oldoneyoungagain

That is the problem, I never had any symptoms of anything after the surgery in 2010. I have no pain, no nothing and still don't. My new doctor does fills under fluoroscope and that was when it was discovered and then confirmed by an endoscopy a week later. It was a quirk, karma, something and help from another doctor that I got in with the new doctor. My former clinic does blind fills and never checked the band except for the day of surgery. Rather scary when there are no signs or symptoms even now. As the band could have eroded and infection set in and only then I would have figured something was wrong, but not necessarily it being the band's fault. I think the moral of this story, is make sure the band is checked regularly if you have blind fills.

Dr. Hamilton did an endoscopy two weeks ago and the band had slipped. He told me it had to come out. Let me assure you, you are going to a good clinic. I wish I would have gone there first, rather than the one I went to that did my band. Never once did that clinic ever check it under fluoroscope, had they, I might not have to have it out. I'm one of those patients that "never" had a problem. Had I not switched clinics and Dr. Hamilton not checked it, down the road I would be fighting for my life because this condition could have led to an infection, and at my age it could be dangerous. Just waiting on a date now for removal, but would like it before May 31st as I wouldn't have to meet a deductible as my insurance runs from June 1 to May 31, then we start a new year.

I didn't have a flu bug, and I was watching what I ate and was losing and still am. But one night I started coughing and couldn't stop for almost a half hour. I sometimes think this is when the band slipped, but I'm not sure. Anyway, doctor said it had to come out. No choice to a revision or a new band. He feels bypass would be better for me as he is fairly sure it would get my type II diabetes in check (wouldn't have to take any insulin or medication) along with my hypertension. I think there are times when we can do everything right and then "life happens" not our fault it just happens.

I see Dr. Hamilton, trying to get the band removed by May 31st. Good luck on your surgery. I am assuming you are being banded?

dettie211 in response to "what is RNY" it is just short for Rouxen-Y gastric bypass. AZbanster thank you for explaining, that is more than I've gotten out of my three doctors. And the strangest thing is I'm borderline hypo-thyroid which has just developed last year (running another test next month). I have been worried about Grave's Disease as it does run in families and my mother had it. But she didn't have a thyroid problem as that was the first thing they looked for. Anyway this forum is great. As there are noticeable other problems other than just slippage, acid reflux, erosion of which have come up in studies. Haven't read anything on the heart or thyroid until now.

Strange you mention IBS. I have developed that since I've gotten the band, and it has been worse for the past year. I guess I am one of the fortunate ones, that if everything had gone correctly and my other dr's office would have listen to me and checked the band occasionally, it might have not come to the point where it now has to be removed. I really feel for those of you who are having so much difficulty as a result of the band. I love my band, but new doctor, gave me two options RNY or sleeve. I've elected RNY, I am afraid of the studies that will crop up as they see certain trends done on the sleeve and it's problems. Going to go with the tried and true even though it can have complications also.

Make sure to miss the unflavored with something that does have flavor as there is a taste to it even though it says unflavored. This one I always use in with Crystal Lite. Others have used it with food, but I have been scared that I wouldn't care for the flavor of the food. The only thing I didn't like from Unjury is the cheese. Others have loved it, but I took two bites and yuck the food and the bag went into the trash. (I should have returned it, but didn't)

Mine slipped, when I don't know. Only found it because I switched doctors and since all my fills had been blind, he did a barium swallow. Then a week later followed with an endoscopy to see if it had eroded, which it hadn't. I have no symptoms of slippage and in fact have lost an additional 3 pounds since I seen him March 26th. But he says it has to come out. I'm just waiting on the approval from the insurance company and surgery date.

Interesting information, as my cardiologist recommended I should consider the band. I have what is called dyastolic dsyfunction, excerise induced. Anyway I have the 10 cc band lost weight the first year, a little more the second year and in 2012 I developed irregular heart beats which they called PVC's. How have discovered the band has slipped so just wonder if this is the cause of the PVC's. I actually don't feel the PVC's, nor do I have any problems with the band even though the doctor says it is coming out. When I don't know just waiting. But your information is interesting.

