We all want decent restriction in our bands, but did you realise that if it's too tight it could cause permanent & irreversal damage to your oesophagus?

This is Mudda's story, posted originally on another thread, but I thought it serious enough to make it a permanent sticky at the top of the forum.

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Hi Guys,
You know how you read about band problems (as in REAL and not imagined band problems) well……. take heed, because almost 16 months post banding both me and the girl who was banded on the same day as me with the same (excellent) surgeon as me and has had the exact same aftercare package as me etc etc have found out – one day apart – that we have developed Oesophageal Dysfunction and Dilatation due to our bands being FAR TOO TIGHT over the summer.
The oesophagus has to be able to push food through the pouch and opening into the lower stomach. Too much resistance may result in the oesophagus dilating and and becoming non-propulsive. This can lead to severe reflux with inhalation of acid. (Waking up in the night choking!)
I am sick with worry that this is it! My band journey may be over. I spent 4 hrs last night researching this condition and the best news I could find was that the band should be fully deflated for three months and the oesophagus checked with a barium meal after that to see if it has returned to normal. If so the band can be gently re-inflated. If the oesophagus remains dilated the band will probably have to be removed.
I will keep you posted. Either my surgeon is going to get in touch with me, or the radiographer who xrayed me last night will, as she is seeing him today.
If you are too tight (as in being sick for more than 10% of the time when you eat) ……….beware! A too tight band can mean the end of your band and weight loss journey!
Mudda (v v v sad and upset)

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In July/August, I spent 4 weeks in total hell because I could hardly drink fluid and I could hardly eat (except teeny teeny teeny bites chewed 42,000000 times and I could only manage about a large tablespoonful of food about twice a day) and I would, on occasion, wake up choking in the night and feel terrible every morning until I had sicked up a whole load of acidy mucas.
Once I had 0.25mls aspirated I felt fine again and could drink normally and could eat small amounts. Great!
However, since my aspiration I haven't lost any more weight and I found that I could eat more, without really getting the 'full' feeling.
I thought that I needed another small fill (ie the 0.25mls put back on again) but what had happened is that my oesophagus was damaged due to all the acid building up in my top pouch when I was uber tightly restricted and then when I started to eat again my oesophagus stretched and extended into my pouch and the food has been collecting in the extended oesophagus and not actually going into a top tummy pouch and so the band hasn't had to work because the food sits in my extended mis-shaped oesophagus until it just turns to liquid and dribbles out and through the band. My band is fine - it is this enlargement of the oesophagus caused by the side effects of being too tight that is the big problem.

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I have read that many bandsters suffer from this problem (I have been trawling the internet at every opportunity to find out as much as I can about this) and IF the oesophagus doesn't shrink back to its normal shape and size then it is definitely goodbye band! There is a procedure called a Biliopancriatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch that seems to have a very good write up as an alternative to banding.
I can't find anything about the long term effects of damaging the oesophagus........I just am hoping that the damage WILL repair itself.
The dieticians at The Hospital Group are utterly useless. When I spoke to the dietician in the summer and said "I am far too tight, I know, because I can hardly swallow liquid let alone food. I am going to give it another week and if it is no better then I will go for a de-fill." Her reply was "Ok. That sounds sensible."
I spoke to a dietician with Healthier Weight about 5 days later who said "GET AN ASPIRATION RIGHT NOW!" which is when I booked and went for one!
I am cross cross sad sad scaredX10 etc etc because I really have stuck to the rules - been sensible with food choices, not eaten and drunk at the same time, waited at least an hour before having a drink after eating, never drunk anything fizzy, waited at least an hour and a half after eating before going to bed, taken multi vitamins and everything else. Had ANYONE said that being too tight would damage your oesophagus, there is no way on earth I would have waited four weeks to get an aspiration!
Also, had The Hospital Group done their fills under xray, this could never happen, because the level of restriction is so obvious under an xray.
Kerry, when I had my aspiration under xray there was no evidence of there being anything wrong. 4 weeks later you could see that my oesophagus was no longer a thin tube going into a 'little cup' (the top tummy pouch) the 'little cup' had sort of disappeared and there was just a wider lumpyish 'thing' above my band........that was the extended and dilated oesophagus.
Will certainly keep you posted. Am going to be writing to Watchdog bout THG and also firing off letters to anyone else I can think of!
xxxx Muds

