I think in the US it's standard to completely unfill the band and let things rest for six weeks or so.  I had a dilation and that's what they did. Unfortunately it kept happening and I developed chronic reflux.  Ultimately I had my band removed in May and just revised to RNY on the 14th.  I don't know what kind of surgery they are planning to fix a dilation but I would be wary.  Even if the give you another band it can happen again.  

Lisa O.

I don't know if Echoli would qualify, but I have a friend who had an infection attach itself to her band, the silicone.  She had to have her band removed.  While the other responders seem to know about how to contract echoli I would definately ask your surgeon if it would be possible to somehow attach itself to the silicone band or tubing.l 

Just a guess.  I have no idea of this is possible.

Take care, 

Lisa O.

Hi!  Long time!

Reflux is when stomach acid washed back up your esophagus.  It's similar to heartburn but it actually comes back up and can be very dangerous if you aspirate the bile into your lungs while sleeping.  This is commonly called "night cough".

The burning in your throat can be a symptom of reflux, or non-symtomatic reflux but you need to have your doctor check it out.  My throat used to get irritated from acidic foods, i.e., citrus fruits or juices, tomato products, spicy foods, chocolate.  If you have irritated your throat from too much pb'ing these types of foods will cause a burning feeling.  I would try to stay away from the foods mentioned for a week or two and see if it makes a difference.  The hard time swallowing in the a.m. is something else.  My surgeon explained morning tightness (which is very common with bandsters) on fluid retention during our sleep.  When you lay down the fluids in our body and organs settle.  It takes a while in the a.m. for things to start moving through the elimination process, etc.  You may be tight in the a.m. because you are retaining fluids.  That is why it generally gets better as the day goes on.  I've found that starting the day with a warm beverage will allow me to eat better in the a.m.

It's always a good idea to check with your doctor.  If you can be proactive and prevent permanent damage you may be able to stay banded.

Nice to hear from you!

Lisa O.

My surgeon doesn't do revisions in one surgery but he removed my band and had me re-qualify for RNY as a separate surgery request because I still meet the requirements (BMI of 40, Apnea, etc.).  If they can't make a case for a medically necessary revision, they may be able to get approval for removal of the band based on 2 revisions.  Are you having any chronic reflux issues?  That's why my band had to be removed. I had severe damage to my esophagus due to reflux.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

Lisa O.

Hi Friends,

I just wanted to pop in to let you know that I have decided to go for it and am having RNY surgery on October 14.   Please pray for no complications and quick healing.  

I've been hanging out on the Revision and RNY Forums if you want to say hi!

Thank you all for your support over the years! This Forum was so important to my early WL journey!

Best, 

Lisa O.

Of course you did it!  You are an amazing inspiration!  

Congratulations!

Lisa O.

I know for a fact, my surgeon would not give you another band!  Remember the Einstein's definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.  My surgeon quotes this in his seminar.  It's just risky!

Consider the Sleeve is you don't suffer from reflux.  Many are having great success with that surgery.

Lisa O.

I hope your removal goes as smoothly as mine did.  You'll be amazed how much easier recovery is when you're not hauling around all that extra weight! 

Sounds like you have adopted a new way of living and that should see you through even while un-banded.  Keep to the band rules even though you won't have a band.  I wish I had done a better job of that but sadly I have been gaining weight rapidly.

Best of luck!

Lisa O.

I was a lap band success but lost my band due to my own negligence.  After 4 years of successfully managing my 116 lbs weight loss (within 10 lbs), I developed complications from a dilation of the pouch/esophagus and chronic reflux came along as a side effect.

Here's the deal though, the band worked for me.  I didn't have any real complaints and take full responsibility for what happened because I started ignoring the "band rules" that helped me lose weight.  My portions grew over time, I didn't eat slowly or chew well and I regurgitated food too often which is a sign that something is wrong. 

If you are dead set on having the band please remember me when you are tempted to eat more than 1/3-1/2 a cup of food at a time.  Please remember me if you are tempted to add foods back in to your eating plan that aren't good for you like junk food, sweets, ice cream, chips that will go right through the band. Remember me and then don't do it!  It's not worth it!  I've gained a lot of weight back and am hoping to revise to RNY in October.

None of the surgeries are perfect.  All of them can be cheated by abusing the tool.  And yes, some times things go wrong that are not your fault at all.  There is surgical error, band failure, i.e., leaks, etc. and slips that are sometimes caused by band abuse and sometimes due to anatomy or staples not holding and sometimes it's just bad luck.  All we can do is make the decision that's best for us and pray that it's the right one.