Have been banded for three years and love Unjury. I mostly use it as a drink, mixing unflavored and Strawberry with Crystal lite,the chocolate (I use classic and some prefer splendor)mixed with coffee and sometimes even with sugar free hot chocolate or I might even use vanilla with the coffee. I'm using original coconut milk and I mix the chocolate, 1/2 banana, 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder and the coconut milk (it has less carbs than milk and same calorie count as skim milk) in the blender with ice cubes until it makes a thick smoothie or just a shake without the ice cubes (you don't have to use cocoa I just like a deep chocolate flavor). I also use low fat yogurt (80 calories) and mix it with any flavor, water, ice cubes and make a smoothie. Anyway I can handle this protein but haven't tried anything else. If anything has a strange taste I'm more likely to throw it up. Carnation Instant Breakfast is also good. Have not tried anything canned, as some of those I can't get passed the smell.

Reading all your post makes me feel more positive in the decision to have RNY. My band has slipped, I blame myself, even though I have never had a problem. Just went to a new doctor and when he found out that all my fills had been blind he decided to do a barium swallow. Thank God. For over two years I have been complaining that I should feel something, should have stuck moments, just something and I didn't. Actually I didn't feel I had a band. So when the insurance approves the removal the band goes. He gave me an option whether I wanted the sleeve or the RNY. I asked which would he recommend and he came back RNY. I trusted my last doctor, who left the practice ten months after doing my surgery, so didn't know if I should trust this doctor's decision. So thanks for the post. I might add the only good thing from the band, even though it slipped, is I'm still maintaining all the weight I lost the first year and in fact lost 4 pounds the last two months. Think I am doing better with a slipped band then I did with it in place. But it does have to come out before it erodes the stomach.

70 here. Waiting for a surgery date to get my band out, then wait another six weeks to 3 months to have bypass. So by the time bypass takes place will probably be 71.

Sunnybare you are either in the healthcare field or have had them. I totally agree with what you say, my daughter is a chronic producer of stones, and has been for 22 years, but hers are not calcium. But either way they are very painful and become more painful the more they move. If they aren't passed then either a bucket retrieval or lithotripsied has to be done. This should not be ignored and needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I is definitely food for thought with our weight loss journey.

I am having my band out, just waiting the the approval. I suggested they do the RNY at the same time. The surgical nurse said insurance company wouldn't allow the dual surgery and I would have to go through 3 months of weight management with PCP, another psychology test (which I had done today. I am lucky my psychologist is the one that got me in with my new doctor and is the psychologist for that practice.) then the bypass. Hopefully I don't have to get the approval from the clinic's board. I am already upset because the band has to come out (I am one of the patients that never had an issue, even though it has now slipped. In fact I lost 4 pounds since I seen my new doctor three weeks ago). So really will be upset if I couldn't get the approval of the board if it would come down to that. I am afraid that since this clinic didn't do my band, and I am new to them, they could deny me because of age as their cut off is 72 and I'll be 71. My heart goes out to all of you and the hoops that we all seem to have to go through just to better ourselves, become healthier and it takes just one person who says you didn't do what you should have done before, so you probably won't do it this time either so I can't approve another surgery. All we can do is hang in there and wish for the best.

Thank you. When they told me Dr. H. was no longer there, they did give me the option of either Dr. Malley, Dr. Fearing, or Karen. Because of my work schedule and days off it was easier to get in with Karen, thinking she was working under the two them and giving the same treatment as they would. Why they don't get rid of her is because that is all she does is fills which brings in about $160 if not more every 15 minutes. Not bad for a few cc's of saline. But in some ways I blame the clinic. I was never educated on not what to do to avoid my situation since a slipped band is common. Actually still don't know, but whatever caused it was probably my fault. Now another surgery for removal, which is not a choice but a must, then three months of weight management (with me not an issue), then another surgery for the RNY. I don't know if Dr. Fearing does blind fills, and if she does that is okay, but stay on top of it and not be afraid to ask them to check the band under fluroscope (sp). It might just avoid a lot of complications later, especially if you never have any issues like me and never realized it occurred. Also an FYI, I love my band and very sad it has to come out.

