bexterity

I just wanted to post this for all of you who've had complications from your band. I was banded in 2008 and doing 'okay' until late 2011. By 'okay' I mean that I had lost about 100 lbs and sitting on a plateau for over a year. Mid-year 2011 I began experiencing pains in my upper stomach after I'd eaten. Pain got worse so I started to eliminate certain foods from my diet. By September 2011 I was on an all-liquid diet and barely able to walk upright.
I know now that I have a high tolerance to pain because I'd put up with this for over 3 months, but come October I'd had enough and went into the ER. The next day they did an endoscopy and found the band was over 80% inside my stomach and 5 days later the band was out. Btw, the same surgeon who banded me in 2008 was the same surgeon who took it out. He advised me that he no longer performs banding due to the sheer number of complications from not only his patients but those of his colleagues.
So basically I'm posting this because I wanted to not only share my story but I'd also like to hear from you ex-bandsters about your experiences. And if you have absolutely no problems with your band and think band erosion is a myth or caused by my failure to use it as a tool, you've evidently wandered here by mistake & please don't leave any snarky comments. Thank You.

I was banded in 2008 at a 'Center of Excellence'. Was extremely happy with the band as I'd lost about 100 lbs my first year. Two weeks ago my band was removed via emergency surgery as the band had eroded so bad it was over 80% inside my stomach.
I encourage you to research, research, research and ask a butt-load of questions from your surgeon and your PCP. As part of my research after my band failed I found this article in JAMA from July 2011: Based on a follow-up of 54.3% of patients,LAGB appears to result in a mean excess weight loss of 42.8%after 12 years or longer. Of 78 patients, 47 (60.3%) were satisfied,and the quality-of-life index was neutral. However, becausenearly 1 out of 3 patients experienced band erosion, and nearly50% of the patients required removal of their bands (contributingto a reoperation rate of 60%), LAGB appears to result in relativelypoor long-term outcomes.
I also want to add that my surgeon who put in my band (and took it out) no longer performs banding because of the sheer volume of failures resulting in explantation.
I wish you luck and if the band is for you, I hope it works perfectly!