LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I had a fill yesterday and last night I couldn't sleep because I kept waking up feeling like I was choking on liquid. Liquid would come out of my nose and mouth.

I had lapband surgery five years ago which worked great in finally being able to lose weight. I fell off the wagon about 2 years ago and gained all my weight back. Is there a way to "start over" again? Can I just start the post-op liquid diet originally required right after surgery to shrink my stomach and get the weight loss going again? I'm hoping it will shrink the "pouch" so the lapband will start working again by making me feel full with very little food. I appreciate your input!

Hi guys! I'm just looking for a bit of advice from people that may have experienced over fills in their bands... I had surgery July 2018, I've never had restriction or felt any restriction until now. I have been back to my clinic regularly for fills for the last 18 months, and felt no change. I finally had an x-ray a week ago with a barium swallow to see what was going on. The surgeon (a different one to who I usually see) told me I definitely did not have the amount that they thought was in my band and put quite a lot more in. I instantly felt restriction. I could feel even water taking a while to pass. I left the hospital and felt pain as if I had food stuck,…

Hello, I have gone through menapause and after that happened I have gained a lot of my weight back. Very sad. I need some good information and ideas what to do. Not having any problems with my Band. Had it looked at a few years ago to make sure. The RD that the office has is Horribe. She is No help. I did have to have my band fluid reduced years ago due to Acid Refux. Now I only have Acid reflux every now and then. I really need a NEW starting point. Any help would be great. Thanks

Ok, so I’m 10 days post opp and today I ran 4 days earlier than my doctors told me to (14th). And idk if I’m just stressing or overthinking but my port isn’t exactly where the incision is and I think it might be lower than it was before. Is this a known issue, is this a big issue and should I call my doctor or am I just being paranoid.

Hello I recently gained a few pounds. I am shocked! I am under 600 calories a day and I exercise pretty much EVERYDAY. I did the surgery last month. Did anyone experience this ? Thanks Dani B

Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself. I had my lap-band done in 2015 but I wasn’t really motivated and wasn’t consistent with eating well and filling it. I started at 354, didn’t lose for the first two years and then went down to 275, but now I am back where I started. I have gone through trauma and only recently when I did EMDR did I feel connected with my body like never before. I now feel like I have hit rock bottom. I don’t even know how much I weigh (my home scale goes up to 330), and recently I have begun to feel like I am losing mobility. It’s getting harder to walk (or am I only now aware since I stopped dissociating?) and I hate going to work because I feel li…

Where can I get a fill in Central Florida? They used to have fill centers (I was banded in Mexico in 2007) but it doesn’t seem the case anymore. I need a dr who will do fills for non patients that are self pay. I live in Winter Haven between Orlando and Tampa.

Hi all, a few months ago I found that my band has a large ‘leak’ in it. It was filled with 5ml and the next day it was down to 1ml. ive spoke to surgeons assistant who stated a new tube and port will be €1700 however there is no guarantee that this will work. All depends on what the actual issue with my band is and they won’t know that until they perform surgery. has anyone else had a band repair? If so was it a success, any issues post surgery? really need to hear some people’s experiences before I decide to book it. thanks in advance x

i had surgery to have my lap-band removed exactly one week ago today. (i had to lose the band due to slippage and complications). before surgery i had gotten down to 188 lbs, and at a place where my stomach was starting to look pretty flat. immediately after surgery i weighed myself and was 193 lbs, and now i am at 191 six days later. i know i'm obsessing but i'm hoping that it's Water weight, it seems like i have a lot of swelling around my belly area. that whole area is tight and round, as opposed to being flat and easily compressed before. what do you guys think? how long did everyone have swelling for? did most of you have swelling at all? i am paying extreme…

