Comments on: Lapband Slippage: Causes & Prevention

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:12:10 +0000

Hello Valerie,
It is a possible cause that extreme pressure over the abdomen like in a car accident could cause a lapband prolapse. Symptoms should be notice at the same time….It is more common to be vomiting for a long time the causes the prolapse.

By: valerie riha

valerie riha — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:16:15 +0000

i had a lap band in 2008 i lost 40lbs i had a car accident later that year and the air bags went off afew months later my lap band had to be removed 8mos later they tried to put it back and there was too much scar tissue could the air bags going off cause the prolapse

By: valerie riha

valerie riha — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:05:14 +0000

i had a lap band in 2002. i lost 40lbs. in 2008 i had a car accident later that year my lap band had a prolapse and had to be removed 9mos later they tried to put it back thre was to much scar tissue i would like to know could the air bag going off have anything to do with the prolapse

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:51:29 +0000

Hello,
I would take a couple of cc out of the lapband for 30 days with acid blockers during that time plus Maalox.

By: CC

CC — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:30:09 +0000

Hello!
I’m very thankful I found this site! I was banded in April of 2100 and had my latest fill that took me to 6ccs in August. I haven’t been to my doctor since then because 1) I have been feeling fine, 2) I made the huge decision to quit my teaching job to have more time with my family, which, in turn, means I have no insurance.

So, I am 52 lbs. weight loss and am very pleased with my results. Lately, however, I’m living on Maalox to treat horrible, sometimes painful, acid in the back of my throat. I’ve also noticed that I have been able to eat more than I could just a month or so ago. I am also experiencing very uncomfortable back pain that feels like it’s compressed.

This week I got the stomach flu. Today marks day four that I haven’t been able to keep anything down, including small sips of liquids.

I can’t really afford a bunch of tests, so I wanted to seek direction and advice from you before I jump into anything.

Again, I love that you are here and so helpful! Thank you for your time.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:31:56 +0000

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your response.

Lisa

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:03:27 +0000

Hello Lisa,
I think you can have soft food in small amounts without a problem.
Do not use protein shakes or vitamins because patients do worse with them.
You can eat chicken, fish, cheese, well cocked vegetables without stretching the pouch.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:02:28 +0000

Dr. Rodriquez, I had my lapband surgery in December 2010 and lost 78 lbs. I have a Lapband-AP Standard. My last fill was Oct 2011 which gave me a total of .7 cc. However, when I went to the doctor last week the PA informed me the band had slipped a little. There was an extra pouch, but one the fluid was removed the pouch disappeared. I’m on liquids for a week, but that could expand to 2 weeks. In addition to protein shakes, broths, puree soups, water, and jello can I have anything else to drink. With no fluid in my band I am hungry about every 4 hours. I don’t want to over eat even on liquids, but I need to satisfy the hunger pains.

By: Jenbuzz3

Jenbuzz3 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:19:52 +0000

Thank you very much for your quick response. I don’t know why she choose the older type for me. I will try your suggestions and maybe get a bit of an unfill.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:32:56 +0000

Bi Jen,
Why you have a very old lapband model if you had your surgery just 3 years ago?
Any way, what you are feeling could be related to esophageal inflammation so taking acid blockers and Maalox plus having some king of diet without stomach irritants will help you.

By: Jenbuzz3

Jenbuzz3 — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:53:57 +0000

Hi,
I have a 4cc lapband that was placed in May of 2009, I currently have 2.4cc in my band and have not had a fill in over a year. I am eating and drinking fine BUT I have a feeling like a tickle behind my breast bone. I really don’t know how to describle it a little pressure maybe. I don’t know if it could be related to my lapband or if I am just having anxiety worrying about it. Thanks for your help.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:33:07 +0000

Hi Julie,
The lapband port can be felt after losing weight and in some patients can be seen as a bulk.
When the lapband port is tender is wise to be checked by your doctor to rule out any inflammation around it.
Hot and cold placed at that area will help.
The gym can help your skin a little but some times the plastic surgeon has to do the rest of the job done for excess skin and fat tissue.

By: julie

julie — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:46:17 +0000

This is such a wonderful forum. Your patients are lucky to have such I caring Doctor. I also have a wonderful, accomplished Doctor in Texas.

