Putytat52

I understand being terrified. Its not easy to make a decision that will affect your health and well being. BUT you have made a decision to do something and thats fantastic. I have family members that have had Gastric Bypass and been successful and one wasn't, he stretched his pouch back out. I am the only one that went for the lapband because I had only 100 lbs to lose and the others were much more. I have had issues with the band, resurgery to fix the band in January 2011(original band placement was April 2009) I lost 40lbs and gained back 10 in the first 6 months. Then nothing for 1 1/2yrs. Since January my band leaks and now Dr is working with me to decide what to do next. I had heart issues, diabetes, thryoid etc. NOT very healthy, Now I only take thyroid meds. NOTHING ELSE. I wouldn't change my decision for the surgery for anything at this time. Hopefully the issues will stop and I can lose 40 lbs more. Everything in life is a gamble and if you want to be healthy, losing weight is most important. Research Gastric bypass and the Lapband with a DR who works with patients that have had one or the other. Your DR will know what is best for you and your weight and health issues. He is the one that will have all the knowledge to help make a final decision. Good luck with either procedure. It can be life changing.

I also have a leaking port or band. Dr. had to fix my band last January 2011 and since then I haven't held a good fill and have not lost weight. I had only lost 40 lbs total in the first 6 months then gained 10 of it back and have stayed there until now. Its been over 2 years now. I am fighting to keep the weight gain from happening and its now getting to hard. I have started gaining and hunger is out of control again. I have had several fills since January and I lose fluid each time. Yesterday I went to the Dr and he was in the room when they pulled out the fluid under fluoro and he said yes I have less fluid. I told him everytime I have come in it hasn't held. He was mad because I didn't come to HIM and let him know I was having problems. I thought his nurses would tell him. Anyway, I have to wait 2 more weeks and he will check it again himself. He said I may need a port change but I want him to put contrast in the tubing to see where it is leaking because I don't want to have a port change and find out it is the band not the port. My band was causing me horrible pain when they would unfill. It was so bad that he agreed something was wrong and went in and fixed it.I didn't get a new band. He adjusted the band and I wonder if he nicked it or something and thats where the problem is. He is working hard with me on my issues and gave me hope again yesterday that my HUGE cash payment for the band was worth it. I hope to lose 40 more pounds in the next year. Not asking to much but sure want the band to work properly so I can use my Tool as they constantly say. Hope is in the wind. He hasn't talked about money to do this so I don't know how much it will be. My insurance now coveres Lapband and they will cover me also after appeals on my part were done when I found out they covered the surgery when I had it done. They told me it wasn't a covered expense and the book said that and so did the on line benefits. So I paid out of pocket for it. We must keep the faith. I read so much about it not working and all the problems. I am counting on my DR to get me back on track and he seems to be willing so we will see.

I had my band in April 2009. I had lost 40lbs but have gained back 10. I lost my weight in the 6 mths after banding. In January 2011 I had the band fixed. It was causing horrible pain if I needed an unfill. My band hasn't worked for 1 1/2yrs now and to get the dr to fix it last January was a horrible struggle. He felt I wasn't doing everything right. I diet and exercise to just keep off the 30 lbs. After surgery this last January my band leaks. I've gone in 4 times and each time the fluid is low and has air in the tube when they pull out whats left it band. I fight with my doctor over this. I haven't felt the sweet spot ever and don't have that full feeling either. I am hungry all the time and starting to give up. I'm gaining again in the last week so I am going back to my dr and request it be fixed for the final time or take it out. The band is not working with me. I work hard at losing but if the so called tool isn't working with me its the same as having no band at all. I'm frustrated all the way around. I paid $17,000.00 to have this thing put in and will probably have to pay to have it removed. I started at 7cc's after initial surgery, now my band won't hold more than 4 and I have no sensation of it being closed. It shows on the screen its tight and I don't feel the tightness at all. Any one having same issues?

Thank you for the info. on gall stones. I think its my heartburn. I had to have a complete unfill because of heartburn,vomiting and my band was swollen. I keep reading about others having the same symptoms. I'm hoping its not gall or kidney stones :frown:

I use the site to put my weight loss.It helps me see in the long run how much I have lost because I only lose about a pound a week. I've lost 45 so far and April 3rd will be 1 year. I am very happy with the loss.

Sorry for the problems. I saw my Dr a couple of days ago upset that for the last 6 mths I was stuck and wasn't losing weight. I am 5.4 and 160 lbs and very small frame. He offered me lyposuction! I was floored, I needed support to get back on track not another huge bill. He said I looked skinny, my family were shocked, they know I am still 30-40 lbs over weight and my labs for cholesterol etc are horrible still. If you go to his site or even his monthly classes and complain even a little bit they get upset. Where do you turn. I was just completely unfilled because of horrible bouts with heartburn/reflux and have had horrible pain between my breasts.He offered me pain medication. Thank goodness for this site, I'd have read alot about others with same issues and it made me feel I wasn't alone in this process :frown:

Some Insurance won't approve you if you have HypoThyroid issues. They say its harder to lose the weight. I had the LapBand last April 2009 and paid for it myself. My thyroid is normal with medications and I do lose slowly but have lost 45 lbs in less than a year. I'm quite happy so fight your insurance if they deny you. Do start your medications, it makes a huge difference in how you feel and will help your weight loss. Things will be so much better.:scared2: Your fatty liver is common when you are over weight. I was put on Medi Fast 2 weeks prior to surgery for just that problem. As you lose your weight your liver will become healthy and happy again. Its one of the organs that actually heals itself.

I had my surgery April 2009 lost 45 lbs(yes it was slow for me but dramatic changes in my clothes) no more meds for diabetes. Look and Feel 100% better. I know it will work for you. I have a way to go and 2010 will be the year I step out as a New Beautiful Woman again.

I bought EA sport Active for the Wii also and for my 2 daughters and sister in CA. They are expensive but I think well worth it. We are going to start the Challenge and compete with each other starting this Monday. I have done the other programs x 2 and you are right WOW. Its a good work out and my bodybugg says its really burning up the calories. If anyone is thinking about getting EA sport Active its well worth the $60.00. Megan

I had surgery April 3,2009 and just got my bodybugg yesterday. I can't eat all the calories so I just put what I did eat. I would do that with the liquids because they add up calorie wise. I wanted to see how much I was moving more than calories.I love my bugg and also bought EA sport Active wii game and have done it x 2. Its a great work out and has so many different levels and programs. Alison Sweeney of Biggest Loser used it to lose all her weight. Good Luck with your surgery, its a life safer. Megan

I'm 57 and have a slow metabolism also. I lose about 4 lbs a month. I also have a thyroid condition that showed up 5 yrs ago.Have your T3 and T4's checked. Also slow weight loss stays off better than those who lost 30-40lbs right away. Fewer Plateau's. I need to step up my exercise also.

I was banded April 2009 and have lost 45 lbs. I am now having alot of problems. I want to lose 30 more pounds and its been slow but I'm happy. I now have horrible acid reflux, had a partial unfill 2 days ago and its still there. I was told I have a swollen stoma. She didn't seem worried.I'm afraid to ask for a complete unfill and stop losing. Anyone have any suggestions