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Stand by what you believe in! I chose the band for several reasons. The main one being that my intestines won't be touched! You're just about my age and right now we're pretty healthy. But what happens down the road when we do get sick with something like cancer (god forbid)? We won't be able to absorb the extra nutrition with the bypass, but with the band, we will. I know that bypass seems so tempting because we just want to get this weight off (trust me, I've considered it!). But, in the long term, I just feel we're better off with the band. The recovery time is shorter, it is reversible, and it gives your skin time to catch up. Maybe you should discuss these things with your Dr. or perhaps find another surgical group? Good luck in whatever you decide. :drool:

I'd say find another dr. My dr. educated me about all 3 procedures. It was the dr. that said I would do better with the band. I have 70 pounds to loose. A friend of mine had 200. In her case, he suggested the bypass and she did it. In the process, she had a few health concerns, and even started to look really "baggy". Ultimately... it should be YOUR decision. You are the one who will make yourself succeed or fail. I chose the band because it was a slower weight loss which forced me to radically change my eating habits. I ate way too much fast food, sugar and carbs. Now.. I think about everything I put in my mouth and for me that's really a good thing. :smile2: Good luck on your Quest. I wanted my weight loss to be slow and healthy

I agree with Alicia totally!! I have not gotten my band yet, I am hoping for early August, but the few main reasons for me is the adjustablitiy of it. Also, what if something crazy happens in your life, you can take the band out, there is no reversing bypass. And lastly, and probably most important for me is, I don't want to lose the weight super fast, I want my body to adjust to the loss and my skin to shrink on its own. I have seen people that have the bypass and their looks terrible...okay maybe I am vain but for me its a big deal.

All: I hear your concerns and very much support your choice of which surgery is best for you, as only you can decide what is best for your body. While my surgeon was equally partial to both surgeries, I really liked the idea of great weight and rapid weight loss with bypass, but didn't like the idea of being completely rerouted internally. However, instead of gastric bypass, I really wish I had known about VBG or the gastric sleeve as both of these procedures produce great weight loss with less complications than bypass. I am by no means trying to sway you into a surgical procedure, only stating that I myself only thought there were two bariatric options (being bypass and lapband) and wish I had known there were other options that were combination restrictive/malabsorptive. Bottom line: learn about as many options as you can and make the decision that is best for YOU, regardless of what the surgeon wants/pushes.

Medicare doesn't have a pre approval process. If u meet the qualifications (bmi of >40 with no comoribities or >35 with 1) u just take ur chances and u find out after the surgery whether they paid it or not. At least thats what my dr office insurance coordinator told me. Medicare paid for my lapband in 2009 and my sleeve revision 10 mths ago (at bmi of 28. I had a band complication that necessitated removal). Not sure what/if ur other insuance is, I'm just speaking for Medicare. Good luck! Enjoy ur vvacation

After my RNY gastric bypass surgery I did break out in a rash on my stomach and breasts. It was so bad that I went to urgent care. The doctor prescribed benadryl and another topical antibiotic. The rash cleared up within a week. Sent from my SM-N910T using the BariatricPal App

A similar stomach revision is called a StomaphyX. There are several that make the stoma between the stomach and small intestine smaller.

Vera- was there any extra cost you had to endure for this revision?

hey everyone, i am one of those ppl who have always been heavy. i began gaining at the tender age of 12-13. in high school i was only a few lbs lighter than i am today. deep down i was never happy, but of course on the surface i was always "fine" with it. never had a problem meeting men, going out in public, etc. between 1999-2001 i lost about 60 lbs, but i did it with the help of diet pills. of course, once i stop'd the weight crept back (and then some). in 2003 a really close friend had gastric bypass surgery. this was the 1st time i considered it, but didn't explore it. 2007 was when i seriously looked into having lap-band, but my career moved me out of state. now that i'm back in michigan, i figure i'm not gettng any young but i am definitely getter BIGGER so ...i've done the leg work and on monday i was called with "my date"...I AM SO EXCITED... wednesday, january 19 2011 is when it all will go down. so thought it would be nice to use this enrivonment to share my story and get inspiration from others ~ i thank you in advance

