Dara Levy

It's out! No more band. I'm so happy. And surgeon was able to do the bypass even thOugh she said there was a lot of scar tissue and part of stomach is attached to my spleen. Going home from the hospital today. I highly recommend dr. Pratt at mass general in Boston. Surgery took 4 hours. I'm sipping liquids which seem to be going down without a problem. What's great is that I no longer feel like I have pressure in my chest. I'm so looking forward to losing weight and being healthy. The diabetes is gone too. Only have to take thyroid med from now on. It only Took five years to get the band out. I'm so happy. Feel free to ask me questions. I would love to know my experience could help someone else out.

Jodie,
I completely understand your frustration. One of the most wonderful occurrences for me after having the band placed was that all cravings were gone. No hunger ever. I ate purely because my body needed it. However not everyone experiences this fullness so it may be hard for them to relate. My story is to yours. Had my first band placed in 2006. Was great for the first year and a half. Lost sixty pounds. Then got stuck for the first time on asparagus. My band slipped only my surgeon insisted it was fine. I had a barium swallow study done and the surgeon said i was fine and it must be me. I must not be eating right. Nine months later I was gathering my medical records to find another surgeon because I could not even drink Water. The office manager asked why I was leaving my surgeon. I explained. She talked to the surgeon and they sent me for another swallow study. When I got there for the test the radiologist told me he had personally called my surgeon nine months prior and told him my band was slipped. I was so furious. I cried right there in the xray room. I had the band replaced but it never worked right. Switched surgeons. Gave out a test. Went back to the dietitian. Saw psyCh again. Did more support groups. Had more adjustments. Nothing worked. I finally left the second surgeon and signed on with the top bariatric surgery in the state. It means I travel 2.5 hours one way for all my appointments but she is great. She won't please lap band because she says there's a50 percent failure rate. Some resurgent and some bands intolerance (which is what I developed with Mr second band because my first band was slipped for so long). She also said most people with a band suffer psychological trauma as well as physical trauma. She was the first to acknowledge to me what I was suffering. I am now having the band out Dec 6th and if all looks good inside she will do the bypass at the same time. She offered too do the sleeve but with my band issues there's a chance I wouldn't tolerate the restrictive feeling of it plus many people have too be revised from sleeve to bypass so I opted to stick with bypass which is the gold standard procedure. If I was you I would stick to your guns. If something doesn't feel right it probably. Don't be afraid to find another surgeon either. Best of luck to you. Dara

Hddn- to answer both your questions, first as for psychological trauma from the band I think my surgeon was speaking about how hard it can be to adjust the band and how frustrating or is trying to manage the band especially when it isn't going well. I definitely feel like I have suffered for the past five out of seven years. With the band. As for the feeling of tightness with the band after a fill, I always felt it was full enough of if could drink little sips without feeling like the Water was just sitting there. Best of luck to you in your journey.
Tmf- actually my first surgeon that did the band and re band was a money Gruber as you put it. My current surgeon is the top in the state and I'm sure her stats reflect a higher percent of band failures because she sees many patients looking for second opinions after their original surgeons don't take them seriously. Current research shows a 25% re surgery rate with the band. that's fact. I have said my peace and won't be responding on this section again. Best wishes to you all.Thank you for wishing me well on my surgery. Three weeks. I can't wait to be band-free!

Hddn- to answer both your questions, first as for psychological trauma from the band I think my surgeon was speaking about how hard it can be to adjust the band and how frustrating or is trying to manage the band especially when it isn't going well. I definitely feel like I have suffered for the past five out of seven years. With the band. As for the feeling of tightness with the band after a fill, I always felt it was full enough of if could drink little sips without feeling like the Water was just sitting there. Best of luck to you in your journey.
Tmf- actually my first surgeon that did the band and re band was a money Gruber as you put it. My current surgeon is the top in the state and I'm sure her stats reflect a higher percent of band failures because she sees many patients looking for second opinions after their original surgeons don't take them seriously. Current research shows a 25% re surgery rate with the band. that's fact. I have said my peace and won't be responding on this section again. Best wishes to you all.Thank you for wishing me well on my surgery. Three weeks. I can't wait to be band-free!

Congrats brandi

My date is December 6th. I can't wait. I have had two band surgeries and am very much looking forward to moving on. Best wishes to you all.

With my first lapband, I was very open but after having it slip and be replaced and still gained the weight back, I noticed people looking, wondering, and some were even bold enough to ask me about it so now facing a revision in a month, I'm not telling many people. Just my husband, dad and 3 very close friends and I asked them all not to say anything. I don't want that kind of pressure this time. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with ur journey to a healthier u.

I survived my first year in this new life. It's been new, scary, exciting, and emotional as I go through all of these challenges. It hasn't been easy but oh man... Has it been worth it!!!
I started my journey at my highest 389lbs and the day of my surgery I was 359lbs today I weighed in at 230lbs... Doing the math I lost 129 in 1 year. But 159lbs total. I am so grateful for the support all my new opportunities.
Still truckin for my bday challenge/goal to weigh in at 200lbs.
Top home from hospital 3 days post
Bottom last month

I'm so excited! October 28th can't come soon enough. Can't wait to get the band out, have bypass, lose weight, and get healthy! I'm so glad for this support group. Best wishes to u all.