By: julie

julie — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:43:29 +0000

Thank you Dr. Arturo for the quick response. I will be joining a gym on Monday simply to start walking on a treadmill for an hour each day. Perhaps I will move to some streghtening exercises after a month . My son , who is a little overweight , has swim practice everday for 2 1/2 hours so I will go to the gym then. He is also shaping up well and turning his extra weight into lean muscle. I’m so proud of him. Now back to my swolen band. When I did the barium swallow in Nov, my band looked like the first picture at the top of this page. I also know a Doctor who is 5 years out from his lap band surgery and you can feel his band in his abdomen. Is this normal as you begin to lose weight? I am down 70 lbs. since my surgery and recently have lost another 10-15lb ( it fluctuates) that I thought I would never get past and now my band is easily felt. It is pretty hard and somewhat tender. Could my band be turned around due to vomiting or overeating? Also will strength training exercises help my extra skin to shrink some? I don’t have alot of it , ( I’m 5’10″) but I would like my arms to shrink back and not have excess skin? Any suggestions? Thank you

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:17:04 +0000

Hi Julie,
I thank you very much for sharing your feelings and for your honesty.
The first step to do it the right way with the lapband is to know what you are doing wrong.
I believe that increasing your daily activity can help you to reach your goals.
Have a great 2012!

By: julie

julie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:10:34 +0000

Hi Dr. ARTURO…I had lap band surgery almost 3 years ago in March. I probably eat more than I should and my band feels tight sometimes and I can feel it on my upper abdomen when I do overeat. I went in for a fill approximately before Nov and my very accomplished bariatric Dr who always does a barium swallow told me that its full enough and to stick with this b/c I would be uncomfortable to add anymore. Being that I just had a barium swallow recently could I assume my band is not compromised & that I can stop the swollen band feeling I get at times by really committing to a better diet. I have been reading these forums and feel so ridiculous for my poor eating habits that may jeopardize my. surgery. About 2 days ago I feel a change of heart and these forums make me realize how poorly my habits are. At times I do vomit and have heartburn. Its not everyday though. Thank you

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:12:05 +0000

Hello Veronica,
Are you taking Maalox and acid blockers?
It is important that you check what you are eating or drinking that could possibly be causing you to be swelling at the neck of the lapband.
Having pain on the left side plus difficulty in swallowing are not good signs.
I do perform lapband removals as well as revision surgeries.

By: Veronica

Veronica — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:19:50 +0000

Hello My Name is Veronica,
I’ve had the band for 3yrs now. I recently started having pain on my left side, it hurts when i breath or lay on my left side. I am feeling VERY uncomfortable. My band is empty now but i really want to get it removed. I can’t eat or drink much all i do it vomit but i am still putting weight on
I relly want this year to be good for me, I hope you can help.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:48:43 +0000

Hello Britanytx,
One way to get back on track is to buy foods that are good for you as banded patient and throw away all the junk food that are in your house.
I don’t know what kind of a lapband you have but 3 cc of a fill is very little with the new lapband models.
In case you have an old lapband model I would go for just 1/2 of cc but the best way to know how much should be is with a barium swallow at the time of the fill.

By: BRITTANYTX

BRITTANYTX — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:57:53 +0000

Question, I am loving the lap band. But right now, I am finding that I am able to eat… sometimes, like I was eating before my surgery.
I had my surgery 6/27/11 and so far I am down 72 pounds, I am happy with my weight loss, and I am working out with a personal trainer 3 times a week. But it scares me that I can eat so much, and I am going thru a depression, and it makes it worse because I am eating, and I develop eating disorders easily, whether I eat junk, eat a lot or don’t eat at all. But I am filled to 3cc’s now, I have been at a 4 but wasn’t even able to swallow a banana, so I had an unfill, and I can eat fine now, sometimes. Sometimes I PB, but that is just going to happen with certain foods. I really need a healthy diet to go on, but due to the depression, I don’t have that motivation, I rather not eat at all then diet right now. So, I was thinking about having 1cc put back in to help me with my eating of the bad stuff that I can get away with. I know I should diet and drink plenty of water, but I’m having a hard time with that. When I started I was in the right mind frame. But I have lost all that and now I am acting the same as if I were not banded at all. How do I get back to that banded mentality?