I've been faithfully doing the low carb diet - the one I love - for a week or two anyway - until anything green makes me want to run and hide! The good news is I've lost 5 lbs in the few days I've been doing it. Considering that is the first time the scale has moved THAT direction in about 6 months, thats a real high for me. Taking in less carbs I feel my energy slowing coming back...Enought that I dusted off my treadmill and took a "walk" last night. Did just over a mile - slowly so as not to overdo it - overall with warm up and warm down I walked about 27 minutes. Now the trick is to keep that up -every day! My dad is having a breakdown about the surgery. He is sending me some article from USA today. I looked it up online. It's an article primarly about Gastric Bypass surgery that is based on old data and stats. I don't need his approval, but his attitude is frustrating. If I had cancer would he tell me not to do chemo?? I don't think he realizes LapBand and Gastric Bypass are totally different things.

Once upon a time, eggs yolks were the bad guys in heart disease. What’s up with eggs, these days? So, what’s the good news? 70 calories. 13 essential vitamins and minerals. 6 grams of a high quality protein. All of the essential amino acids, which are the ones we have to eat because our bodies can’t make them. 210 mg cholesterol in the egg yolk. 5 grams total fat, mostly unsaturated. Zero carbohydrates. Less than 20¢ per egg. Once upon a time, eggs yolks were the bad guys in heart disease. What’s up with eggs, these days? So, what’s the good news? 70 calories. 13 essential vitamins and minerals. 6 grams of a high quality protein. All of the essential amino acids, which are the ones we have to eat because our bodies can’t make them. 210 mg cholesterol in the egg yolk. 5 grams total fat, mostly unsaturated. Zero carbohydrates. Less than 20¢ per egg. Brown eggs are not healthier than white eggs. Omega-3 fats are present only if the chickens eat a special diet. The yolk contains a robust array of nutrients that help with our health from when we are conceived to when we are old. Protein and nutrients in an egg can aid in muscle strength, brain development and function, weight management and eye health. Not bad for a food that’s about the size of your new stomach pouch after bariatric surgery. Research now points to genetic and lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, smoking) factors having a much greater impact on the development of heart disease than how much cholesterol from egg yolks you are consuming. Newer research indicates about a third of us need to limit cholesterol. Tracking your labs is a good way to find out if you should avoid eggs or enjoy them. Those with an egg allergy need to avoid eggs. Weight loss after bariatric surgery is one significant lifestyle change that improves cholesterol numbers. More information and recipes are available on www.incredibleegg.org or www.eggnutritioncenter.org. For bariatric patients, you can start having eggs again when you start the soft/puree foods. This means 1 week after RNY gastric bypass and 2 weeks after sleeve gastrectomy. Image: Incredibleegg.com - Easy Hard-Boiled Eggs

I went through similar journey of starting out planning on lap band a couple of years ago, changing my mind, trying diet and exercise again for a year (unsuccessfully) not wanting to do bypass (for same reasons you stated) then deciding on sleeve. I do not have all of your health concerns other than a very lumpy bumpy thyroid with very little function, but so far it does not have to be removed. I did have several scares with chest pain (one that scared me enough to go to the emergency room) that turned out to be nothing, but it was enough to remind me that I want to live to see my children graduate college, get married, have grandchildren, travel etc....but if I kept on my current course, I was surely decreasing my chances of making it that far. Then my friend, who had the RNY operation four years ago, ran the NY Marathon. She looked great, she felt great and now she had accomplished something as incredible as that! Where was I, I was at my highest weight ever, 272 lbs feeling fat, tired, uncomfortable, embarrassed and miserable. I decided enough was enough and I got started on the journey to have the sleeve. It took 8 months of meetings with NUT, getting all the required work done etc, required by my insurance company. I had many moments of second thoughts, especially when I had to go for tests and things I would have otherwise never done in a million years. When my surgery was finally set, I almost cancelled about 100 times, I was so scared. BUT I went through with it on June 4th and I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever did! There were a few times in the hospital and during my first week home that I questioned what in the heck did I do to myself, but now I am getting used to the plan and I am down over 40 pounds since surgery and have never felt better! My point in telling you all of this is that it is human nature to cling to our old way of life because we are scared and it is what we know. It is really scary and hard to face the unknown of how things will be after surgery (and for me I had NEVER had surgery of any kind, so I was also really scared of the unknown of what that would be like). The tests and all the visits are a pain, but need to be soldiered through with your eye on the end goal...YOUR HEALTH! In the end, this surgery has helped so many people improve their health and their lives in unbelievable ways. I just read a post of someone who after 9 months is down 90 lbs and off of her 12 meds! With all of your health issues, imagine what life would be like for you if losing weight nullified or at least alleviated most of them! It is normal to be scared and uncertain, but in the end, don't let that get in the way of taking control of your life and your health. YOU ARE WORTH IT! Good luck to you. My prayers are with you that you can find peace and calm going through this process and that you have a safe and successful surgery.

