JACKIEO85

Good evening I too am very disappointed with my band I was banded in May 2013 I realise it is not as long as you have had yours however the weight I have lost was prior to surgery with very little since. I do have restriction when eating good wholesome foods like meat and vegies or salad. But chocolates go down real easy. I do get support from my surgeon and the surgery nurse however the dietician is a bit useless and I haven't been back because she just sat there shaking her head saying I don't know why....... everyone else is losing weight. I see my surgeon tomorrow so I may get another fill? Other than this I don't know what to do I have considered having the band removed and having a sleeve done. I realise I haven't been much help to you but I needed to get this off my chest because I thought I was the only one having problems because every time I log in I see all these people doing well and this decreases my morale even more I am not sure about you but there are very few people in my life know that I have a band so I don't have a big support group. Thank you for listening bandmay2013

Not your fault. A recent study suggests that the band isn't terribly effective (fails 44% of the time). Hang in there!
Here's the link and citation if you are interested: http://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(13)00392-4/abstract
Kindel, T., Martin, E., Hungness, E., & Nagle, A. (2013). High failure rate of the laparoscopic-adjustable gastric band as a primary bariatric procedure. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.

Weight loss will do that BUT so will un-diagnosed Thyroid issues you might want to have that checked out as well .

I had my lapband placed in 2009. Lost almost all of my weight (111 lbs) and then it slipped. They defilled me to see if it would fix itself. It didn't. I was told it wasn't surgical and that "it was all up to me" now - the lapband was done with it's job. After a year, and 30 extra lbs, I decided to revise to the sleeve. My insurance paid for it cuz it was a lapband complication.
Had my sleeve revision in July. It took my dr an extra 30 minutes to dig my band outa my stomach. Not sure what would've happened if it had stayed in there any longer.
So happy with my sleeve. It's going pretty slow (lost 22 lbs in 3 mths). I knew it would come off slower cuz I started lower (174), and I'm only 23 lbs from my goal of 130. I've only vomited once since being sleeved (vs almost everyday- even while totally unfilled with the band)
No more pain while eating either. My dr doesn't recommend the band to anyone anymore. He fixes more complication than sees those with none. While I'm thankful that my band allowed me to lose over 100 lbs, I'm also thankful that its out and I'm on my way back down.
Good luck with ur decision!
Marci

You guys don't even need us to hate you! You have enough trouble within your own group!!

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/287744-know-it-alls/?fromsearch=1
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/283375-poll-do-you-let-food-sit-in-your-esophagus-or-wash-it-down-with-liquids/?fromsearch=1
Geeze it's like watching a soap opera..
"As the lapband turns"

Reading this forum, does make me wonder though how people go about choosing one method of WLS over the other....when I was going for my band, I went to see a doctor who exclusively does band surgery. That was my preference since I had known a few friends and others who had the by pass and suffered medical issues, and complications including death.

Since I have met my doctor the first time, there are now other doctors in the Bariatric Practice of the hospital that perform other WLS such as the sleeve, and by pass.

From what I understood from the initial meeting with my doctor was that if I was not a "candidate" for the band I would be referred to the other doctors to see if I might be a candidate for their specialty.

Which makes me think that there is some standard of measure that makes someone a candidate for one surgery vs. another other the fact that we are all over weight, and I don't think it is solely based on our preference as it was in my case.....but my assumption could be wrong insofar as I have not heard or understood what the metrics consist of that makes someone a better candidate for the band vs. other WLS.

Does anyone know if there is such a thing, or if surgery is undertaken based solely on the preference of the patient?



Apologies if I’m rambling…I hope this made sense it’s been a rough day J



--------------

Good question!

-I hear about the benefits of DS ,better Diabetes reduction and quicker/more weight loss. More strict nutritional rules.

-RNY to avoid GERD, better Diabetes reduction, mal-absorbtion part of weight loss process.-

-Sleeve to avoid mal-absorbtion, ability to use aspirin (this is one reason I got the sleeve, I need aspirin as part of my heart health practice, my Cardio would not approve my surgery without this), can scope the whole existing tract, keep your pylorus, remove most of your Ghrelin producers, only option for Crohn's patients. Can use it as part one of the DS if you don't lose enough weight with just the sleeve. Not as good for Diabetes or GERD.

-Band benefits... I would think it might be that it can be reversed and adjusted if you need to?

-Don't know much about Plication.....



