LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I am in the process of trying to get my band removed. I have had to for almost 11 years and feel that its time to come out based on all the new research coming out. I would love to hear everyones experience on their lapband removals. How was the surgery any complications and how is life now?

Since we are not allowed to drink while eating, is it possible to eat dinner with a glass of wine? Please say "yes"?

Hello everyone. I've been reading though the forum the past few days and found it really helpful. im currently 192lb bmi 31. I should say I live in Cyprus and I would be paying for the op. They stitch the band in place so it doesn't slip. Has anyone had the band with a lower BMI? How did you find it? Im a real grazer and I'm partial to a large portion size so I'm hoping this might curb that. I'd like to lose around 60lb and I'm really worried if I dont do something now I will continue to put on weight.

Hi all, I recently moved to Boston and looking for a clinic where they still perform band fill. My weight has been slowly creeping up (8p now) 7 years post LB placement. Last fill was 2 years ago. Thanks.

Hi, I'm located in NYC. I'm 25 years old and considering lap band surgery at NYU. I am 5'4 and 260 pounds. While about 75% of me is for the surgery i still do have concerns that hopefully some of you can inform me on. I was wondering how many of you have had the surgery and had loose skin afterwards? I've read that the younger you are the less likely you are to have loose skin . I've also read that because the lap band doesn't make you loose weight as fast as the sleeve or bypass, another reason why i many not have loose skin. But i wanted to know how common it is with the lapband. Secondly, how many people have had this surgery within the last 2-3 years and have com…

Hello! Im just curious if anyone else has had a port placed in an odd spot? I had lapband in 2013 and my doc put my port right above my belly button. My new bariatric doctor has been perplexed as to why my previous doctor did that. I honestly don’t remember for what reason my original doctor did it for. My sister had gotten lapband about 2 years before me with the same doctor who did mine and hers was placed in a typical spot (upper side quadrant of the abdomen is how I can best describe it). My new doctor struggled to even feel for the port as it has seemed to migrate some and the first time he tried to check the fluid, he had to go into my bellybutton to get to the…

Ive got 5.5ml in my lap band & ive stopped loosing weight over last year and half & even gained a bit. Cant see surgeon to get a fill because of covid, eating one meal a day just now & just small biscuits through day, its tough and my eating habits have changed

Hi! I am new to this forum. I got my lapband in 2013. My starting weight was 280lbs and I am about 5'3". In the first year I lost 95 pounds and was down to 185lbs. I never had a fill as my doctor never recommended one. In the last 4 years I have shot back up to 225lb as menopause had set in and I started to lag going to the doctor which was no help. I am now 56 years old and can't seem to budge even a couple of pounds off. I have moved out of the state where I had the procedure years ago and had a consult with the local general/bariatric surgeon about 10 months ago. He agreed to remove the lapband and do a revision to bypass. I met remotely with the bariatric nurse a…

I had my lap and surgery 10 years ago, I did great for awhile, now I’m totally out of control. I weigh more now than when I had the surgery. I don’t sit and eat sweets, but it seems like I’m hungry all the time and can’t get satisfied. Just recently I discovered I could drink pops, coke and Mountain Dew. What can I do to get back on track? I need help?

where in Central Fl. Is everyone getting their band filled? Any recommendations? My place quit lapband surgery and fills.

Hi, I moved from San Jose to Phoenix a few years ago, and for the first time since then I need a fill, so I need to find a place in Phoenix that can do this. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you.

Hi...I was pretty much set-up for the sleeve however now I'm scared about having most of my stomach removed so now I'm once again back to wanting the band instead. However, I've heard horror stories about the band, ie. slipping, erosion, etc...would love to hear the positive stories instead!! Thanks for sharing.

I am about to get my lapband removed after 12 years and I'm worried about the amount of scar tissue, etc. What has been the experience of people getting the band out after ten or more years?

I've had my lap band since 2015, and I HATE it. It does what it should do, stops food from going into my stomach. But I get stuck a lot and it hurts, I end up vomiting it up, and anything unhealthy slips right through the band without a problem. I can eat gobs of cake, cookies, chocolates, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, casseroles, the works but it is painful to eat fruits, lean proteins, vegetables, etc. due to them getting stuck. It's like it's doing the opposite of what I want. When the food stays in the pouch, all I need to do is burp a couple times and boom, pouch is emptied. In short, It. Just. Does. Not. Work. I want a revision but I'm not sure what to do. I…

I’m planning to have either the band or the sleeve and would love to hear back from people who had either of these and your thoughts? Did you have success? Did you have complications? How much weight loss and how long?