I've waited 20 years for this, I don't know if I can wait another 2 weeks or not! In 1985, I was the first woman promoted to the position of Senior Vice President with my former Wall Street employer. For 10 years, I had worked an average of 60 hours per week and no less than 6 days per week for this promotion. I moved when the company asked me to, so I moved four times in less than 6 years. I dedicated my life to my career, and it paid off. At this time I was a size 14-16 and continually fighting with my weight. Each and every day I woke up with my constant companion, self-loathing. Why couldn't I stay on a diet. Why couldn't I shake those 20 pounds. Why did weight keep creeping on. I second guessed myself all of the time. At the same time, I was buried in work, eating at my desk, skipping meals if work called and foregoing any type of exercise. To my surprise in 1986, I met a nice young man after being essentially dateless for years. We married about 1 year after meeting. Fast forward to 1987. Now, I've gained weight. My boss at the time, "suggested" that I lose weight - my weight was negatively effecting my career. Not the 60 hours and 6 days a week, but my weight. I spent a small fortune and traveled to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and spent almost 3 weeks at the Hilton Head Health Institute. I was taught portion control, how to pick wise foods, and exercised just about every waking moment. I had no complaints about the HHHI and I would enjoy returning. Six months later, I had lost 50 lbs, but I was not thin - Now I was a size 16. Slowly my weight crept back. Then I got a new boss. For the first time in my adult career, I did not get along with my boss. That's never good for a subordinate - even at the Executive level. Try as I might, this man disparaged everything I did. Nothing was ever good enough. At year end, I was only 117% of my sales goal, and that was not good enough. He isolated me from others in the company, and soon, I was excluded from meetings and projects. In April, 1988 I was "demoted." Stripped of my responsibilities as a Senior VP and made an office manager. The demotion was very public and at the time of our annual corporate meeting. My boss stated that I lost my job because I was overweight. No other reason, just because I was over weight. I was replaced by a fat man. By 1995, my marriage was over (my husband blamed me for being fat for losing my job - not that he worked, but it was still my fault my more than six-figure income shrank) and I never emotionally recovered from the very public demotion and humiliation I suffered. I stopped working, took all the money out of my 401K account, sued my former employer for sex-discrimination (won) and went to law school. I graduated from law school in 1999 and then passed the Nevada Bar Exam. Law school was very sedentary. I used phen-fen to lose weight and now suffer with a heart valve problem. My weight fluxiated as I tried assorted dietary aids, but never I was never able to keep the weight off. After law school, I married a wonderful man who loves me, even pudgie, and who would do anything for me. My weight kept creeping up. Now, I am simply fat. Although I am an attorney, my husband and I are no means rich. Recently, we started our own practice and that drained any money we had. It’s expensive to buy the books, computers, copiers and other infrastructure needed to support a law firm. Advertising is our biggest monthly expense, after employee payroll. There are times w e don’t pay ourselves to guarantee that our employees are paid. We believe in our office and my skills as a litigator. Eventually, we’ll have a cash reserve, but things now are tight. We even sold our house and moved into a mobile home so that we could use our home’s equity to pay bills and to help finance our office. I thank God that I am married to a man who will be a partner in building a law firm and I am grateful for my husband because I could not do all of this work on our own. We’ll succeed, but now, money is tight. About a year ago, I noticed that my heart was racing. I visited a local cardiologist who