Bandarella

This has been going around for a few weeks now.....
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I had to read this, and re-read it a few times before it set in. Being a woman of "color" born in Mobile, Alabama in 1963 (that would make me 50 years old), I am floored that you, or anyone else for that matter, would even think to use the term "colored" in this day and time. Born on the cusp of the civil rights movement, with parents and grand parents who had to live in and through it, I am more than offended by this term. It especially stings because my birth certificate refers to me (and my parents) as "colored." You'd have to be either really insensitive or just really out of touch with (or ignorant to) black history as it relates to the civil rights movement, and I'm hoping its the latter. It is not my intention to offend or belittle you, just to enlighten you a bit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%9368)

I'm also not a fan of the band...
Is stating that considered bashing? If so, so be it. I lost 100 lb with my band, 70 following the food plan and 30 from the complications. Why would I endorse a product that harmed me?

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 side 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.
There are risks with all surgeries. Hopefully the questions I suggested will help you make a fully informed decision.
Do your research and be open to hearing the "negative" along with the positive...it might save you from years of suffering. Best of luck to you!
Bandarella

As someone who a) followed all the "rules" and still suffer with the permanent damage to my stomach, esophagus and heart, hearing people who have had no complications and still have their band responding to this post with statements that blame the patient is frustrating.
Most people don't understand the bio mechanics of how the band can affect our digestive system or even how the band works to quiet appetite. This is true, even among non-bariatric medical professionals...I know, because my own providers have been nearly as frustrated as I in determining if my symptoms were band caused or not. When common sense was applied to the equation, a very qualified doctor asked me if I had any problems swallowing before banding. I answered that I had not...he shrugged his shoulders and said, let's get it out! 90% of my GI symptoms have resolved. I am dealing with cardiac problems that are due to the achalasia I developed while banded.
My cardiologist and electrophysiologist are in agreement that it's pointless to do catheterization/ablation when the arrhythmia is caused by something outside the heart.
The anxiety and stress the band and complications have caused is enormous.
Also, good surgeons will remove as much scar tissue as possible. The only post band "restriction" I have is when food is stuck in my esophagus due to achalasia.

I'm also not a fan of the band...
Is stating that considered bashing? If so, so be it. I lost 100 lb with my band, 70 following the food plan and 30 from the complications. Why would I endorse a product that harmed me?

I came across this site long after my Lapband surgery looking for some support with complications. I belong to a Facebook group for those dealing with regain and revision. I joined that group when my band complications made it pretty clear I would be losing my tool. Other online forums aren't as active as this one, so I joined.
I'm a little discouraged, since the banders here seem to be closed minded about hearing about late complications of banding. I get why, since I was a very active proponent of banding, had great success and shot down anyone who dared say that bands = long term trouble.
One thing I've noticed in researching my complications is that male banders don't seem to have as many serious complications. I have a family member who is doing well almost 5 years post op and he hasn't had one problem.
He is, however sympathetic to my situation and has done a bit of research on complications and acknowledges that they do happen much more frequently than stated in the manufacturer's disclosure.
There is a strong mindset within this community that following a set of rules for eating and drinking will ensure that one will suffer no serious complications. The problem with this is that there isn't just one set of "rules", every surgeon has their own technique, surgical finesse, different staff and rules for living with a band. Every patient is unique too. We come with our own special set of circumstances, lifestyle, unique physiology and baggage. There are just too many variable factors involved to say that we will be successful by following our doctors rules.
I think that anyone who has a band and is successful AND complication free is very, very fortunate. I am truly happy for them. I know what losing 75% or more of excess weight can mean, I know the thrill of appetite suppression! being satisfied with 1/4 cup of food, fitting into smaller, more stylish clothes means. I know about having less joint pain, fitting in chairs, airplane seats and amusement park rides.
I also know the pain, fear and anxiety of serious complications. My doctors were completely perplexed by my case. Fortunately for me, a very qualified esophageal specialist practices near me and knew what was up. He's treated and consulted on many cases like mine and is currently researching the effect of Lapband on the esophagus.
Unfortunately, I have severe damage to my stomach, esophagus and it seems, to my heart that I cannot revise.
I'm working hard to maintain WL and regain my health. I'm also encouraging everyone considering WLS to fully investigate and research possible complications. It is my mission to warn about complications that happen much more frequently and are much more serious than is admitted within this community. I won't cave in to those who call me silly, a fear mongering bully, exaggerator, or that I'm trying to scare newbies away. I'm none of that. I've seen both sides of this situation. I hope you never do.

