A sucess story -- Mostly

I had my surgery last November - Just before Thanksgiving. I was on the "Soft Food" diet for thanksgiving dinner and was able to eat mashed potatoes and gravy which always has been my favorite part of the feast. So... no big deal to forgo the rest. My first fill came just before Christmas--and just before we left with the family on a 7-day cruise.

Maybe this is important; I was only able to tolerate a 1.55 CC fill. I gagged on the barium with any more. I then left for the cruise --all went well-then on to my winter home, thousands of miles from the surgeon.

With only the one fill I was losing at a reasonable rate-1 to 2 lbs per week and was thinking that I should return for another fill after I was able to eat a whole enchilada one night. But, shortly after that I started spitting up nearly all solid food after only a few nibbles. This went on for about a month, then I started having trouble with even liguids. Not always but there was also pain in my abdomen raidiating to my left shoulder. I was put in touch with a bariatric surgeon here who first removed all the fill , then when conditions seemed to be worsening, put me overnight in the hospital. Raiology showe maybe a slight slippage superior, but the barium passed fine.

Now, I've been on liquids for 2 weeks and still cannot tolerate anything else. Even liguids sometimes come back up. I'll be back to see my surgeon in a month, but in the meantime, I really miss real food. I'm not going to starve; I've still got about 30 pounds to lose and am taking liquid vitimins and protein. Don't bother to tell me to see my Dr. If things get worse, damn right I will. I'm just wondering what kind of a consensus there might be. I'm sure it's a swelling in my pouch, but, jeez, what's it take to cure it. Steroids in the hospital were a fine temporary fix.

I wonder if my love of really hot food might have triggered this. I would always order fried jalapenos and can remember having some trouble with them just before all this began.

Hello -- I don't think it has much, if anything, to do with your eating hot foods. It's a slip, slips usually result in a weird cul-de-sac in the pouch just above the band. That little pouch on a pouch creates serious reflux, think of a tide pool at the beach. With that I'd say avoid spicy liquids during this period, keep it very bland while you're trying to get the slip to self-correct.

I've dealt with this for a long while but mine didn't self-correct with a total un-fill so I've decided to get my band revised to an RNY Bypass. I've heard that most slips will self-correct though.

Oh -- and take this FWIW as I am not a medical professional in any way, don't even play one on TV

It's not spicy enough for me unless my tongue burns and I'm sweating! I concur about it not being related to spicy food unless you had an ulcer which should have shown in your radiology work. It does sound like slips that I have read of or seen debated over, but that should have shown up also. Best of Luck.

Thanks for the suggestions. The condition was worsening to the point that I was rejecting most liquids so I returned to Olympia for a quicky visit to the Surgery Center - outpatient. Thinking that only a repositioning was needed, I was dissapointed to learn the the Band had to be removed due to massive swelling. He left the port in place, so I will probablly go back for replacent in A few months.

I've lost over 70 pounds since November. I'm really motivated now and I've learned to get by nicely on a liquid diet, so if I can keep losing, I'll just keep the replacement for when I actuall need it.

Thanks again.

Wayne

my band has a mind of it's own. i usually skip breakfast, or eat late in the morning. lunch stays down fine most of the time, dinner frequently is a problem. doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to how the band acts..... any suggestions? this has been going on for months

Sounds like my problem when it first started acting up. My mistake was in not going on liquids after every throw-up. I'm not sure about this but I think that I was causing the irratation by continuing to try to eat solids and throwing up daily. Maybe try going on liquids for a week and see if it straightens itself out.

Wayne

thanks so much. good advice, i'll try it.