Baba Wawa

It's a big misconception that food can cause band erosion. food never touches the band. However, if your prone to ulcers from things like NSAIDS, then it could contribute to band erosion via an ulcer.
There is also band erosion which is actually secondary. First a slip occurs and then the band erodes into the stomach because the slip goes undetected. This type of erosion is much more common because it's usually caused by human error, like a band too tight, vomiting, and/or over eating.
Statistically speaking, band erosion as a primary complication (not secondary to a slip) only occurs in 1% of cases. The chances of it happening are very rare.
http://arturorodriguezmd.com/lap-band-slippage-causes-and-prevention/comment-page-8

I just checked the book I was given just before my surgery. It is called The-Lap-Band Solution by Paul O'Brien MD. It states that there is nothing that can be done to prevent erosion and that the chances of erosion are less than 1%. Also states it was more common years ago but has significantly decreased.

I am scheduled for 11/20 and I have been waiting for this day forever. But in the past week I am wondering if maybe this isn't for me after all. I lost 20 pounds on my own so far, losing about 2 pounds per week. I am not starving myself, just eating more sensibly by making better food choices and watching my portions. I also walk about an hour a day, five days a week.
I see a lot of banded people really aren't losing as much weight as I would have thought. I know that it is a slow process when compared to gastric bypass but I am wondering why I am losing more without the band. But then I look at some of you who have had unbelievable success with it and it inspires me. What should I do?

I too am suffering from severe regurgitative reflux. I have no Fluid in my band, NEVER kept it tight...I had 2 fills total, 3cc and .5cc. My history with the band is that I've been compliant, chewed, cut my food into tiny bites, etc, etc. I've lost 15 lb since my unfill mid-June. I've been on Prilosec for a year, increasing doses to 60 mg per day. Since I'm still having issues with nighttime reflux, I'm trying some holistic remedies with my docs permission. I'm taking 2oz aloe vera juice first thing in the am, then again mid-afternoon. I'm also taking artichoke extract after meals twice per day and essential enzymes to help with digestion and stomach emptying. I'm suspicious that food is sitting in my stomach, fermenting and causing gas. This could be causing the reflux at night. I'm on day 2 of this regimine.
PPIs can cause food to be "under processed" before entering the intestines and slow emptying of the stomach. I'm going to try to wean myself off the Prilosec, slowly...will let you know how it goes.

More than likely the problems WERE directly caused by the band. If the OP didn't have GERD pre op and had issues eating with an empty band, then the band has to be the cause! There is nothing you can ingest, other than large doses of NSAIDs, that can give you these symptoms and results. So many are having this exact type of complications, it cannot be coincidence.
I've had my band empty 4 months and I'm still getting stuck, sometimes on liquids. My band has caused scar tissue to grow around the stomach and under the band. I have reflux too. I was completely compliant. I had only 3.5 cc in my 11 cc band.
Telling someone that the only way complications can happen is through noncompliant eating is just wrong and blames the pt for the failure of the device.

I got my band at age 60. Prior to deciding on banding I tried hypnosis, which helped me to lose a whopping 9 lb, which I regained. My all time high weight was 290. I'm now about 209, so have lost 81 lb with my band, but it has been slow going. The first year, I lost about 60 lb, maintained for a year and started losing again after having my band unfilled in June. One thing I can say is that I have a very different outlook on food and eating. It's about getting my Protein in, avoiding troublesome foods and babying my stomach. I have developed scar tissue under the band, around my stomach, so am very restricted. I only had 3.5cc in my 11 cc band, so was not overly focused on fills...I had two. 3cc at 3 months post op and .5cc at 9 months post op. I'm currently having issues with reflux, so taking a PPI first thing in the morning and mid afternoon on an empty stomach, which is helping me. VSG is a great option for many over 60, since there's no bypass involved and no follow up. Should I revise, it will be to VSG. I'm grateful for the weight loss, but concerned that I might have to have another surgery. Good luck to you!

I had a GI virus last September, vomited my sock off for 24 hrs. Had an Esophogram a couple of weeks later and band was fine.
Getting a Flu shot doesn't keep you from getting stomach "flu", it is for influenza which is an upper respiratory infection and doesn't cause vomiting, except in cases of very high fever.
If you have school aged kids, they're bringing viruses home daily and you could catch a nasty GI bug. Talk to your doctor about this to be sure you have the correct info. Anti emetics won't help unless given by suppository or IV since most who have this type of illness can't keep anything down.
The best defense is sanitizing phones, remotes, door knobs, etc as well as practicing good food prep safety. Most "stomach flu" is actually food born illness from cross contamination (veggies, fruits that won't be cooked coming into contact with raw meats or surfaces where raw meat has been prepared without proper cleaning and sanitizing). I'm very careful about eating out too. Having owned a restaurant (12 years of perfect health inspections) and managed 5 different Starbucks stores (also 100% perfect health inspections) I give any food establishment a good look before ordering.

