Question:
1 year post lap band and nothing stays down

i am 1 year post lap band and for the past 6 weeks I have been having severe acid reflux, sore stomaches and gradually less and less food is staying down and now I am at the stage where liquid is becoming harder to keep down...........what is wrong? I saw my surgeon last week and he let the band all the way out, this helped for a day or so but now it's worse than ever    — wendy M. (posted on December 18, 2003)

December 17, 2003
You might have a ulcer, Call and get scoped immediately. Please let us know what happens.
   — bob-haller

December 17, 2003
As Bob said, you could have an ulcer. Also, a band will occasionally erode into the stomach and result in symptoms similar to yours. All of this is manageable though very frustrating. Call your doctor today. Merry Christmas!
   — ronascott

December 18, 2003
my friend had the VGB which includes a different kind of band, but that happened to him after 6 years. the band had caused friction on the stomach wall and formed scar tissue which blocked the exit hole. he couldn't even drink water. this is not supposed to happen with the lap-band, though, but it's worth asking your doctor.
   — keren1108

December 18, 2003
The band can also shift. I hope that hasen't happened, but it is another possibility. Good lcuk!
   — Leslie F.

December 18, 2003
Hey Wendy, A friend of mine had the Lap-Band, too. Her situation sounds similar to what you're going through - her band slipped and eventually perfed her stomach. She had to be rushed into surgery and it had to be removed. Please, please, please call your surgeon! dina
   — Dina McBride

December 18, 2003
It sounds like your band may have slipped. Ask your surgeon to do a barium swallow test to check your band's position. If you feel like he doesn't take your problem seriously, you may want to join the the bandsters mailing list over at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bandsters to get the advice of a lot of experienced bandsters. Good luck. I hope everything works out for you!
   — K M.

December 19, 2003
Get to your surgeon ASAP. Something is wrong. It looks like you have a slipped band or an eroded band. This is pretty rare, usually caused by the band being too full for too long. I don't know if this is the case here, but you need to get your surgeon to do a scope on your stomach to see what is happening. Be persistant!
   — Sheryl W.