wanted to preform over $3,000.00 in tests. With a $1,000.00 deductible in our insurance, I did not immediately have the money for the tests. I did by the end of the year. I have a leaking heart valve, cardiac arrhythmia and an enlarged heart. After all the tests, my cardiologist agreed that my heart problems were directly related to my weight. He stated that I would be an excellent candidate for a lap band, but he does not endorse gastric bypass surgery, believing that it is too invasive. I started on a search for a surgeon to perform lap band surgery, and at the time, I did not even know what a lap band was. I attended a local seminar in Las Vegas and learned the differences in weight loss surgery. I obtained surgeon references from my CCP and cardiologist. My insurance company, of course, refused to consider weight loss surgery unless I spent 2 years under the care of a physician trying to lose weight. I am 55 years old. I don’t have 2 more years of diet failure and self-loathing in me and I opted to self-pay for lap band surgery. After reading an article about surgery and medical care provided for Americans in India, Europe and Thailand, I started an internet search for weight loss surgery outside of the U.S.. Perhaps I could save a few dollars and have a competent surgeon help me outside of the U.S.. I searched the web, researched and researched. Law school was very good at teaching me research skills. I kept researching physicians and hospitals and came upon Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I never read a bad thing about him. My husband was skeptical about going to Tijuana for surgery. So was I. Tijuana? I continued to investigate Dr. Ortiz. I called physicians who provided testimonials on his web page. I researched those doctors to make sure they were legitimate physicians, not witch-doctors. I called Innamed, who makes the FDA approved U.S. lap band, and talked to them about Dr. Ortiz. I reviewed Dr. Ortiz’ CV. I traveled to Tijuana to meet Dr. Ortiz and upon meeting Dr. Ortiz, I knew my search for a surgeon, who could competently and economically help me with lap band surgery was over. I believe that I am blessed to have met Dr. Ortiz. Never in my life, have I been allowed an open invitation to question a physician about a surgical process. Dr. Ortiz offered me as much time as I needed to discuss my concerns, the surgery, his career and skills. I also learned that Dr. Ortiz proctored the prominent Las Vegas surgeon who performs lap band surgery and he proctored the surgical staff at my home town hospital in Newport Beach, CA.. I stopped searching and scheduled my surgery the very day I met Dr. Ortiz. Originally, I was going to wait until year end, 2006, to have my surgery. After my meeting with Dr. Ortiz, I scheduled Friday, October 13th, 2006, for surgery. I don’t have to be superstitious about the date. I believe I have the premier surgeon performing my lap band surgery. Now, Friday the 13th, cannot come fast enough for me. I worry that I will not pass the pre-op physical, or something else will go wrong and I won’t be able to have the surgery, so I haven’t told too many people about my surgery. I am going to burst with excitement and cannot wait to wake up after the surgery and know that I am turning the corner on my new life. I truly am very lucky. I have a husband who adores me, a successful business and a premier surgeon. I don’t need anything else. My goal: lose 150 lbs. Realistic? I don’t know. My cardiologist believes I will lose at least 100 lbs. I keep reading about people who are my size (24/26) and now they are size 12/14. Is that really possible? Or is this a dream that I’ll wake up from. I just don’t want to live the rest of my life fat. I don’t want to take the elevator at the court because I’m packing an additional 100 lbs and can’t use the stairs. When I argue with another attorney, I don’t want the adjective "fat" used to describe me. I want to walk into a store and buy "normal" size clothes. I don’t want to wear a bikini, I don’t want to be in Playboy. I just want a life freed of fat. I don’t want to be defined by fat.

