Lapband- my esophogus is swollen to 4x the size

I have had the band for about 5 years, with a replaced band 2yrs ago due to slippage. a recent upper GI showed my eshopogus is dilalated to 4x the normal size and insists I am overeating. He removed all the fluid and I went to the hospital yesterday for an endoscopy to see if there was anything wrong. He says the muscle may not be working properly that passes the food through to the stomach (alcalasia). I am terrified and have alredy gained about 10 lbs. They want me to go back for another barium swallow in a month to see if my eshopogus has gotten smaller. Has anyone had this happen?

I don't have any words of advice for you, but I hope it gets better soon.  Is your band in the correct placement now, I hope?  I've heard of people having esophageal spasms, but never dilation. It sounds like the motility of the muscles is compromised. Do they think it's due to the slippage?

Best of luck to you, Chelle.

Nicci

Dilations are possible with the band. They can be caused by over-eating or even by disorders that slow down peristalsis. I think there is a test you can have done to see what your esophageal motility is, so maybe it would be a good idea to have that done and see what the problem is. Most of the time dilations resolve with a period of being unfilled and some time on a liquid diet. There aren't a whole lot of band folks on this board, so you might have better luck getting answers to questions like this on the lap band board.

I had an upper GI series last week for pre-op testing and the radiologist commented to me that he hoped I wasn't having lap band because he sees so many patients come in with problems related to that.    I'm sorry that you are one of those that are having trouble and I hope you feel better very soon!

What were your symptoms?