My band has slipped

[LittleMama]

I had my surgery in Jan of 2007. My official start weight was 256, and I had made it down to 151 by last week. I am now at 154.

I went to my doc due to reflux issues which had been building up for a number of weeks. He says my band has slipped, and a small portion of the lower stomach has pushed up through the band. I think the problem began in March, when I had a major tummy tuck and titty tune-up. The band had never felt completely right since shortly after the surgery.Over time it just got worse - could eat less and less; could no longer cheat when at a buffet by drinking with my meal; frequently feeling like I had a "stitch in my side", only it was in front instead of in my side; and, of course, getting to where acidy foods "burned", and I could not eat anything within 6 hours of bedtime unless I wanted to spend the first half of the night on the sofa in a semi-sitting position.

Well, Doc took out ALL of my fill!! It is like not having had the band! He says we will give things several weeks to settle down, let any swelling go away, and hope that the slip is minor enough that it will resolve itself (though there is very little chance of that). Then we will try to slowly fill again and see what happens. Of course, even at best, it will never get to a complete fill. Most likely, I will eventually have to either remove the band; or rep0lace it, which is rather complicated, and runs a greater chance of slipping since it has happened once: or have the sleeve or bypass(which I will not have!). Right now, I am terrified that I will fall off the wagon and start porking up again! Have already gained 3 pounds in a week.....

Has anyone else had their band slip, and if so, what was the course of action, and the outcome?

Needing to stay in my new clothes,
LittleMama

[PhotoNut]

Hi LittleMama, welcome to B2G! So sorry to hear of your slipped band, but do not lose heart, it can typically be fixed with an unfill. It will be important for you to go easy on your foods though. You need to allow the swelling to subside so the stomach can slip back down and into its proper place. So the words you need to burn into your very soul are: Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! I know, easier said that done. But the better you treat yourself right now, the faster you'll be back on track with your band.

Pain and stress cause the body to release a hormone that causes water retention, which causes the stomach to swell and increase the restriction around the band. I was curious to know if your surgeon removed your fill when you went in for the tummy tuck and titty tune-up (really cracked me up when I read that!)? I wonder if the swelling during that time is what led to the slipped band, cause being too tight can definitely cause a slip.

A lot of the symptoms you listed are very familiar ones that people have asked about on B2G. The "stitch" in your side, the heartburn and reflux... everyone take note of this and if you have these symptoms don't wait around. Tell your doctor and get a slight unfill. A tiny bit makes a BIG difference!

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you LittleMama! Remember to give your tummy and your band the best chance of recovery by eating small portions of easy to breakdown foods. Keep us posted!

[LittleMama]

Thanks for the support, and for the suggestion to go easy for a while. I will do that.

I had no idea that my other surgery could cause a problem with the band by causing swelling! My plastic guy knew that I had the band, but he did not tell me to go get some of the fill taken out - and I did not think about telling my Band Guy that I was having the other surgery.

Wish I had gotten on this site sooner!

Thanks, and I will keep you updated!
LittleMama

[chrispygal]

So sorry to hear about your slip! Don't have any advice to offer really, but wanted to know I was here to support you. I have had a complete unfill though, and it was really difficult. I got into a real funk, almost like a panic/depression, and I regained a lot of weight quickly. I don't recommend that. lol. If you need to talk to someone to help you work through this, then do it now. Take care of your mind during this process too. You CAN do this LittleMama!

[MoOrLess]

Welcome to B2G LittleMama! You've already received great advice - and there ARE a few others who had their band slip - some slightly (like yours) and it DID go back into place -- so don't doubt that it can happen. And unfortunately some of had the band replaced - taken out - or another surgery done. Hugs and prayers all this works out!

You bring up a very important point -- ALWAYS consult with your band doctor BEFORE you have any other kind of surgery -- better yet, have the 'other' doctor doing the surgery (if it is pre-planned of course) speak with your band doctor. No two doctors are in the same practice in this situation and they do NOT know what is best for you and your band.

Thanks for sharing! Hope to get to know you better and that you can soon post that your band is back into place.

[brwneyedbeauty]

I didnt know that could happen when you have surgery of any kind thats good info!!

[Dieseldolly]

Little Mama, I am so sorry to hear about the band slip. Try to keep a positive attitude about it. Like Mo said it is possible for it to go back in place. Just take one day at a time. Keep on the board if you need coaching everyone is here for you, with all there support. Good luck

[Stitchy]

I have a nearly slipped band. You can read about it in my thread called My Unfill with pictures.,

I was having all the symptoms. Instant reflux, acid reflux at night especially if I ate anything before bed. Taking nightime meds has been a problem. The pain, Everything you are having.

