Re: My band has slipped

[Guest guest]

Hi, Meliha - sure sorry to hear this.

IMO, the most important thing now is your IVF procedures. Being stressed and

worried about the band will affect your body's ability to implant and carry a

fetus. It sounds as if you're having NO real trouble with the band, other than

some weight gain. Surely consult your doctors, but I'd suggest removing the band

fluid and concentrating on the baby for the next year. You would not be able to

have much of a fill during a pregnancy any way.

There is no way to know just when your Band slipped - some time between your

normal endoscopy and xray after your reflux, and the time of your recent fluoro.

One thing I want to stress - since different doctors place bands differently,

and there are many types of Bands, fluoros have been read incorrectly.

For instance, the Mexican surgeons place their bands at a slightly different

angle than US docs, and more than a few US docs reading the fluoros or xrays

have thought the Mexican band was slipped when it was perfectly fine.

For this reason, I'd urge you to have copies of the current studies sent to your

original surgeon's group (Dr. Yau) for their opinion. It does not sound as if

anything urgent is going on, so there is plenty of time to do this.

As far as " not feeling proper restriction " - After a year or two of band

pressure, the esophagus gets very lazy and does not notice restriction as it

once did. We just cannot keep getting more and more fill. After a year or two,

MANY (if not most) people do not feel the same type of restriction they felt in

the beginning. THis is normal, and one of the reasons why it is so important

that we never depend on restriction alone. We have to change and limit our

eating, and maintain good eating habits whether or not we " feel " restriction.

" Feeling " restriction was never the goal of the band - the goal is to gently

HELP reduce amounts of food so we are satisfied (NOT " FULL " ) with far less. The

Band was never meant to MAKE us stop eating -

As far as the port flipping this late, that would be very unusual. After the

first few months of banding, there is such secure scar tissue holding the port

in place, it is rare to have it pull loose and flip over. Even if it is twisted

or turned, it does not matter as long as the port is accessible for fills. Many

surgeons can manually turn a twisted or " flipped " the port a bit to access it to

give or remove a fill. A " flipped " port does not necessarily have to be

replaced, although that is a simple procedure if truly needed.

If Dr Yau's group determines that the band IS actually slipped, he can advise

you. If there really is a slip, and it is not a big slip, the band can often be

re-positioned. However, It's important to take your time to explore all current

WLS options. Another band may not be the best choice for you at this point.

Consult several bariatric surgeons there. Explore the newer forms of WLS, as you

may feel they are now a better choice for you. And, again, I'd certainly suggest

putting all Band/WLS concerns on hold until after your hopeful-pregnancy is

completed. Your primary goal now should be to grow a healthy baby, not to lose

weight. With reasonable eating, you can gain only the 20 # or so of a safe and

successful pregnancy gain.

With ALL forms of bariatric surgery, the results depend on the lifestyle changes

we are willing to make and continue. ALL forms of WLS require the same

commitment from us, and that can be hard.

Good luck - and please let us know what you find out and what you decide.

Sandy

>

> Hello All,

>

> I was banded(SWAGB) December 2005 by Dr. Yau in Toronto. I went down from

330lbs to 220lbs in 3 years, slowly. Then I decided the get a fill and go from

7.5cc to 8cc then to eventually 8.25 cc. I had serious acid reflux in 2010. My

band was defilled. I had an endoscopy and an X-ray. I was told everything was

ok. So I was slowly filled back up to 8cc.

> Since 2010 I have no feeling of proper restriction, although it varies from

time to time and have put on around 60lbs. over the last year and a half.

> A week ago I went to see a different doctor as I am over in Turkey. I

explained to him that I have loss of restriction and am putting on weight. I had

a proper fluoroscan and an endoscopy. I was told today that my band has slipped

and my port has flipped as well.

> Is there still hope for my band if it can be repaired?

> The worst is, we are in the middle of IVF and my transfer will be in 12 days!

>

> I am speechless as I have been complaining about loss of restriction, weight

gain, etc and it took 3 doctors to finally figure out what was wrong.

