To kee*****t to keep. That is the question...

9 years post lap bander here. Banded in 2003, revision in 2009 to correct a slip. I am back to the drawling board and beyong frustrated! I cannot keep solids down and finally admitted something was wrong last week. I went to the hospital for a barium swallow. Sure enough the barium was a slow dripping faucet. My esophagus is dialated and is now acting as my stomach to store food. Bad. I was put on strict liquids all weekend and was to begin mushy food today after removing 2cc's that were in the band. No go...the food has been sitting in my throat since 11am and it is now 2pm.

My frustrations are this:
#1 Did I not do liquids long enough
#2 Should I just have it removed and be done with it
#3 Will I gain weight-OMG scary!
#4 If I give it time will it correct itself and save me the fear of surgery and the income loss?

I have no idea what to do. Appointment scheduled with surgeon tomorrow to discuss. If I can avoid surgery, I should...right? I just don't know. I am tired of living like this.

I currently weigh 168. At my revision I weighed 166 so I have gained 2 pounds in 2 years. I wear a size 10 comfortably. I could stand to lose 15lbs at this point but overall have been VERY pleased with my weight loss. 141 was too small for me...135 (my lowest) I looked sick.

 It has been removed as of yesterday at 4pm. Time to heal...any positive thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Sweetie the sooner you get it out.........the better off you're going to be. It's just going to be one problen after another every few years. You're extremely lucky to have lasted this long with the bands!

 Hi Joy, I had similar results from my barium swallow in June and had a complete unfill.  I wasn't restricted in my diet at all, but found my symptoms didn't subside for about 3 weeks.  I put myself on a soft diet after struggling for 2 weeks and things calmed down and I began to lose again...8 lbs so far since July 1.  When I went back 7-17 for another look, the barium was just a small stream and my esophogeal motility wasn't normal.  I still struggle with certain foods and am very careful.  Good luck, hope your situation resolves in your favor.

 Thanks for writing Stephanie!

So did you feel that waiting a bit longer assisted with you? I am not sure if I should hold out and see how times does on my throat and belly or just get it out since I have recently had continued problems. Surgery scares the death out of me and I would like to avoid it but I also fear just prolonging the inevitable. I meet with my surgeon tomorrow at 4pm and I am certain I will have to either have surgery or wait it out. Just not sure what path to take and my gut isn't leaning one way or another....

 Try doing a soft diet, yogurt, soft boiled eggs,etc for several days and see what happens.  I honestly was getting stuck on liquids!  After a few days of no solids, I was able to eat like I did 2-3 weeks post op, introducing one new food per day.  I also add protein powder to instant SF pudding (3 scoops to one box) and used that to supplement my protein intake. 
I would wait it out for a while and see if your stoma relaxes after a soft food regimine.  My doctor also told me that ice water before eating soothes the stomach and it does seem to help.

Unfortunately once you start having problems they tend not to get better, altho some do, I think the majority continue with one issue after another. I can't tell you how many people have issues with the band but I can tell you there are over 500 people registered on the failed band board! That's just people from OH, I'm sure not all of them are having problems but if they aren't they know someone who is. I freely admit I am not a band supporter but I would absolutely get it out and revise if I were you, but you need to discuss it with your surgeon and then make your choice. Good luck no matter what you decide!

 I am just TIRED. Tired of choking on my food mid meal and running to the bathroom. I just went to my 15 year highschool reunion and while using the bathroom got hit with the urge and ended up vomiting in the garbage can. Who does this? It seems so wrong to me in so many ways. My band has been good to me. It took me from 251-135 with zero complications for over 5 years. I am just so torn. I fear that I am walking into a surgery that could possibly be avoided and putting my health and life at risk is terrifying to me. I have an 11 year old daughter to think about and if I can avoid it I would like too but at this point I fear I cannot. Today I have had 1 c tomato soup and 1 c chicken brothe. I attempted a soft food (as I did with lunch) and it is still sitting in my throat for 4 hours now. I meet with my Dr. tomorrow to discuss my current options. They did ask if I wanted to have the sleeve done BUT with that comes cost. I am only 18lbs "over" weight and that seems like a hefty cost for 18 pounds...

I am torturing myself with this decision....

 Get the fluid out, all of it.  You cannot even begin to heal with the fluid I your band...I misunderstood, thought you had a complete unfill!