort of testing? I mean, it's one thing to ask about chewing, small bites, etc. but to find out for sure if there's something actually physically wrong, it would require a couple of tests.

I'm not going to tell you to revise to the sleeve because I haven't done this myself... and I have no business advising you to do something when I haven't done it! But, I do hope you are able to get the answers you need from the VSG forum and decide what's best for yourself. Sounds like you've decided the band needs to go, regardless. That's the situation I found myself in, too. I just wanted the band OUT. I didn't even care at that point whether I had a revision surgery. I just wanted to feel like a living person again... without chronic pain.

Wishing you the best of luck. I hope things go well for you.

 Hi Nic M,

Thank you for your kind words and understanding. You are correct. I want the band out.

Here is one more reason it's got to go: every time I eat and get stuck (which is almost every time I eat), my husband becomes upset and nervous that I might actually choke. I tell him that I'm fine, that it will pass.  I don't want this to be the rest of our lives. In the two years since my surgery, he hasn't adjusted to my episodes, and neither have I.  And truthfully, I don't want to accept this a constant way of life.

No, my surgeon has not taken the saline out of my band. He did reduce the amount that was in the band, but didn't empty it completely.

Thinking about what you said about my esophagus being dilated, that sounds right. The sensation is the first bite (of anything) gets stuck, then I keep trying to swallow saliva, or make myself burp, I turn my head side to side, I pat my upper chest area, sometimes my husband pats my back (like trying to help a baby burp).... all in an attempt to get un-stuck. Moments, minutes, or an hour later (I never know how long the sensation will remain), I feel my esophagus move the stuck food down, and I have the -- ahhhhhh RELIEF that I've been seeking! Then I can eat.

The abdominal sensitivity where my port is located is often actually painful, particularly when pressure is applied (leaning against the kitchen sink to wash dishes).

I know my eating habits are not perfect, but, I also know that I try very hard to adhere to the rules. And probably eat properly 80% of the time. That being said, I get stuck no matter what. Therefore, the Band and port have got to go! Got to go! Got to go!

If I can't revise to the Sleeve because of insurance reasons, or if I hear people get stuck with the Sleeve also and I decide not to have the revision, I'm willing to risk regaining the measly 38 lbs. I've lost to feel 'normal' again. And I'll go back to my old weight loss struggle without any surgical assistance.

I may be in the minority with my Band situation, but had I read about people being stuck on a regular basis while I was researching my options, I would not have decided to have the Band.

Everyone, please take this information as it is meant, simply: this has been MY EXPERIENCE. That is all I am talking about.
Thanks,
Kathi

When I had the band, I couldn't eat solid foods at all. I get where you're coming from, totally.
In my opinion, the band is a torture device. It's like an undeserved punishment.

 It might be a good idea to do a total unfill....I've actually lost 6 lbs since my unfill...still getting stuck now and then, but much better!

This sounds just like me before I had my revision, my esophagus actually became part of my stomach , holding the food untill it decided to push the food down.It could be 30 seconds or 15 minutes , even with poached eggs, and it HURT , now no pain at all, thank goodness
I can't tell you how much better and NORMAL I feel after revision !!!
Best wishes

The one thing I hear over and over again from band to sleevers is that the sleeve works like we were told the band would, but didn't. Haven't read of any revision folks complain about their sleeves.

 Hislady,

Thank you for passing along that information, I appreciate hearing and learning all sides of Band and Sleeve stories!

Kathi

 I went through that, too....I finally got 2cc out and feel SO MUCH BETTER.  I can eat now, even chicken breast, and I'm still losing.  slowly, but losing.  I lost all my gained prednisone weight plus some.  I thought I wanted the sleeve, but now that I can actually eat again I'm feeling maybe I don't need to be cut open yet again.

 Hi Guernica Loser,

Thanks so much for your reply!  I think I'll make an appt. to have more saline removed. He already removed some, but maybe a little more will be helpful.

That being said, it won't alleviate my port pain/discomfort. My surgeon said he could just move my port to a less sensitive area.

Kathi