>

> I am in Turkey and due to work situation I can't just fly back home to Canada

for a quick fix.

>

> This is so frustrating.

> I have failed myself and my band too.

>

> Beyza

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Diane - The Gastric Sleeve is a newer procedure getting a lot of attention.

It may be a good choice for some - just as the bypass or the Band are still good

good choices for SOME. The Sleeve ius much more invasive than the Band.

ALL forms of WLS have major and minor PROS and CONS, so we have to do very

thorough research and consult several doctors doing each of the procedures,

before we make up our minds which to choose - if any. Look particularly at the

longer-term statistics.

We also have to be brutally honest with ourselves - are we truly willing to make

the lifelong eating and behavioral changes required of EACH of the procedures?

Do we really accept that WE still will have to do most of the work?

Sandy

>

> Sandy -- I read your response to Meliha Beyza about slippage.

> In it you said: " Explore the newer forms of WLS, as you may feel

> they are now a better choice for you "

> Can you expand upon that--- what are the new forms of WLS?

> Beyza-- sorry to hear that you are going thru this -- and I hope that

> the IVF works out.

> Diane.

>

>

> Diane B

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

Dr. Yau and his team called me to arrange a phone consult. Unfortunately I am

not sure how they can help unless I go to Toronto. If I am not pregnant by the

end of the month, I am seriously considering going back to Toronto to get the

band checked thoroughly.

Dr. here thinks my band may not have been even filled by the previous dr I saw,

due to a disconnection between the band and the port. But he does not want to do

more fluoro because of the IVF/pregnancy possibility not to expose me to

radiation. He is so fed up with the bands himself and stopped performing band

surgeries. He told me that my eusophagus is dilatated as well and the lid at the

entrance of the stomach is not very strong to hold the food in and I end up

getting reflux when the band is tight. He suggested gastric bypass is a better

option in my case.

I actually mentioned to the dr here what you said about band being placed at

different locations by different doctors and he said the I would need to see Dr.

Yau.

Currently I am concentrated on the IVF. If I am pregnant by the end of this

month, I will have enough time to consider gastric by-pass after delivery. If I

am not pregnant by the end of this month, I will probably have to make a quicker

decision as the doctor will ask me to loose more weight before trying IVF again.

I have been reading about the gastric sleeve as well. It is more invasive than

the band but still prone to similar failures. Gastric by-pass sounds promising

but with major complications. Either way, the commitment is huge on my part. So

no matter which one I pick, it is not an easy route, so I am more inclined

towards the bypass.

I am also scared of the pregnancy complications with the flipped port and with

the weight I am at now (270 lbs). One dr told me it is philosophically wrong to

get pregnant at my weight!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to all for the responses.

beyza

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > I was banded(SWAGB) December 2005 by Dr. Yau in Toronto. I went down from

330lbs to 220lbs in 3 years, slowly. Then I decided the get a fill and go from

7.5cc to 8cc then to eventually 8.25 cc. I had serious acid reflux in 2010. My

band was defilled. I had an endoscopy and an X-ray. I was told everything was

ok. So I was slowly filled back up to 8cc.

> > Since 2010 I have no feeling of proper restriction, although it varies from

time to time and have put on around 60lbs. over the last year and a half.

> > A week ago I went to see a different doctor as I am over in Turkey. I

explained to him that I have loss of restriction and am putting on weight. I had

a proper fluoroscan and an endoscopy. I was told today that my band has slipped

and my port has flipped as well.

> > Is there still hope for my band if it can be repaired?

> > The worst is, we are in the middle of IVF and my transfer will be in 12

days!

> >

> > I am speechless as I have been complaining about loss of restriction, weight

gain, etc and it took 3 doctors to finally figure out what was wrong.

> >

> > I am in Turkey and due to work situation I can't just fly back home to

Canada for a quick fix.

> >

> > This is so frustrating.

> > I have failed myself and my band too.

> >

> > Beyza

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Beyza - I'm glad you're in touch with Dr. Yau. He can evaluate the fluoros

you have had and advise you. The xrays and fluoros can be easily scanned and

emailed to him.