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:42:18 +0000

Hello Paul,
I am sorry your doctor couldn’t save your gastric band.
I don’t know the amount of cc you had on the gastric band and why your doctor was just able to be pull out 1 cc but usually there is an improvement after that.
I also don’t know if you have a barium swallow and your doctor diagnose band slippage and that was the cause of you been de banded.
The gastric band model just change the way they are locked but the rest has not changed.

By: Paul Donovan

Paul Donovan — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:04:26 +0000

Dear Dr. Arturo,

I had my lap band installed in Jan. 2009 and things were going great up until a week ago. I started to have reflux and noticed I could eat less than before, Things became progressively worse to the point that I could not keep any food down. My Dr. tried to give me an unfill and only 1 ML of fluid could be removed. He decided to take me in for emergency surgery and completely removed the band and my port. I’m left wondering did the band fail? I mean why wouldn’t the band open? My Dr. says my Realize band is an older style that they rarely see. Please help! My insurance says they will not cover the surgery.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:00:43 +0000

Hello Melissa,
The ideal treatment would be to have 1 cc pull out of your Lapband but since you can’t you need to take Maalox 2 t/l spoons E/4 hrs and an acid blocker as Pepcid E/12 hrs.
If you are taking vitamins will make worse your heartburn.
Take care

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:56:33 +0000

Hello M,
It is common to feel that the lapband is tighter when you are sick. Many times is due to the meds you are taking.
Vomiting will aggravate your lapband tightness so is better to have some fluid pull out avoiding to get the food stuck at the esophagus and have some antacids taken until you go back to new good eating habits.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:49:13 +0000

Hello Julie,
You shouldn’t have any protein shakes at all neither vitamins.
You should have Maalox E/4 hrs and Pepcid complete E/12 hrs

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:43:47 +0000

Hello Erin,
Yes, I totally agreed with you, you should have all the lapband fluid removed from the balloon + medication.
You also need to check what you are drinking or new meds you are taking because that id frequent to be the cause of your symptoms.
A barium swallow will let your doctor know your lapband status. I recommended to have it done.
Your pain is related to swelling because of the tightness you have.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:36:17 +0000

Hello Anita,
You don’t need to worry about lapband slippage because is exactly the opposite, that means large pouches give slippages.
Doctors that are not familiar with the lapband tend to say that the lapband is at the esophagus so I wouldn’t worry too much also.
That pain you say is not related to the lapband.
You should have an upper abdominal sonogram.
Take care

By: melissa byler

melissa byler — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:14:28 +0000

Hello Dr. Rodriquez
My name is Melissa and I had the lapband done in 2007- I lost 120lbs in the first 16 months. Went from 320 down to 200lbs and leveled off – I am unable to go to the doctor regularly for fills and visits since I was a self pay patient (insurance would not cover it) and have since moved out of state from my gastirc surgeon. I recently had a baby in August (number one reason I had lapband done- infertility and health) and developed severe heartburn throughout my pregnancy (baby was born with enormous amount of hair) i did not have my band decreased during pregnancy and had no troubles with the band itself or food intake during pregnancy. I gained around 13 pounds during pregnancy and since being home with my child and having to quit breastfeeding due to lack of production I have gained another 7 for a total of 20lbs. I have continued to have severe heartburn and can not tell if the heartburn is just a side effect from pregnacy or a slippage…no pain, no trouble eating or drinking, just severe heartburn that is worse when I have not eaten or when I am in a horizontal position. Any suggestions on how to tell if a slippage is the problem or just post pregnancy heartburn. I can not afford to go in for a fill since I am now an at home mother and we are living on one income. Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

By: M

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:14:21 +0000

Hello, I had the Lapband done back in July of 2010 and so far things have been good I have lost about 65 pounds. I got a fill back in June and within that same week I had to go back and get some taken out because it was too tight. After I got the fluid removed I didnt get another until the end of September 2011. I have been good for the most part unless I eat a little too fast then I have to get it out as it feels stuck. I have 2 questions for you. Is it normal for the band to periodically get tighter? I was sick with a cold and cough and during my sickness I could barely keep any foods down, liquids were fine then just this week I could get any food down including yogurt as it would just come right back up so I went on soft foods for 2 days and everything was fine untill now and again I am having difficulties. I have major anxiety from not being able to eat and having to drink very slow which in return causes me to panic because I start thinking something is wrong with my band. Could you please adivse?

