JustFluffy

Hi Kim! Welcome :-)

Hi Danielle! I could have written your story as mine...three years ago banded - same problems with gerd and esophagas problems! wow...I'm 34 and had revision surgery to RNY in August. I had a tough recovery due to my surgeon did my revision as mini-open rather than lap...I'm finally feeling like me. I had gained all my weight back within three years of beingbanded plus some...I'm now down almost 50 pounds and had no pre-op diet. It is such a relief not to get that "stuck" feeling...never thought the feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest was a good thing! Now I don't have that...I've gotten sick some post op...mainly learning what I can and can't tolerate and moving from food stages as I advanced in my diet. No more foamies either! I hope you continue to write here...I'd love all of us to have a place to talk and make some new friends

Hi Latoya! I've posted on a couple other thread of yours as well. If you have any questios - please ask away... I lost about 65 lbs with the band. The first year was wonderful, but after that it went downhill and I ended up with gerd and esophagus dialition issues, so my new doctor (in fl - I moved) told me he had to take it out. I had convinced myself I wanted the Sleeve but he wouldn't do it nor would insurance approve it. So I'm now two months post op and doing well. I've had issues lately with drinking within an hour and a half after eating some meals...but am going Wednesday to my doctor to follow up. I think it may be an ulcer, which is a result of the gerd I fought for years with the band. I just started having heartburn issues in the last couple of weeks. So I may be back on meds for that - which is okay...easy fix. Can't wait to chat with you - and hopefully we can get this forum more active.

Welcome! I too had my heart originally set on the Sleeve. However, my insurance and my doctor wouldn't approve it. My surgeon knew I had a history of heartburn and gerd - said that if you have that the sleeve may complicate it. In addition I was a revision to RNY from the band and it had higher complication rates.... I had my surgery back in August (revision) and original band surgery in April 2008. I honestly wish I would have had RNY originally I was scared of the malaborption as well as "re-routing'. However, I neded up with many complications from the band and ended up going through a tough revision surgery due to my fears. My original surgeon always pointed out that "band was reversable". Hindsight, why would I want to be fat again? and removing the band would do that. Iended up gaining back all of my weight plus some after band surgery. I'm down 47 pounds in two months (today is my anniversary - woot) and couldn't be happier! Good luck with your decision...let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck! I hope you hear something soon :-)....I think waiting is sometimes the worse...can't wait to get to know you either...

I was banded April 2008 and has RNY revision surgery in August of this year. I wish I would have had RNY - so I can get behind your decision not to do the Band...it was a nightmare - I lost weight initially but ended up gaining back my weight and had esophagus complications as well as Gerd. Good luck...I started out on this forum and was very active on LBT as well...I've posted some to other forums out there but they feel kinda "clicky" and if you aren't a vet there, then you aren't accepted (just my opinion). I haven't posted here in a while because it was dorment for a while...seems since post-op things have picked up, which I feel is awesome!

I had my surgery on August 1st and am finally healed, well almost healed. I go next week to the doctor for my final checkup then hopefully won't have to go back for a while. My revision was tougher than what the doctor thought it would be. It took him an hour to remove my port from my chest (because it was sewn by the org surgeon to my ribs)...long story! then another two hours to finish my surgery. I'm not sure all that happened although it should have only taken about 45 minutes and took 3 hours... I've had problems healing from surgery from my incision site/drain site. I was a mini-open and for whatever reason aferwards I kept ripping my internal sutures and it took about a month before he finally stitched up my external incision....I drained for about seven weeks from the drain area below the incision (between my breasts)...it finally stopped draining week before last and is finally closing up... food is going well...portions got me when I originally started on solids a few weeks ago but finally have that demon licked. Still learning my pouch is very finicky and kinda has a mind of its own. Some days it likes what I eat and some days it doesn't...seems to be a learning process.

I just realized I'd hyjacked Junipers thread !! Sorry.... I was banded in April 2008, 259 lbs with a BMI of 41. I lost almost 70 pounds in the first year. I had a flipped port within a month of being banded - which should have been a light bulb for me. Went through a painful divorce, moved back home (and away from my doctor), missed almost two years of follow-up, got pneumonia, got defilled, took a long time to find a band-doctor in my area to see me. It was a long two years... Good news, found a wonderful doctor (John David Nye in Pensacola). Found out he can't access my port - which is in my chest and he hates it there (says it is dangerous). Went to get my port moved, started having reflux and abdominal pains. Got an Upper G.I. - found out I have GERD and my esphagus is no longer working properly (back in March 2011). Have been waiting for my insurance to approve me (had to wait on pre-existing condition law) for the revision. Well after Dr. Nye got my results he said that the band has to come out. We discussed my options and decided on RNY revision. I found out three weeks ago my insurance approved me in two days! Last Monday I went to the hospital and got all my pre-op work done and I'm having my band removal and revision to RNY on Monday week, August 1st .... I'm nervous, exciting, nervous and SO ready for this band to come out. I'm to the point now I can't eat anything and he can't access my port to let any Fluid out (I have about 3 in a 10cc). All those out there just browsing - please jump in and tell your story! I know I will have a ton of questions...especially as my day approaches and the lifetime change that is coming...

