How do you know if your band has slipped?

Question

When I eat I feel like I have a big air bubble in my chest it hurts so bad it shoots up to my ears and jaw then it goes away a little and then comes back real strong again does this for bout an hour or longer and it doesn’t matter wat I eat

H. Joseph Naim, MD, FACS · Answer

How do you know? You can see your Surgeon!
He will do an “Upper GI X-Ray” that will show if the band has moved from the usual 45 degree angle, just below the Gastro-esophageal area...
If that’s the case, you have a option of removing the band. 
At times, if the slippage is minimal, deflating the system may help return the Band to the normal position.

Wiljon W. Beltre, MD · Answer

The best way to know if your band has slipped is to get X rays done.  Symptoms do help make the diagnosis, but it still needs to be confirmed with x rays.  Consult with a bariatric surgeon so the he or she can order x rays that will help make the diagnosis.  Your surgeon may decide that an endoscopy may be the best first test.  An endoscopy will also contribute a lot of information.

Michael F. Sedrak, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

although there are clinical and symptoms that can suggest if a band has slipped, the best thing to do is to actually evaluate the band; the two most common ways to evaluate the band are by x-ray, such as a 'barium swallow' or by endoscopy (EGD).
first and immediate step though, if there are any symptoms, are to deflate the band

Terry Simpson, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

This could be an erosion of the Lap-Band or it could be that the band is too tight. Until you see your surgeon you need to just go on liquids and see if things get better with time.  You will need to have a barium swallow test that will determine if you have a band slip

How do you know if your band has slipped?

Answers (4)