chichiA

I can understand your confusion and anger. I would assume he had no other choice but to remove the band due to the erosion and risk of infection? Erosion into the stomach is one of those health concerns that can take your life.
There are many options available now that don't include removing your stomach or rearranging your plumbing.
Plication
Endoscopic Plication is something new I'd look into(non invasive)
Keep us posted on how this turns out? It's definitely one of the more unusual band complications I've read about.
tmf

I had lapband surgery on June 10th 2010. My band has never worked because i have a leak at my port. My Dr said it was a manufacture defect and that i need to have my port replaced. I have had 5 fills that lasted a day or two and thats it. I was told I did not have to pay to have the port replaced. We will see where it goes from here. It is very dissapointing. :smile:

Hello. I am having similar port leaks as you all. Can anyone tell me what surgery was like?

I have an Allergan Lap band my surgery was April 13th, 2011, I had 8 fills first and last was done under flouro, I have not at anytime felt any restriction for more then 72 hours, last month I had port replacment surgery, before the surgery I had talked to allergan about compensating me and they gave me a claim/case number and said they would send me a box to return the port, before going in to surgery I told my doctor of this request and she confirmed that they would NOT throw it away "trust me" and they would be the ones to send it back, so after surgery I called Allergan and they said they would send the doctors office the box. but at my post op appt I was told the hospitial threw it away..................hummmmmmmm
I wrote up a request and and listed my out of pocket and all my bill with supporting documents and faxed them to the number as instructed per Allergan but when I called to get the fax number Allergan was very specific about having the band returned to them. its a hard road and my heart goes out to anyone having to go through it.

My wife and I both have lap bands.
Hers failed within 6 months she had port replaced. Now OK
I have had 18 ml put in and only show 9ml. I believe I also have a leak.

My Allergan port was leaking, I gained 20 pounds and had to go back on insulin, obviously this had a negative affect on my health. Got the port replaced (had to pay the cost myself). Dr. video'd the port while injecting saline and clearly the leak is visible from the back of the port. My doc has had several patients with the same problem and sent the ports back to Allergan for testing. I called Allergan and filed a report, several days later, another Allergan rep called, said my port was being tested and the results would go to my Dr., he would not discuss any of the other ports' test results. He also said he understood that I'd like to be reimbursed for my port replacement surgery and that he'd sent me the paperwork needed for them to begin the process. Wow. No argument, no questions. Seems to me that Allergan knows there's a problem. I'd like to speak to an attorney before I sign anything. And if you have had a similar issue with an Allergan band, call them and file a report. I think this problem is bigger than we think.

I had my lap band installed in Mexico in 2008. I have a fill Dr. here in Calif. In January I started to increase my food portions and started to gain weight. (All Bad.) I waited untill July to visit my Dr. He tried to unfill me to see how much fill I had I was empty. The Dr. tried to use a sticky substance to close up my leak no luck. A week later California Dr. replaced my port and tubbing. I have had 4 sm fills since surgery now I am up to 4cc's and have restriction and have started to lose the 20 lbs I gained. My insurance covered all costs.

I had six fills and was up to around 7 in my band with still no restriction, no stuck episodes, hunger immediately after eating, etc. Each time I would go in to the office they would give me very small amounts (.3, .6, 1). I started with 3-4 in the band at surgery. After a year and only 15 lbs lost I had basically given up and stopped going in for 6 months. I went in this month and asked for an X-ray. Sure enough, band was loose and the nurse only pulled 4 out of my band. She added a full 2 and now I finally feel like there's a difference. What could have happened? The nurse said she's not concerned about a leak... But where would the Fluid be? How could the numbers be so off? Any advice appreciated.

I have just gone for my 4th fill yesturday, 5th April. The first fill that I had was 7.3, this was done under xrey, the second was done in a clinic and was 1.7 then there was the 3rd fill also in a clinic, this was 1cc bringing the total to 100cc in a 14cc band. However I began to think something was wrong becuase I have not had mach restriction and none with the last 2 fills so I paid for another xray fill and when he asparated all the sealine in the band there was only 7.3 in there. So did the other 2 fills miss the port or have I got a lead? is seams to much of a coincidence to be a leak I think and will be asking some hard questions come tomorrows office hours....
Well theres another possibility, they could missed the mark.
good luck from England
kind regards Beverly

My fill is at 8.15. I find I still am quite hungry at times. Speak to your dietician. She/he can help you with stategies. I have spoken with mine and she recommemded a few things that make a lot of sense. Take care.

So, I had my surgery on Monday and I did not had much problems. I did had a lot of gas in my gut, but the worst part was when I drank too much tea. I slept a lot though.
I also walked a lot. so, I guess you should try to be as active. The worst part was sitting down. I fell more comfortable either standing up or nearly laying down in a sofa. I am "back to work" I guess, but just as long as I can handle.
You are right, I am not hungry anymore and feel full very easy. I am drinking a lot of Soup though (FYI Tomato Soup with some Parmesan cheese and oregano taste like cheese pizza, LOL)
Good luck post op!

I'm sure some of you know Skymoon1982- aka Melanie from YouTube. This is EXACTLY the reason why I didn't hesitate last week and IMMEDIATELY went to the ER when I got "stuck" while drinking coffee after an aggressive fill. I was so scared my band would slip. I feel for her, but she waited TOO DAMN LONG. Now she had no band.