I'm sure there are many more reasons... I really think it is partly what the Doc has experience with, My doc did mostly bands and RNY, I suspect if he had been there at my consultation, I would have ended up with the RNY... he got a new co-Doc who I did my first consult with, he gave me the choice of the sleeve or RNY, I had never heard of the sleeve, looked into it, and it just made good sense to me personally. The sleeve was pretty new as a stan alone procedure when I got it, so the stats are still pretty early out... but people have had their stomachs removed for centuries, and lived through it, and the DS has been around for a while, so I figured nothing completely unsuspected would probably pop up after surgery. I wanted to know everything I could find out about WLS before I got it!

Maybe I'm being over sensitive or whatever. I havent been on the board that long, but I've been getting the feeling lately that there are "veterans" on this board (I'm using this term loosely cuz I'm certainly not talking about everybody here) are looking down your noses at those they like to fondly refer to as newbys. Like most of us, I appreciate some good pointers and advice but sort of resent the attitude I see here alot about newbys (and I hate that term) need to be told how to feel or what they are feeling and basically how to get this thing right. There are those on this board, and to name a few, Carolinagirl and Mis73, whose opinion and advice I truly respect and are not among the ones I'm referring to here. There are others that just seem to be trying to impress others with how much they know about the banding process and their ability to lose weight. Newsflash!!! You're no better at it than any of us! After all, you too needed WLS to get your weight under control. Thats why we are here, all of us. I get it! You lost your weight in record time. You did great. Yea!!! I may or may not do everything the same way as you did. Ill try different things until I find what works for me. But, give us a break already. Guess some of us are still in the learning phase. I plan to always be in the learning phase cuz I have a problem with obesity and that may not ever be totally resolved. Like I said, that's why I'm here. I just want you guys to know, that those of you who offer nonjudgemental advice and options, I appreciate it. Those of you who just want to strut your stuff and impress the rest of us "newbys" with your awesome wealth of knowledge about lapbanding..............rants over. Just sayin.

Mis,
Although I understand what you are sharing (and have shared many times). There is nothing wrong about talking about band restriction and differentiate this between restricting food intake. When we are getting fills, we are indeed adding restriction on the stoma which narrows the passage between the esophagus and lower stomach opening. And it can restrict what one eats because as we all know, some foods can be tougher to pass than others. Therefore it is restricting what you eat (at times). Dr. Simpson is not the only opinion to consider. And vocabulary is about semantics. When you use the word restriction in the context it is intended for, there is no reason to dispute it. When I speak of band restriction, I typically detail what I am referring to and it has nothing to do with the food, merely the band/stoma.
I understand you have adopted different vocabulary, but please allow others to label things the way that makes sense to them as well.

Weight loss will do that BUT so will un-diagnosed Thyroid issues you might want to have that checked out as well .

Yes I did last year and never got back to where it once was. I was Up to 6.5 but only went up to 5 but will go in this week for 1cc more and hope that puts me cback in the green. I did maintain very well and did go off program from time to time gain 5 lbs at the most but it casme over fast with just a few days eatting right and SLOW I still have 15 lbs to go and really want to make it.
They took all the fuild out the day they discovered the proasp I surprized they didnt they do the same to you. Doc did say it will never work the same and it hasnt but I hope thats not how it works.

IF your band has slipped yes, that is obvious to the Professionals that it needs to be removed But to tell someone they are a ticking time bomb Really?? Perhaps this it part of the reason so many PROTESTED to your Opinions on OH? And why your here trying to Scare everyone???
BKHuffman as long as your in contact with your Surgeon/Office they will schedule your surgery accordingly. because unless your Test showed something Life threatening YOU'D already be in surgery. YES, a slipped band isn't comfortable, reflux increases, as do other complications Hence the need for removal. And I'd say the Pt. coordinator misspoke about the removal taking 6 months, If your planning on A revision WITH removal that is probably why that was mentioned? But some Doctors won't remove/revise at the same time others will. The Left shoulder pain can be from the band slip contacting the Diaphragm, the Diaphragm doesn't feel pain it refers it to the Left shoulder, and it's all in such close proximity Good Luck On your removal, and from what others have posted the removal isn't usually as uncomfortable as the implantation. Keep us posted !!

I just went to my doctor (new doc not the one who did the band) today and she refused to do a fill and said it could be dangerous because the band is too high.

If the current Surgeon made the statement regarding the stiching,, I would say there is a good chance it was done incorrectly by the Dr. In Mexico.. why would anyone doubt that? yes bands do slip but Jan was not that long ago and if he wasn't at fault why would he hang up on her? Sometimes I wonder why some people always have to argue with people's stories.. is it to prove something? Feelinggood I hope you resolve your issues and are able to stay healthy and motivated to lose your weight.. Take Care

Is your port on the left? Could be tubing that is causing the pain. There have been a few reports of tubing wrapped around intestines causing severe pain.

