Re: Band Replacment (x-post)

[Guest guest]

Hi, - have you posted here before? I didn't recognize your

name, and couldn't find any previous posts or any history of

your problems. If you haven't - welcome! If you have, i apologize!

There is no reason, imo, to remove the band or have to go to a

bypass. Replacing the band with a better size is the choice I'd

personally make too. Good for you for not giving up!

Most hiatal hernias are routinely repaired during band surgery. Many

obese people have them, and they do need to be repaired to place the

band properly - since they usually are exactly where the band needs

to go.

The band size is carefully chosen after the surgeon gets inside and

can assess your stomach size, thickness, etc. Still, occasionally, a

band turns out to be too tight, and a larger one needs to be placed.

Afterwards, thes people do as well as everyone else. Teh replacement

is usually done very quickly, though, within a few days or a week or

two - not weeks and weeks later. The too-tight band can cause damage -

erosions, gastritiis, more from the excess pressure and

constriction. I'm glad the surgeon will be assessing your esophagus

and stomach with the endoscopy soon, to be sure they are holding up

ok.

Please tell us you are able to keep fluids down, get in reasonable

calories from the liquids, and stay well-hydrated. If you cannot, I

hooe you'll schedule the surgery sooner. the band really has to be

thye priority in your life for the next few years, to do well and

stay safe.

You might contact the cruise line to be sure they will be able to

puree your foods. Anytghing can be put into a blender and pureed and

thinned so you can safely have it.

Please let us know you you do - and if you'd like a nurse to come on

your cruise with you! :-) :-) :-) Sandy R

>

> I saw Dr Singh (my surgeon) on Tuesday, January 31,

> 2006. He looked at the x-rays from the upper GI. He

> agreed the band is too tight. Looking at the x-rays he

> does not think the band has slipped. I have several

> choices. One is to just remove the band. I do not like

> that option because I will just gain the weight back.

> I always have in the past. The option he recommends is

> to remove the current band and replace it with a

> larger VG band. That band is larger and can hold 10

> cc rather than 4 cc. That should give us more

> flexibility in finding the " sweet spot " . The third

> option is to remove the band and have bypass surgery.

> I said no to that option.

>

> We agreed to schedule the removal and replacement of

> the lap-band on March 20, 2006. The only reason this

> is pushed off to March 20th is because I will be out

> of town the first week in March and Dr Singh will be

> out of town the following two weeks. In the mean time

> he has scheduled me for an endoscope on 2/14 to check

> the band tightness, condition of my esophagus and my

> Hiatal Hernia. Dr Singh is concerned the Hernia may

> be making problems worse. He said he would repair the

> Hiatal Hernia while he is in fixing the band. I know

> my chronic soar throat is back from the acid reflux.

>

> In the mean time he wants me to stay on liquids and

> mushy food. This should present challenges when I go

> on a cruise 2/25/2006. I am sure we will have fun. But

> it takes some of the enjoyment out of the dinning. We

> are going to the Western Caribbean, including Grand

> Cayman, Costa Maya, Belize and Cozumel. My husband and

> I have a balcony cabin. We took a honeymoon cruise to

> the Mediterranean. We really enjoyed sitting out on

> our balcony. So I am still looking forward to the

> trip. With these restrictions I just am not sure how

> things will go with meals. I know the cruise line is

> very accommodating.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 317/282/226/167

> Adj Lap-Band 02/07/05

> Dr. Singh, Albany, NY

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I have to agree with Sandy. I would sure question this guy about your

choices. First, why didn't he repair the hernia when he did the

surgery. It would have taken him a couple of minutes, since he has to

pull down on the esophagus anyway. If you have a hiatal hernia, this

may be causing the tightness. Depending on where it is, the swelling

can be pressing against the band causing your tightness. If this guy

is very proficient, he can fix the hernia without removing the band.

If you are self pay, write to me and I'll give you some options on

where to go without the poss. removal of your band. Joanne in seattle.

> >

> > I saw Dr Singh (my surgeon) on Tuesday, January 31,

> > 2006. He looked at the x-rays from the upper GI. He

> > agreed the band is too tight. Looking at the x-rays he

> > does not think the band has slipped. I have several

> > choices. One is to just remove the band. I do not like

> > that option because I will just gain the weight back.

> > I always have in the past. The option he recommends is

> > to remove the current band and replace it with a

> > larger VG band. That band is larger and can hold 10

> > cc rather than 4 cc. That should give us more

> > flexibility in finding the " sweet spot " . The third

> > option is to remove the band and have bypass surgery.