Hello, newbie here... I’ve had my lap band since 2005! Everything was all good, until I moved to a new state a year ago, went to a new dr a few weeks to have a fill to kickstart additional weight loss (gained weight due to new job, new state, new house, new to Cajun food-lol, liquid calories); the dr added Fluid (was at 2.75/4cc band, made fluid 3.0) now I feel no restriction at all! I came back 2 days later, he took all the fluid back out which was all present and no leak was indicated, and added more fluid (now 3.25), and still no restriction! He said give it a few days, I feel no difference, my previous experiences are that I feel instant restriction afte…

I took one dose of Fosomax ( for bone growth) that causes so much gut pain I had my fill reduced by 2 cc. A few weeks later being hungry and gained a few lbs I had the 2cc put back in. I’m guessing I should have done 1 cc at a time. Hard adjustment getting small amounts of liquids down. Yesterday after 3 days after 6 hours I was able to eat a bisque soup. It’s the holiday weekend and I think by Monday I will be better. Getting down a couple of pills is hard and they are small so I’m sitting upright for 30 minutes hoping that’s enough time as it’s usually 20 minutes to absorb meds if you throw up without a lapband. Any suggestions?

I have had the lap band for 17 years. I have not had any adjustments or dr visits in 8 years. I have a lot of phlegm issues. Is there any fluid in my band after all these years? If yes, maybe getting some removed would help. Is my original stomach shrank down to normal size now? I need advice. I don’t really want to have it completely removed because I know me..... McDonald’s Big Mac here I come. Ahhhh I haven’t had one in 17 years!

Just had surgery yesterday, so I am on the "liquid phase." Not many choices and I need to add protein powder to what I eat. How do you add protein powder to jello? I sprinkled some vanilla flavored gnc whey on it. :huh2:It was on odd texture, jello with dry powder. The taste wasn't too bad. Just looking for some suggestions on this beginning phase. I am not too hungry yet. Still recovering (quite well, actually) from surgery. In fact, I feel so well, it's difficult to realize I am VERY limited in my food choices! I feel like I could eat whatever I wanted! I am being good and following the doctor's orders. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks. Karen

Holy cats talk about some changes I did not see coming. I am normally always overheating, I am hot at night and kick off the covers, want the windows open in the winter time while I clean house, I sweat just thinking about changing clothes. Two weeks post sleeve and my husband wants to know what they did with his wife, you see, I have the furnace set on 73 and the fire place rolling in the living room. I actually put an electric blanket on my bed and today while I was bee booping around the house I was wearing socks and slippers and I had on a pair of mittens because my hands were so darn cold. My dog has decided he no longer wants to sleep under the covers…

Hi all, I had my lap band removed over 5 years ago and then got a sleeve. In the last 6 months I have had discomfort around my old port area that has gotten worse and worse. Has anyone else had tge same experience? And if so how were you treated?

Hello all, I was banded 13 years ago at 250 pounds. During this time I have truly changed everything about my diet and my exercise habits. About 6 years into having my band, at 135 pounds, I developed acid reflux. I didn't know what it was at the time as I had never had it before and just ignored it. Eventually I started taking tums, then nexium 20mg. I would say I took nexium for 4 or so years before going to my band doctor who told me I had to drain my band. He scared me and warned me I would gain weight but I never did (I wish I had read more positive stories about draining/removing so I wanted to mention that)! Once he drained my band my acid went away…

Good afternoon, I had lap band surgery about 8 years ago. I did ok and lost weight but i never got to my goal. I had several providers leave the practice that I went to and gradually i stopped going all together. Needless to say i gained the weight back . I have decided to bite the bullet and start again. I have an appointment next Friday. I am scared and embarrassed but there is still some hope lingering. I was just wondering if anyone has been thru this ?

how many fills did it take before people saw results.

Trying to get information for my husband who is currently 300 pounds at 6'0" tall making his basic BMI calculation 40.7. He's tried dieting so many times over the years but always ends up higher than he started. When we first married 11 years ago he was VERY fit, muscular, and broad shouldered weighing about 190. Because of work stress, life stress, and bad eating habits he's now where he is today. Low carb/keto is how he prefers to diet. Right now he's considering the lap band to force him into losing the 100 pounds. He doesn't have an eating disorder that I know of, he just needs something to keep him straight that's more than just his mind. He says he plans to follow t…

I had my Lap Band removed three years ago. Now, my weight is starting to come back. I couldn't have a revision done at the time of the removal because I was not overweight. I weighed 143 lbs. Now, I'm up to 162. I have an appointment with my surgeon about, hopefully, a revision surgery. My BMI is now 33. Has anyone had a revision years later? Did you insurance pay for it. I'm scared. I can't go back to 230 lbs. Thank you.

