Jean sorry to hear you need a revision

Jean I'm so sorry to hear that you are among the ranks of so many of us that are in need of a revision from the band now. As you know, there are so few bandsters out there that even make it to 5 years out! :-(

Just wondering what caused your esophageal dialation and achalasia???



Topic: Revision from band to ?? due to achalasia?

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Jean M. Union City, TN Virginia Weaver Lap Band (09/19/07) Member Since: 12/11/07 [Latest Posts]

Post Date: 2/21/12 6:38 am After 4-1/2 years of Lap-Band success, and not a single band-related problem in the past year, I have developed severe esophageal dilation and achalasia (literally out of the blue). My surgeon is convinced that my 4cc band is too tight, and that it will still be too tight now that it's unfilled to treat these problems. She says that the scar tissue from my band makes me a poor candidate for either types of surgery to correct achalasia and strongly recommends removing my band. I'm OK with that provided I can revise to another WLS procedure, preferably the sleeve. We have a fairly good chance of convincing my insurance company to pay for it because I'm a well-documented medical mess. Has anyone else had a revision after esophageal dilation and achalasia? Were you able to have the revision done at the same time as your band was removed? How well (and quickly) did your dilation and achalasia resolve? Thanks! Jean

That's too bad. I was told just recently that I wasn't a candidate for the sleeve due to scar tissue and the likelihood of developing even worse esophageal problems.  It might not be so easy to revise to the VSG after the band.
 
I think Jean must have me blocked, which is too bad because I have some experience with this, actually.  Hopefully she can find the answers she needs.   Maybe recommend Dr. Alvarez's book about the VSG. I found it really informative, in spite of the VSG not being a viable option for me due to the damage from the lapband.

Jean,

I am sorry to hear about your problem, you have been such a success model.  I am having problems lately after only one year.  At my last visit my doctor warned me that if I am too tight, I could get the espohageal stretching which creates long term problems.  Please keep us posted as you find the solution.

Jean ,

I'm so sorry to hear of your misfortune with your Band. You've been an inspiration all along and done "everything right". I'm glad you were vigilant and got the medical help you needed.

I'll keep you ( and your insurance company in my prayers ) that whatever WLS you get is approved.

Diana

 OMG!!! This is pretty scarey....I'm glad I cancelled my office visit yesterday. I have nothing as far as I know in my band after removeable of partial fill months ago. Yet I get tight when it fells like it. On that note I don't want anything else in at this time. Jean I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose at this time and that you feel better asap.

 I'm so sorry to hear this Jean.  I hope you are able to resolve these issues and wish you luck in whatever happens.  ((hugs))

Thanks for the good wishes, everybody.

Maria: Despite my medical mess, I don't consider my band to be a failure, since it got me to my goal weight and has kept me there for almost 4 years.

To give you more background than the post Maria pasted here:

In December I started having some night cough and occasional night reflux that were not helped by omeprazole. It got worse in January, with occasional regurgitation of food I'd eaten hours ago and a frequent desire (but inability) to burp. I hadn't had a fill in over a year and hadn't had any eating problems, so this seemed to come out of the blue. I've had an upper GI and an EGD, and my gastroenterologist, my surgeon, and another bariartric surgeon all agree that I have a badly dilated esophagus with secondary achalasia (poor esophageal motility that doesn't move food down into the stomach). The immediate treatment is a complete unfill (which happened on Monday). My surgeon feels that my old 4cc band is too small and too tight, even without fill in it, and I seriously doubt she'll ever agree to put fill back in it again. She wants to remove it, which is OK with me provided I can revise to another procedure, preferably the sleeve. Whether my insurance will cover that remains to be seen, but my surgeon thinks we have ample documentation to show Anthem that revision is medically necessary.
 
While waiting for insurance approval, I'm doing my best to deal with the return of physical hunger, but I'm actually happy to be able to eat raw veggies again. I have no idea when I might be having a revision and whether band removal and revision can be done in the same surgery.
I'm doing some research into the occurrence of esophageal dilation and motility problems in band patients. My situation reminds me of the speech that Dr. Mitchell Roslin gave at last year's ASMBS conference, in which he pointed out that the band creates a high-pressure system that can eventually lead to motility problems. It baffles me that this could happen to someone like me - a very careful eater who wasn't overeating. I suppose it's possible that it was developing very slowly and didn't start causing symptoms until it reached a critical point.

When my symptoms started, it was in the middle of the holiday shopping season, a time when I'd have to present my own death certificate as justification for taking a day off to go see my surgeon. In retrospect I can see that I should have found a way to do that regardless, since catching a problem sooner rather than later has got to make it easier to treat and resolve.
So let that be a lesson to us all! It's humbling for me to have to say, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Jean

I am sorry to hear about this, but I am not surprised.  I think with some exceptions, long term, the band is unhealthy for our esophagus.  Although, I haven't had the reflux or night coughs, I have a lot difficulty eating lately.  I am driving to see my surgeon tomorrow to get fluid taken out.  I am also going to ask for a revision to the sleeve.  I don't have my hopes up, but I think that is the best I can do for my body. 

Good luck, Melly. I think if you haven't had reflux, you're a much better candidate for the sleeve than those of us who do.

I hope things work out well for you.

Please cross your fingers for me..........I am thankful to have A tool, but I am ready to change to a different surgery.  My band is really acting pyccho.  With my slip 2 years ago, I had a lot of reflux and night coughing.  I am really hoping my surgeon will help me this time.