bandproblems

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.
I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of Soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.
The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.
My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.
I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.
I will keep you updated.

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.
I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of Soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.
The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.
My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.
I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.
I will keep you updated.

I have gained 5 or 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks but that is o.k.
I is just so much joy being able to eat real food again after years of misery. I realize I will need to control my food intake but even if I eat half portions from what is commonly served it is probably still twice of what I used to eat with my band and the restriction. I am not sure if the enlarged esophagus caused less of the food and nutrients to be absorbed but eventually the food must have ended up in the stomach. I went from maybe 2 bowel movements to daily which indicates more food. Many friends and colleagues have commented that I look so much better (happier) even though they do not know about my procedure.

If you need the band removed get another procedure. I was shocked at how hungry I was and quickly I gained weight in the 2 or so months after band was removed and before I had my sleeve. 8 years later I thought my band wasn't working at all but my hunger returned in full force.

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.
I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of Soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.
The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.
My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.
I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.
I will keep you updated.

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.
I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of Soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.
The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.
My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.
I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.
I will keep you updated.

I already lost 110 lbs with the band but the band needs to come out now because of problems and nothing passing through even after removing all Fluid. My surgeon recommend bypass but I am more for a sleeve.
The insurance just came back and approved removal but not revision since my BMI is 28. How shortsighted. They did not even pay for my band initially since I was overseas and that insurance covered it. I am not going to be able to pay for the revision out of pocket.
I do not really want to loose that much more weight since many people already ask me if I am sick or anything since I have been loosing so much in the last 4 years, and especially the last 2 years.
If I could maintain my weight without the band I would be happy but I am not sure I have the willpower and most stories I hear or read say that people will gain back their weight even between removal and revision.
The question is whether I would loose a lot more after bypass or sleeve revision.

Jake,
I am in the same situation as you, having had my band for 4 1/2 years and having lost 115 lbs. After more and more problems eating I had an UGI and it turns out nothing will pass through the band, even after complete unfill. My surgeon says that my food gets digested in the enlarged esophagus. I am still not completely sure how that works since I can sometimes feel the food pass through even during the meal, but the UGI showed none of the barium liquid pass through.
The band needs to come out. The surgeon wants to do a conversion to bypass but I think a sleeve would be better, although a sleeve is irreversible and leaves you will only a small part of your stomach which could be an issue if you later develop some problems with the stomach such as cancer.
My insurance will only cover removal since my BMI is now only 28.
I am also considering just the removal since I do not have $10,000-12,000 to pay out of pocket for conversion. I am wondering if I could control myself and keep eating small portions just because of fear that I would gain all my weight back and have to get another surgery in a few years.
BTW, I do not really need to loose more weight, maybe 10 more pounds, Will a conversion to sleeve result in even more weight loss or will I be able to maintain only ? Is is possible to leave more of the stomach if a patient already lost most of the goal weight ?
TX

The insurance approved the removal, however, they declined the revision to bypass since my BMI is now 28 and they require 35. Kind of shortsighted since I have read and heard that most people will gain their weight back after lap band removal. If someone gains their weight back and gets the BMI is over 35 again then they will pay ???
Not sure if I can maintain my weight without any help. I sure would like to and I really would prefer not to have parts of my stomach cut out or my intestines rerouted. That was why I choose the band in the first place. Nowadays they barely recommend the band anymore because of all the problems and revisions required.

I had a lap band surgery about 4 1/2 years ago in Europe and went from 330 lbs to 220 lbs since then. I am pretty happy with my weight loss. Although I have had some issues with eating certain foods I have managed until maybe 3-4 months ago, perhaps it started before but I did not realize it.
I was having more and more problems eating and even drinking. In the morning or during the day (several hours after last meal) I could not eat anything. Sometimes even a few sips of Water would not go down and I had to go and purge (?). I would also sometimes drink a couple sips of Water before going to bed and then I could feel it trying to go through and some air bubbling up and it always felt like it was stuck in my throat so I would have to go purge it in order to be able to sleep.
At other times I could eat almost 'normal' within reason and small portions (much smaller than before the band).
Since I had the surgery done overseas, I did not do any follow-ups for almost 4 years. I initially had two fills of 2 ml (cc) each for a total of 4 ml (cc).
I finally went to see a doctor last week and he did a fluoroscopy with barium and it showed nothing was passing through as well as an enlarged esophagus. He unfilled the band completely, although only got about 3 cc's out. He also told me that I needed to have the band removed and should have a conversion to a gastric bypass done.
Besides the fact that my insurance probably won't pay for a conversion since I am no longer obese per their definition (BMI > 35) I really do not want to have surgery and especially not a bypass. I had opted for the band as it seemed to be the least invasive procedure and would not require Vitamins and other supplements for the rest of my life.
Since I was skeptical the doctor said we would do another x-ray in a week and I should eat (drink) only liquids. That was tough and I have eaten a few regular meals. The food seems to go down easier now that the band was unfilled but after talking to the doctor and seeing the x-ray for myself I may just be filling up my esophagus again.
Even though I thought food was passing easier the 2nd UGI showed exactly the same. The barium liquid did not pass through at all. I really do not understand how one can have regular (although fewer) bowel movements and not starve to death if all the food is 'digested' in the esophagus.
How does food get digested in the esophagus if there is no stomach acid ? Once it is digested it must pass into the stomach, so why does the barium not show anything passing ?
My doctor wants to do a band to bypass conversion, but I am not sure.
I didn't want to do a bypass in the first place since it is a much more intrusive procedure and non-reversible.
I am considering doing only the band removal but I am worried about gaining all, or most, of my pre-band weight back. Statistically most patients gain the weight back after band removal. I am not sure I have the willpower to continue eating the same small portions with the band as I am doing now.
I have been doing a lot of research about bypass and sleeve. The sleeve seems a little less invasive but may have more side-effects.
I would appreciate any feedback from conversion patients ?
What food to you eat and how much after conversion ?
Any side effects ?

I had my band 4 years and my journey ended having it removed and revised to sleeve 4 months ago. My issue was also a stretched esophagus. With my esophagus working as a 2nd stomach, I could eat more and I gradually started gaining weight was my first symptom. When my esophagus issue was discovered my band was emptied and I put on even more weight very quickly. With the weight gain I qualified on the BMI requirement for revision. In addition, I was still on medications for high blood pressure, which also helped me qualify. Getting the band removed was a very tough and sad decision for me and revision was even tougher.
Four months out and my feelings have completely changed about my revision. 30 pounds down, no more stuck episodes, no more slime, no more puking, night coughs etc. and the very best is that "feeling full" is really "feeling full"! No more measuring meals, I can now do my own push aways very easily.
I understand how you are feeling and the unknowns. Hang in there. If band removal is in your future, don’t let revision surgery scare you. Of course, I’m going to say that sleeve is the way to go, but, then I would be saying different had I had the by-pass done. One thing I do know is that I still need my weight loss tool! Having my band emptied a few months, I started gaining weight and started to fall back into my old habits of overeating.
Much luck to you and please do keep me informed of what happens. jake

I may need to get my band removed due to dilated esophagus and restriction. The doctor recommends a conversion to bypass but I really don't want that as it seems such an invasive surgery which is why I had the band in the first place.
I lost 110 lbs since 12/2010 (330 -> 220) and I am pretty happy, however, I am worried about potential weight gain after removal.
Not sure I got the will power and discipline without the band.
I definitely do not want to get back to my old weight or even close to it and I also do not want to have the removal surgery and then maybe another surgery later for bypass.