Hi Bandsters, I had my last band fill in November 2019. It put me up to 7.5 in a 10cc band. I was fine with that fill for a few months, but then COVID hit. During the lockdown my band became unbearably tight and I got acid reflux for the first time in March and was unable to eat or drink anything. My surgeon managed me through that episode, but I still wasn't very healthy. Since then, I continued to have difficulty eating, but had the added complications of blood pressure drops, causing me to become dizzy. I even fell to the ground on some occasions. I was feeling so miserable that I finally went to my doctor last week and asked to have some fluid removed. I am now d…

I had my lap band done in 2007 and have kept my 108 lb. loss to date. Now my doctors are saying I should have it reversed to a sleeve. Is this recommended now? Joan in Oregon

Hi all - I never thought I'd post on a public forum mainly because I was afraid it would go unnoticed and I wouldn't get any responses. For any of you who have had lapband, please share your story or opinions with me. I am so curious to see how you all felt after surgery and if what I am feeling is common. I'm really struggling with this. I had by lapband surgery on 9/17/20. I was initially nauseous and in physical pain but the pain of the incisions and actual surgery seems to be getting much better. I am nauseous daily. Even water makes my stomach hurt or feel as though I am going to get sick. When I drink protein shakes, zero calorie drinks, or other approved food…

Hey everyone! I have posted here once before, but it has been years and years. I couldn't actually remember my username because it had been so long. I do lurk from time to time because everyone is so kind and helpful! I was banded in 2011 and have had very minimal issues with my band. No slippage, no erosion. Everything has worked pretty much as expected. I do have referred pain in my shoulder with exercise, but that's about it. About 6-8 weeks ago I started noticing swallowing was more difficult. It has slowly progressed to the point of 2 weeks ago I can only swallow liquids. At first I did not think this was band related at all. Mainly because the place solid…

First banned in 8/2008 @ 385 lbs went well, lost 100 lbs,,,,after 4 yrs blow it out with major slip from stress etc,,,,,removed waited and replaced in 2014,,,,,regained of course. Started over and was so scared of another slip I didn't have regular fills. Managed to get down to 350 with only one fill post op. Finally went back and had fill under fluoroscope last month 7/2020 and looked good, filled from 5 to 5.1. Felt no difference so just added 1 cc more Aug 2020 and man I am restricted. I don't remember filling this way after a fill. I drank the water in the office and seems ok but really should have just got .5 cc but wanted some restriction, I feel full all …

Can anyone send me names of doctors that take ACCCHS for a my of these types of surgeries!!??‍♀️

Hi I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice. I've had two bands fitted over the last 10 years. First one came undone after 3.5 years. I did get to a good weight but suffered with chest pains and reflux acid. When it came undone all the symptoms stopped. After 2 years without the band and gaining a couple of stone I had it repaired. I now have 5.5 ml in a 10 ml band. I'm still 18 pounds over weight but I have stayed the same for over a year. However my acid reflux is really bad. I'm considering having all fluid taking out but the nurse who I have just spoke to says do it slowly it might just be to tight. She gets paid £100 every time so this was an answer I expected. Has…

With battling weight most of my life 10 years ago I got a lap band put in. I am now 57 years old, 15 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes At the time my Lap Band was put in my weight was 230 pounds. That might not sound like a lot of weight but for a male 5’8 it was a lot for me. In addition to having type 2 diabetes I have also had two neck surgeries and three back surgeries over the years. The Lap Band gave me significant weight loss. I got down from 230 to 160-165. I also lowered my Metformin from 1000 mg to 500 mg. I lost approximately 70 pounds of weight and maintained this weight for about nine years. To say that it was an easy road for me would be …

So I found out about 2 weeks ago my 2008 band has slipped. I'm completely unfilled and can eat like a beast. I've gained 4lbs since unfill. I'm working with a new surgeon and insurance to get approved to take out my band and do the sleeve. My insurance coordinator stated I shouldn't have to wait the six months period because this is complications which I truly hope is correct because in the last week I've felt this strange "pulling pinching" pain from my port area, my left shoulder hurts and reflux is definitely getting worse. I don't know if its my mind because I know the band is "ruined", but I'm getting concerned...should I be? I see my doc the first week of Nov …

Brief introduction: got my lap band in 2002. Lost about 60 pounds initially, then started eating around the band. In the intervening years I’ve been up and down, have done WW, lo carb, etc. I just haven’t “used” the band. Last adjustment was maybe 10 years ago. I remember my surgeon’s name but not much else. .I’m now close to my pre-band weight and realizing that the gerd and heartburn, vomiting and waking up every night with reflux is enough. I want the band pit. Has anyone here had their lap band removed in Chicago? Any suggestions for surgeons? Any group practices that are know to be successful? I accept full responsibility for the failure of my band f…