My doctor would have preferred to take out all of the fill and start over but I am travelling (full time RV) and made a run from California back to Washington state to get this taken care of. They took out some on Sept 10 and put half back a week later. I'm going in on Monday to have another flouro to see what is happening. I've managed to gain a couple of lbs since the unfill and I'm nervous about this since we are leaving for the B2GG2G next Friday and then on to Texas for the winter.


Now, I have to use a little discipline but it's better than waiting for a full slip and needing surgery.

Take note. Life at goal isn't necessarily easy.

[kristina]

i too had a slipped band recently. u can read about it on one step closer..i will pm u the link and page number.
mine was a minor slip as well. he took out 2cc's and i went back 2 weeks later. my band was perfectly fine, i got a fill..and I'm back on track!
i did stay on liquids/mushies during that two weeks. i also gained 4 pounds.
the reason ur gaining is not ness. the food ur eating now. ur body has been in starvation mode for a cpl of months..u haven't been getting much down. as soon as you can actually take food in...ur body stores it. have no worries though- because the minute i was refilled, i lost all of it, plus 3 more. this just happened to me last month by the way.
all that fear stuff about must having surgery...ect. i am not sure if ur doc told you that. mine was positive that it would go back into place and to not worry about it. easier said than done. i felt like i had a ticking time bomb in my stomach! HA!
but it did- go right back to normal. we do have a higher chance of a second slip...but now that we know the symptoms, we wont be taking chances like that. no more waiting!
so please please dont think u cant be corrected, without surgery. it just happened to me! there are pics and everything on my thread. 1 sec and i will add it here. i have to find it. :)
pm me if u have any questions, or just want to talk. i know how it feels to be where you are....and i would love to help.
smooches!


here u go...

http://band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=6117&page=442

pgs 442-457

[LittleMama]

Thanks to everyone for their advice and support!! I have gained a few more pounds, but am trying to keep the weight under control. I have lost a couple of what I had gained, but am still about 7 lbs heavier than at my unfill date.

In the meanwhile, I am feeling better. My energy had returned - I had gotten so tired feeling from eating so little. Also, I am now nicely hydrated - I was boardering on being dehydrated from drinking so little. Also, as long as I have no restriction, I am enjoying some "old friends" - fruit with the peeling on it, and some of the higher fiber veges I had been either eating only a bite or two of, or doing without entirely.

I hope that I can start my refill on Oct 14. I no longer feel sore at the band site, and all of the symptoms, the reflux, heartburn, sour stomach, not being able to eat anything acidy, and no nuts at all, all of those things have gone totally away. I am also trying to use heral teas as a way of being easy on the tummy while having something warm to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

Will keep you updated. And once again, thanks to everyone for being here!!!!!

Love to you all,
Little Mama

[kristina]

sounds like Ur doing great..ur tummy is prob healing itself right up, slipping BACK where it should be...and ur body is thrilled with the food/water.
it takes a little time for our heads to unslip though. i went from feeling guilty every time i took a bite...to eating 1/4 a cup of food, and thinking i was a pig...to eating practically everything in the house! i am now back on track mentally and physically..and happy to be here.
try not to worry about gaining right now. right now is all about healing ur body...and taking care of your band.
are u sticking to soft foods? everywhere i read online said liquids/mushies. and my doc said mushies while i wait for the fill. just curious...
talk to u soon, and its good hearing from u again..i wondered what happened.

[LittleMama]

I feel that I am eating a lot more solids than I should. I have been able to limit myself to reasonable amounts of the solids - like only half of a ham and cheese sandwich, and half a chicken breast. It has been hard to get away from the sweets, but I have not had any icecream in 3 days, and only a nibble of candy, so that is getting back on track too. Thanks for thinking of me. I am now counting down the days until I start refilling on the 14th. Just taking this thing one day at a time. I can do most ANYTHING for ONE DAY.

Little Mama

[LapBandBunny]

Although I have no experience with this, at our support group, our dr. tells us that 99% of the time problems can be resolved by removing all of the fluid and sticking soley to liquids for a week or two. In all of the years that he's been doing lap bands, they've only had to do 2 surgical revisions!!

Good luck, I hope it all works itself out.