Missy,
Come on, now. It's been scientifically proven that trolls don't even have intestines. But in spite of that. I agree with your response to the OP.

What's the difference between a second surgery to put in a new band and a second surgery to revise to VSG? That is a perfect example of the medical system's complete lack of common sense!

What's the difference between a second surgery to put in a new band and a second surgery to revise to VSG? That is a perfect example of the medical system's complete lack of common sense!

Ketosis from fat burning will give you bad breath

I was banded 2 yrs ago today at 60 yrs old. I couldn't stand or walk more than 5-10 minutes because of back and knee pain. I've lost 72 lbs, would like to lose another 30-40 in the next year. I can walk 2 miles, go up and down stairs and enjoy cooking again, since I can tolerate standing and prepping. My Meds are reduced...I just had a stress EKG and my heart is healthy! For the first time in my adult life, I maintained weight loss without dieting for a year, and even though I'm the same weight, my clothes are looser than last year and I lost another half inch from my waist. I was a 26/4X pre-op and am 16/18 pants, 18/1X tops...it's worth it.

I was banded 2 yrs ago yesterday at 60 yrs old. I couldn't stand or walk more than 5-10 minutes because of back and knee pain. I've lost 72 lbs, would like to lose another 30-40 in the next year. I can walk 2 miles, go up and down stairs and enjoy cooking again, since I can tolerate standing and prepping. My Meds are reduced...I just had a stress EKG and my heart is healthy! For the first time in my adult life, I maintained weight loss without dieting for a year, and even though I'm the same weight, my clothes are looser than last year and I lost another half inch from my waist. I was a 26/4X pre-op and am 16/18 pants, 18/1X tops...
There have been ups and downs, but all in all, the minor inconveniences are far outweighed by the improvement in my quality of life...also, having had several major surgeries over the years, I know that all surgeries have a common risk of complications, don't always return you to your former level of function and they are painful to a certain extent. I did have to have my gallbladder removed last fall, but had symptoms most of my adult life.
food isn't as important to me anymore, but I do enjoy preparing our families favorite dishes and my enjoyment comes from their appreciation of my cooking. We just spent the weekend at my son's lake house and my 20 yrold granddaughter made the trip over just because "Nini's cooking rocks"!
Life is good!

Absolutely! It's elective surgery and all surgery carries risks, so it is normal to be anxious. I have had about 10 major surgeries and I was the most apprehensive about my banding, because I chose to do it. Try to think about how you are going to embrace your new lifestyle and your healthier body. This is the time to treat your body like a new baby, and your mind like an incorrigible teenager, lol. Best of luck to you!

New,
First, lean pockets are garbage. You really need to stay away from processed foods. Eat real chicken, or real bacon slice, or real low fat cheese and don't eat bleached flour. Prepare a real meal and see how your stomach handles it?
Are you allowed solid foods already?
Regarding the 800 calories per day. Everyone will have their own take on this as it seems like some bandsters make the low calorie diet work. It doesn't work for me. I really need about 1200-1400 calories per day to stave off a metabolic freeze by my body. If I only laid around on the couch 800 might work for me but I'm active and I exercise a lot. If you don't have the fuel to move effectively you won't be able to exercise. You also can't replace fat with muscle on 800 a day. At some point your body will slow down your metabolizm if it's not getting enough calories. Like I said, everyone is different and that's what is so cool about the band. You will discover so much about your body now. You will have to relearn what foods work best and how much you need to consume to make it work for you.
The band isn't going to do it all. You're going to have to be a regular Helen Keller and come out better from it.
tmf

Absolutely! It's elective surgery and all surgery carries risks, so it is normal to be anxious. I have had about 10 major surgeries and I was the most apprehensive about my banding, because I chose to do it. Try to think about how you are going to embrace your new lifestyle and your healthier body. This is the time to treat your body like a new baby, and your mind like an incorrigible teenager, lol. Best of luck to you!

Absolutely! It's elective surgery and all surgery carries risks, so it is normal to be anxious. I have had about 10 major surgeries and I was the most apprehensive about my banding, because I chose to do it. Try to think about how you are going to embrace your new lifestyle and your healthier body. This is the time to treat your body like a new baby, and your mind like an incorrigible teenager, lol. Best of luck to you!

Absolutely! It's elective surgery and all surgery carries risks, so it is normal to be anxious. I have had about 10 major surgeries and I was the most apprehensive about my banding, because I chose to do it. Try to think about how you are going to embrace your new lifestyle and your healthier body. This is the time to treat your body like a new baby, and your mind like an incorrigible teenager, lol. Best of luck to you!