If your port is disconnected, that adds new important information. When the port

disconnects and all the fluid is lost, slips can occur more easily, especially

after the first couple of years. It's the fill that helps keep the band in

place.

If your esophagus is also dilated, that is another bit of important info. Many

with dilated esophaguses cannot safely keep their bands, as the esophagus never

heals completely, and they are always at greater risk of more slips.

However, I don't see how your esophagus can be dilated if the port is

disconnected and you have no fill. It's the pressure of the fill that dilates

their esophagus. If your esophagus remains dilated with no fill, that is not

good news at all.

I'm afraid it's very true that it is not a good idea for women to get pregnant

when they are morbidly obese. Studies over the last few years, as well as the

ones earlier, show a greater risk to the baby of lifelong health problems -

everything from birth defects to diabetes to cancer, obesity and, sadly, much

more. I don't want to make people feel bad, but these are the clear, sad facts

that we all must be aware of, when we make pregnancy choices.

Please let us know what you decide with all this.

Sandy

>

> Hi Sandy,

>

> Dr. Yau and his team called me to arrange a phone consult. Unfortunately I am

not sure how they can help unless I go to Toronto. If I am not pregnant by the

end of the month, I am seriously considering going back to Toronto to get the

band checked thoroughly.

>

> Dr. here thinks my band may not have been even filled by the previous dr I

saw, due to a disconnection between the band and the port. But he does not want

to do more fluoro because of the IVF/pregnancy possibility not to expose me to

radiation. He is so fed up with the bands himself and stopped performing band

surgeries. He told me that my eusophagus is dilatated as well and the lid at the

entrance of the stomach is not very strong to hold the food in and I end up

getting reflux when the band is tight. He suggested gastric bypass is a better

option in my case.

>

> I actually mentioned to the dr here what you said about band being placed at

different locations by different doctors and he said the I would need to see Dr.

Yau.

>

> Currently I am concentrated on the IVF. If I am pregnant by the end of this

month, I will have enough time to consider gastric by-pass after delivery. If I

am not pregnant by the end of this month, I will probably have to make a quicker

decision as the doctor will ask me to loose more weight before trying IVF again.

>

> I have been reading about the gastric sleeve as well. It is more invasive than

the band but still prone to similar failures. Gastric by-pass sounds promising

but with major complications. Either way, the commitment is huge on my part. So

no matter which one I pick, it is not an easy route, so I am more inclined

towards the bypass.

>

> I am also scared of the pregnancy complications with the flipped port and with

the weight I am at now (270 lbs). One dr told me it is philosophically wrong to

get pregnant at my weight!!!!!!!!!

>

> Thanks to all for the responses.

> beyza

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

Here are the findings of today's assessment by the dr here:

1. Endoscopy indicated the band was not functional. It was not restricting

anything.

2. The valve at the entrance of my stomach is open. Does not close as it should.

3. My esophagus is what he called a sigmoid esophagus. It is stretched.

4. My band has migrated upwards.

5. I have only 5cc in my band. Apparently either the previous dr here couldn't

inject 2.5 cc or it leaked?

6. The new dr defilled the band and then injected 9cc. I couldn't swallow any

water. So he defilled it down to 7.5cc.

7. He said he does not think I am an ideal band patient and I should switch to

gastric by-pass.

Regarding the IVF, my situation is:

My eggs will be retrieved tomorrow (Thursday at noon).

If with this month's IVF treatment I can not get pregnant, I wish to either get

the band fully repaired or switch to gastric by-pass.

If I end up getting pregnant with this IVF treatment, would the band cause any

problems with its current situation?

I am so happy now. I have to restriction I missed for over year.

But based on the results of this IVF treatment, I have some serious decisions to

make.

Thank you.

Beyza

> >

> > Hi Sandy,

> >

> > Dr. Yau and his team called me to arrange a phone consult. Unfortunately I

am not sure how they can help unless I go to Toronto. If I am not pregnant by

the end of the month, I am seriously considering going back to Toronto to get

the band checked thoroughly.