Hugs,

[kristina]

ha..ur doin better than me! i eat more than that-for sure. i dont have the restriction!!! i started to weigh my food again to get back on track...but its not easy. my next fill is on the 12th. :)

[Bandedmomof7]

I know you have had lots of comments, but us "slipped banders" are bonded...if you know what I mean.
All your symptoms sound sooo familiar..especially the terrible acid reflux. You were smart to go to your doctor. I dismissed the reflux as a heredity thing...my dad had it really bad and I had it before the band. I just figured the band had accentuated it and I was just going to have to live with it. Looking back now, it was a slip and I should have addressed it. But...I ended up with a full slip--total blockage of the opening and I could take no food or water at all. They had to go in and totally do the surgery again. I was blessed that there was no damage to the stomach, so he was just able to open the band, reposition it, stitch it back into place and sew me up.
BUT..i did have to go without any restriction for three months..that was the PITS!! BUT--I have been reminded of what a GREAT blessing the band is and what it is as a tool for control I did gain 11 pounds during the ordeal--YUK!! But I am back to good restriction and am down 8 pounds and will be back to where I was, I know!
Hang in there--this is a journey and you have taken a road for the chosen few. Welcome aboard. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything!!
HUGS!!

[gregken77]

I always try to remind myself never to read this thread but saw it again today and re-read it. Dear Lord I feel sorry for you all that have had your band slip. Erika your story sends a frightning chill down my spine. In all our your cases was the slip just something that somtimes happens to the "lucky" ones or was it something that looking back you see you did wrong? You know I pray everyday that the Lord will help me never to have to experience this. I wouldnt handle it well at all. Insurance didnt cover my band and if I had a slip--Lord I dont know what I would do. Anyway I feel for all of you.
Greg K

[Banded Nana]

http://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/t/w8EpIIm/weight.png

[chrispygal]

How are things going LittleMama?

[kristina]

hi greg- sorry i missed this.
i cant answer for everyone...but i think its both. we are unlucky and it was our fault too.
unlucky cause lots of things cause a slip. things out of our control, like vomiting, or stress or getting too tight outta no where.
but-its our fault when we dont get in to see a doc immediatly. if u get in soon enough, and they catch it soon enough, they can usually fix it. if not- ur in trouble. so if you have any symptoms, its always better to get checked out. and i am a huge believer in flouro. even if u only get it once a year. without flouro-and early detection- i would have had to get my band removed. i am sure of it. a slip is not the end of the world or the end of ur band though. it really isnt.




I always try to remind myself never to read this thread but saw it again today and re-read it. Dear Lord I feel sorry for you all that have had your band slip. Erika your story sends a frightning chill down my spine. In all our your cases was the slip just something that somtimes happens to the "lucky" ones or was it something that looking back you see you did wrong? You know I pray everyday that the Lord will help me never to have to experience this. I wouldnt handle it well at all. Insurance didnt cover my band and if I had a slip--Lord I dont know what I would do. Anyway I feel for all of you.
Greg K

[LittleMama]

Went for some refill yesterday! The "slip" had resolved itself. Everything looked like it should, so the Doc put in a little over 4cc. Tried a little over5, and it was just a little too much. He said to come back in no less than 8 weeks, and to wait until after the holidays if I wanted to. Heck, I would go for more fill next week if he would let me!

In any case, I am back on track! Now to start losing the 10 lbs I gained while empty.... At least I know that I can do it. A positive attitude goes a long way!

Thanks for all the supportive words, and kind thoughts - that stuff really does help!!!

Love to you all,
LittleMama

[kristina]

hooooray! great news! told ya! LOL!

[gregken77]

Thats really great news ---glad your problems have been resolved!

[Dieseldolly]

Glad to hear things are going well. The weight you gained, you will lose in no time. You know how to do and you are determined. Good luck with everything.

[PhotoNut]

There's the news I was waiting for! Yay! I'm so happy to hear that everything is back to normal again. Now... treasure that gift you have and take care of it and yourself. I'm sure things will be moving in the right direction in no time at all. Yay!

[christie]

Went for some refill yesterday! The "slip" had resolved itself. Everything looked like it should, so the Doc put in a little over 4cc. Tried a little over5, and it was just a little too much. He said to come back in no less than 8 weeks, and to wait until after the holidays if I wanted to. Heck, I would go for more fill next week if he would let me!

In any case, I am back on track! Now to start losing the 10 lbs I gained while empty.... At least I know that I can do it. A positive attitude goes a long way!

Thanks for all the supportive words, and kind thoughts - that stuff really does help!!!