I was banded 7 yrs ago and was able to lose all my weight and keep it off. No problems and I was feeling pretty good. Over the last 4 months I started having more heartburn and coughing at night. No vomiting or gagging. I was a True Results patient and the site here closed down few years back. I never had Bariatric coverage on my recent insurance plans so I never went for follow up. I didn’t have issues and felt good . 2 days ago woke up with severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting. It felt like stomach spasms. My band was cutting off blood flow and no fluids would go down. We decided on emergency band removal. My esophagus was inflamed and swollen, I never felt mu…

Hi all, I had surgery three years ago. At the end of 2019, I had an adjustment as I was experiencing some discomfort and reflux. There's currently very little restriction and I've put on about 12 pounds in isolation. Here's the thing. The same week I had an adjustment I also moved to Cambodia, which is essentially a third world. So far, I haven't been able to find a bariatric surgeon here. I also can't travel to nearby Thailand due to Covid-19. With that in mind, has anyone done an adjustment themselves? I understand it's not ideal, but I can purchase saline and a syringe from any pharmacy, whereas I won't be able to see a surgeon for at least a fe…

Hi everyone I wonder if I can ask your opinions about something? I had a lap band fitted a few months ago. I carefully considered all the options, and decided I didn’t want surgery to remove part of my stomach, and would go with the band. I’ve had around four fills, and am now up to 5.5 mls. But while I am definitely able to swallow only much smaller mouthfuls of food than I did before (especially things like meat), I find that the actual amount of food my stomach can hold is not much different than before I was banded. Is this normal…? When I originally had the operation the bariatric nurse told me that I would only be able to eat around a side plate’s worth of food…

How long after your surgery did it take to start seeing any results? I AM 2 weeks post op and have lost nothing since the surgery. Yes, I know I'm impatient but with the first 2 weeks consuming nothing more than 2-3 protein shakes on most days and seeing either a gain or plateau, I'm discouraged.

I can not wait to go to the neurology appt... The area right next to the belly button is the spot, plus my whole left side to under my ribs, to my pelvic area... I have had this issue since at least 2007, It has gotten way worse then when it started, I pray to God I am right with the problem...Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome... this can cause different issues as well... biggest problem is people get diagnosed with all sorts of stuff.. I have complained and complained through the years, have had a million scans with nothing found,... looking for a reason and a fix... for 13 yrs has not been fun, and most Dr's just look at you like your nuts, or a hypochondriac…

I was 19 when i first got the lap band. I got it filled once and never used it again. I lost like 50 pounds and kept the weight off pretty well. I recently discovered other health issues which is causing me to lose a crazy amount of weight. Honestly i havent really had any issuses. But lately ive been having the feeling like i can feel the band around my stomach. Ive never had this feeling before. I recently started doing more body weight exercises so i thought it was that but i havent worked out since saturday and its monday now so idk. It doesnt hurt its jus a feeling. Oh and a few weeks ago i was taken to the hospital for abdominal pains. Sharp terri…

Hi everyone. I’ve had my band for 5 years now without any issues and I’m at my ideal weight. However two days ago I suddenly can eat everything. I had a CT scan today and no issues at all with my band. Therefore, is it possible for my band to deflate!!!??? Thanks, Marina

March 4th 2020 I had 1 cc added to my band after 4 years. I gained 35 lbs in that 4 years and wanted to stop further gain. I’ve had some stuck issues and can work through them for the most part but have had some vomiting issues also, Saturday being the last time. Since Saturday I can hardly get anything down, have had lots of heartburn and slot of burping issues. I’ve been trying to drink some shakes but nothing tastes good. Any thoughts? Dr isn’t in due to pandemic.

I had the lap band surgery about 15 years ago haven’t had a feeling over five years and all the last couple years it seems if I eat past four or 5 o’clock I develop a night cough I’ve been looking into all that I know I need to see a doctor but I recently moved now living in San Antonio Texas does anyone know who I should go see defined out for investigate further about what’s going on with me in the San Antonio area?

Just wanted to say that today I was looking at the calendar and realized that today is my 4's! 4 years, 4 months and 4 days since my surgery.....lol apparently I have a ton of time on my hands today! anyways, just wanted to let y'all know im still extremely happy with my decision. I could have never have done this without the lap band.... that is all

Come on ya'll.

I take sedating medicine, and stopped smoking around 14 years now. I believe that this has made it harder for me to move forward with my weight loss, with the Gastric Lap Band, which I've had 16 years ago now. I wont change the banding, cause I know if I get it removed, bye bye to the weight loss, bring on the weight gain. So far I've lost the ideal weight, then I stopped the smoking and it increased. I have 50 lbs to go now, I can do it. Can anyone related to this at all?

2008 bandsters out there!? Feb 2008 and still going!!!

If there are any Orthodox Jews here, I wanted to let you know that there is a new message forum specifically for Orthodox Jews that was created to deal with issues of Kosher, Shabbos, Holidays, and other unique challanges. The web site is: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/frumwls/