A question for everyone here.

Hello,

     My name's Kim.  I'm new here, so hello !  I had the Lap Band surgery in Nov. 2011. I've been having a few problems. Was wondering if they sounded familiar to anyone else here.? 

      I did wonderful for the first 9 months post- op.  I lost over 100 lbs. I was estatic!  In August of 2012 my band slipped, when it slipped it also pulled my hiatal hernia loose ( I had the hernia repair and band done at the same time). I had to have surgery to repair the hiatal hernia and put the band back in place. Since then I have had a plethora of trouble. They couldn't seem to get the fluid in my band adjusted just right. My stomach/pouch always became 'irritated' I would have days on end with pain and where I couldn't get food or fluids down. They would take my fluid out, wait a few weeks then we would start adding fluid to the band. I would do well for a brief amount of time, then the same scenario. Each time I would have to have a barium swallow to look at the band, my pouch, how my stomach was emptying. Each time they said the band looked fine. They told me that they are seeing with women 'my age'(I was offended-lol- not really) that hormones play a big role in the pouch becoming irritated. That I would not be able to really eat for half the month and the other half I would be hungry alot! I was a little upset. I had the lap band to control my food intake. When I can't really stick to a certain way of eating daily , I tend to get crabby and fall off the proverbial wagon! ......This last time I actually had to go to the ER my abdominal pain was so bad. The ER took most of the fluid out for me, I followed up with my doc, of course had another barium swallow! This time however they told me that they believe I have gastroporesis(where my stomach doesn't empty like it should). So I'm scheduled for an EGD here soon.!  I'm starting to wonder if maybe I need to have a revision of some sort, maybe a GS or a more radical RNY bypass. My weight has fluctuated 10 to 15 pounds , both ways since my second surgery. Don't get me wrong  I'm grateful for where I've made it too. I just have so much farther to go!  Any comments, suggestions, ideas would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry it's so long. Thanks for your time- Kim

If you are having esophogeal issues then you need to get that thing out ASAP before they become permanent! Myself I would revise to the sleeve because I prefer to keep my pyloric valve (holds the food in making you feel full longer) than have the RNY where you not only lose the pyloric valve but the malabsorbtive part of the RNY also fades with time. Also with the sleeve they remove the stretchy part of the stomach and the part that produces grehlin (hunger hormone). So to me that is the best revision surgery. Many people have the same problems you are.

 WELCOME!!!!!!!!YOUR NOT ALONE!!!

Allot of people thought the Band was going to be the answer to lose weight , eat healthier foods, instead we got a devise that didn't last 5 y rs, caused us to vomit, have reflux,  Hiatal hernia's, broken bands, ports, tubing and then were told YOU DID IT ALL WRONG, IN FACT! the band is wrong and the stats are beginning to prove this, Mayo Clinic doesn't even band patient's any longer, and the revision rate is 50%, How's the for a lifetime WLS

If you had a Hiatal hernia repaired  when the band was placed another one  developed again after banding  From the band not because  of anything pulling loose, just and FYI As far as what they said about "your age" that is an EXCUSE!!! yes, I have seen others report that they have more swelling with their " monthly" but I would like to know how the Uterus plays any part in your stomach? and a band Again My opinion but I think their using that as an excuse. PERIOD. And WOW really? telling you that you can only eat Half the month ? and so you starve the other half? I'd personally RUN FAST and FAR away from that Doctor's office. 

Don't be Surprised if they do all the tests to tell you the band is "fine" I belong to a  group of over 800+ and the vast majority of these people were told  After MULTIPLE TESTS the band was fine, YEAH SURE that's why so many have them removed

Gastroparesis can interfere with digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and cause problems with blood sugar levels and nutrition. But in gastroparesis, the muscles in the wall of your stomach work poorly or not at all. This prevents your stomach from emptying properly. If this is indeed what you have  I'd bet as soon as the band is removed it resolves, but that is just my opinion. 

If your seeking to have a WLS that actually works long term Check out the other forums here for The gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. But depending on how much you currently weigh and if you have have other health issues = sleep apnea, high BMI, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, the Gastric Bypass would probably be a better WLS  for you. The gastric sleeve is another restrictive surgery and ppl tend to lose weight slower after having a band.  You can check out the Failed lap band forum the Link is in my signature. I hope this ELPS! and please keep us posted!!

That's a new one, I've never heard it blamed on age before!  What you are experiencing is sadly quite common.  I had a similar story; successful with WL the first year.  Then I started playing the fill/unfill games for various reasons.  Long story short, I had a dilated pouch and esophagus from testing the limits of the pouch over and over and regurgitating food too often.  In my case, I don't blame the band (I loved my band), but my own addictive eating behaviors.  I had to get my band removed in May and am hoping to have RNY surgery in October. One of my biggest concerns was chronic reflux and night cough.  That was the main reason I decided to get my band removed.  If you don't suffer from reflux you could consider the Sleeve because you have had success with a purely "restrictive" WL tool.  I can't have the Sleeve because the number one, long term side effect is reflux.  My surgeon refuses to do the sleeve on me and I trust him.  

Best of luck in making your decision.  The Endoscopy will give you a clearer picture so you can make a fact-based decision.

Lisa O.

Hi Kim...sorry to hear of your problems.  I had a similar situation, Dx with gastroparesis, achalasia, and ibs that went from d (diarrhea) to c (constipation) resulting in vomiting, bms only every week to 10 days and a LOT of pain.  Once my band was removed, 95% of my symptoms resolved.  The band must come out...revision may be possible, but you may have to wait 8-12 weeks to heal.  Hope you can get it removed soon...best of luck!