As someone who a) followed all the "rules" and still suffer with the permanent damage to my stomach, esophagus and heart, hearing people who have had no complications and still have their band responding to this post with statements that blame the patient is frustrating.
Most people don't understand the bio mechanics of how the band can affect our digestive system or even how the band works to quiet appetite. This is true, even among non-bariatric medical professionals...I know, because my own providers have been nearly as frustrated as I in determining if my symptoms were band caused or not. When common sense was applied to the equation, a very qualified doctor asked me if I had any problems swallowing before banding. I answered that I had not...he shrugged his shoulders and said, let's get it out! 90% of my GI symptoms have resolved. I am dealing with cardiac problems that are due to the achalasia I developed while banded.
My cardiologist and electrophysiologist are in agreement that it's pointless to do catheterization/ablation when the arrhythmia is caused by something outside the heart.
The anxiety and stress the band and complications have caused is enormous.
Also, good surgeons will remove as much scar tissue as possible. The only post band "restriction" I have is when food is stuck in my esophagus due to achalasia.

2muchfun, I didn't know until today when I got my surgical report...I'm astounded by this. My doctor was recently recognized as one of Seattles Best Doctors. My husband is absolutely livid!

Possibly what you're running into on this forum is human nature. The majority of people did research and knew that there's a risk of complications. But, like most humans, we want to think this can't happen to me. And we are embarking on, or have been on, a new journey in our lives. It is such a mental game that we are afraid to let even the smallest amount of negativity, however well meant or tactfully said, enter into this new little world. Most people on here already have a band and don't want to worry about what could go wrong.
I do empathize with your situation and I think you do have your place here. There are sub-forums for complications and you should be able to post your journey and your story. Unfortunately, tone of voice is hard to convey through the written word and people can take what you say in ways that you may have not intended.
I hope everything works out for you Healthwise. I can't imagine having the problems of complications and the uncertainty of being able to maintain all your hard efforts. Best wishes to you.

I was banded only 16 months ago and never really had any issues. The last three months I've been experiencing slight pain in port area, on and off sharp pains where band is connected to my stomach, but nothing serious enough to send me to the doctor. Yesterday, I decided to have a slight un fill due to the fact last week I couldn't even hardly drink or have any solid foods. I sat over two hours talking about the pain I was experiencing with three different nurses before my doctor was able to see me. We did the barium drink, and while he was looking at my results, he said, I need to do a scope to see if your band is possibly eroding. OMG, I was devastated, just devastated. On top of everything, you would think the cost of the scope would be covered in my two year everything paid for plan should something go wrong, but nope, it's 2500.00. I paid 13,000.00 myself and to think its all wasted as he said the band would have to be removed if it was eroding.
I'm just angry, angry that everything I have went through, all the changes I have made in my life, and now, more money, with possibly no band.
I went into the lobby afterwards just thinking things through, when a woman approached me and said you've been here as long as I have are you okay. I told her my story, and she said I'm here too for an eroded band as well. We both had the REALIZE band just over a year. She too, never saw it coming, just experienced slight pain in stomach area. Her band will be removed and her stomach needs repaired at her expense as she self paid and anthem told her that insurance would not cover the band being removed. The cost 12,500.00. So 25,000.00 down the drain for nothing just over a year.
Needed to vent today, sorry, I'm just hurting mentally.

I'm also not a fan of the band...
Is stating that considered bashing? If so, so be it. I lost 100 lb with my band, 70 following the food plan and 30 from the complications. Why would I endorse a product that harmed me?

Surprised he opted for lap band with that much to lose..my surgeon recently stopped lap bands altogether because he was revising so many due to complications and failures.

100 pounds in a year is great, especially with all the stress, travel and functions involved with his career. Good for him!

I'm surprised his Dr still does lap-bands! Seems more are steering away from that surgery.

Although, I'm a hardheaded advocate for banning the lap band... To each his own. If the gov is fortunate to escape the deadly complications the band can cause and continues to have good eight loss good for him! Great job! I just don't see him losing much lately and I hope he hasn't learned to eat around the band like so may failures have done. I wish him luck and much success

This is what I meant to post:
It's a tad presumptuous to say that Christie is not on this forum. Anonymity is a valuable and significant part of this forum. Did you really think that he would his real name? Very few of us here use our full names. Some don't even have a photo. Anonymity gives us the security to be honest. Even if Christie does not participate, I'm sure there are others here who have struggled and continue to struggle with their weight. You are only two months post- op - you have a long road ahead - hopefully one filled with continued success and good health. But it's unfair to label anyone of us a failure because of your idea of weight loss.

This could be esophageal spasms. It's an early warning that things aren't quite right with the band. I had a bunch of tests, EGD, gastric emptying, upper GI, etc all were fine. A few months later as my symptoms increased, I had manometry to check the esophagus...I had lots of trouble there, poor motility. Since my band is out, it's gone.

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.

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.

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.