Post by formerlyfluffy on Apr 29, 2012 15:18:07 GMT -5
As many of you know. Despite writing the book "Bandwagon: How to be successful with your adjustable gastric band", and advertising: "Read BANDWAGON to learn how to live happily ever after with your band.", is not able to revise to a different WLS because of all the damage the band caused her:
Post Date: 4/29/12 7:36 am
My bandwagon has taken yet another unexpected detour. On Friday I had surgery, but it didn't go as planned. My surgeon removed my band and port, but she and 2 anesthesiologists were unable to pass the bougie calibration tube through my esophagus into my stomach (the calibration tube creates the new banana shape so the surgeon and staple along the side of it before excising the rest of the stomach and then removing the tube. The juncture of my esophagus & stomach are closed up tight. I'm not sure how I'm able to eat so easily if that's the case, but the bottom line is that I can't have any further bariatric surgery (assuming my insurance will pay for it) right now.
I was too doped up to think of questions to ask mu surgeon, but I'm supposed to call her office on Monday the 30th to find out what's next. She wants me to see a Memphis gastro-enterogist with whom she discussed my case in the hope that he can "stretch" the juncture, perhaps 2-3 times, via upper endoscopy. Then if everything looks OK in 3-4 months, we can revisit the idea of sleeve surgery.
Lest this turn of events throw all my bandster friends into a panic, I hasten to add that my surgeon no longer thinks my band caused this problem. For sure it caused the esophageal dilation (because it was too tight), but it's beginning to look like an independent, primary condition rather than a secondary one. Coincidentally, my brother has also been having weird problems with his esophagus that could be "sympathy" pains or a hypochondriacal sibling rivalry, but it also could be a congenital one.
I'm so flabbergasted by this...I couldn't be more surprised if they'd found Jimmy Hoffa's body or a space alien in my abdominal cavity...but I did have to laugh when it occured to me that finally I have a real failed WLS story to tell. I hate to disappoint Maria, but it's the story of a failed sleeve, not a failed band!
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support, and stay tuned as Jean learns more than she ever really wanted to know about her esophagus!
Post Date: 4/29/12 7:36 am
My bandwagon has taken yet another unexpected detour. On Friday I had surgery, but it didn't go as planned. My surgeon removed my band and port, but she and 2 anesthesiologists were unable to pass the bougie calibration tube through my esophagus into my stomach (the calibration tube creates the new banana shape so the surgeon and staple along the side of it before excising the rest of the stomach and then removing the tube. The juncture of my esophagus & stomach are closed up tight. I'm not sure how I'm able to eat so easily if that's the case, but the bottom line is that I can't have any further bariatric surgery (assuming my insurance will pay for it) right now.
I was too doped up to think of questions to ask mu surgeon, but I'm supposed to call her office on Monday the 30th to find out what's next. She wants me to see a Memphis gastro-enterogist with whom she discussed my case in the hope that he can "stretch" the juncture, perhaps 2-3 times, via upper endoscopy. Then if everything looks OK in 3-4 months, we can revisit the idea of sleeve surgery.
Lest this turn of events throw all my bandster friends into a panic, I hasten to add that my surgeon no longer thinks my band caused this problem. For sure it caused the esophageal dilation (because it was too tight), but it's beginning to look like an independent, primary condition rather than a secondary one. Coincidentally, my brother has also been having weird problems with his esophagus that could be "sympathy" pains or a hypochondriacal sibling rivalry, but it also could be a congenital one.
I'm so flabbergasted by this...I couldn't be more surprised if they'd found Jimmy Hoffa's body or a space alien in my abdominal cavity...but I did have to laugh when it occured to me that finally I have a real failed WLS story to tell. I hate to disappoint Maria, but it's the story of a failed sleeve, not a failed band!
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support, and stay tuned as Jean learns more than she ever really wanted to know about her esophagus!
