Dilation for last 3.5 yrs!

Hello all,

 

Well its been a LONG time since I have been on these boards........ Boo for me.

I was banded 3-4-05, and had great results. About 3-4 yrs ago, I developed a dilation. The Dr. took out all the fluid and told me to do liquids for 2 weeks. This was the week before Thanksgiving. Needless to say, I did not follow his advise.

So for the past 3 years I have slowly put on 40 of the 116 pounds I lost.

I have tried several things, Weigh****chers, low carb, eating clean. And still have no weight loss to speak of.

So for the past 6 months I have developed reflux. Not even eating anything, like first thing in the am after just one cup of coffee. Well started just taking some OTC acid reducers and they help. Well about a month ago, I started waking up at night with reflux. I would have to go take more medicine. So I went to the Dr. yesterday, and he advised me to get the swallow test, which showed a large dilation still. He said I might want to think about getting the old band out and the new I band put in.

I was cash pay for the first band as insurance has weight loss exclusion. Plus I have had 2 rounds of plastics. I cannot afford more surgery. His PA advised me to not get the new band, said it was not FDA approved, and she sees folks having a lot of the same problems I have been having. She suggested finding a Dr. to do the Sleeve. AGAIN I cannot afford another cash surgery. I just had total knee replacement this past Jan. Finally getting back to the gym. 

But at the same time, I sure do not want to gain all my old weight back. I am so very upset with myself, but just not sure where to turn.

Any advise from you out there would be greatly  appreciated. I was the best cheerleader for my band, but now, its causing this.

Thanks,

Montie

Sorry that you are having problems.

I would get the band out but have nothing put back in.

I did better with weigh****chers than the band.

I definitely would not get another band.  Go out and read all the information on that.  Not too good.

We were all cheerleaders for the band when we first had it put in. Don't feel bad.

Montie, please don't get a second band. They have twice the complication rate of first bands, causing more damage. I had my band removed 6 weeks ago due to band induced achalasia. I had symptoms of a person who'd had the disease for decades, zero muscle activity in the esophagus which was severely dilated, not because I over ate, but because pressure from the band caused the lower esophageal sphincter to fail to open. This causes dilation because food accumulates in the E, instead of moving into the pouch, then stomach as it should.
I'm able to eat healthy foods now after a year of not eating anything that wasn't puréed or liquid (even that would come up).
Reflux at night is one of the early signs I had that things were terribly wrong. I started waking up choking on acid about 8 weeks after my complete unfill. In 8 months time, I progressed to zero esophageal motility.
I'm maintaining...it's a bit of a learning curve without restriction, but I'm staying within 3 lb of my lowest weight. I'm measuring, weighing and logging my food.
Pickles is right...you can do this. The first step is making YOU accountable for your choices and don't count on the band to stop you from the poor choices, cause it won't do that.
Good luck...look for support on Facebook WLS-support for regain and revision
https://www.facebook.com/groups/130465167129885/

You are seriously risking your esophagus at this point.  I would remove the band, wait, check to see if you have done forever damage and take it from there.  I would be surprised if you do NOT have permanent esophageal damage.  :o(((

 

Same advise: get that band out, my surgery was called at 9:15 am and I was home at 1:30pm, including a 25 minuet drive.  Do not get another band.  See how you do and heal.  Than see about the sleeve.  I had my band removed and was sleeved 4.5 months later.  Some have waited years.  

You say you were self pay.  Does your insurance now cover WLS?

I sure understand the thing about cash pay. It is tough. Honestly, I would see about getting your band removed since the dilation has nfot improved in this amount of time. I loved my band but when things like this happen another band just won't work. If you can find a way to pay for removal (check with your surgeons insurance people since sometimes they can be very imaginative), get it out as soon as possible then let the dialtion heal while you save for revision. Sometimes that is all we can do. I am so sorry you have to deal with this but you really do not want to deal with permanent problems.

Keep coming here for support, and keep us posted.

Sue

Montie, 

Your story could have been written by me!  We even lost (and gained) the same amount!  

I too had a dilation, developed serious reflux with night cough (which can be deadly).  I had all the tests done, Upper GI, Endoscopy and a esophageal motility test done.  My motility is o.k. (thank God), but the band had to go.  I would seriously be concerned with a surgeon who wants to give you another band!  While dilation can be greatly caused by pushing the boundaries (portion size) through over eating (it was for me), the upward pressure the band creates, fights against the natural downward pressure created by your esophagus pushing food into your stomach.  It's not natural and can cause permanent damage. I had my band removed in May because the junction between my esoph. and stomach is completely blown therefore food and bile do not stay down.  Once the band was removed it has improved but we don't know yet if the damage to my anatomy will reverse itself.

I loved my band.  I lost a lot of weight and it changed my life.  I have no regrets except that I didn't do enough to reverse my compulsion to over eat.  Therapy is a key component to this journey and while I did some, I still chose over and over again to ignore the symptoms, i.e., pbing too often, increasing reflux, etc. and kept on using food to blunt out emotions, stress, etc.

My surgeon quotes Einstein's definition of insanity when asked if he would replace a band with a band.  "Why would you do the same procedure and expect a different outcome?"

Best wishes,

Lisa O. 

 

Thank you so very much for the reply.

My original Dr is retired, so the next best thing was the Dr. I am seeing now. He did an Endo scope on me 2 yrs ago, all normal.

He said he wanted to take a look and see how dialited i was. He did not think it was too bad. Put me on the Nexium and said come back in 1 month. He only does Lap Bands. Said he could change them out. After I posted this, I have been reading so many bad experences that folks are having with the band. There is even a "failed lap band" group on Face Book. After reading it, I really think mine needs to go. I just hate that I have spent so much money, effort, money, time on this journey to have it go by by. I also had 2 rounds of plastic surgery. My insurance does not cover revision, so I would be on my own again. I think I have spent around $55K on this whole thing.

I sure dont want to harm my body anymore than I already have. I have had one night of waking up choaking, and it scared me to death. I could not catch my breath.

I was a total band cheerleader, but the last year, its been hell.

Well, I shall try to stay positive, and hope you can too.

Let me know how the revision goes if that is what you do.

 

Montie

pineview, I tried to send you a PM but it will not let me.

Can you tell me more about how you fought your insurance company to cover your revision?

my email is [email protected]

 

thanks,

That is strange!  I get friend request and PM's all the time.  I got your friend request and added you and OK'ed you for band to sleeve.  Let me know if you can't get thru now.