Bottom line, follow the rules.  They are there for a reason.

Best of luck!

Lisa O.

I don't know if your insurance will pay for another surgery, but i was exactly where you are.  I didn't have a slip, I had other complications, dilation, chronic reflux, etc. but i had the band for 4 years, lost 116 lbs, gained about 20 lbs while playing the "fill/un-fill" game,  then had it removed in May.  My surgeon will not do a revision in one surgery.  He is conservative and wants 3-4 months healing in between.  I've gained a lot of weight back and am waiting to have RNY surgery once my insurance criteria is met.

Best of luck to you!

Lisa O.

In my case I take responsibility for letting the old, compulsive eating habits take over.  I had the band for 4.5 years, was a super star losing 116 in 9 months!  But, I had to get the band removed in May because my pouch and esophagus were so dilated that there was nothing there to keep bile or food down.  The official diagnosis?  "GE/Esophageal junction grossly compromised".  I take responsibility because I know that I wasn't controlling portion size, wasn't eating slowly, wasn't chewing well.  I also started eating carbs again, which I didn't do for the first year, and I started to gain weight.  I also was regurgitating food almost daily and would then turn around and eat more trying to soothe the various emotions and stressors that I call "life".  I developed reflux at year 2 after having none for the first two years because my HH was repaired when they inserted the band.  So that's the role I played.

The other half of the story is that my band was in perfect position.  It never moved.  I didn't have a slip or excess scar tissue.  HOWEVER, the upward pressure, that is created naturally from the band, fights with the downward pressure the muscles in the esophagus used to swallow food.  They are at odds and therefore causes a perfect storm of distress on top of the issues I created by over-filling the pouch.  Over time, the pressure was too great and the sphincter between the pouch and esophagus just stayed wide open.  I was having chronic reflux and night cough (very dangerous) and I could even feel the food go down and then come back up a bit because that junction was wide open.  Very weird sensation.

So, that is my personal experience.  Many lose their bands for other reasons like slips, surgeon error, etc.  Others must claim some responsibility.  I'm being painfully honest to demonstrate that there are many reasons that the band may not work for all or may not work long term.  There are many successful with the band long term too!

We all do the best we can making such an important decision.  We research and talk to others that went before us but none of the surgeries are perfect.  I know plenty of people that have gained weight back with the Sleeve and RNY and have had a variety of complications.  I would never tell anyone NOT to have the band but if I had to do it over again I would have had RnY because I'm a sugar addict and sugar goes right through the band and the Sleeve.   It all depends on your personality, your health going in to surgery, etc. 

Do the best you can to research and make the decision best for YOU, then don't look back!  Claim your new life!

Best, 

Lisa O.

Hi Cheryl, 

Annie gives good advice.  I was a very successful Band patient but had to get my band removed due to complications with reflux. I am now considering a revision but the Sleeve is not an option for me because of my chronic reflux.  

I believe that therapy is an essential part of our journey even in conjunction with a weight loss surgery.  I did therapy and it helped but I still fall into the same old behaviors when it comes to emotional eating even when I had the Band.  It's a constant concern and needs a lot of attention and behavior modification to learn new ways to cope with stress and other emotions.

If I had it to do over, (and only had 80-100) lbs to lose I would probably do the Sleeve.  While still fairly new, it has better long term results than the band from what I understand.  If you suffer from consistent reflux now I wouldn't get the Sleeve as reflux is the number one long term side effect.

If you have a sugar/sweets addiction, RNY may be best for you. It's easy to "cheat" the band with candy, ice cream etc. because anything that turns to sugar or liquid in your mouth will go right through the band.   With RNY you may experience dumping syndrome when you eat sugar or fatty foods which is a pretty good deterent as I understand it.  However, not all RNY patients experience dumping from sweets, etc.

Bottom line, there is not perfect surgery that will take away hunger and stop you from eating or making bad food choices.  All of us must work on WHY we turn to food for comfort, boredom, etc. and then learn the necessary behavior modification tools to help us stop instead of over-eat.  I have a pretty devious food mind and can eat around any surgery if I'm in abuse mode.  But, when I choose to use the tools I've learned I feel powerful!  

Take a look at the post titled  "Before you Take the Next Bite..." on this forum just about your post.  It's a good one!

Best, 

Lisa O.