JACKIEO85

Maybe you need a higher Protein intake. If I clear 100+ grams of protein especially on days I workout hard (burn 1000-1600 depending on what I do) and net around 1700 good calories for the day I lose "weight". For me the only # I am after is 198 my goal for surgery. But I am still losing body fat and gaining muscle. It's just a process of finding what works best for you and ruling out any subsequent medical conditions. I also take alot of Vitamin supplements. That helps me.

For me, it is important to know, and it's easy for me to know because I walk out of the radiologist's office with my xray and report of the fill procedure.
That said, am I wrong in assuming that you have the right to view all of your medical information? Isn't this a law in the USA?
The larger picture here, to me, is this dynamic of "Medical Professional As God" va. the naive patient who doesn't need to know what the Doctor deems non-essential information. That kind of dynamic would very much annoy me.

Regardless of how obsessive you may or may not be, this is medical information and you have a right, legally and morally, to know anything that involves your health. Demand to know how much Fluid is in your band and make no apologies for it. What does he think you are, an hysterical female? Never liked a doctor not being completely transparent with me. Maybe because I'm in a related field and work with doctors, I would never allow that....and you shouldn't either. I demand full disclosure from my medical professionals and you should too.

Oh, HELL NO! If I ask my doctor a question about my healthcare, I expect an immediate and honest answer. My body, my right to know, my right to to be fully informed before I consent to any course of action and treatment. I have a 10 cc AP Lap Band. It was filled with 5 cc of saline at time of surgery. My first adjustment added an additional 1/2 cc for a total of 5 1/2 cc.
Angi, you have every right to know precisely how much saline is in your band. That is a crucial piece of information that you need to know. It is your body, your band. If your doctor won't tell you, take control, grab your chart and read it. You can, you know. I've done it. Shocked the hell out of the doctor who thought that the sweet faced blonde girl in his exam room would just sit there and swallow his line of condescending BS. LOL Be an advocate for yourself. If you don't do it, who will?

Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, should be used with caution and may contribute to an increased risk of band erosion.
http://www.lapband.com/hcp/Safety-Information/
Medicines to Avoid After Lap Bandhttp://www.ehow.com/list_5985275_medicines-avoid-after-lap-band.html
Bottom Line talk to your Surgeon.