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Saw my GP this morning who is only too happy to apply for funding for anything to do with my band now. He is going to talk to the radiographer and my surgeon and has advised me to stick with liquids and runny pureed food until he has established the best course of action. He said he would get back to me as soon as he has spoken to either one of them.
I also asked him for any chemical drugs that could possibly make me feel better (valium/ecstacy/uppers/horse tranquelisers/etc etc) since my only child has left to go and live abroad for a year this morning ............. he wouldn't play ball...........meanie!! (The doc, not my child!)
xxxxxxxxxxx Muds

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Hi Mudda - Gosh I remember your postings from when I first joined! Sorry to hear about what you have been going through, it sounds awful. However, I think I have similar symptoms to you. I also had my band tightened this summer as I was not losing any weight. I have also experienced feelings of food being stuck in my throat, eventually it will go down, and at times I admit to having stuck my fingers down my throat to bring it back up. I mentioned the stuck in the throat situation to the clinic but was told that I was not chewing the food enough. I couldn't possibly eat during the mornings or afternoons. In the evenings it is easy for me to say eat cottage pie or similar, but couldn't attempt anything like beef and even chicken can often get stuck. Problem is that my one years cover with my supplier has now expired and any further appointments will now cost me a further £150. It seems strange that even though I feel restricted when eating I still do not have the fullness which I am supposed to feel, plus of course although I am only eating one meal a day I am still not losing weight. Does my situation seem the same as yours, I would be most interested in your opinion. Have you had any further news on whether you will have to forego the band? SueA

Sue, I have PMd you

This is most worrying for you. I went for a consultation with the hospital group and they were very 'blasee' about x ray fills sayin that the nurses are fully trained and do not need an xray. I feel a lot better having had an xray adjustment and always ask the surgeon if it has slipped, eroded etc....
I would recommend that all bandsters have adjustments under xray.
Im with surgi care and an adjustment costs £250. however if you go directly to the hopital they are £150!
Thanks for sharing this problem - it will certainly make me be very cautious indeed
Best of luck

Hello anyone who is reading this, my name is sarah and I had my band fitted in March 2008 with THG. I have just had my 3rd tightening because my weight loss was static for a long time ( and was trying for a baby so suspended the fill for a while).

Anyway I had my fill on thurs 22nd Oct by xray. I have suffered what I assumed was post fill swelling and was unable to swallow even the smallest amount of fluid for about 3 or 4 days. I was producing excessive amounts of thick frothy mucus and bought this up whenever I drank. The situation improved slightly after about 3 days and fluids went down in very very small amounts but solids were a big no no in any form, even soup. Even fluid were met with pain in chest like a vice

I have perservered because the fill cost me £400 and I didint want to rush to get it loosened in case I just needed to give it time for the swelling to go down. I obviously want to to get the best out of this weight loss wise.

I am now 12 days post fill and can manage fluids fairly well but not big mouthfulls ie I cannot down a glass in one go if I am thirsty. I can tolerate some solids but very few and in minute amounts, ie one or two mouth fulls if chewed to oblivion. Most of the time this will leave me with pain in my chest.

I was prepared to give this a bit more time as there has been some improvement but having read stuff on here I an no longer sure if I should????

I have spoken to a bariatric nurse and she says I shouldnt wait more than 2 weeks post fill which will be this thurs and then consider an aspiration. I havent seen my surgeon about it because its costly to see him too.

If I decide to have an aspiration I could be looking at another £400 XXXX !!.

I have my fills by Spire healthcare locally to me in Herts.

I am new to this site so not sure what happens after I post this, has anyone any advise from experience ?

Thanks so much for reading this.....Sarah x x x

hi all, its been a while, i have just been reading this thread and am a little concerned, i had my 3rd fill today under xray giving me 9ml in a 14ml band. the reason for the fill was my weight loss had stopped and over the past 6 weeks i have actually gained a little weight. anyhow after the fill i waited the oblig 15 mins and drank the water, tight but ok. within an hour of leaving i brought up the water along with lots of the usual and since then absolutley nothing is going through, this has left me with multiple trips to the bathroom and constant hickups. My concern is when i had my last fills i had good restriction only to find after a short time this wore off, is it likley that this will also loosen, if so no problem, but if not and i go straight back for an aspiration i will be back to square one with no restriction again.
your views would be greatly appreciated
mick

