VEEJEE07

Not sure what had happened but the band needed to be removed because something caused a great deal of inflamatory & swelling problems. Because of this, some of my other internal organs actually moved and attached to my stomach! My reg GI doc thought that a part of the stomach tissue was trapped under the band and getting strangulated, in a sense. I say "listen to your body" or at least have a doctor on board that will listen to you ( as I did). If this was not caught when it was, I would be dealing with some major issues.

kposer- I'm really sorry that you've had to experience all of this. I had my band removed due to complications about 6wks ago and was not given any other option but Weight Watchers! I'm not sure what I would chose to do if given the option but I'm still so disappointed that I no longer have it. It sounds like the doctor that your seeing now may be more attentive to your individual medical history. I believe that some of the surgeons who do this are strictly textbook and need to really listen to what the patient is saying. I wish you the best of luck on Friday and going forward. Keep us updated on how you're doing. vee

ellendeette- very sorry you had to have your band removed. I was so scared when I had mine removed but now I am realizing that the band gave me a good jump start and now I have to make the choice to change my eating behaviors whereas before I was forced to do so with the band You're posting was helpful to me because I never really got a reason as to what happened when i had mine removed; I asked the doctor if it could be from a certain type of abdominal excercise I was doing and didn't really get clear answer but I'm more convinced now that is what caused it. It was a waist twisting type of excercise with much resistance and it was shortly after I started using that particular machine when I ran into problems Anyway, I'm hoping to start a new thread where any "unbanders" can support each other on what they are doing to be successful in our journey. I hope you are feeling well and continue on strong as you mentioned.

I also needed emergency surgery to have the band removedm just 2 wks ago. I only had the band for 8 mos and all seemed to be fine til the last month. First my symptoms indicated that the band was too tight, then after being loosened a bit, it was still getting worse I was unfilled completely. Still no change, and the barium swallow showed no slippage. I had pain under my sternum area and on the left side under my ribs. Whatever I tried to eat or sip on would cause spasms under my sternum area. I am still not sure what exactly happened. I was told that my body had basically rejected the band as a foreign object but I don't think the doc was really sure of what happened. All I know is that I had filled with Fluid and my organs (liver and other) had moved and adhered to my stomach in order to protect the rest of the body. That's where all the pain under my ribs were caused by. I'm trying to describe symptoms to reinforce how important it is to listen to your body and make the call to the doc. In fact, after the surgery my doc told me how good it was that I listened to my body and I'm thankful that she was not hesitant at all to move on it. It was pretty serious but it could have turned out to be a nightmare if we didn't act on it. I was so dissapointed to have the band removed but in some way there is a bit of relief that I won't have to worry about any of the risks involved. I hope this info is also helpful but don't try to self diagnos... don't hesitate to call the doc. Best to all

That's a good idea. I feel much stronger now than when I first had it removed but I was a nervous wreck when it was first removed and found it difficult to find much info on the topic. So I think it would be a great topic to expand on . thanks

Can you just put a call in to the doc to see what they suggest? I had to have my band removed after similar symptoms. I wasn't eating and not losing, turned out that I had fluid building up due to inflamation. That may not be the case and although I am all for the gastric band I have to say... if you suspect a problem you MUST bring it to the attention of the doc because if you don't, that's when it could become a real problem. Please make the call!

I had my band removed a week ago due to complications. I fear gaining the 40lbs I lost during the 8mos of being banded. For those of you who have had it removed, were you still successful in your weight loss? Did you gain or were you able to maintain? Any suggestions on food plans? Thanks Vee

Iamian, Just curious to how you have made out since this posting? Please Please get this attended to NOW! I had similar symptoms as you ( and Linds) and had to be rushed in for emergency surgery to have the band removed. Thank God they caught it before erosion but I was full of fluid, my surrounding organs were inflamed, etc. My band did not slip and the barium swallow was fine. I was unfilled and only a bit of relief for a day or so then it got worse. Every time I tried to swallow anything, even liquids I had pain. My main complaints were pain in the left side under my rib area and after I swallowed, the pain was in my sternum area. Please do not ignore this, it may not be what I had but it does indicate a problem. Good Luck Vee

