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I'm not posting to try to deter anyone from making a decision on choosing the lap band; it did work for me, somewhat, assisting me in losing almost 85 pounds. However I feel as though I should share what happened afterwards. My band has been completely empty since July of 2010 but since that time I had some feelings of discomfort and my doctor advised me it wasn't anything, especially a slip, becuase I didn't have the symptoms of a slip. Last month I started getting more discomfort and also extreme reflux which was waking me up at night. My doctor wanted me to get an x-ray to look at my port, but fortunately my band was visible in the x-ray and it showed an extreme slip. My surgery was scheduled a few days later and something that I thought was going to be rather easy (outpatient) turned in to 3 days in the hospital with a draining tube from my stomach out through my nose and another drain in my side. It turns out the band had eroded severly into my stomach and my stomach had to be opened (hence the draining tube). I was not able to eat or drink anything for two days until they could make sure my stomach wasn't leaking (fortunately it did not). I am still left with having to pack my incision every day, probably for another week or so. My doctor said that another 30 days could have been "catastrophic". I just want to be people to be aware of their symptoms and pay attention to anything your body may be trying to tell you. Don't ever let your symptoms be ignored.

I have been experiencing some pain in my lower left abdomen; finally went to get it checked out and had an x-ray to make sure my band was OK (and my port). From the looks of the x-ray, it seems as though my band has completely moved to my right side, almost as if it wasn't attached at all....very strange. My band is completely deflated, and has been for almost a year now, and I've experienced no symptoms that something has slipped. Can the band actually MOVE or become DETATCHED? I'm waiting for my doctor to call me back, but it sounds like another surgery is my near future. I just can't find anything on this topic and wondered if any one has experienced this. Thanks!

Hi all, I was banded back in December of 2009 and have had great success; down almost 75 pounds. However the past couple of weeks I have started to have some problems with some stomach pain. I thought I may be too tight with my fill (even though I was filled 4 weeks before the pain started) so my doctor removed 1.5cc's. However I was still having the pain; everytime I ate something, it went down fine but then came the pain. It felt like someone was squeezing my stomach. Other than that, I feel fine, it is just when I eat...and sometimes drink. I went back to the doctor and he said he thought I could be irritated or having spasms so he completely drained me. This was on Friday and I think I am getting better, but still have slight pain. Could I just be irritated or do you think the band could have slipped? Any sight, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

:help:I am going for my consultation on the 21st and am so ready to do this! When I get banded, it is not filled at that time, correct? I am just getting used to it, I assume? My concern is being hungry, which I thought you didn't get w/ the band - or only after your fill? I am just concerned that when I go through this, I won't be able to stand being so hungry. That is my problem now, I get so shakey when I get hungry, that I just eat. What will change with the band?