Hi, my name is Chad I am from San Angelo Tx. I am on the pre op diet but will not know the exact date of lap band surgery until Tuesday after labor day. The Doc says that it will be toward the end of Sept. I had my pre op visit 2 days ago all is good and insurance will pay. The doc really wanted me to get the gastric bypass. I am 5'10 and weigh 308. In 2003 I weighed 190 pounds. I did not start gaining all this weight until middle of 2004 after a heart problem and the doc put me on coreg. I am off that coreg stuff now and fat. Anyway I told the Doc that " I did not want to rewire the plumbing that god made, I just want to squeeze it a little bit. He did not think it was funny, but it was my way to tell him I am getting the lap band and not his gastric bypass. Sorry for rambling on good to be here.

I just got my surgery date this week, 9/22/09. My doctor also tried to get me to do the bypass becasue of my diabetes. So I am with you West Texas, I am now doing my pre-op diet. I'm excited but also a little apprehensive. Hope all goes well with you. Susan in Houston, TX

Has anyone with bypass had to take prednisone orally?

April 8, 2010 Today I had a visit with my pcp. We were on vacation in Gatlinburg the week before. I felt terrible the whole trip...headache, nausea, shortness of breath. I made an appointment the day after returning home. I had already decided I would ask his opinion about weight loss surgery as an option for me. He was not against it, but he did not offer much encouragement. April 15, 2010 Today I had the test done that were ordered by my pcp. First was an intensive stress test. He said no surgeon would operate without it. I doubted this and should of let the surgeon decide if it was necessary. This was the second time I've gone through all these tests. I had to have a cardolite IV. It involved walking on a treadmill and pics taken by a machine that gives images of the arteries in the heart. The images take 20 minutes (two sessions) of laying completely still. Then it was on to the echo cardiogram. Basically it was an ultrasound of my heart. It's interesting to watch the screen and see the valves in my heart working! Next it was on the lab to have blood drawn. The tech was a newbie and since my "good" vein in the right arm already had an IV in it (for the stress test) she called a veteran tech to poke me in the left. It hurt like heck...she said she must have hit a nerve...I'LL SAY! My loving hubby came into town and took me to breakfast, then I went back for the second injection of cardiolite and the second set of images. It all went really well. The tests results showed no problems. Later in the day I called a nearby hospital in Bowling Green Ohio that has a well known weight loss program to register for one of their seminars. They were totally booked for the two seminars in April. I am registered to attend the one on May 15th. I'm hoping my hubby can go with me. They are a Center of Excellence hospital so I feel confident with them. Also, I know of at least 3 people who had bariatric surgery done there. April 21, 2010 Wednesday morning I got my test results. All the heart and stress tests looked good. The stress test tech noted that I tired easily on the treadmill. (I would of liked to put her on there with her smokers breath to see how she would of done ) My blood test came back alright, but my BP was up a little more. He had suggested in Jan. that I add a 3rd BP med and I had resisted. Now, I'm ready...bring it on! Add another co-morbidity link to the list. I called Anthem yesterday and grilled them to see if they covered the Sleeve Gastrectomy. The rep said it is included along with all the other WLS as long as the diagnosis is morbid obesity and I meet all the criteria. Looks like I may be on the way! I registered and got the ball rolling with the surgeon by going to the seminar at Wood County Hospital. May 15, 2010 Today dh and I went to the seminar in Bowling Green Ohio. It was held in a meeting room at Wood County Hospital. The surgeon, Dr. Lalor, was the first speaker. He explained all the different surgeries he preforms, sharing all the good and bad. After the seminar we got to talk to him one on one. It seemed to me that he really is sold on the sleeve gastrectomy. He likes the fact there isn't any malabsorbtion involved. He even mentioned that BC/BS is not approving many sleeves, but since I've had 4 open abdominal surgeries and already had surgery on my colon that they might consider the sleeve for me! Then the dietition spoke and lastly the ins rep for Dr. Lalor's office. Doc answered every single question he was asked through his whole presentation, which impressed me! He stayed and answered questions till the last person finally left. I have my surgeon's consultation on June 17th. I feel really good about him, his staff and the facility!! May 24, 2010 I decided to attend one of the support meetings at Wood County Hospital Mon. May 24th. I was waiting outside with some supper when hubby got off work and I kidnaped him and took him along. Bless his heart! He just finished a 12 hour shift, was tired and dirty, but he seemed anxious to go. The meeting was okay, it was sort of disorganized. They sometimes have guest speakers. Two women took control of this, meeting talking about all their personal problems. [Note to me: Remember to talk with the appropriate person at the appropriate times about personal problems.] Nothing to do but wait and worry till my surgical consultation June 17th! June 17, 2010 This was my first surgeon's visit. The nurse took me back and had me step on the scales. Then she had me take my shoes off to measure my height. So, I got to weigh with my shoes on, but measured with them off, making me weigh heavier and measure shorter! YEA!! I was worried about my BMI not being high enough so this was important to me! She asked me a ton of medical questions and we talked a little about which surgery I was leaning toward. I said the sleeve I thought was the best choice for me and that I would not have gastric bypass, due to the malabsorbtion issues. Next the doc came in and he asked me some more medical questions and questioned me alot about my previous surgeries. Then we discussed the sleeve and he said he would fight BC/BS if necessary to get me the sleeve. He said if they tried to push gastric bypass he would tell them that he felt it would be alot more risky for me. My impression of him is that he is very careful and very honest. He took all the time I needed to answer all my questions, which were numerous! He took me to the front desk and went over all the paperwork that included the tests I needed to schedule, the visits with the nutritionist and the visit with another doctor, who interprets the tests results and does a more thorough medical workup and physical. Next I went down the hall to have my first visit with the nutritionist. I will have a total of 3 visits, to satisfy BC/BS for a 3 month surprised "diet" to satisfy their requirements. I was really impressed with Beth. She gave me alot of information, answered all my questions and we worked on goals. They like patients to lose 5% of their weight before surgery, which is 10lbs for me. Doesn't sound like much, but I have so much pain in my hips and my feet that it will be a struggle. July 13, 2010 Today I met with the shrink. He basically had me go through my whole life history starting with when and where I was born. We discussed my weight issues along with family and even school issues. Then I had to do a personality test with over 100 questions...it took forever! Oh well it's done and over with and I think I did well. Next I went down to Dr. Lalor's office (same building) and met with Beth for my second nutritionist visit. That went really well again! I find myself becoming obcessed with WLS websites (this one and Obesityhelp.com). I am reading stories and looking at before and after pictures. I think it helps keep me going until I am approved and get a surgery date. Looks like the end of September or October would be the earliest I could have surgery.