Hi, My last fill was in Feb. When I went for an appt in March, I was given the option for another fill ( this would have been my 5th) but I wanted to wait cuz I felt comfortable where I was. Beginning of May, I started to have problems getting food down, so I went back and they had taken out 1/2 cc as we thought it might be just too tight. I also had a barium swallow that was normal. After about 1 week I began to feel too tight again with pains. Went back to the doc had a complete unfill with the expectation of feeling relief. With no relief after 2 days, I called the doc back and that's when I went to the OR. I truly to appreciate the info you are offering as this is all so new to me. My post op follow up is in 2 wks and I will have many questions for the doc at that time. Of course we don't think of these questions during the "urgency" time, so thanks for sharing your info.

Yes there was inflamation and infection but I was told that my body had rejected the "foreign object". That is interesting information about the FDA not having a reported incident. I am so into gathering information on this because I am trying to understand what really happened. I've kept myself extremely healthy throughout the entire journey, before,during and after and I cannot figure out what or things went wrong. The more info I can gather, the more I can offer to others.

I only had my band for 8 mos and it just had to be removed due to rejection/infection. Going into the OR we were not sure what exactly was going on, we were hoping that it had just slipped and needed to be repositioned. Unfortunately, it had to be removed as it was being rejected and causing infection. I really didn't have much choice and I'm thankful that we caught it before anything worse happened but it seemed to all happen so fast and I can' seem to get a hold of my emotions over this. During the 8 mos of having the band, I lost 40 lbs and hav another 40 to go but this was the first weight loss success I've had in many years of trying. I never expected to be so broken up over this but I can't seem to get a grip on my emotions. I asked the doctor if it was normal to feel so incredibly sad over this. For those of you who have gone through something similar, were you so sad for a long time? I'm only a few days post op but can't seem to get a grip.

I was banded about 8 mos ago and had to have it removed a few days ago since my body rejected the foreign object . I thought I was doing fine as it was necessary to do, but suddenly a day later I'm so upset. It was nice to find your posting on here which offers some encouragement. Good Luck as you continue, I hope I can learn your attitude towards it Thanks again for sharing

Thank you all for your replies and info. I ended up having emergency surgery and needed to have the band removed. It wasn't a slipped band but worse... my body rejected the band and causing many problems but thanfully nothing permanent. The only permanent thing is that I cannot have the band. I'm dealing with it but pretty scared to do without it. Any, Thank God the surgery went well and we caught it before there was any erosion. Although my symptoms started out as first a band that was too tight or a slipped ban( throwing up, not getting food down) they became different when the pain was under my sternum seconds after I ate anything even liquid. Also pain in my left side under my rib cage. Anyway... morale of the story is that you always need to listen to your body and thankfully I did and I have great doctor who was also listening to me. thanks again Vee:frown:

Hi, My doc thinks that my band has slipped. I went for a Bariium Swallow and although the slippage didnt show during the test, the doc says that my other symptoms indicate a slippage. I went in 2 days ago and had an complete "unfill". We're hoping that the stomach will go back in place from the loosening of the band, but will wait a week to be sure. My question for anyone who has experienced something similar is that I'm still really uncomfortable and have had little to no relief. Does anyone know what to expect 2 days after an unfill? I'm just trying to get an idea of the possibilty this not working and going back in for surgery. Thanks:unsure:

I had my surgery done by Dr. Giovanni who is part of Dr. Pohl's practice. I also know a few girls that I work with that have had theirs done by Dr Roy and also some by Dr. Pohl so if you have any questions, let me know. I just had mine done this past october so most of it is recent for me. Hope to keep in touch. Good Luck