Thank you

By: anita

anita — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:52:08 +0000

I had my surgery in 2008 Nov. And lost about 100lbs but stayed steady @ 90 lbs since then I have had two baby with no complication related to band. Although, I’ve had some dul pain to upper right abd. Saw a new MD the other day just to check and he says I have no pouch;the band is at the esosphagus and stomach junction but the band looks good. He added 0.5 cc which gives me a total of 6.5 but I am wondering since he says I have no pouch wil I be able to lose weight. This no pouch could this mean, I had a slippage?

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:29:20 +0000

Hello Dr Rodriquez,
i had the lap band surgery done 9 days ago. after I drink my protein shakes my stomach is really tight on both sides. my stomach is quite swollen and my insides fell really hot but i dont have a fever. at the moment the pain on my right side is over powering the pain on the left. I dont have a gall bladder. I had a check up and my incisions are healing but my stomach is still really swollen.

By: Erin

Erin — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:51:31 +0000

Hi. I was banded Sep 2010 and everything was going great. I lost heaps after 3 fills (I think it was 6cc). All of a sudden I started to get very bad reflux. I told my doctor who suggested a prescription but I felt I was ok on heartburn chewable tablets. The heartburn became really bad, I felt sick all the time, felt like last nights dinner was still sitting there at lunchtime the next day. I felt horrible. I finally saw the doc who said I was too tight and took out 0.5cc. I felt like i could breathe again. A month and a half later the symptoms came back again, and worse. Could not handle any solids. Was on liquids for a week till I could see the doc. He took out 1cc. I told him I thought I might have a slipped band and he agreed it could be but he doesn’t seem to want to do any tests or take all the fluid out. I’ve just started getting symptoms again, two weeks after he took out the 1cc, and I have pain in my left side, near my ribs and in the back everytime i eat solids. I’m struggling to eat again. What should I do? Is the pain in the back and ribs from the band? How can I get the doc to really check me out??

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:15:26 +0000

Hi Catherine,
I promote reducing the lapband fill or deflating the lapband during pregnancy and delivery.
I’ve seen a few patients that had lapband slippage and erosion after delivery.
Iron and folic acid that you need will give you inflammation of the stomach lapband channel.
You won’t gain as much weight as if you wouldn’t have the lapband.
I do pull out 3 cc when the patients come to me saying they got pregnant and in the final month I might pull out a couple more.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:37:26 +0000

Hi Dr Rodriguez,

I am wishing to know your opinion of reducing fill during pregnancy. My surgeon advised me that it is up to the individual pregnant patient to decide if they feel uncomfortable and feel they cannot eat enough. I feel I’m eating enough, however my heartburn and portion sizes have changed dramatically in the third trimester. I have not changed my fill amount in 2 years and have lost 60kg/120lbs, so it has been a great success for me and I do not wish to meddle with my lapband if there’s no dire need to. Back in 2001, an Australian university recommended automatic lapband deflation before labour/delivery. My surgeon says this is not necessary. He has had one patient whose band slipped during crowning/labour, but he felt that was a special and rare case.

What do you believe? I have an Allergan 11ml band with 7.0mls filled.

Thank you.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:14:46 +0000

Hello Libby,
Quit the shakes you are drinking, have some Maalox e/4 hrs and get ranitidine or pepcid complete e/12 hrs.
Keep on liquid diet without stomach irritants.

By: Libby

Libby — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:38:41 +0000

I was banded in 2008 in California and subsequently moved to Texas. I have never really lost any weight, and at one point did not get any fills for over a year. I had a fill last August, and I am eating less, but still not getting the weight loss I had hoped for.

Two nights ago I ate a bite two big and started to throw up. Normally, if I do that everything is fine and I can go back to eating regularly. Since then, I have not been able to hold much down except liquids. I can drink about half of a Dr. Atkins shake or a half cup of soup. On the one hand, I am happy that I might finally lose weight, but on the other hand, I am worried that my band might have slipped when I threw up.