I can't recommend one or the other but here are my thoughts:
Advice for those researching Lapband:
Ask what your doctor's experience is with removing lap bands. How long can I expect to keep my band before it needs to be removed? (Bands are being removed anywhere between 2 years out and onwards. I personally know of only 3 people who have had their bands 5+ years and one of those is on band #2.)
What long term negative effects have your patients experienced with Lapband? Lapband is a high pressure system. The band creates a great deal of pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. The esophagus, in attempting to move food into the pouch, puts tremendous pressure on the LES, as well. Over time this causes damage and the sphincter fails to open. This creates a feeling of being "stuck" but your food hasn't even made it to the pouch. This situation is becoming more and more common in the banded population and causes permanent long term damage that cannot be reversed. This is what is called "difficulty swallowing" on the disclosure. It's actually band induced achalasia. Often on the various wls forums or social media groups, people will speak of random tightness, difficulty with swallowing yogurt, liquids, etc, regurgitation of meals despite cutting their food, chewing thouroghly and eating only 1/2 cup meals.
What's your practice's re operation %?
(Re operation following Lapband is upwards of 50%) any claims of lower % might mean your doctors patients are seeking help elsewhere when problems arise.
How many of your Lapband patients have reached goal weight? (Average EW loss is in the 40-60% range...if you have 100 lb to lose, you can expect to lose 40-60 lb.)
What do you consider compliance?
-attendance at support meetings?
-weighing, measuring, logging food intake?
-adherence to a particular diet?
-steady weight loss?
-monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual band check ups?
-what is the protocol for fills?
(Many doctors consider failure to lose 1-2 lb per week noncompliance despite their patients claiming to adhere to a strict protocol.)
I hear a lot about certain complications such as: achalasia, gastroparesis, adhesions of stomach to liver, erosion, band slips, band tightening without a recent fill. What's your experience with these issues. (More and more banded patients are experiencing these complications starting as early as 1 year post op and as long as 9-10 years out.)
Will you band someone with autoimmune disorders? (This is a mixed bag...my personal experience is that having a foreign object in my body exacerbated my IBS)
Do you screen for contraindications using EGD, esophageal manometry and upper GI? (These tests should be done to evaluate your ability to tolerate banding)
If I have a hiatal hernia, what procedure do you use to repair it? What type of sutures do you use? (Nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures are never used in conjunction with bariatric surgery to repair existing hiatal hernia).
As a final warning, recently there have been increasing reports of cardiac issues following banding...irregular heartbeat, arrhythmias, palpitations, etc. The heart and the esophagus lie sued by side in the chest. The vagus nerve(controls heart rate, breathing and GI tract) is also in the same area. Food retained in the esophagus puts pressure on the nerve and heart. This is not good.
I'm posting this because although I lost over 100 lb while I had my band, I now have permanent esophageal damage, cardiac problems and I'm on additional medications to manage the complications caused by my band. I was compliant with diet and lifestyle changes. Part of the problem was that my hiatal hernia was repaired using a nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures. Also, upon removing my band it was found to be placed very high on the stomach. I didn't have esophageal manometry testing prior to my band placement. (My band doctor was recently named as one of Seattle's Best Bariatric Surgeons for 2013.) 3 years later I had 0% motility when tested. I never had swallowing problems before banding. I still have difficulty with many foods.
Bands are a money maker for doctors who are still implanting them. They get paid to put them in, fill them, empty them and remove them, then revise their patients. Many reputable medical institutions will no longer implant a band and many who still do, consider it a short term device and remove within 2-3 years then revise to gastric sleeve before permanent damage is done.
I thought the band was least invasive. I have 15 incisions on my belly I didn't have when I started this. 3 surgeries, dozens of diagnostic, invasive tests, $150,000 later and I don't have a WL tool. I have a cardiac condition I didn't have, esophageal dilation and achalasia + 3 new meds costing me $150/month out of pocket.
Do your research and be open to hearing the "negative" along with the positive...it might save you from years of suffering.

Hi Skywalker,
I was banded in 2006 and the first 6 years were perfect for me. I didn't have any problems with the band until the past 2 years. It's been downhill ever since so February 27th I'm having the revision surgery and getting the sleeve. I hope I'm doing the right thing. I can't seem to have any other fills, if I do then I'm going to be throwing up for weeks...my band is a 4 cc but I've not been able to get a fill past .5 cc...
Just do your research and know that the band isn't the newest wls out there and for me and also several of my family members it just hasn't worked for us...
My mother in law had to have hers taken out, my sisters band never worked, she lost 20 lbs and that's it, my mother lost 100 lbs but has since gained some back...
Not meaning to scare you just be sure the band is what you want. Since your paying talk to both patients lap and and sleeve patients and find out the pros and cons... I too had to pay for the band and will have to pay again out of my pocket, insurance won't cover either.
I will never refer the band. I know it's not all the bands fault, I'm at fault too, but I feel like I was a good patient and tried to follow the rules and I failed...
Good luck!

Having been a labor and delivery nurse for eleven years, I know how the supply/demand cycle works for milk production. My doctor was the one who refuses to do anything until I am done breastfeeding my son. She says the human body requires an additional 500 calories above what I need to provide HEALTHY, rich milk for the baby. So I'm pretty much stuck until he's done nursing. Thank you all for the words of encouragement and letting me vent.

I haven't been on here for a while as I developed achalasia and gastroparesis over the last few months. I had my band removed and most of my symptoms have resolved. The pain is gone and though I'm still on soft foods, I can swallow again and it seems that food is getting to and thru my stomach. It was as if my digestive tract was paralyzed. After my manometry came back showing nearly no motility, the surgeon decided the band was the culprit.
Apparently there was a lot of scar tissue under the band and around the top of the stomach and esophagus. The removed as much as they could, but any further surgery is too risky...no revision for me! I honestly wish I never got the band, but got the sleeve instead.

