Brittwoman

I'm so sorry to hear that. I have A WONDERFUL surgeon, that not only removed every single part of my band from me, but he also did my revision to RNY when I was healed from my removal and repair job and did an amazing job!!! I feel GREAT and also blessed to have found such a skilled and caring surgeon!!

Just alittle update...I had my revision from lapband to RNY on Monday 10/1. I'm actually feeling great and the surgery was a breeze My anesthiaologist kept me "snowed" in the PACU because he knows I suffer from hyperemesis and it was the best because when I finally woke up 4 hours AFTER my surgery was done I had no nausea :bounce: I'm also VERY happy to report that I have NO GAS pains this time around My shoulder feels great!

I am being treated for it with Nexium 40 mg 1x a day, Reglan 10mg 4x a day, and Carafate 1 gm 4x a day . Thank goodness I'm so much BETTER since my band removal on 7/30. My surgeon cut back my meds last week to just 1 Nexium and 1 Carafate a day now :whoo:

I was in the OR by 1:30 pm and home that same day by 6:00pm when I had my band removed. It's really not a hard procedure and I was back at work in 5 days because I had nausea issues from anesthesia. There was virtually NO PAIN and I only took 1 percocet the 1st night so I could sleep.

Bad removal is NOT dangerous! I had mine removed on 7/30/07 and I feel GREAT!!! The procedure took little over 90 minutes for the removal because I had to have some repair work done to my stomach and I was back to work in 5 days. I think your MD just doesn't want to remove it.

I tried to hold out because I didn't want 2 surgies either, but I couldn't. I had my band removed in an emergency procedure on 7/30/07 and my approval came through on 8/8/07 for the revision to RNY. My surgeon schedualed me for 10/1/07 for my RNY. He wants me to have 2 months for my esophogas to heal so my RNY will be uncomplicated. Jane

Another update...My surgeon changed my revision date to 10/1/07. He said that my insides were so inflamed and removed a good amount of scar tissue so he wants me to be completely healed before I change over. At 1st I was disappointed, but when I thought about it, it makes sense!

Just alittle update...I got my insurance approval today :clap2: and I'm schedualed for my revision to RNY on 8/29 :omg: I want to thank everyone for the kind words and support they've shone me over the past several weeks! Jane

Hi Karen! It's been 5 days since I'm band free and I can't believe how much better I feel already!!! The reflux is totally gone and the only annoying thing right now is that I look about 7 months pregnant from the removal surgery. Hopefully the swelling will be gone in another week or so. I should hear by Monday afternoon about my revision surgery, I have a GREAT appeals nurse over at Empire who let's me call her anytime and has been great about keeping me posted on the happenings. As far as Dr Cussatti is concerned, I know he's he GREATEST!!! I was actually the 2nd lap band he ever performed so that let's you know how much faith and trust I have in him.

Just alittle update.... had my band removed yesterday and besides being sore and having a swollen abdomin and the usual shoulder pain....I have NO reflux :whoo: today!!! I was actually able to brush my teeth and have no reflux. I can even drink Water again painfree :whoo: I feel like a new person:clap2: I never knew that my band that I LOVED so much and gave me a whole new life could have made me so miserable at the same time :cry: My MD had to do some repair work because my band caused some damage to my stomch. So may I share a little advice...if you notice that you're having reflux and some heartburn...tell your MD ASAP, don't wait 4 months like I did before I said anything to my MD because in all honesty my slip probably could have been fixed with an unfill and a few weeks of liquids Jane

Well on Monday 7/30/07 @ 7:30 am my band is officially leaving me! I found out on 6/1/07 that I had a slip with some errosion and was trying to hold out for my insurance to cover a revision from Lap Band to RNY, but my stomach will not let me wait any longer. The reflux is so bad and the esophogitis is really painful even being on 3 different meds to try and help settle things for a bit (nexium, carafate, and reglan). My paperwork went in this afternoon for my revision surgery and it was a total joy to have to do EVERY little thing over from scratch again (cardio, psych eval, pulmonary, dietary, support group, endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal sono and primary care MD). So unfortunately I'm going to have 2 surgeries now :car: I'll probably have the RNY revision after 8/27 when I get my daughter settled into her freshman year at college. So this is my tale of woe for now Jane

I've been flying alot lately and NEVER had a problem with tightness and this is with a slipped band that I have now. I guess everyone's body is different. But if you're nervous, just have a protein shake before you go on a plane and keep it light for the rest of the day.