All great ideas above, The CT Scan should give you some positive results. Just curious, how did they come to the conclusion that you have IBS? I ask because i just had a CT scan Thurs and my Internist thinks I have Diverticulitis, I've experienced the same pains that you've described as well as Severe, take your breathe away lower left pelvic pain. my band Doc said no way it was the band, but the nurse said the tubing is on the left.? I hope your feeling better soon! and keep us posted I'll know after seeing my Internist what my CT results are...

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Cancer is such an evil disease that can sadly strike anyone at anytime, no matter how healthy they seem, or how well they take care of themselves. My thoughts are with you and your family.

boy will I be glad when Thurs gets here as I see my surgeon for a fill because I have noticed I eat more and more often and yes I have gained 4 lbs in 4 wks. I can't help it, I'm hungry.
Was reading on Lap Band Diva's on Facebook where some were eating for Breakfast a Protein shake and oatmeal, how can that be? Wouldn't that be too many cals? I mean I do a Protein Shake but then 3 hrs later I'm starving. My doc says eat whatever you used to eat just in moderation or what the band will let you eat, hello, if I ate pizza, hamburgers, chips/dip, junk like that I wouldn't have lost.

I went home same day as my removal. I had a slip with just early erosion though so you may have a completely different experience. I will say that as soon as I woke up from surgery all the discomfort I'd had with my band was totally gone. It was like magic good luck!!!

My plan is to have a gastric sleeve done since I've had a pretty terrible experience with the band. Thank you for your reply to my post.

A band that is too tight may lead to unanticipated complications. That is a reality that many Bandsters do not consider when in the process of seeking the "green zone".
My surgeon was very conservative with fills, and I chose to go along with his expert medical opinion to go slow with fills. It was also very important to me to be able to take my medications without risk of getting them stuck. So, keeping my band a bit on the loose side was my priority and preference.

Thanks for the encouragement. And yes I'm hungry all the time!! I hate that and since I have no restriction I crave things I know I should not be eating. I do very well when the band is tight. So until I go to the doctor I'm trying to focus in better foods and getting my Protein since I've noticed my hair falling out at well. I know it's a lifestyle change and that I have to do my part I'm just ready to get back on track. Thanks again

Tomorrow I am having all Fluid removed from band. I will be 10 months out of surgery and still at the same weight loss as I was 4 months in.
Granted these save 5 lbs lose. I only had a total of 4 fills.
Hopefully this will determine if I am too tight or this just isn't working for me. I am still considering the sleeve since even drinking Water which I love and crave causes me to belch like a man! I am on 6 meds that can cause dry mouth dehydration and appetite loss. I just wanted to turn 30 healthier and now I am 1 month away from 31 and weigh almost the same!

I haven't heard that from my insurance yet, the insurance woman seems awesome and told me to come back for my "next month" check-up but that we'd work on getting the sleeve approved quickly because of my "complication" of my band slipping. Now I've gained from Feb 2013 - 205 to current 242. I can eat anything - no more "stuck" either since all the Fluid is out. But I guess it depends on insurance. I have CIGNA OAP. I am pleased with replacing the band with the sleeve. No more fills - wasn't fond of the giant needle .

I have a "slipped" band and my doc is going to propose fix-all's next week. I'm looking at the sleeve b/c I did and EXCESSIVE amount of Pb'ing - getting stuck - etc. I just found out its slipped and no nothing about my options. What I do know is that I was a good patient for the first year, then I started eating a little more, and more, and more. After that came the ice cream, cake, blah blah. Then I realized something was up - after 40lbs of weight came back - REALLY fast. I lost the brain communication that I once loved. When the band was first placed food sounded GROSS. I could go all day on a super-duper King smoothie and a small dinner...now I eat Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Snacks, 3-4 Cookies, blah blah blah. I'm praying my insurance covers something - and would seriously like to know more about the sleeve and how it works. Sincerely, Respectfully - "Band Shot" - Karen

I have to agree with Missdietcoke I haven't been banded either so I don't mind hearing these stories,, at this time I choose to be banded, I don't know to much about the sleeve. And as far as gastric bypass , well that one is thrown out already for me . So everyone is untitled to there own opinion . So really in all reality any surgery is dangerous with complications and sometimes us newbies like to hear these things that's why we come on this site so we learn what others have been thru , congrates to ur sleeve . And it was good to hear ur experience .