Hi everyone, I had my initial surgery 10 years ago. I lost 98 lbs and it brought my 5'6" frame to a svelte 156.00 lbs. I was looking and feeling great. Then I started to get sick and was passing out about 2 years post-op. I found out my lapband had slipped and I went in for a revision. Again 3 years later I had to have another revision. After that time I gained weight and leveled at 180 lbs. I didn't like the number but with exercise I looked okay and felt good, so I was okay with it. Push forward 4 years and I have gained another 25 lbs and now weight 205 lbs. I have tracked my food intake for one-full year and I average 1100 calories per day. So h…

Hello-trying to find out about port and tube replacement procedure please. Is this done with a local anesthesia or is it general anesthesia? Thanks

Hi everyone, I haven’t posted in years but here I am because I’m frustrated and seeking help. I had the lap band surgery in 2007, lost over 100lbs and kept it off. Sure, I’ve had issues like the reflux a night, I’ve been so tight that nothing goes down not even water, I’ve had to get completely unfilled and then gone back to get a little fill here and there. But I can’t seem to get the “right” fill? I’ll be ok for awhile and then I’m tight again?? So this time on Dec 23rd I was completely unfilled. It’s been 1 week and I’ve gained almost 20lbs and I’ve barely eaten anything?? I’m so bloated and gassy and uncomfortable it’s unreal?? My hands and legs and stomach are so bl…

I recently took a trip for about a week and a half...now I'm home and hardly any restriction. The only thing i can think of is elevation change? Roughly 6100-3000.... No unusual issues like pain or stuck episodes. Thinking i should do liquids for A week? This ever happen to anyone? Thanks in advance!!?

I had my lap band put in 2012. I lost 80 lbs the first year, maintained and then in 2016 had a prolapse and all my fluid removed. I never regained restriction from fills, just random days when my band would decide to be tight and I couldn't eat. By late 2018 I had gained all of my weight back. Mid 2019 I started to have reflux that lead into really bad chest pains. I even went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. After trying meds, and having an ultrasound I just had an upper GI yesterday. I still have a prolapse and irritation and it was recommended that I have the band removed. I am on the fence about having a revision....I don't think the doctors in my area …

I use to have a lap band and had to have it removed because it slipped. My doctor revised it to a sleeve. But the sleeve just hasn’t been nearly affective and I so desperately want my band back!! But I’m finding that no doctors will do a band over sleeve in Houston. Has anyone had a band over your sleeve? I want my band back!! ?

I was having horrible reflux and had all the fluid removed from my band. Today I went for a barium swallow, still waiting on the results. Dr. didn't see anything at the time, but will review the images. The past couple weeks I have had shoulder pain when I eat or drink. It isn't right away, but within 10 minutes of eating/drinking. Has anyone experienced this? What was the outcome? Thank you for your time ?

Four days ago I had my Lap Band removed. It was put in 11 years ago. Because of a newer health condition and the medication I take now, the band could no longer be safely filled or released. Lots of tears because I felt I had failed. At one point, I was 28 pounds from my goal weight. Then a truck hit me head-on, sidelining any further progress. As I am healing, I am hoping this removal rids me of the problems we believe were being caused by the band. Nausea, slight heartburn and reflux, gas and bloating etc... Has anyone a similar experience to share. I feel isolated because we all know how hard it was to get the band. People around me dont…

Hello All, I am not a frequent poster on this forum. To make a long story short, I have had my band for 10 years. Up until 4 months ago, I was what I considered to be a successful bandster. Had lost about 95 pounds (41 years old male, highest 270, lowest 175 lb). Maintained a 90 pound loss but was having serious issues with my lap band: 1) acid reflux, 2) gas bloating and abdominal pain, 3) port pain, 4) no follow-up doctor as my out of province surgeon had retired years ago, etc... I am in a difference place now. I FINALLY found a GREAT weight loss surgeon locally who agreed to take me on as his patient and have been following up with him since then (he does th…

I honestly can’t remember the last time I posted to this board, but I wanted to share my story. I was banded 9/7/11. It worked great for me for the first few years. I lost a total of 120 pounds. Then it stopped working so great. I couldn’t keep things down and so we took all the fluid out with the assumption that we would try to slowly fill it back up. Unfortunately, my port flipped and was only attached by one prong. Even though I didn’t have any fluid in my band, it was a gamble if I could keep down meaningful protein. I resorted to things that would go down easily and as a result, gained back 95 pounds. My instance at the time would not pay for any bariatric procedures…

The last two years I’ve been getting bloating and cramps once every week or two. Now it’s two or three times a week. My primary care doc can only conclude irritable bowel syndrome. Band doc says tilted creating a “pouch” on top but not slipped. My whole abdomen aches at night

So I was banded back in 2012. I was about 420 Pre-Op. At one point, I was down to 250, but my wife said my face looked too thin. Anyway, I had plastic surgery to remove loose skin and had a complication from it leading to a MRSA infection. While recovering from it, my Bariatric Doctor took all the fluid from my band to let me heal. Afterwards, we could never dial it in quite right again. Always either too tight or too loose. Since the skin removal, I've put back on about 100 lbs. Fastforward to a few months ago. I started having weird GI issues (Diarrhea every 13 days with severe nausea). I would get very strong dry heaves (nothing coming up because of the band)…

...can't believe I'm the only one lurking hereabouts....

Lap band was removed a couple of months ago, because of slippage after 10 years. Lost 180 lbs, and I must say I looked great, so proud of myself. First they loosened the band until the surgery for removal could take place. I started gaining weight right away. I have gained 40 lbs in 4 short months, and I am starting to panic. I joined a weight loss center, and nothing seems to be working for me. Low carb, counting calories, but the weight just seems to coming back on so quickly. Is it true that since I was so obese before the surgery that now I have all those fat cells that seem to soak up the fat so easily now. It doesn't make any sense, I have been really trying, d…

Hello all, I was a lap band success story at one time, surgery in 2008, losing from 433 to 178, keeping most of that off for years. But life and acid reflux have taken their toll. I’ve had my band unfilled and refilled several times over the past years, but it’s no use. I can’t get to a sweet spot again where the band helps me lose weight and the acid reflux is manageable. The band is coming out on Monday. I’m depressed and worried. For me the band was magic, it made it easy (or at least possible) to lose so much weight. Now with an empty band for several months I’m struggling so much. I’ve regained 100 pounds in the past four years. Although I don’t have much r…

What symptoms are you experiencing? For me,I had the band 12 years and started to experience: major cramps and bloating . For the last two years I’ve gone back and forth to the doctor and had pelvic and abdominal ultrasounds . I got tested for gluten intolerance etc. my doctor finally concluded that I have Irritable bowel syndrome. I never thought even once that this could be related to my band. Over the last two years, the symptoms increased from debilitating stabbing pain than would occur anywhere from my abdomen to lower bowel region near my ovaries once ever month or two to twice a week!! I just had my bad removed and 8 weeks later , not one incident! I never my sympt…

Hello all. I have moved here from overseas and really struggling with my band. Constant reflux and spasms. I’m in constant pain. Can anyone recommend a doctor/surgeon in the Northampton area?

I've been having nighttime reflux/coughing/vomitting with varying degrees of severity for some time now. It doesn't seem to matter when I eat my last meal. When I lay down to sleep I wake up in the middle of the night with coughing and vomitting. This happens most nights of the week. I have the head of my bed propped up, I try to sleep with lots of pillows (I usually end up slideing off of them and sleeping flat), and its worse if I'm on my left side than on my right. When I get up and vomit, my stomach contents are primarily liquid and phlegmy, no solid pieces of food. So there's no blockage of the band opening. I had an UGI done 12/2009, diagnosed a hiatal herni…

I was wondering if any who has the lap band has pain at the port site? I'm the process of having a revision with the gastric bypass because I plateaued about 7years ago and there a lot of issues with it like acid reflux, getting food stuck and then vomiting and having port pain too. I had the band since 2009 .

Seems so sluggish in this forum. Would those of you with bands please just let readers know you are still around? (Hoping) Thank you. Ps I do understand sleeves far outnumber us on this board .