Yes I live on LI, West Babylon to be exact. My Surgeon is Dr. Edward Cussatti, who I LOVE and I have access to him at least 3 days a week because I work in the PACU at Good Sam where he practices I've been a member on OH for almost 4 years now and am well aware of the NY board. I'm just a little scared about the whole thing, but seeing that you're doing well makes me feel better about my decision to convert to RNY.

Glad to see that you're feeling better. I'm still following your story, lurking mostly I had my endoscopy this past Friday 6/22 and they discovered that besides having esophagitis (which we already suspected) I have a small hiatal hernia now and small amount of erosion from my slipped band :omg: I'm just waiting on insurance now and as soon as the approval comes through I'm being placed on the OR schedual to convert from Lap Band to RNY. I have to admit I'm a bit scared, but following your story made me feel alittle better about my choice not to be re-banded. Also just a little note of interest...I have to have a colonoscopy next week before surgery because there is a family history of colon cancer in my family and the gastroenterologist and my baratric surgeon think it's a good idea to do this before RNY surgery. Just a side note....I'm only 44 Anyway keep posting so I can keep lurking and I'm so happy to hear that you're comming along great! Jane

123 lbs lost so far an almost at goal:biggrin1:

Believe it or not...I had NO PAIN with my new belly button It's still a little red, but when I saw my PS today for my 2 month check-up she was VERY pleased at the way it's healing and I must admit it looks so cute..better then my original :clap2: I'm going to upload some pics from my 2 month check-up tomorrow to show my progress. I still have some swelling....but everday it gets alittle better :biggrin1: and I'm loving my nice flat tummy

An upper GI series is the only way to check for slippage :biggrin1:

Everybody is different so it's hard to say what you'll need/want done when you reach your goal!

I still have some swelling because I'm only 6 weeks post-op, but I went from a size 14 to a 10 :clap2: Jane

You asked for it :mad: Here's a link to my picturetrail and my before and after pics :car: I'll update with my 6 week out pics in a day or two :couch2: http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid9134357 Jane aka The LI Princess

If you want a good PS start by going to a local support group and see who has had surgery and who they used, and if they were happy with the results :biggrin1: I'm 6 weeks post-op from abdominalplasty, liposuction to hips, knees, and thighs and port change and couldn't be more happier with my results!!! I also used the same PS that someone in my support group used 6 months prior to my surgery so I got to see her work 1st hand :clap2:

Greetings everyone:) Long Islander here I've been banded for 2 years now and couldn't be more happier :clap2: I feel like I've been reborn!!! Jane

I work in a PACU at a local hospital and rest assured...EVERYONE always wakes up I just had PS 5 weeks ago and I had the same fear and my nurse manager took me aside and said.."Look you've work here how long and you know EVERYONE always wakes up....did you ever see anyone not wake up?" No what my answer was NO! Jane

Hi Monica! I actually had an abdominalplasty with lipo to stomach, hips, thighs, and knees 4 weeks ago. I also had my port changed at the same time to a nice low profile port :whoo: It is possible and I was VERY lucky that my lap band surgeon was in the OR with my plastic surgeon when she lipoed the upper part of my stomach and then he( lap band surgeon) changed my port. Just to let you know it was a VERY long surgery...I was in the OR for 5 1/2 hours...and it is rather painful :omg: WLS is EASY compared to the plastics!! But I'm VERY happy that I did it :clap2: The total of "fluff" that was lipoed out of me was 7 liters :omg: and 8 lbs of skin was removed from my abdomin and hips. If you have any questions feel free to email me! Jane

Just heard about your forum and that I'd join. My name is Jane and I was Banded on 1/9/04 and I'm down 38 lbs so far! :banana: