Band repositioning?! Hiatal hernia and reflux. HELP please.

Personally I would suggest just getting the band unfilled and having the HH repaired. Paying for yet another band repair just seems like a waste of money. It would probably be another band complication in the next yr. or 2 anyway.

I am in the same position as you, self-pay and stuck with the CRAP-BAND. :-(

Good luck!

i say go with what ever your heart tells u, if u see it as pointless pay for it to be removed!!! no need to be having complications after complications with no benefit!!!

somethings are ment to happen others are not!

God bless!!

I had a slip and had my band repositioned and a hernia repair at the same time. No problems since.

 Yes, I have a slight dilation, some 4 years after having the band repositioned. So slight that I don't even have an empty band, it's just slightly looser than before. My interpretation was that this poster was asking about reflux and hiatal hernia repair, not esophageal dilation. Its quite likely thst a lot of this poster's reflux issues are related to her hernia and my experience was that my repair fixed that issue. But it's so good of you to monitor our responses for us so as to ensure that we answer the question you think we should answer, even if it isn't the one asked. 

 
Zee....

Dev... oh Dev.  She is one that if you say the sky is blue she claims you said it was green with mocha colored polka dots and then slam dunks you for not saying the sky was blue to begin with.

Now, I could be wrong but I don't believe this is Dev's first serious complication.  But again, I could be wrong.  I am trying to remember but I believe she also had a slip... something,  I don't recall.  But hey, the band is God's gift to fat folks.  Right?

I can't remember if I told you... there was a conference somewhere out of the country.  I can give you the info to get details if you wish via PM.  But there were two Mexican docs on stage boasting of plication (kinda bottom feeder doctors) and how they were comfortable the long term stats for plication would be great.  Of course, one almost lost a patient due to the typical complication of a dying stomach due to plication.  Anyway, the dude who was on stage was not giving the warm applause he was looking for when he was done, neither was the other.  Then the doctor who created this procedure to begin with got on stage and corrected both of the bottom feeders.  He made it clear that plication is TEMPORARY for weight loss, it was not designed to be a forever procedure.  It's more like doing a sleeve on a 100 BMI person to get them to a more safe weight to do something such as RNY or DS.  However, if you look at the technical aspects of plication, it's just plain not safe to do a revision to a sleeve for DS or a pouch for RNY.  And the band manufacturers pretty well state the same thing, bands aren't meant to be forever.

I can give you the name of the person that remembers the details, unlike me. ;o)  PM me if it would help convince your friend another option might be a better bet.

 
A couple of years ago there was a conference in FL where the best of the best met and discussed bands.  They all were of the opinion that if you surgically reposition or replace a band, stats show 80% will have a major slip in the first two years.  So think long and hard about that one.

Fixing the hernia will likely give you some relief from the reflux but unfortunately, bands also cause reflux.  So maybe figure 50% chance it's the hernia and 50% chance it's the band.

I would think long and hard about RNY.  Regain is almost as much as bands long term and after about three years you are seriously metabolically challenged.

How did you do with weight loss in the beginning with a band?  Did you do well?  If so you already know all you need is restriction so a sleeve would be perfect.  No maintenance, no hassle, nothing.  You wave good bye to your surgeon and leave never having to see him again.  With bypass you only malabsorb for 6-18 months, after that it is all you.  Risks for complications are for life.  Bowel obstructions, vitamin issues... for life.

If you didn't do well with a band regarding weight loss before problems kicked in then DS is a better option in the sense that the dietary rules are a whole lot easier to live with and malabsorption is for life.

Honestly, if you did well when you had restriction, why have any malabsorption at all?  Why take the risk and the high maintenance?

Is ins paying for your hernia repair?  You aren't self pay for that, are you?

 I developedsevere gastritis and am trying desperately to get this out of me. I too am self pay... I feel your pain!

Lots of us self-payers are stuck with bands that are not working or in many cases causing damage. You might want to check out the failed band group on FB.

 Thanks, I'm already a member of that group on here. Is it different on FB?