> > I said no to that option.

> >

> > We agreed to schedule the removal and replacement of

> > the lap-band on March 20, 2006. The only reason this

> > is pushed off to March 20th is because I will be out

> > of town the first week in March and Dr Singh will be

> > out of town the following two weeks. In the mean time

> > he has scheduled me for an endoscope on 2/14 to check

> > the band tightness, condition of my esophagus and my

> > Hiatal Hernia. Dr Singh is concerned the Hernia may

> > be making problems worse. He said he would repair the

> > Hiatal Hernia while he is in fixing the band. I know

> > my chronic soar throat is back from the acid reflux.

> >

> > In the mean time he wants me to stay on liquids and

> > mushy food. This should present challenges when I go

> > on a cruise 2/25/2006. I am sure we will have fun. But

> > it takes some of the enjoyment out of the dinning. We

> > are going to the Western Caribbean, including Grand

> > Cayman, Costa Maya, Belize and Cozumel. My husband and

> > I have a balcony cabin. We took a honeymoon cruise to

> > the Mediterranean. We really enjoyed sitting out on

> > our balcony. So I am still looking forward to the

> > trip. With these restrictions I just am not sure how

> > things will go with meals. I know the cruise line is

> > very accommodating.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > 317/282/226/167

> > Adj Lap-Band 02/07/05

> > Dr. Singh, Albany, NY

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I started out following the Bandsters and SmartBandsters then I

followed you to . I think my earlier posts where on

one of those groups. Over the last year I have gained lots of

information from your posts and Jessie Ahroni's. I also belong to

local groups and a Feb05 group so most of my recent posts have been

on those groups.

As far as the Hiatal Hernia the surgeon told me he was going to

repair it when he put the band in (2/7/05). After the surgery he

said when he put the band on and stitched it into place that pulled

the Hernia down out of the way of the muscle at the end of the

esophagus. So he did not do anything more with respect to the

Hernia. The original reason I went to the surgeon was to have a

Nissen Fundoplication to repair the Hernia. But the surgeon did not

want to do it because he said there is a very high failure rate for

those who are obese. He recommended I have the band or gastric

bypass to improve the weight problem and the acid reflux at the same

time. After much research I chose to have the lap-band. I was very

happy for the first eight months because the acid reflux had gone

away. But then it came back and the tightness got worse. It started

I was tight for a full week or more around my period each month.

Then it got so it was most of the time. Sometimes I would even have

trouble with mushy food. I have NEVER had a fill so he could not

remove any.

I have lost 91 pounds so far and want to lose another 50 to 60 more.

Under the doctors direction I am sticking with liquids and mushy

food. I am doing fine with that program for now.

My journal is on ObesityHelp.com ( Lack)

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?

N=L1094584799.

>

> Hi, - have you posted here before? I didn't recognize your

> name, and couldn't find any previous posts or any history of

> your problems. If you haven't - welcome! If you have, i apologize!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks! :-) We're glad you're here!

I'm afraid unrepaired hiatal hernias often sneak up and cause trouble

later. They don't go away, but get worse. This is why they are so

commonly repaired with the initial band surgery.

It seems possible that you don't need a different band size at all,

if you've done this well so far. If the hernia is repaired, the same

size may be perfect, although it may have to be removed temporarily

to repair the hernia. If you've lost 90 #, it seems unlikely that you

need a BIGGER band size.

I admit I'm uncomfortable with your putting this off so long. If you

are so tight that you cannot eat any solids, there is a lot of

pressure on your stomach and this can be quite dangerous sometimes,

causing erosions and other damage.

Your doc is concerned too, or he would not be doing an endoscopy next

week. If there is damage, you may not be able to have the band

replced now at all, and may need yet another surgery later to replace

it. I'm also conerned that, since you'r getting tighter as time goes

on (likely from an enlarging hernia) that you might get in trouble on

your cruise. But your surgeon can advise you better after the

endoscopy.

I'd really like to suggest tou get a second opinion on the best

course of action. There are just too many things that are unusual and

don't feel quite right here. You should really discuss your options,

with more than one surgeon, before deciding your course of action.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are - Sandy R

> >

> > Hi, - have you posted here before? I didn't recognize your

> > name, and couldn't find any previous posts or any history

of

> > your problems. If you haven't - welcome! If you have, i

apologize!

> >

>