HELP!!!!!! I think I have a MAJOR PROBLEM

OK, I have had my lap band for about 5.5 years, I've been under my goal weight for about 4 years now, feel great and am a size 2 or 4...I was told yesterday that my esophagus is totally inflamed and food is now going into my lungs, I was also told I have pneumonia due to the inflamation...Im going to see a specialist Bariatric sergeon on Monday, and he will advise me what should be done  ...Im so worried that he will want to take my band out, they also said this IS life threatening....But what am I to do??? Has anyone had this problem and what did your doctor do??? Please I need all your help right now, Im flipping out....

Really??? U don't want the band removed and u know it's threatening your life?!?!?! It's better to be fat and alive than thin and dead!

As I have said on here numerous times..........the band does NOT work for most ppl long term! For some of us it doesn't even work short term!!! I realize the band got u to goal, but do u really think it's worth it when u may be suffering permanent damage................OR WORSE

My goodness yes, this can be serious. Food particls aspirating into your lungs can be a serious problem.

Please don't hesitate to follow your surgeon's recommendations.

Oh gosh, yes, this is serious. I understand how you feel, but you must follow your surgeons recommendations. This is truly an emergency. I am surprised you are not hospitalized now.

If they take the band out you can use the new eating habits you have developed while maintaining your loss to help you out. I would ask about revision after things have healed. Because of the seriousness of what happened you can appeal to your insurance company, though you must not consider it until your surgeon gives you the all clear.

As Maria said, your health comes first but you don't have to let this get you down to the point you regain all your weight.


I will keep you in my prayers, please keep us posted.
Sue

I've not had your problem, but I can say that aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by inhaling food into your lungs) is no joke. 

Try to be calm, yes, I know, easy to say, hard to do.  It's possible that all the specialist will want to do is to take some or all of the fluid out of the band.  Unless it's a true emergency, I don't think they will want to put you to sleep with pneumonia going on.    I am not a physician, so I could be way off base on this.

Maria is right in that your health is more important than the band at this point in time.  IF they need to remove your band right now.. once you have healed from the pneumonia, you can explore other methods of controlling your weight issues.  Whether that be another band or another WLS or something altogether different..that bridge can be crossed when the time comes.

Hope this helps a bit.

Wow, this is really serious! Please take care of your life! If you have doen so well for the last 4 years you can do it on your own without the band.

Take care!

 Are they able to tell you WHY this happened?
Have you been coughing?  How did they find out what happened?

I hope it all works out ok, but I do have to agree with the other posters..you gotta take care of yourself and make sure you are ok...

I am so sorry this is happening but not sure where the choice comes in!

What are you to do? Well, I would go with preventing a life threatening worsening of your condition.

Sorry if that sounds abrupt but if a doc tells you something needs to be done as a matter of medical necessity, choice doesn't come into it!

Best wishes,
Kate

Unfortunately this isn't that unusual we have one bandster NM who did nearly die from her esophageal problems. She had her band out and still years later has esophagus problems so this is very serious! If it isn't too badly damaged and you can recover you may be able to revise to a different surgery like the sleeve (which MANY bandsters have revised to). I agree with Maria that it would be better to be fat and alive than a skinny corpse! Do what you must and worry about the rest later! I wish you the very best!