Hi there,
I have posted on this thread on and off for years. I had my band done back in October 2008, I was about 200 lbs then and never got below 170. I currently weight 228 lbs. I did, however, have almost all of the Fluid in my band removed last fall because...
I'm having revision surgery.
I have met with my surgeon and have made the decision to have my band removed and gastric bypass done. I was never successful with the band. And, frankly, I'm pissed off! I did not fail my band. The band failed me. Enough is enough. It isn't working, it never really worked, and I'm done. I'm sick of beating myself up over this stupid band!
I'm planning on having my revision in June. I'm a teacher, so I need to wait until school is out. This time my insurance is covering the whole thing. Let me just say, I'm excited. I'm excited to look forward to the results and experience that I have expected for the five and a half years since I had my band done. Even my surgeon admits that he rarely does the band anymore because it has such a high failure rate. It isn't you. The band just doesn't work for about 60% of the people who get it (surgeon's statistic). Period.
So, this post might make me unpopular. But, think for a bit. Did you really fail your band? Or, is it that your band hasn't been all it's cracked up to be? I've learned a lot about myself, my habits, about living with weight loss surgery, about discipline, food, and exercise. So, it hasn't been a completely invaluable experience. But, the results just aren't there long term.
I've made up my mind, and I'm finally happy. Ladies, don't let your band beat you up emotionally!!! The problem is the band!
-Hilary

I had a MAJOR slip last Saturday, 18th. I went to the gym in the morning was fine. By 3pm I started to get a dull ache, went away and I thought it was cramps but by 6pm it came back and I was in pain! Lower left abdomen, go to belly button then follow to front side under ribs. I didn't suspect band and was surprised, sad, and shocked!!!
CATscan revealed the major slip, lapband cut out to save my stomach from dying.
Please go to ER or call your dr. they said I was lucky my stomach was being strangled, it takes time for band to slip but pain comes on and can be serious. It may be a slip but may not, best of luck!!

Why do you continue to post this old study of 74 patients operated on 15 years ago using flawed bands and evolving surgical techniques? You know very well that the product and surgical techniques have changed and newer studies show a 12% re-op rate compared to 9% for the sleeve. The slightly higher rate(3%) can easily be attributed to the fact that band patients can have their bands revised and it is so much harder or impossible if you're sleeved.
I'd have to agree with Jim1967 that odds aren't in your favor in regards to band replacement as you fully aware and the studies aren't great either:( Have you researched other WLS' ? vertical gastric sleeve, RNY, DS? Get somone like jim said that is a True Revision Surgeon that you can discuss the options. PLEASE decide what YOU think is BESY FOR YOU!! NOT the surgery that your Surgeon does. I hear too often that ppl allow their surgeon to decide their surgery. Problem is YOU live with it NOT them.
Best OF Luck!!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17593435
I urge you to discontinue using misleading studies. You're harming your own credibility and scaring patients who are researching WLS options with these unreliable studies.
tmf
I didn't realize that CREDENTIALS were an issue on this site since I haven't seen any posted from anyone before.
I am THRILLED though that someone realizes the 12% failure rate of the BAND since it's long been preached that it's only 5%.
Patient's researching WLS should be scared it's SURGERY.
And I was commenting to the OP who has already had 3 bands, with that statement alone something is wrong, it needs to be addressed and maybe they want to have the band removed for good, I don't know that is their choice.
But I do Agree that band technique has changed even the amount a band can hold 4cc vs. 14 cc but it's just as interesting that the COMPLICATIONS remain unchanged.

I am definitely NOT complacent with my band. I have folowed the rules, and have ended up with ulcers and now a slice. Comments like that are why I don't cone to this site much anymore. I was looking for support!