And how long should a band stay in? I’ve heard it should stay in for life but now I’m hearing 10 years?

hi all , i had a barium swallow xray carried out on monday following months of struggling to eat meat , fruit etc , most things that are not soft , i got the results today and it seems to suggest a possible slippage / change in position of band , all else is fine and as it should b , i had a complete defill approx 6 weeks ago , is it likely to right itself ? i dont really want more surgery as i thought this would be for life and the expense if needed is a concern , any advice would be appreciated

Thought I would get lap band now I'm not sure.. I don't drive so how would I get the adjustments all the time. I'm 220 lbs my bmi is 40 am I fat enough to get sleeve or bypass

Hi all, I am new to the forum so apologies if I breach any etiquette with my post but I would appreciate y'alls help and input. I would also like to say I completely appreciate you probably aren't medically qualified, I am generally looking for peoples experiences and any solutions they had to the following problem, Essentially I had lap band (or gastric band as known in the UK) surgery around 3 weeks ago. I am also taking 6 types of medication to help with my mental health issues (bipolar, depression and anxiety disorder). Between themselves they approved me for the surgery under the proviso that I ground my medications up or break open the capsules - I …

is weight gain part of band slippage

I hate getting stuck what can you do to push the food down...it hurts so bad.

I had my gastric band removed at the end of August. I had been frequently vomiting and couldn't get liquids to stay down. Did barium swallow and the liquid didn't get past the band but there were no signs of slippage. I was scheduled for emergency removal and what had happened was an extremely thick layer of scar tissue had formed around the entire band and stomach and was squeezing my stomach and band closed like a boa constrictor. So band removed, and all the scar tissue was removed from my stomach. I did ok afterwards but the last week or so im having severe upper abdominal pain and lower abdominal pain. It's fairly constant and definately made worse by eating or drin…

Hi all, looking for some advice. so, I was banded in 2011 and have had ups and downs with restriction over the years however, 3 (ish) weeks ago I had pain near my band/port and since then I’ve had zero restriction. I’ve also had nausea and suffered bad with my stomach such as excessive wind. I’ve also noticed that the way my stomach makes noises when I’m hungry feels and sounds different. I had my surgery in Belgium but I live in the UK and the surgeon isn’t in the UK for another 3 weeks so I have to wait to see him. has anyone else had these symptoms? I’m just so worried that my band has erosion or something serious that may need urgent attention but as I have …

My Fellow Albertans! If you are able, and need your band adjusted, I am organizing a Fill Day in Edmonton, AB on Thursday, October 10th and then in Calgary, AB on either Friday, October 11th or Saturday, October 12th. If you are interested, please contact me! If you can't make those dates, reach out to me anyways and we can talk about options. Hope I can help those Slimband / CIBO / Smartshape / other lapband bandsters that need support! Hugs, Niki

Hello, I am seeking advice from anyone who converted from lapband to sleeve and especially if with a lower BMI. I scoured the forum but didn’t see any similar stories): Also looking for anyone who had band removed because of esophageal dysmotility. Here is my history, briefly(: I had lapband 12 years ago (self pay in Mexico) and was successful. I had reached my goal weight and 24 BMI! (with some ups and downs along the way). That was until three months ago when I had a severe food poisoning and the associated vomiting. I was very sick and violently vomited at least 20 times. This left my band very irritated and I was barely able to drink two weeks…

Hello everyone! I've been on the average to thinner side most of my life. However When I was 21 I noticed my weight had really started getting out of hand and I didn't know why as I've always been really good with exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. After going back and fourth to the doctors for months they eventually sent me to an endocrinologist and discovered that my testosterone levels were through the roof , put some of my other symptoms and pieces together and eventually diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Since being diagnosed, I've tried various weight loss programs and even if I succeeded in weight loss its always come back and I feel helpless. Di…

Hi there, I'm feeling like my band is really loose, and although I have had success with it, I feel like I'm gaining weight again because there's no restriction. I had my surgery at the slim band clinic and they are out of business. I believe I need a fill, but I can' find anyone to do it. Does anyone know of a clinic that will do a fill for me in the London, or Kitchener Waterloo area? I'd even consider Guelph if that's my choice. Thanks!

