Get an Endoscopy!

DeLarla · 12-23-2005, 09:15 AM

If you've been banded more than a year and haven't had your band looked at from the inside, it's time. Some of us had perfect Upper GI (barrium swallow) results even though we were eroded. My Upper GI results a few weeks ago came back normal, but I'm about 50% eroded according to the pictures taken with the endo camera yesterday.

Getting a band means a lifetime of band maintenance. Even though the surgeons say erosion isn't emergent, I haven't seen a surgeon tell anyone to go on vacation with their eroded band or anything like that.

I was warned to take it very easy from now till band removal. I'm to chew extra well and stick with mushies and liquids. A perforation at this point could send me to the Emergency Room, and that's the WRONG place to have band removal surgery. Having an experienced band surgeon for the removal is a must.

dylansmom · 12-23-2005, 11:15 AM

Holy smokes girl! I must've missed this somehow!

I didn't know that this had happened to you, and I am very sorry to hear so. I'm glad that you have your answer and can now move on accordingly though.

Best of luck to you

tracey anderson · 12-23-2005, 11:45 AM

Hi,
I was wondering what you were feeling that made you decide to have the endo? Were having reflux? I have read some of your post. I know you are a Lopez paitent as I am also. I just wish that there was more out there about erision. I have a endo scheduled for the 23 rd of Jan. it was 2 years in Oct. since my banding. Just wondering what kind of problems you were having to make you think you were eroded.
thank you, Tracey

DeLarla · 12-23-2005, 12:03 PM

I wasn't necessarily having "problems." It's way too hard to describe, but the band is like a fine instrument. Only a professional piano player can hear when his instrument is off key. My belly was off key, that's the best I can say. It felt different, odd, squishy. My restriction was there, but then it would go away, the old normal digestive feelings are more rumbly, and I can feel my lower stomach a lot more now. I used to feel the squiggle of water and hear the funny funnel noise when I drank liquids. I'd drink, then a minute later I'd hear the noise. Now I don't hear it, things go straight through, and the bottom belly rumbles oddly.

I had lots of port complications, and so far everybody I know that had a Mexican port issue ended up eroded. So I demanded the endoscopy as a rule of general housekeeping. I would have been shocked if I didn't have erosion. Some people had no symptoms, but I can definitely feel and hear the difference from a year ago.

Kel, seems lots of posts are getting lost in this new format. I can't find stuff any more!

vinesqueen · 12-23-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLarla

My Upper GI results a few weeks ago came back normal, but I'm about 50% eroded according to the pictures taken with the endo camera yesterday.

oh. oh. oh. All I can think are words that will probably get me kicked from the forum. They all begin with F and end in K. Okay, its' just one word that starts with an F and ends with a K

NJChick · 12-23-2005, 07:27 PM

Oh Lisa :( I'm so sorry. This really sucks !!!!

bandayed · 12-24-2005, 07:05 AM

You were right to listen to your body! Thank God you insisted on the endo before things became an emergency. I'm sorry to hear you'll be losing your band, but I'm glad you checked it out! I am definately going to mark my calendar to start pestering my Doc for an endo about a year from my surgery date. There's nothing they can do though if they see it beginning right? I mean there's no adjustment or anything that will stop it right? Best wishes Delara -- I hope you experience the phantom banding I've been reading about.........and hey, congrats on the 5,000 posts! :)

DeLarla · 12-24-2005, 07:42 AM

5000 posts? Who, me talk alot? Did I get a prize? If not, I should!

Unfortunately, no, there's nothing that can be done to stop erosion at its early stages. Once eroded, the band needs to come out. Note - the doc who did the endoscopy and first saw my erosion simply told me to make a follow up appointment with my primary in FOUR weeks. I looked at him like he was crazy cause I was thinkin' more like four MINUTES. This guy came highly recommended, so apparently erosion really isn't an extreme emergency. However, as soon as I got my belongings back I phoned a real band surgeon, who said, "Four weeks, no way!" My band surgeon agreed that it's not an "emergency" but it IS something that should come out as soon as possible without running to the emergency room.

I had to sign a standard release before the endoscopy with the understanding that it could cause preferations (even on non-banded.) So the big concern once you have erosion is to take things really easy till the band comes out - chew chew chew, soft mushies and very important not to have a PB/stuck food episode during the vulnerable time after the endo.

I'm glad at least a few of your read this thread and at least ONE of you is marking your calendar for an endo. Kel, Trac, Crystal, NJ.... hello, have you marked your calendars?

OH, and Tracy, back to the orginal question... I'm not sure if I'll miss this awesome gas or not, but talk about burping and farting! I wasn't able to burp before my band, but now I can let go of a real long one, which feels great and gets me lots of kudos from my friends. The farting, however, all I can say is Thank God for Watkins Lemon Room Freshener!

**Alexandra** · 12-24-2005, 08:21 AM

What I've never understood is what happens to the stomach when a band is removed after eroding through. It looks to me like there's a big ol' hole that will be left when the band comes out, so how does that NOT create a significant risk of infection and peritonitis?

In your thorough explorations of the medical realities, did you ever have this explained to you? Can you share? Thanks!

DeLarla · 12-24-2005, 08:28 AM

Good morning Alex! I haven't asked that, but I certainly will. I'm taking a list of questions and will post everything I get my hands on.

Penni60 · 12-24-2005, 10:37 AM

Alex Dr. BIlly put in a couple of stitches into my stomach to close up the hole left by the band. He sent me for an UPPER GI the next morning to make sure the stitches hadn't come lose and to see if there was a perforation. I could not drink even water till that was determined. If a perforation was seen then I would head back to the OR for repair of that. Thank goodness the UPPER GI was clear.

Scary to know that you have a hole in your stomach and that to not make it work hard right after surgery so that hole can heal. THe stitches dissolve eventually.

He was so sweet when I had my surgery.

**Alexandra** · 12-24-2005, 11:13 AM

Ah. Thanks, Penni. That question has always nagged at me.

DeLarla · 12-31-2005, 10:25 AM

What Penni said! Billy did the same to me. He removed the band then sewed up the holes. He also said he'd heard of tube sticking to the colon but those holes are very easy to fix as well.

leenerbups · 12-31-2005, 11:34 AM

I was wondering the same thing..I mean..EROSION into the stomach!! What happens to the poor stomach afterwards?? What are the long term problems the stomach might have due to tissue damage etc??
YIKES!

DeLarla · 12-31-2005, 11:37 AM

I don't know anyone that's had their band removed long term, so unfortunately I don't know any long term potential problems. All I know is that my stomach has been through a lot of trauma, so I better start taking better care of it. That's my 2006 motivation kick starter right there for sure.

They sew the holes with dissolving stitches. So I have dissolving stitches on the inside. As far as my outside scars, I have five wounds with about 15 stiches total. Dr. Billy really cleaned up my ugly wound. He cut all around it and sewed it straight across. It doesn't look like an eyeball with lashes any more.

Praise Billy.