You're welcome, Nana
Lenna, I think it's a combination of poor education AND patients not doing their homework in conjunction with total disregard & abuse of the band. Frankly, I don't think my original bariatric team was very educational. The nutritionist didn't really go into detail of all the things that could go wrong if you abuse it. Almost all I know is from my own research and reading lots of success & failure stories. The phycologist didn't discuss that the band wasn't gonna "keep" me from eating and that it was a large percentage gonna still be a mental battle. The three group meeting i attended barely discussed life after the band- they focused on the pre op diet. But thank God I ended up having my surgery with the best team in NY at NYU.

Update to my port pain- turned out I was pregnant! Guess all the changes in my body irritated it.

I am so sorry for your issues. I too was not educated enough when I had my surgery although I thought I was. Thank you for telling your story. It is sure to help someone on here educate themselves further before making this very important decision.
I too have the Roux-en-Y loop . I seem to be okay with it..

Good luck tomorow. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Let us know how you are doing.

I was stressed and made myself sick with worry. All for nothing. Easy surgery and I feel great. I have a low pain tolerance. My surgery was yesterday. Don't worry yourself too much.

we will be great !! I have lost 18lbs already before surgery !! I'm on a mission lol xxx

Congratulations! Wishing you a fast recovery. I had my lapband surgery yesterday and I feel great!
Liz

It's like a love/hate relationship I have with my band -- UGH! Damn if I do (with restriction) and Damn if I don't (a looser band).
I will tell you, after having a restrictive band year in and year out...sometimes it get OLD...at least for me.
With my old band, I had kiss a@@ restriction and lived with that for years, until I had saline removed and I honestly (welcomed it) because I was sick and tired of getting food stuck, slimming, etc. chewing, etc.
When my surgeon removed some saline back in 2012 due to a hiatal hernia and back pain when it was filled optimally-- I felt FREE.. a release from (lap band jail)...LOL....
I felt so free, I went wild....I ate a Five Guys burger, with melted cheese and fries without getting that ( Deer in the Headlights) Look...you know what I am talking about .
Then I had a delicious philly cheese steak sandwich with toasted bun, onions the whole nine yards....I was on a roll....
I continued my FREEDOM...Until my pants started to get tight...and then I had to go shopping again for a new size....
At this time, my band was still pretty empty, I could not fill it properly because I had back and chest pains from my hernia, so I continued on a downward spiral of FREEDOM....forget about ice cream and candy...you know the sliders we sneak and eat with a very tight band....I wanted REAL food...and I got it...
Well...50 pounds later and finding myself in a size tight 16-18 pants...something that I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A LAP BAND INSTALLED....HAPPENED TO ME...ME? I was the person that was obsessed with the scale, someone who walked at 5 each morning, in 20-30 degree temperatures for 6 straight years...because I HAD CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE FOREVER? EVER ...EVER?
Once I found a surgeon to HELP me repair my hernia, give me a second chance to get my "grove back" I was humbled and grateful..
THE MORAL OF MY POST IS...NEVER THINK YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS....BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN COME AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU ....
When the lap band is UNFILLED AFTER YEARS OF EATING HARDLY NOTHING...your metabolism gets SHOT...and if you EVER have to get unfilled....THE WEIGHT CAN COME BACK QUICKLY...I GAINED 20 pounds in ONE month....
And oh yea....after I had ..had my feel of Burgers and Cheese Steaks....it was too late to eat Broccoli and baked chicken....no matter what I'd done with a LOOSE band...I could NOT get the weight off UNTIL I got my lap band properly restricted again.....
It took over 14 months JUST TO LOSE the 50 pound weight gain, I was FINALLY BACK to my old lap band fighting weight ...it sure was not easy like it was when I was first banded...
So while my lap band (SuzieQ) is working NOW in full over load.....I still want to stuff my face and I can't, I just can't do it.....and you know what? I glad.... ...
Please respect your band and cherish with love, because one day...you may find yourself IN FREEDOM with an unfilled band and that is a very SCARY place to be!

Everyone is so awesome!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and respond...really means a lot! To answer some questions:
I do consult with a nutritionist once a quarter and do track my food online through WW and mostly stay within points, though Im sure with this plateau I'm probably not tracking EVERYTHING...
As far as food, good point about the bananas and yogurt..I do eat Greek yogurt mostly plain w fresh fruit and almonds and I also eat bananas bc I feel those are the only foods that i can get down without throwing up..oh and hummus too..I can eat small amounts of Protein like chicken, turkey, shrimp etc but most of the time I wind up throwing up bc it gets stuck... You would think after a yr I would be used to taking smaller bites..hahaaa... But bc I can only take about 2 oz of Protein at a time I wind up getting hungry quickly... So on average I need to eat every 3-4 hours.. I can't eat sandwiches for two reasons: if I were to eat any bread the only kind I can get down is flatbread but I don't eat it often bc it will get stuck.. But also a no go bc I can't eat things in layers.. Take a sandwich for ex.. I have to pull it apart eat the meat/protein first, one veggie at a time after that.. Same goes for all my meals, can only one thing at a time bc mixing foods = face in toilet time..
Thanks for the strength training tip.. Will focus on that for a month and see how that goes..
Finally, PCOS is a b***h! Gives me a hard time all around including infertility so right now my body is a big jerk and I hope with some additional nutritional guidance, your support, lots o' patience and even more prayer, hope and faith the needle will move and babies eventually!

What an amazing transformation…but I love the beautiful smile in both pics!
You look amazing! Thanks for sharing!

I confessed the other day to having taken an embarrassingly huge number of selfie pictures.
While normally something teenagers are hounded about, I found myself snapping away because I am still shocked by how different I look.
I am trying to get used to a new face. I don't recognize ME yet in this different version that is 66 lbs lighter.
I can only imagine the changes after another 50 lbs!
And then I thought.."I can't be the only one!" So...don't leave me hanging...revel a little in your new you look and show me your selfie!