Fellow Bandsters In Ontario: I am organizing a fill day in Toronto on Saturday, September 28th and in Barrie, Ontario on Sunday, September 29th. If anyone is in need of a band adjustment, please reach out to me. ??????????

Hello. I have been receiving more and more emails regarding the recent decision of Slimband to no longer support TLBC patients who had been receiving care up until this past December (2013). Slimband now says that they will not honour the lifetime long agreement that we were told we would have. That means if you want a fill then you are paying for $200 for it but only after you get a referral from your GP and have documented what you eat with a 2 Week Photo food Log. After Dr. Yau "resigned" from Slimband the other month, Slimband is now not treating any of his TLBC patients even if they pay. So if you were banded by TLBC you are being left out in the cold. …

I had my lap band inserted in March 2017 in Toronto and went home to Alberta with promises of support and help from my ‘coach, Cathy’. She sat with me prior to the procedure and explained how everything was to go after the band was put in place (she is still working for Slimband Canada). After the procedure I was experiencing discomfort and call to talk to the surgical nurses on site and was told it was normal. After 4 weeks Cathy was supposed to call and check up and start the coaching me on starting the plan but never called. Every time I called I left a message and she never returned any of my calls. She would respond by email is I wanted to pay for a fill r…

Hi Everyone!!! I was hoping for some assistance - I am not sure what to do! I am a former TLBC patient of Dr. Yau's - we've been dropped by the clinic and no longer receive support. I am completely done with my lap-band and I have been told that I can have it removed by the nurse at Slimband and have the procedure covered by OHIP. I was hoping to get some advise from any patients of TLBC or others who had their lap-band removed in Ontario. What steps did you take? Was the procedure covered by OHIP? How long did take for you to have a surgery scheduled? I appreciate all help! Thanks Anne.

I was banded outside of Canada (please spare me the why did you do that, that was stupid etc comments I simply couldnt afford the surgery in Canada ) and now I am searching for a fill doctor in Ontario. However it appears that Slimband (how is that place even still operating with all the bad reviews seriously?!) and other big companies seem to have complete control over Ontario when it comes to post op fill stuff. I do not have $5,000 for a post op care plan nor do I want to pay that and no one seems to do just fills on a pay per visit system. Ontario is where I am from but not where I will be living for the rest of my life, so it would be a waste of money to spend …

I was banded in Rhode Island USA in 2009. I have lost 77lbs I feel great! I moved to Ontario 3 years ago and am looking for somewhere to do my fills. I am in need of 1/4 cc. I wa going back and forth to Rhode Island but with my daughter being 16 month old it has become impossible and very expensive. Does anyone know where I can get my band filled in Ontario without having to pay $5000?

Hi I'm a veteran Lap Bandster, Im looking to get a fill- Im in Barrie and can travel as far as I need to by car. Im hoping of the few bandster left someone knows of one currently doing fills. Barrie/ York Region/ Toronto. Mine was done by Dr Yau about 15 years ago or more, right after it was approved In Canada. Have had fills at Scarborough Grace, then Slimband, then Prince Arthur. The band has been mildly effective, at first I lost about 90 Lbs, but I have regained 50 Lbs. ovr time. I hardly even know the band is there. The last time I saw Dr yau- years ago- he said if I thought the band slipped he could go in and if it needed replacement it would cost me an…

Hello and good morning my friends. Welcome to Banders #7. So, I guess I'll start it off by saying how grateful I am today and every day for the new lease on life that I have. I walked to the office today from the train station. That was something I couldn't do before the surgery. I always say how light I feel and I realized it's not a state of mind, but a physical reality. We are weighed down by the excess weight and all that goes with it. When we don't rumble and jumble as we walk, our steps are lighter. I was listening to my ipod and started to dance a little as I was walking. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but who cares? When one is thin, even looking ridiculo…