Thank you for all the replies! I'm getting ready for next week...glad to hear you are doing well Teri. :-)

I've had similar pain in my port area when eating (it isn't always there, but sometimes - I was banded April 2008). I get a lot of uncomfortable sensations and pains in my left rib area - which I believe now is tubing. My port is in my chest and my tube runs beneath my breast and around my rib area...also found out recently I have about 3 ft of tube in me - which would contribute to the strange pains I get. I don't think mine and yours are related - however, it could be tubing, gas...you may want to get your band doctor to check you out again. They sometimes say it is nothing - but ask for tests run (upper gi, endoscopy, etc.)...I'd rather be overcautious than compliant....

Hi - I posted on the other thread as well. Are you doing a revision to RNY at the same time as your removal? I know some doctor's do it laproscopically - mine is doing a mini-open. He is also removing my port (which is in my chest) . I think he is more worried about that than the removal and revision. Wow - 50% - I heard something similar...I'm really disappointed and have felt like a failure for the past few years (gaining all this weight back), but I'm trying to be positive. I'm going to look at my band as a "training" for my RNY...at least I know somewhat what to expect for the diet...

I did pretty well with my band (the first year), since then its given me nothing but problems. I'm now to the point everything I eat gets stuck in my throat, I end up sneezing, and coughing and then throwing up (most solids). I know we aren't supposed to drink with our meals but the only way I can get my food (even mushies) to go down is to drink a soda with my food - it expands my pouch enough for the food to go down. It is the lesser of the two evils. My esophogus has stopped working and I have horrible gerd (which the soda doesn't help) - but at least I can eat something that way. I can't wait to have it removed and get on with my life. I was lucky for insurance to pay for mine - but am now trying to come up with all of the co-pays for the hosptail and my doctor. Are you going to get a revision to band?

Hey Cassie - glad your appointment went well with your doctor. Mine two does a lot of revisions - I do wish I would have done RNY the first time, but at the time of my surgery the band sounded like the right choice. Hindsight - I'm hearing more and more removals and coversions for whatever reasons. Some it works for some it doesn't. I went this past Monday for my pre-op. This included an ultrasound of my abdomin, the ekg, bloodwork, an exra of my abdomin, the chat with the anethsiologist and pre-regsitration. Then two hours with the nutritionist on my post surgery diet. The diet looked very similar to the band diet - although each step (Clear Liquids, liquids, soft/mushies) will be longer and there will be foods I've been told not to eat for at least six months out. The Vitamins was a big part of the nutritionist. My doctor is more than an hour away and says the B-12 supplements over the counter do not absorb as well so I will have a monthly injection to do from home. That actually made me happy. I can live with one shot rather than the pills that don't seem to be effective. I also found out from my bloodwork that I have a potassium deficiency caused from my hypothyroidism and diaretic...so they started me on some time realsed supplements. It was a long day (Monday), but I have everything taken care of for next week. My doctor is putting me on a two day liquid diet prior to surgery. I will have to be there at 5:00 a.m. - which means getting up at 2:00 a.m.... Please let me know how everything goes with your tests and when you get a date :-)

Hi! Welcome to RNYTalk...I know how you feel about the doctor switch. Sounds like you are getting really close. Insurance is funny - it really is. My insurance (BCBS of Texas) approved me within two days for my revision. A friend of mine (having worse complications than I am) is having to jump through the "hoops". I know you will be glad to be done with their requirements. Let us know how everything goes and definately after your doctor's appointment. I'm having surgery on Monday week (Aug 1) and am nervous and excited at the same time. Best of luck to you :-)

Just an update to any who are reading...my surgery has been postponed a week. - Now August 1st. Hope it doesn't move again...I was psyched and ready, but it is what it is...another week to prepare. Going to the store today to stock the house on liquids. I have to do a liquid diet two days pre-op and I go on Monday for all of my pre-op appointments. Hope everyone is doing well out there and begins posting.

My surgeon places ALL of his ports in the chest area - that is his standard procedure. The belly fat part is interesting to me as well...never heard of that. Hmmm. I do now the chest is not the recommended placement - the chest muscle is more active and you have a better chance of flipping your port (which I've done twice). I've also heard of flipping issues as well in placement in the abdomin - so I think it may go either way...

I guess I will reply to my own post (its lonely here - we need more posters)...I found out today my insurance approved my revision. Surgery is scheduled for 7/25/11 :-)

Hello all - I will be having revision to RNY from band in two weeks. I go for my pre-op on 7/18. I'm full of all types of emotions right now. I'm excited, scared, hopeful and anxious all at once! I found out a few months back I was having complications with my band (esophogus) and some erosion. My port has also flipped (for the 2nd time). I changed doctors when I moved from Georgia to Florida a year ago. My new doctor told me the band had to go - was causing too many complications and with my GERD issues I should never have had the band to begin with. I had a consult with with my new doctor, Dr Nye in Pensacola, this past week after discussing RNY. They filed for the insurance last week and I talked to them today and I was told insurance had approved me :-) So a new journey begins - wasn't the one I thought I'd be taking three years ago. I was banded thinking I'd have it forever and had no idea the problems that I would have nor that I would regain all of the hard lost pounds. I'm looking to this with glass half empty - I know it is going to be hard, perhaps harder than when i was banded. I jus thope the glass fills up in the end...just trying to prepare as much as I can.