Pain - four years out

I had lap-band surgery four years ago(Sept. 10) and have been successful at losing 90+lbs. Now, I am hoping someone can help as I am very frustrated.  About three months ago I started having pain in my left side abdomen. I also have pain (in the same area) when there is pressure on my port . About the same time, I started having major acid reflux. Thinking it was all connected, I went to my lap-band surgeons office and met with the PA. She gave me meds for the acid reflux and sent me home (did not remove any fill).  Four weeks later, I was back in her office because I couldn't swallow anything.  Prior to the acid reflux and this appointment, I hadn't been in their office since last October so I am confused why after almost nine months, I was now having acid reflux and not able to swallow anything.  They emptied my band and while there I complained about the pain again. No answer!  I have gone to my primary care doctor and complained about the pain and she has stated that because the lap-band PA was helping me she was leaving it in her hands. About five weeks ago, I went back to my lap-band PA to have fill put back in my band (no more acid reflux and swallowing fine).  The next day, the pain in my stomach was in full force and I called the PA's office. They had me come in the next morning and ended up sending me for a CT scan thinking it was diverticulitis? About an hour after the CT, the PA called and said I had a cyst on my left kidney and maybe this was causing the pain, but since it wasn't lap-band related that I needed to go to my PCP and have a MRI.  After my PCP talked to the radiologist, she called me to say that it wasn't a cyst but a mass on my kidney (I hate hearing mass as it sent me into a panic) and had the MRI scheduled very quickly. Turns out it was just scar tissue, and they don't think that it is the cause of my pain, but they don't know what it could be.  My PCP suggested that I see a general surgeon who specializes in incisional hernia's even though it didn't show up in the MRI and she can't feel one, but she doesn't know what else to do.  Yesterday, I went back to my Lap-band PA for another fill as I am getting very frustrated with not only the pain and no answers, but because she emptied my band, I am gaining weight. In talking with her and explaining what the PCP has said and telling her I am going to the general surgeon, she said she didn't think it was an incisional hernia as she couldn't feel one, but maybe the tubing is rubbing and irritating something in my stomach. This is the first answer that seem to make any sense since this all started.

Has anyone had a problem with the tubing causing pain? Any help, suggestions??

We are glad to see you posted this here on the Lap Band Forum as well.   

The port and tubing can indeed cause pain as can pressure on the vegus nerve that can cause left sided shoulder pain. Also If having a fill is causing reflux then you really need to keep a lower fill level or even better have the band removed because it won't get better as long as there is saline in the band. I've been empty for over 2 years for this very reason. The failed band board can give you much more info.

Google--- Lap Band + Vagus nerve irritation (also Phrenic nerve damage) 

                   Lap Band + scar tissue

                 

 

It's fairly common to start experiencing complications at around the 2-3 year mark. It has happened to a lot of us, unfortunately. I'm sorry you are also going through it. 

A lot of my diagnostic tests showed nothing. Meanwhile, the band was damaging the nerves that run through the diaphragm and causing my stomach to twist. The tests are really almost useless when it comes to diagnosing pain that accompanies banding, in my opinion. 

 

Best of luck to you.

I was banded 2/09.  I had the left side abdominal pain.  I also had port pain when ever I moved, lifted and kind of work.  I had also gone thru the reflux and waking at night choking on acid.  I had the bane totally unfilled at 1 and 2 years for not being able to swallow.  By three years I would go from to tight that I couldn't swallow to wide open.  I would show a "perfect" band in UGI's.  When they scoped they could see esophagealitis and gastritis.

When they took the band out they had to dig the port out of a pseudo capsule of scare tissue.  This was pulling on they stuff inside it had adhered to.  Also there was scare tissue building under the band.  If the tubing is touching/irritating anything along it's path it can cause adhesion which cause pain.  None of this shows up without surgery.

Good luck!  I hope you get answers soon.

Since you're having gastrointestinal issues, consider seeing a gastroenterologist. My band doctors practice was no help when I developed complications. My symptoms worsened after a complete unfil. It was with the help of my GI doctor that it was determined that the band was irritating my vagus nerve, essentially paralyzing my GI tract, causing achalasia, gastroparesis, constipation, horrible reflux and esophageal dilation. I was losing weight surviving on ice cream, cream soups and protein shakes because I could not swallow solid food despite an empty band. At removal, a huge amount of scar tissue was removed from my esophagus and under the band. Since surgery almost 3 months ago, my symptoms are 90% resolved, though some foods still give me trouble.

Best of luck to you,

Steph

Yup...sounds familiar. I could not wait to have mine removed. Years later and toothless (from acid vomiting), esophageal damage...etc I finally got my POS band removed and revised to a different surgery. This is typical complications years out from the band. The band is not a long term solution no matter what they tell you. It has the highest complication rate of any WLS. I wish you luck trying to get it under control. Do not let it go to far before you get it removed. It can cause some serious damage if you do. 

I thought I would ahve a band forever. My sister always hoped I would get what I could from it and ditch it. She turned out to be right. I got what I needed to become a healthier more active person. Then it began turning on me. I have acid, aspiration, pain, can't eat good foods. So Monday it will come out and I will put my big girl panties on (No pun intended) and eat healthy food and do healthy activities. Because Life isn't just about looking good in an outfit. It is about BEING healthy and Ic annot be healthy with my band.

Thank you for your response.  After emptying the band, the acid reflux went away.   The few months that I had acid reflux was awful and I really wish the doctor had removed some of the fill the first time I went instead of just giving me a pill. I am on my second fill, trying again (so far so good, everything is staying in and no heart burn).  I can't wait to meet with the General Surgeon next week to try to figure out what the pain is.  I am so sick of hearing "I don't know" by both my PCP and my lap-band doctor. I have been saying since it first started that it had to do with the band, but it was pushed aside and now it has been months of living with this pain (which some days is not there and other days it is there all the time, however regardless of how the days are, it wakes me up nightly).  It is true, life is more about being healthy!! 

I wish you lots of luck with the removal of your band and hope that everything works out.

Just a FYI!  I had horrible acid reflux with the band.  I didn't have it before the band and it went away after the band had been removed.  The worst went away with removal and after a couple months I realized I wasn't having any.  So I was able to get a sleeve.  I was told if the reflux didn't go away I wouldn't be a candidate.