I will see my doctor next week, but he is not in the office on his regular day this week due to the holidays.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Hello Shell,
You need to pull out some saline from the Lapband.

By: Shell

Shell — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:55:05 +0000

I have a question ….i was banded on march of 2010 , amd since last week cannot get any food down but it doesnt hurt really just discomfort and it wants to come back up..can drink alil some ti,es but started to feel light headed the last couple of days what should I do?

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:55:54 +0000

Hello Angie,
You need to have some saline removed from the Lapband and to take acid blockers.
You probably have developed some inflammation in the stomach at the level of the lapband neck so been only on liquids will help you also.

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:30:04 +0000

I was banded in December of 2010. I have lost 67 lbs. All of a sudden the last 3 days my band has been really tight and its very hard to eat or drink and have vomitted a few times . Could i have something wrong with my band?

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:52:18 +0000

Hello Martina,
I need to know your Lapband model. The cc’s that can hold, the amount of cc’s you actually have, your actual weight and beginning weight, etc…
I thing you have slippage but don’t know how big it is and you will need a barium swallow to be sure about it.
Some of the patients improve after having totally unfill the lapband and been on liquids for several days.
They also get better with antacids and acid blockers.

By: MARTINA

MARTINA — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:29:17 +0000

Hello Dr. Rodriguez, I have had my band for about 7 years. I started having problems with small slippages about 3 years ago. I would go in for a fill, the band would slip a little bit after that and then the doctor would take the fill back out to let the band go back to its regular position. After going through this three times I stopped getting fills. I haven’t had any fill restriction for over a year and I’m sure that my band has slipped again. It isn’t so bad that I can’t eat or drink I just have pain under my shoulder blade and in my rib where I think that my band probably is. I have been on liquids for 4 days now and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I feel at this point that the band needs to come out I’m just not sure what to do at this point. I don’t know if I should continue liquids for more days or if it just isn’t going to get any better. It hasn’t ever been a “bad enough” slip to do surgery. I haven’t been checked this time, I think I am just getting tired of the whole thing.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:18:00 +0000

Hello Sharon,
I have been answering all the emails that I get from you.
Have you seen any doctor is the past 3 and 1/2 years after the surgery?
Have you have your Lapband been check?
The patients that do not have any weight loss after any bariatric surgery should be check for counseling, dietary and nutritional guidance and orientation on what to expect with the procedure.
The patients that are in continuous vomiting as you are saying get inflammation of the stomach and specifically at the lapband level. All of them lose weight in this bad manner.
I recommend no to have any adjustments at all to all those patients until they change they way they are eating and behaving.
The Lapband is not made to be vomiting but educating the patient in new habits in how to eat, what to eat and what to drink.
Patients that are vomiting as you are sooner or later ulcerate the stomach or get lapband slippage.
You urgently need to be check under fluoroscopy or endoscopically to determine the grade in what the stomach is affected.
Removing the Lapband always have a cost so if you are in the position to save your lapband by changing what you are doing wrong will be great.

By: Sharon S

Sharon S — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:09:36 +0000

I was banded, by you, April 12,2008. Since then my life has been terrible. Days,weeks,months and years of vomiting and not being able to eat anything except oatmeal.during the past 3years post surgery,I’ve made you aware of my complications on numerous occasions via email. After reading your replies to others about their problems, it sounded like a repeat of all the correspondence from you to me.Same old
unhelpful advice.I paid & 7,500 cash for a botched surgery and all I ever asked from was to remove it, free of charge or pay another surgeon in the states to remove it for me. My problems have been ongoing since I got it, I want it removed. I tried to follow the diet but all I can ingest is water and oatmeal.My weight is still the same as pre-surgery..hmm ..Are you willing to help me or not cause I don’t have the money to get it removed. Why should I have to pay for something that wasn’t my fault.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:09:45 +0000

Hello Pam,
You have some kind of slippage and a big pouch.
I recommend you to be on liquids and soft food divided in 5 meals.
You should not get a fill in at least 2 months and then be check again.