This is strange

Easternshoregrl
on 3/6/14 11:21 pm - MD
I'm 5yrs out since surgery and over the past wekk to 10 day my band has been tighter than usual to the point where I can't even take in liquids before noon. I've been dealing with it but yesterday I got stuck on a sip of orange juice and was miserable for 2 hours until I "got it up". After 2pm I was fine and could drink normally.
Usually I can't even eat until after 2.
I've always been able to drink in the AM but never able to eat before 2 or later.
I had endoscopy and been to my Sx last year when this started and was diagnosed witih hiatal hernia, but now it seems worse. Why would it get worse for no reason?
My last fill was over a year ago. Could I need a small unfill?
I am going to contact my Sx next week because they are out of the office on Fridays. I just thought this morning issue is getting worse. Opinions??

Thanks

 
First consult 306, pre-op visit 278, surgery date 272, current 198
 
                    

Nic M
on 3/6/14 11:56 pm

My guess would be scar tissue and inflammation is causing it. 

I'd get unfilled, personally. It might be affecting your esophagus, if it took you 2 hours to throw up orange juice.

Hope you feel better soon.

~Nic

Stephanie M.
on 3/7/14 1:45 am

Definitely something wrong.  If it was your esophagus, it would come right up upon bending over...there's nothing to stop it.  Sounds like something else going on.  I would go in, ask for a barium swallow.  Best of luck to you.

 

  6-7-13 band removed. No revision. Facebook  Failed Lapbands and Realize Bands group and WLS-Support for Regain and Revision Group

              

Kate -True Brit
on 3/7/14 3:02 am - UK

Bands can get tighter over time as scar tissue builds up. What needs doing in the end depends on how much scarring there is. I was l lucky, in my case removing just 0.1cc of saline sorted everything out for me. 

But don't leave it. I have never been as tight as you are, must be horrible and also may be doing harm. 

Highest 290, Banded - 248   Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.

Happily banded since May 2006.  Regain of 28lbs 2013-14.  ALL GONE!

But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,

   

Easternshoregrl
on 3/7/14 3:56 am - MD
Only the past 2 weeks has it gotten this bad. I never vomited liquid before. It's 3pm now and my juice is going down fine.

 
First consult 306, pre-op visit 278, surgery date 272, current 198
 
                    

pineview01
on 3/7/14 3:32 am - Davison, MI

You need to see your surgeon asap if it is that tight.  Mine did it due to scare as stated by Kate.  All the above posters having given good info.  It could also be a slip and/or the HH getting worse.  No matter what the cause you will need unfill/surgery or some form of medical intervention.

My barium swallow showed all is well.  The endoscope showed problems.  When the band was removed they find all the problems.

BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.

Hislady
on 3/7/14 3:38 am - Vancouver, WA

I agree with the others scar tissue build up, it happens slowly over time and 5 yrs is right on schedule for band problems. I had few issues until I was 4ish yrs out then got too tight and had a couple of unfills and then after reading how others were having the same problem I just decided to get unfilled altogether. That worked for a year or so and then even empty I was too tight so last month after months  of misery, pain up under the rib cage and difficulty swallowing I was already in the hospital for something else I contacted my surgeon and told him to get that damn band out of me! He did and ahhhh the relief, not right away mind you but with in a couple of weeks I have much less (almost none) pain and can swallow much easier. It doesn't feel like something stuck all the time. I don't even know if insurance is gonna cover the surgery but I couldn't deal with the pain anymore guess they will have to send me to the poor house but my life was just unbearable the way it was. So never jeopardize your health for your band it's just not worth it. I was trying to hang on so medicare would cover the band removal but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do!

coconutatthebeach
on 3/10/14 8:36 am

Sounds like your band has slipped or is eroding ... same thing happened to me and when the doctor checked it out, it was eroded and an emergency removal was done .... very important to get it checked out asap .............. best of luck with it ....

 

    

            
Easternshoregrl
on 3/10/14 10:23 pm - MD
I have an appt with my surgeon on Thursday. I guess I will be on the road to tests for an answer, then take it from there. I would hope a small unfill would do but I'd really like a revision to the sleeve. That will be a huge insurance battle that I will probably lose.

 
First consult 306, pre-op visit 278, surgery date 272, current 198
 
                    

Easternshoregrl
on 3/13/14 11:28 am - MD
Update
Had a long talk with my Sx about what was going on. I got half of my fluid removed because he felt that with all the stuck and vomiting issues I've had the past 2 weeks, the area around the band was probably irritated and swollen. Going back next month for a recheck and maybe a fill after things calm down in there.
He did mention getting my hiatal hernia repaired. I am getting the DVD from the CAT scan and giving it to my sx and we will discuss it further. I'm not for getting it fixed because the report said it is small to moderate. Not that I know what that means but we will see and take it all one day at a time.

 
First consult 306, pre-op visit 278, surgery date 272, current 198
 
                    

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