Susan58

I had my band removed on Friday. It turned out to be way bigger deal than was anticipated. They were able to do it endoscopic but had to intubate me and it took almost two hours. I can safely say I will not be getting another lap band. This has been almost a year of hell. Not to mention all the expense and time off work. I had been telling my doctor for months that something wasn't right, but of course he was the doctor so knew more than me. Lol.

I am having the band removed tomorrow. Hopefully they can do it endoscope so I won't have to have surgery. The dr. Said he really doesn't know what caused it. He said this is just one of the complications. I will post more after it is removed. Thanks for all the support.

I have had trouble since day one- the lap band was just a good fit for me, back in November I had to have all the Fluid taken out because I got where I couldn't even hold down sips of Water. anyway I went back to my doctor in March to get a fill and try to start over and he wouldn't do the fill until I had a scope done to make sure the band was still in the right place.... that is when I found out it was eroded into my stomach. so now I am just waiting to have it taken out. my doctor said all this would have to heal before he could do a sleeve or anything else, so another surgery..... I think I am just done!

I had a scope and have found out that lap band has eroded into my stomach and I have to have it removed. waiting on call from doctor office to schedule and was just wondering if anyone ever had this problem and how it was handled. thanks.

I meant that I had complete unfill, had to heal and now ready for a fill

I had some problems with my band and had it completely unfilled a couple of months ago. I would throw up every time I tried to eat and I could barely drink Water. I feel now that I am ready to start over again, but was wondering if it would help to do some sort of preop diet or maybe a liquid diet for a while before I get a fill or just go for it. I was banded 5/19/2014 and it seems like I had trouble from the start, but I feel I owe it to myself to give it another try. any suggestions would be helpful. thanks.

thanks everyone for your comments. I am going to call the doctor first thing in the morning. the odd thing is that after I had the UGI and did liquids for a few days and then moved to mushy foods, etc, I have had no problems eating. actually it is like there is not even a band there. that's why I went for a fill, because I can eat with no full feeling or anything. I just can't get over that there is no access to a doctor when you have an appt. and if the PA doesn't know enough to handle any situations with the band, then he shouldn't be left unattended. I think I am just ready to have the thing taken out. we have a vacation planned starting tomorrow, going to the beach at surfside for a few days, so I guess if the doctor can't discuss it with me on the phone. I will have to wait a while before I can make an appt. I just hope I am not causing damage by eating. the PA couldn't even answer my questions about what I should eat or if this could cause damage. anyway thanks for listening and I will post after I speak with the doctor.

The PA showed me the pictures. the sad thing is after the UGI the doctor said it was just a little swollen and all would be fine. he told me to come back in a couple weeks for a fill... so that is why I made the appt. I didn't find all this out until I was there today. that is really what made me so mad. and now I have used all my sick time taking days off to go there and still nothing has been resolved. I am so worried that there will be a problem if something is not done to fix the slipped band. I'm curious to know if anyone else used Nicholas Clinic and what they think of them. thanks for listening to a mad woman ramble on !!!

I am so stressed and frustrated about this band and with my doctor. I use Nicholson clinic in Dallas if anyone has any comments about that. I am 12 weeks post op, and have really had a rough time. at about 4 weeks I started having chest pain and throwing up. went to dr. after a run around all day from my dr. I was told to go to ER, they did CT of Chest and Abdomen. and then the next day had endoscopy. They said all was well. then had some other medical issues.... so after a couple of weeks all was well. then 2 weeks ago I started throwing up even Water, so went to Dr. they did an UGI, said I was just swollen and irritated and to do liquids for a few days and then slowly up to food. followed those instructions and all has been great . so I went today for a fill-- finally my first one. this is the part that I am so frustrated with my Dr. that I could just scream. I have to drive 3 hours to dr. and I get there and a PA is getting ready to do my fill and he goes to look at the upper GI results before he does the fill and he comes back to the room and says he can't do it. he is reading the results to me and it says the band should be at 1'oclock and it was at 3'oclock and he didn't feel comfortable about doing a fill, I would have to see the Dr first. so I say ok lets do it, WELL there was not a DOCTOR in the building. so started asking questions like what did that mean, like could it be fixed without surgery,... he didn't know. I asked would it hurt me to leave it like it is for a while..... he didn't know. so basically I drove 3 hours for nothing. and I asked him to call one of the doctors on the phone and he said he couldn't do it . that they were unavailable. I think I need to change doctors but I am already in debt up to my ass with him. and now I'm worried about if this is dangerous since it has slipped. thanks for letting me get this off my chest and if anyone has any advise or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

i was wondering if anyone has any trouble eating salad? sometimes lettuce is a little hard to digest and i am a little hesitant to try it? but i would love a salad with grilled chicken. i am not much of a meat eater and mixing it in salad was always a good way to get my protein- before banded. thanks.

I HAD TO GO BACK TO LIQUIDS FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW BACK UP TO MUSHIES. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS YOGURT AND PROTEIN DRINKS. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT I CAN EAT? AND I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE ON HERE SAY THEY CAN'T EAT SCRAMBLED EGGS. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS SO JUST WONDERING WHY THEY WOULD BE TROUBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD JUST SLIDE ON DOWN. THANKS FOR ANY INPUT!!

no ibuprofen at all. what is TOM?? and I think I will try hot tea in the mornings. thanks.

DO MOST OF YOU BANDERS CONTINUE TO TAKE MEDICATION LIKE PRILOSEC OR NEXIUM AFTER LAP BAND AND IF SO, HOW LONG DO YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE IT. THANKS.

thanks everyone for the great words of wisdom. you have helped me much more than my doctor ever has. I am going to stick with it for a few more weeks. I am on liquids now and will move ahead slowly. I was doing so well, I hope I just was not paying attention and irritated the band and doing the liquids will help and get me back on track. I definitely am going to find another doctor. it seems like this clinic only wants to run the patients through like cattle, and you are a problem child if you have any kind of difficulties. thanks again!!!! I am so glad I have found this site!!

I have never had any sensitivity to food before, but I will start a food diary and see if I notice anything. I was doing so well for about 4 weeks and now all this has started. my band is totally empty. no fill at all. I am a pretty picky eater so I was mostly eating tuna fish, scrambled eggs, fajita chicken, and green Beans, cottage cheese and yogurt, mashed potatoes, and cream of wheat. I would eat slowly and chew, chew, chew. I am going to try only liquids for a couple days and then on to mushies. if it doesn't get any better I will find another doctor. I do feel like I deserve better treatment than this. thanks for the good words !!!!