Fran

This is the hardest thing to do. The band only limits the amount, but the mind is in control of what it wants. I have lost 115 pounds and still struggle. One day is good, then the next is not. Soon after you are banded you will not want to eat. It is very exciting to start loosing weight and that took my mind off eating. Now, after almost two years, old habits are coming back. It is as I said a daily struggle. Emotions are the root to the evils of eating. I wish you well. Good luck with the band. The surgery is not so bad. Keep in touch. Fran

I agree-gallbladder or worse yet band slippage - I have had both and they are not pretty. Banded 2 years ago August and struggling now. Be well. Fran

You are correct-the band is not eroded but slipped under the stomach. I imagine the stitches eroded but the pain nonetheless was unreal. It is quite rare. I think vomiting brings this on. Be well. Fran

I do not mind answering questions-that is what we are here for. I was a self pay the first time, and with the help of an attorney got back some money. This time, it was an emergency and as it just happened May 14th. I do not know if they will pay or not. I never asked the life span of the band-there are just so many questions and I never remember them all. I do know that this band is bigger than the first one, and I had a fill last week and feel no restriction. I hate when the fill is too tight so I will get another little one. Where are you on your journey? Please do not worry about this problem of mine because as previously stated this is quite rare. I wish you luck and urge you to ask as many questions as you need to. Be well. Fran

My band just eroded after it being in for 21 months. The pain was unreal and I could not stop vomiting. My surgeon said I caused the slippage due to the vomiting, but I told him the vomiting was from the slippage. In any case, this is rare. I have lost 118 pounds and now have a new band. I would not be worried about this happening-as I said it is quite rare. Good luck to all. Be well. Fran

Please call your doctor-I kept throwing up and eroded my band. Please call-you sound like you need a little unfill. Be well. Fran

I was told that it is the acid in any type of coffee bean that can erode the band. Everyone gets a different answer. Be well. Fran

Do you have a rash? My insurance company would only pay if there was a rash and all other techniques failed-creams, lotions, etc. Have the surgeons' office take pictures of the rash and send a list of medicines you have tried. Complain to every doctor you see, and I mean EVERY that the excess skin is creating a rash, bladder problems, back problems, etc. Good luck, I will think of you. Just remember, you are an inspiration to all of us for the amount of weight you have lost. Be well. Fran

Do not be too hard on yourself. Instead of thinking about what you did with food, think about what you have not done to get you to goal. Tomorrow is another day. Be well. Fran

First of all let me congratulate you on your weight loss. Second, do you have a rash? If not make sure you create one and have the doctor mail the photos to the insurance group. Do not give up. I won my appeal on a self pay for the band. Be well. Fran

Your doctor is supposed to be the best there is. I think she trained my doctor who is Dr.Kwon. Good luck. Be well. Fran

I too was banded on May 13th. Good luck to all. Be well. Fran

I too was banded on May 13th. This was my second time due to slippage. Continued success and good health. Be well. Fran

Thank you so much. Slippage is quite unusual and I never worried about it until now. Be well. Fran

I band revision surgery a week ago. My initial band was done August 30th.2006. I have lost 118 pounds and was doing great when I started to throw up and have unreal abdominal pains. Then, last week I threw up all night and the next day had revision surgery. The procedure is the same and the post operative directives are the same. My doctor said I caused the slippage with the vomiting but I told him the slippage caused the vomiting. It does not matter - as long as it can be taken care of. Ironically enough, insurance did not pay the first time and I finally one on an appeal but now they paid. Please do not dwell on slippage as it is unusual and not happening to everyone. I wish you well. Fran

I am so sorry. How long have you been banded? I am also curious as to the symtons you had compared to mine. When people tell me I took the easy way out with this weight loss procedure I could scream. This is NOT EASY. Be well. Keep in touch, please. Fran

I was banded on August 30,2006. To date I have lost 118 pounds. The other night I started to throw up every half hour with pains that I begged to die for. My band had slipped and I needed surgery. The surgeon said the vomiting caused the slippage, but why was I vomiting-I think the band caused th slippage itself. The pain was unreal and I screamed so loud I thought I would get arrested. Home a week and feeling fine. My DH said to have the band removed permanently but I was afraid of gaining weigt back. He removed a 4cc band and put in a 10cc one which I do not understand. Will ask him tomorrow-hope it takes out the staples. This was a nasty surgery. Be well all. Fran

I went back to work after two days. It depends on how you feel. The soreness was still there, but the bills were there too. I felt better getting back into the swing of things. Still, a very personal decision. Be well and good luck. Fran

I just had my band removed and replaced after almost 2 years. I had slippage and I cannot tell you the amount of pain I had. I thought and prayed to die. It was worse than gall bladder or child birth. My sugeon blamed it on my continuous vomiting for the past few days, but the vomiting was from the slipppage. Oh well. He put in a 10cc band and had taken out the 4cc. Down 118 pounds and will be having a two year celebration on August 30th. Be well all. Fran

Hi All- Yesterday I had my band removed and a new one put in due to slippage. The pain and vomiting (sorry) was not nice. I have lost 118 pounds and am two years out this August and do not understand what happened. The surgeon put in a 10cc band where before I had a 4cc. I am down 118 pounds to 170 and only want to loose about 5 more. My highest weight the day of the surgery was 288.6. I am confused as to why this happened after two years. Oh well, be well all. Fran

It is a wonderful feeling and I wish you the best. Be well. Fran

Same here-two fingers down the throat and whamoo-up it comes. Usually once I get stuck I know the next step needs to be done. I do not usually wait for it to go down for fear of upchucking in inappropriate places. I told my friends I have upchucked in more places and more times than through two pregnancies. It is just strange that my doctor said I would know I am stuck after the first bite, but this has not happened and it usually occurs after I have made an oink oink out of myself. Be well all. Fran

I think that for many of us (myself included) the band is the last measure in weight loss after having tried all the conventional means. For me, it meant here comes surgery so I really, wanted to do well. Also, there are little failures like slips, and major ones like erosion, etc. Some of the failures are not our faults, but some are. The band does not erase all of the mind issues that brought us to obesity. I hoped this helped and I wish you well. Fran

After being banded for almost two years, and loosing 115 pounds and having had tt a few weeks ago, I still ache for food. The band helps the physical part of this addiction, but the mental part is so deeply engrained that it is hard to deal with. I am very careful, but sometimes it is so hard. I wish there was something to "band" the sensors in the brain that require us to indulge. I know there are drugs to do this, but wish to not go that route. The band as I was told is just a tool, and the real "nut and bolts" of this journey has to come from us. I wish you continued success and good health. Frna

I was 59 in March and had a tummy tuck on March 26, 2008. It was fine and I am glad I did it. The recovery was not too bad but the worst part was the drains. I recommend it to all regardless of age. Good luck. Be well. Fran