Startingover!

I know it's a strange question, but I was wondering if having the lap band affects your bowels any? I already suffer from IBS and am worried that after I'm banded it may get worse. Has anyone experienced this? thanks!

So I had to have to my band removed last week. The surgeon said that after my stomach had healed, in about two months, we would discuss my options for another WLS. First after such a bad experience with the lap band I'm a little scared to have another WLS. So I really need to make up my mind if I want to. I started Weight Watchers as soon as the band was removed to ensure that I didn't regain the 56lbs I had lost. But I don't know if I can do it forever. So I'm really leaning towards another surgery. The question is which one-the sleeve or bypass? With only 25lbs to lose to be at goal I'm thinking the sleeve maybe a better choice for me. I think the bypass might be overkill. I was just wondering if anyone who has had a band removal and then had either the sleeve or bypass could give me some insight as to their personal experience to help me decide. I would really appreciate it! Thanks to all! :welldoneclap:

Hello, I recently had my band removed due to complications and am planning on having gastric bypass in July. I like to know EVERYTHING about a procedure before I have it done! So I was wondering if anyone would share their surgery day experience, hospital experience, recovery experience and experience beyond with me? I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks to all Amy

Thank you macMadame, I'm glad you understand the reason!!

Thanks for everyone's input. All info is very helpful. Suzanne, I know that insurance should not dictate what surgery one has...but in my case....my insurance will not cover the sleeve, which would be ideal for me. And self pay is not an option. Even though I am only 26lbs from goal (which is more like 36 since the band removal), I still need help to reach my goal and then help maintain for life. So that is why I will have the bypass.

This is soooo hard!!! Weight Watchers is a wonderful program, but it doesn't help curb your appetite!! I am so hungry and trying so hard to be good. If this continues I will without a doubt have the sleeve surgery. I can't battle this everyday for the rest of my life. I feel like I have very little control. I only hope I can keep off the weight I lost with the lap band until my next surgery. Wish me luck!!

As the days pass and my appetite increases (it's only been 1 1/2 weeks since band removal), I'm really thinking that I will need another WLS surgery. I think it will probably be the sleeve. I'm trying so hard to control my appetite, but it's getting harder and harder. I really feel like I need a "tool" to help me with this life long battle that I know faces me!

I had a slipped band and had surgery yesterday to repair. Well when the doctor got inside he realized I had a hernia and the slipped band. Make a long story short, after 2 additional surgeons and a gastro doc being called in, they had to remove the band. The doctor said I will never be able to have the band again. He said after about 2 months when my stomach has healed we'll discuss my options. I am devestated that I lost my band. I don't know what to do now. I don't feel like I can keep the weight off by myself. I'm glad that I've lost 56lbs, but at the same time I feel like I'm back where I was. I don't know I'm just so upset over this right now.

I had a hernia repair when they did my band. And some how managed to develop one with the band. I didn't really think it was possible but I guess it is.

After much thought about my band having to be removed. And a couple of months before the possibility of having another type of WLS done (if the insurance will pay). I joined Weight Watchers this morning. I cannot give myself a minute of weakness. If I do I'm afraid I'll spiral out of control. Weight Watchers was the only diet that worked for me prior to surgery. I have to do something, I can't just hang around hoping not to eat too much and trying not to regain the weight. I absolutely love the new me and despise the old me. I cannot handle the thought of gaining any weight back. So I have to be 100% serious and dedicated to this. As soon as I'm better from the surgery, which should be in a few days, I'll begin walking or riding my bike for exercise. Thanks to everyone on here for your support. It means a lot.

About 3 weeks ago I got my 5th fill and that's when I began vomiting 4x a day, couldn't keep any solids down, barely any liquids. When I would lay down at night to go to sleep I would wake up to Fluid coming out of my nose/mouth. Went back to the doctor they removed what they had just added to my band. It didn't work, so they removed all fluid from my band. By this point my chest was hurting pretty bad, but I attributed it to throwing up so much. Well the symptoms still didn't go away so they admitted me to the hospital and long story short I had what was a planned revision surgery which ended up with the removal of my band. But in retrospect I had been having a lot of shortness of breath, chest pains etc. A couple of months ago I was actually rushed to the hospital because of the shortness of breath etc. Now looking back I'm pretty confident those symptoms were due to the hernia. I actually posted on here asking if anyone experienced those symptoms with the feeling that their heart was beating out of their chest also. Have you mentioned your symptoms to your doctor? If not you really should. One thing this experience has taught me is that call your doctor if something doesn't feel right to you! Your instincts are usually correct!! Hope this info helped you some, sorry it got kind of lengthy! Amy

My husband and I have been together for 11 years, married 5 of those 11. When we began dating I was very healthy and active. In the past 11 years I have had 7 surgeries and a few illnesses that have taken their toll on me and needless to say my husband. I am having revision surgery tomorrow due to a slipped band and my husband is being a jerk. He's been this way for about the last 4 surgeries. I was hospitalized twice for kidney stones in the last six months and he didn't come to the hospital one time and the other he came and didn't even give me a kiss, no support nothing. He is usually supportive, but doesn't seem to have it in him anymore when I am sick. I have discussed it with him and he just says it gets hard after a while and he's just worn down. Which really worries me because what else is he tired of? I know I'm probably reading too much into it, but it really hurts me that he can't find enough love to support me. He has maintained his active and healthy lifestyle in spite of my health. But I try my best to keep up with him but I know I must slow him down some. Has anyone else experienced this? Have any advice?

Thank you everyone for your input. I'm still upset with my husband's comment, but I haven't said anything to him about it yet. I will when the time is right. Other than his infamous comment he has been better with helping me since I came home from the hospital yesterday. I feel like I'm mourning the loss of my band! It's the strangest feeling. I am really upset about it and do not know how to handle it. I'm trying to keep the same mindset with eating that I had with the band. I figure I have developed new habits with the band and maybe if I keep them I'll be able to keep the weight off. As long as I don't gain any weight I'll be ok. If I start gaining it back will be bad!! I just didn't expect for the band to be taken out. Oh well. I have already started researching the gastric sleeve. It looks like it's a pretty good alternative provided that my insurance will pay for it. I'll just have to wait and see. Again, thank you for everyone's support. It means a lot. :crying:

Thanks so much for your support. I researched the sleeve a bit last night and that looks like it will be my option. I just hope I can get my insurance to pay, again! I am just sooo scared about gaining weight back. I love the new me and don't ever want to go back to the old me!! Thanks again.

Thank you to all that replied. It's always nice to get another persons opinion. I had my surgery yesterday and it didn't go very well. I had another hernia and slipped band. They were not able to put the band back on. The doc said that I will never be able to have one again. But in about 2 months, once my stomach has healed, we will discuss other options. But in the mean time I am absolutely devestated about losing my band. I cannot gain all the weight back, I am so scared. My husbands response was "Oh well, now you have to lose weight the hard way". Made me feel real good, not. Having the band removed has really got me down. Oh well. What to do now. Thanks Amy

Hello, I was banded June 08 and have done great until my 5th fill two weeks ago. Within two days I was vomiting uncontrollably and had terrible heartburn. I called the doctor, went in and they took out what they had added in the last fill. Two days later I was no better. Went back and they took everything out of the band. Now about 5 days later I'm not throwing up as much, still have heartburn. But the two times (average) a day that I throw up (which is usually only when I lay down) I am throwing up dark brown/black stuff. I called the doctor back today and they want me to have a endoscope to rule out the possibility of band erosion/slippage. Has anyone else had these symptoms?