> >

> > Dr. here thinks my band may not have been even filled by the previous dr I

saw, due to a disconnection between the band and the port. But he does not want

to do more fluoro because of the IVF/pregnancy possibility not to expose me to

radiation. He is so fed up with the bands himself and stopped performing band

surgeries. He told me that my eusophagus is dilatated as well and the lid at the

entrance of the stomach is not very strong to hold the food in and I end up

getting reflux when the band is tight. He suggested gastric bypass is a better

option in my case.

> >

> > I actually mentioned to the dr here what you said about band being placed at

different locations by different doctors and he said the I would need to see Dr.

Yau.

> >

> > Currently I am concentrated on the IVF. If I am pregnant by the end of this

month, I will have enough time to consider gastric by-pass after delivery. If I

am not pregnant by the end of this month, I will probably have to make a quicker

decision as the doctor will ask me to loose more weight before trying IVF again.

> >

> > I have been reading about the gastric sleeve as well. It is more invasive

than the band but still prone to similar failures. Gastric by-pass sounds

promising but with major complications. Either way, the commitment is huge on my

part. So no matter which one I pick, it is not an easy route, so I am more

inclined towards the bypass.

> >

> > I am also scared of the pregnancy complications with the flipped port and

with the weight I am at now (270 lbs). One dr told me it is philosophically

wrong to get pregnant at my weight!!!!!!!!!

> >

> > Thanks to all for the responses.

> > beyza

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

THis is all very confusing, and some is not what you said before.

1. If the port is disconnected, as you said, you will not be able to keep a fill

- it will leak right out. So I don't understand how you have restriction now.

2. If the valve at the top of the stomach is damaged, and the esophagus is

damaged, it is not good and the band is not safe for you. A functioning

esophagus is essential for life.

3. If your band has slipped and it is not in the right place, you should not be

getting fills. That will further damage the esophagus.

4. Most doctors would unfill you for a pregnancy so you can get in good

nutrition.

5. Jumping right up to a large fill is never wise. After loss of restriction, we

have to gradually get fills again, especially if one already has a damaged

esophagus.

Do see Dr Yau about all this. It's too important not to get SAFELY resolved.

Sandy

> > >

> > > Hi Sandy,

> > >

> > > Dr. Yau and his team called me to arrange a phone consult. Unfortunately I

am not sure how they can help unless I go to Toronto. If I am not pregnant by

the end of the month, I am seriously considering going back to Toronto to get

the band checked thoroughly.

> > >

> > > Dr. here thinks my band may not have been even filled by the previous dr I

saw, due to a disconnection between the band and the port. But he does not want

to do more fluoro because of the IVF/pregnancy possibility not to expose me to

radiation. He is so fed up with the bands himself and stopped performing band

surgeries. He told me that my eusophagus is dilatated as well and the lid at the

entrance of the stomach is not very strong to hold the food in and I end up

getting reflux when the band is tight. He suggested gastric bypass is a better

option in my case.

> > >

> > > I actually mentioned to the dr here what you said about band being placed

at different locations by different doctors and he said the I would need to see

Dr. Yau.

> > >

> > > Currently I am concentrated on the IVF. If I am pregnant by the end of

this month, I will have enough time to consider gastric by-pass after delivery.

If I am not pregnant by the end of this month, I will probably have to make a

quicker decision as the doctor will ask me to loose more weight before trying

IVF again.

> > >

> > > I have been reading about the gastric sleeve as well. It is more invasive

than the band but still prone to similar failures. Gastric by-pass sounds

promising but with major complications. Either way, the commitment is huge on my

part. So no matter which one I pick, it is not an easy route, so I am more

inclined towards the bypass.

> > >

> > > I am also scared of the pregnancy complications with the flipped port and

with the weight I am at now (270 lbs). One dr told me it is philosophically

wrong to get pregnant at my weight!!!!!!!!!

> > >

> > > Thanks to all for the responses.

> > > beyza

> > >

> > >

> >

>