If it's too high, yes, it sounds like slip... Or if you're newly banded, it was placed too high to begin with? Did he say how they would adjust it?

You've probaly read this but if It helps.. I hope you get some answers!!
The vagus nerve helps to regulate the heart beat, control muscle movement, keep a person breathing, and to transmit a variety of chemicals through the body. It is also responsible for keeping the digestive tract in working order, contracting the muscles of the stomach and intestines to help process food, and sending back information about what is being digested and what the body is getting out of it.
When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the response is often a reduction in heart-rate or breathing. In some cases, excessive stimulation can cause someone to have what is known as a vaso-vagal response, appearing to fall into a faint or coma because his or her heart rate and blood pressure drop so much. Selective stimulation of this nerve is also used in some medical treatment; vagus stimulation appears to benefit people who suffer from depression, for example, and it is also sometimes used to treat epilepsy.
Most of the time, you don't notice the actions of the right and left vagus nerves, but you probably would notice if this nerve ceased to function as a result of disease or trauma, because the vagus nerve is one of the many vital nerves which keeps your body in working order. Without the functions of the vagus nerve, you would find it difficult to speak, breathe, or eat, and your heartbeat would become extremely irregular.

I don't agree that green means no hunger. If you are not eating, you sound almost anorexic. That is what made Sharon Osborn renove her lapband. Please eat!

My surgery is on the 4th of feb and today I had a meeting with my Doctor who explained the risks involved and how i need to be totally committed.I am sooo double minded and confused now.He told me that lapband is not the most favoured surgery nd people do get complications.I am paying from my own pocket and dont know what to do.I dont want to end up as a failure or get stuck with a complication.All advice will be highly appreciated.

sorry double post can't remove this mess

You've probaly read this but if It helps.. I hope you get some answers!!
The vagus nerve helps to regulate the heart beat, control muscle movement, keep a person breathing, and to transmit a variety of chemicals through the body. It is also responsible for keeping the digestive tract in working order, contracting the muscles of the stomach and intestines to help process food, and sending back information about what is being digested and what the body is getting out of it.
When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the response is often a reduction in heart-rate or breathing. In some cases, excessive stimulation can cause someone to have what is known as a vaso-vagal response, appearing to fall into a faint or coma because his or her heart rate and blood pressure drop so much. Selective stimulation of this nerve is also used in some medical treatment; vagus stimulation appears to benefit people who suffer from depression, for example, and it is also sometimes used to treat epilepsy.
Most of the time, you don't notice the actions of the right and left vagus nerves, but you probably would notice if this nerve ceased to function as a result of disease or trauma, because the vagus nerve is one of the many vital nerves which keeps your body in working order. Without the functions of the vagus nerve, you would find it difficult to speak, breathe, or eat, and your heartbeat would become extremely irregular.

Sounds like you're doing everything you need to! Just keep it up, and the weight will come off. I personally don't consider no loss in a week and a half a plateau. If the scale is bringing you down, it's time to put it away. Put your focus on all the things the scale can't show you!
Keep up the great work! You can do this!

Yep, all of the above is true, and Allegan sold to Apollo so they don't even have the LB listed on their site any longer it's listed on the Apollo one though. Just make sure that when you get banded that you get the Make Model # and Know how many CC's ( from your Dr.) your able to have in your band. Other than that I don't think you need the "tools" But you will need a good aftercare support system I hope your Dr's office has one. the LB seems to be 80% AFTERCARE.

I was told by my PCP that dental health problems can affect your whole body and that's why it is so important that you go for regular check ups and to take care of your teeth.

Speaking for myself I chose the sleeve for that very reason. I didn't want to have a chance to have some of the issues with the band. The sleeve for me has been the best choice I ever made. I'm 5 months out and 30 pounds from goal. It's such a personal decision and one you should research for yourself. Good luck with whatever you chose

Hmm, I don't know if it's a slip or not but anything that causes pain and/or discomfort should be investigated. I wouldn't even wait that long, I'd be calling saying I'm experiencing pain and need to see my doctor asap.