Love to you all,
LittleMama

Whew! That was awesome news! :thumb:

[PattiDi07]

Yeah! That is awesome, LittleMama! :)

[redgrldj]

That is great news.. So glad it resolved itself..

[chrispygal]

Great news LittleMama! You did a phenomenal job while unfilled. Congrats! :)

[suzanne1973]

I believe in you, look at what you have accomplished, it will all work out!

[Firedoc19]

OK, I have a question. I have been having some mid sternal discomfort, similaar to when I had GERD issues for about a week. My surgery was Dec 8 and so I have no fill at all. I have not cheated in any way on my food. I am on soft stuff and still only eat cottage cheese, mash potqtoes, soup and don't eat more than 1-1/2 cup per meal. Could my band have slipped? I am really scared because like I said I have followed the directions exactly like I was supposed to. I would really appreciate any advice. I have an appt with my doctor on Feb 5 (right now he is in Africa), I think there is another doc in his practice but I am not sure. What should I do?n I did read on this blog that stress can cause swelling and I have been under alot of stress about this same time. I bought some aloe vera juice but I don't know how much I am to drink either. Please help me. Gale

[MyGenesis]

GO SEE THE OTHER DOC...no sense thinking that something is wrong and feeling like something is wrong...Put your mind to rest and have it checked out. Chance of slippage is minimal but, still there none the less. Have you tried a Nexium or something for GERD? Have you not been able to get any relief?

[Firedoc19]

I have been taking Over the counter Zantac and it does seem to help. Also the pain is not constant or every time I eat. It didn't bother me all day until I got home (my day was a day in Hell). I have some stress problems with a family member right now also and did see that person yesterday for lunch. I am also still having MAJOR constipation problems (only going about once a week and only with high doses of laxatives) so I feel bloated and don't know if that is pushing on things. I am going to place a call tomorrow to the doc cause I am stressing even more worrying. Thanks Genesis! I will keep you posted.

[kfowler]

I think you will feel better after seeing the other doc. I would recommend some fruit juice, baby food prunes, or peaches for the constipation. I was constipated right after surgery too and can still have some issues if I don't get enough fruit down. I keep it minimal because I try to focus on protein but I do eat some fruit to help keep things moving. Good luck with everything, keep us posted.
Kelly

[Firedoc19]

I called the doctor and they wanted me to come to the hospital where I had my band placed and be seen in the ED who would do a fluoroscopy exam and forward info to the doc covering for my doc. Well, i work in a hospital, so I cornered our radiologist who went ahead and did a fluoro exam and he said everything is where it should be. He said things are hanging up in my esophagus which he wasn;t sure what could be causing that but said to call doc for some GERD type med and make sure and follow up with my surgeon when he returns. So I am a happy camper! Thanks for the concerns and advice.

[MoOrLess]

Glad to hear the band is all good -- but don't ignore the "things are hanging up in your esophogus" -- sometimes meds for GERD help - sometimes it is more serious - def follow up with your regular doctor when you return and INSIST he takes time to talk with you about what was found.

[cwalck]

Why does someone need an unfill? What are the veggies I will never eat again?

[bandedandthin]

I had surgery in March 2007 and since have lost over 145 pounds and have surpassed my original goal of 150pounds. I had complications with swelling afterwards so the surgery and the process was very difficult for me (as I'm sure it is for everyone). I used those two months of hell as motivation. Every time I wanted to cheat I thought back on that time and I remembered why I had the surgery. I can honestly say that I never cheated or broke the rules. I have had some stomach bugs lately with lots of throwing up. And the band slipped. I'm just having a rough time, because I know I didn't cause this. I have lost my weight and kept it off. So I had the surgery to fix the slippage and the doc said there was lots of scar tissue and I need to take things really slowly. So once again I am in hell. Liquids, then baby food consistency and so on and so forth for the next two months. My fiance and I are wanting to have children, so I'm thinking what if I have morning sickness really bad?? I'm just depressed and whiney and needed to vent. I love having the band and obviously would go through the whole process again as I just did two weeks ago. But I'm bummed :-(

[SurgChickie]

so I'm thinking what if I have morning sickness really bad??

I didnt have the band, but I had terrible morning sickness.. Zofran (and Phenagran) is your friend!! I think another option is an unfill if you are having complications.

[Want_2_B_Free]

I would also say once you become preg. you will need to get a total unfill. Or at least discuss with your surgeon. Who knows, you may not even get morning sickness at all. My DW didn't. She didn't vomit one time her entire pregnancy.