Give yourself a few days to see if your tummy settles down. Suck ice cubes and keep persevering with tiny amounts of liquid. If after a week or so you are no better go and ask for 0.25ml to be taken out. That would be my best advice.
My story, luckily, DOES have a happy ending.
I was xrayed today and my oesophagus has returned to normal and everything is ok now
xxxx Muds

That is great news Mudda x x x

glad your going to be ok mudda , have read lots of your posts and your a great support to people on here! x

Hi - I just logged, cos I am desperate - every time I post on this forum its with some problem or another - just feel like I am a big whinger - anyway - the first post I saw was this one and I think I have the same.
I was banded in July 2008 - have been sick after eating for much of this time, however since Friday before last I just can't seem to get anything down, I have had my band checked over the last couple of months and the radiographer was adamant it was not too tight ( a bit loose if anything) - my weight loss has been really static have lost about 6 lbs in 6 months. Anyway 10 days ago I was struggling to get tea/coffee down and each time I tried any food (even soup) I was being sick. I have terrible acid reflux, strangely the only thing that seems to be ok is crisps and doritos! - from Friday to the following Thursday I only had fluids - I spoke to my dietitian who said I would have to have my band completely deflated - I was booked in for yesterday morning, anyway on Friday I felt a bit better and even managed two breakfast bars, I had actually lost another 4 lbs this week - due to no food- so, studpidely, I cancelled the deflation - I still can't eat anything really (had some doritos yesterday) - the acid reflux is terrible. I feel like I need one of those Mr. Muscle sink unblockers washed through my system! - the iron fist and aching between my shoulder blades is murder too - I know I should have kept the appointment and will re-make it for Weds, but I am not ready to give up I have about 21 more pounds to lose and can't bear the thought of putting weight back on - the whole point of this for me, was that it was permanent and the last 20 years of putting weight on then losing it would be over - £8k well spent, I thought.
Its really confusing going through this alone, on one hand I know something is wrong, although I have been checked under x ray albeit a few months ago, and on the other hand I can't face being fat again
sorry to go on I am going to research oesophagus dysfunction and dilation - but in the meantime everyone is welcome to come round my house for a coffee and a chat Vix xxx

Hi,
I had my first band fill today. after reading some of the dangers i can tell you i was terrified. I have the 10ml band and had 5.5ml put in under xray. It was apparent this was to tight and i had .5ml taken out. I was very happy with the care given to me today. I am drinking ok and managed soup with no problems. Please do not leave the clinic if you are unable to drink at least a cup of water. I have taken the two year package with the hospital group Bromsgrove. i regret this now as i would prefer to have my fills under xray. this forum page has given me so much support. hope it helps you.

Hi all,
I to have been diagnosed with acute oesophegus my problem started several months ago when i couldn't keep anything down i would be sick 2 or 3 times a day at this stage i was on my 3rd fill, I called to see my GP who advised me to go back for an unfill under Xray i have my fills at the Manchester royal hospital when i arrived the Radiologist asked me to try to swollow
under Xray the Barium slop it was at this stage i was diagnosed the Radiologist asperated 6mls leaving me empty that was about 4months ago and tommorow i am going back to see if everything has settled down and also have my fill?.

Although it has been great being able to eat again my weight has also gone up and once again i am at the start of my journey, I was banded 2yrs ago and now my weight is higher than before, Oh! Dear well i am going to give it one more go and if i start being sick again i will probably give this journey up.

I agree that being tight and vomiting every day is NOT good for Bansters so please listen to your body and be kind.

Wish me Luck
Jeannie.

Dear Jeannie
I am so sorry to hear your story, and I wanted wish you all the best for tomorrow and hope that everything has cleared up and you can have a fill and start to lose some of that weight again. Keep your chin up Hun.
Deb xx

Hi Deb,
Thanks for your kind reply, well i had my barium and this showed under Xray that my oesophegus had healed nicely so Mr. Taylor decided to put 3mils in he tried 4 but the Xray showed that it was to tight for me and that my barium was on its way back, so i now have 3 mils in and my journey starts again fingers crossed. x
Jeannie.

Hi Jeannie
Good news then, thats wonderful, so glad that it has all turned out allright, do you think that the original 6mls was too much then???? or was it just one of those things??
Good luck with the weight loss and I'll look forward to sharing your journey with you. Why not consider setting up a ticker!!!
Deb xx