PSA: Band Troubles

Copied and pasted from my blog....

I realized today that I haven't documented here, the progression of my band troubles.  This is due to the fact that over the last 18 months, we've been dealing with my FIL's health issues, his death and cleaning out, remodeling and renting his house out.  We were very busy to say the least and I didn't come here much at all...so here goes.
May/Jul 2011-started being awakened at night by this intense pain in my upper mid abdomen that radiated to my neck, shoulders, back and jaw.  It happened infrequently and we were away from home, so I ignored it.  It was relieved within a few minutes by cha Since I'm in Maui and working on iPad, can't do too much in one post.
December 2011-April 2012. During this entire time I was in San Jose Ca dealing with the estate and remodel.  My symptoms were progressing and I began to have heart palpitations.  My blood pressure rose too.  Again, attributed to the stress of being away from my family, home, etc, even tho I was with other family, friends and in my second home.  Anticipating letting go, supporting my husband and his brother WAS stressful, but willingly done out of love.

September 2011-as these attacks became more frequent, happening during the day and lasting longer, I became a bit alarmed.i scheduled an appointment with my PA for October 4.  In the meantime, in late September, I started having upper right quadrant pain, lasting for several hours and increasing intensity.  When I saw the PA, she immediately called the surgeon in and he scheduled an abdominal ultrasound for later in the week, + an Esophogram to rule out band trouble.  The Esophogram was good, though the radiologist did note slowed esophogeal emptying.  The ultrasound was positive for gallstones, I was scheduled for surgery on Oct 18, 2011, which was uneventful, easy compared to banding/HH repair.  I thought this was the end of my problems, until early December when the pain, PBs and food difficulties returned.  Since my FIL had just passed, I attributed this to stress.

As the months went on my symptoms continued.  I started having the nighttime pain during the day, palpitations, severe heartburn.  I was surviving on "slider" foods just to get by.  We had a huge project to complete and I just wanted to get it done, go home and live my life, so I did whatever I needed to do to survive for 6 months, all the while concerned that something was very wrong.

We got home late in late April...I immediately saw my PCP since I was having palpitations constantly.  He referred me to the cardiologist who ran me through a slew of tests and determined that my elevated hbp was causing the irregular heartbeats, changed my meds and sent me of to my bariatric surgeon to figure out what was going on.

I had an esophogram, which showed almost no fluid passing through my stoma, despite having only 3.5 cc of saline in my 11 cc Realize C band.  My PA told me that we need to remove all fluid from the band and she did so immediately.  This was followed by another barium swallow, during which she had me swallow a pill (about 10mm) which she said should pass through a band that is at optimal fill (about 3/8 inch stoma size).  It just sat there above my band...

I was sent home on liquids for 2 days with a progression to solids over the next several days.  For about 3 weeks I continued to have the same symptoms, but then they gradually subsided.  I went back for another esophogram 5 weeks post unfill and barium flowed through slowly.  Also, striations were noted above and below the band indicating my stomach was gathered up inside my band.  Slow emptying of the esophagus was indicated, and I told my PA that this was similar to the findings prior to my gallbladder surgery 8 months earlier.  She said it wasn't "terrible" but it was a good thing we emptied the band.  She said I could try a small fill, but she didn't recommend it.  I passed.

November 14 2012

Since then, it feels like I have more fill than it felt after my second fill...I'm tight.  I want to keep my band, but realize that it may not be possible.  I still measure my food, follow all band rules and have lost about 12-15 lb since my unfill in June.  Strangely, when we went to Maui for 2 weeks last month, my symptoms were completely resolved.  When we got home they gradually came back. 

Rule 1.) Do not keep your band if your esophagus is not working!

It would be great if it was as black and white as that, lol.

Hi Stephanie,

I sure hope you can get all these problems resolved and keep your band but even if you can't you are a bandster at heart, like me. Good luck with this and take it easy on yourself.

Sue

I have no answers but sending you a big hug!!!!  I hope you get some kind of answers soon! xo

Same from me wish I had an answer for you but, alas all I have is big hugs (((Steph))),  Oh if only we knew then what we know now!!!

Thanks everyone....I don't regret getting the band.  It truly was my only option at the time.  I only hope that my medAdvantage plan will cover revision to sleeve and that I will qualify for it.  My BMI is 34 right now, but I still have comorbidities.  HBP, osteoarthritis, GERD, high cholesterol.  I don't want to gain weight, just to qualify AND I'm not sure I can, since there are so few foods I can eat.

Thanks for sharing. I just wish that all the forum members with failed bands would post their experience here and be honest about it as you have done. Good luck!

Thanks Maria!

Steph,

 My band has been out for 18 months now, and my swallowing difficulties continue. It is safer to go without a tool, then to continue to allow your band to cause pain and trauma to your body.