I seen a post a while back that someone that had gone there and had my old surgeon as hers. Dr. C. Thomas Hitchcock who was with Malley and did my lapband. I really liked him and I did real well with him. I've read good and bad post regarding Weight Loss Surgical Center and can't say what their policy is, but know their fills are more expensive. Do make sure that they check your band occasionally. Malley's NP, who started to do my fills after Dr. H left, didn't have mine checked and just did blind fills. It wasn't until I switched doctors, for personal reasons, that I found mine had slipped. They could have put my life in danger by not doing this because I've not had any issues at all. Had I not seen the band I still wouldn't believe it had slipped. So new doctor is getting approval from insurance for "urgent removal". So make sure wherever you go, just to have your band checked. Just my thoughts.

Actually got my order today. Been using it every since I was banded. Unjury's website does have recipes. But tried one today that someone had posted. I had bought a 1/2 gallon of coconut milk at only contact about have the carbs that skim milk has. Did 8oz of that, 1 scoop of chocolate protein, about 1/8 cup of walnuts, and 1/2 banana. Blended until well blended. You can drink it like that or I add ice cubes and make a smoothie. I use protein for beakfast to start the metabolism back up. Hope you enjoy.

Yes, talked with the surgical nurse they are notifying my insurance company to get approval for an "urgent removal" even though I still am not having any problems, if fact I feel as if I am at my sweet spot. Go figure. Then have to have 3 months of weight management with my primary then back in for bypass.

Vicki Have had by band for three years and never once did they do a fill under x-ray. Never had a problem either, but I got a little frustrated with my doctors office, so switched doctors and the first thing he did was a barium swallow and found my band had slipped, now it has to come out. So to answer your question, yes, I would request that a barium x-ray be done at least once a year if not more or if it made you feel better at each fill, and especially if you start having problems. If I hadn't switched doctors, and since I don't have any problems, my band would have eroded leading to many, many complications.

For right now, I guess, I am the old one of the bunch. I had my lap band put in 3 years ago at 68 years of age. Lost about 40+ pounds, and now I'm grieving. Just talked with the nurse, after having an endoscopy two weeks ago, and they are requesting "urgent removal" through my insurance. My doctor won't even reconsider re-banding, or trying to get it to slip back. I loved my band as I never had a problem with it, not once. Not till now and I still have no signs or symptoms. So will have the band removed by the end of next months, then 3 months of supervised weight management then in for bypass. So those of you that are younger than me, and need to get your weight off especially for health reasons, do it. My band has saved my life and basically has made me a new person.

I would definitely do it again if the stats didn't show such a high erosion rate and complications from that. I have not had any and I mean any problems, and only found the band had slipped when I went to a new doctor. Actually wouldn't have had this problem if my former doctor would have been more interested in the patient, rather than advertising for more, and more patients.

DisneyMama you are in good hands. Dr. Rav (that is what I call him as can't pronounce his last name:>) actually got me in with Dr. Hamilton as he and I both didn't care for my treatment with Malley Weight Loss. I might add, just in the nick of time as they never looked at my band since my surgery on March 17, 2010. I also work with a number of people that have had there surgery with the doctors at KC Bairatric . All are doing really well. You will be okay, but it is still a little nerve racking. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

All the responses to this forum are very interesting. But I do have a question. What was the purpose of having the lap band? Mine was to save my life, and it has prolonged it. Now though, after three years, never having any problems with it that I knew of until two weeks ago. I have no signs, no symptoms to this day, absolutely nothing, since I came out of surgery when they put it in. But the doc says it has to come out after doing an endoscopy. Now my life is depending on getting all my weight off and maintaining until I die. For some, who can go on without anything, I admire you. I'm not that fortunate. Three years ago when this band was put in, the cardiologist basically said I had about five years without it. Now they actually don't know as my health has improved so much. So there seems to be life threatening complications or just complications with all these surgeries, but we all elected to have it done for some reason. So my band has failed, life happens. But my main concern is why I had it in the first place. I wanted to live a little longer than five years and I still want that. So next will be bypass, maybe it won't develop any complication for four years, but that is four more years I get to live what is now a fairly normal life without the health issues I had four years ago, My opinion is that we have to do what is best for us not putting down one surgery or the other. None guaranteed that there won't be complication. We are the ones who have to elect what complications would we be able to live with it one develops. Just my thoughts.