Fedz, We need to talk ASAP!! You and I almost have the same exact story!! Dr. Geiss banded me in July 2007 and I have lost 56 lbs. He implanted the 4cc band at that time. That 56 lb weight loss came with exercise, weight watchers, weight gain and loss, etc. I'm not going to give up so I decided to have a revision done in November because my band is maxxed out to 4cc. I got fill after the fill with some restriction but I never got that "sweet spot" feeling that many banders talk about. There's no room for anymore fills with my current band. We REALLY need to talk. I want to give you my phone number.

OK - I understand now. With that longer intestinal bypass part, you'll have to be REALLY diligent with your vitamins. It's going to be even more critical now because you'll be even more prone to vitamin deficiencies than you were before. Good luck to you, by the way...hope this does the trick for you!

I had a drain. It was the bane of my existence because there is no medical tape that could secure tubing designed not to allow surgical tape to adhere to it. I tried them all. I finally threw caution to the wind and found the solution: Duct tape. Angels sang. By the time I went for my follow-op Doc had to get through layers of duct tape just to talk to me. Duct tape. I hear those angels sing every time I say it. If it doesn't move when it should: WD40. If it moves when it shouldn't: Duct tape. :angels singing: Most folks don't have a drain with their Gastric Bypass. But I recommend the duct tape for your surgical tape needs. Good luck, Tek

I have beef and pork rarely because I have to crave them to eat them. They seem to sit well most of the time but I have “off” days with foods every once in a while. Chicken has been my biggest issue after my RNY revision but I’m slowly able to eat it now that I’m 9 months out from it.

How did a former athlete who was 9% body fat in college get to this point? Well I was born with a bad heart valve that wore out faster than my body did. In my early 40s suddenly I was gasping for breath, by my late 40s I was type 2 diabetic, at 50 I had surgery for diverticulitus and lost 4" of my colon which slowed me down more. At 52 I had open heart surgery where they replaced the valve and found a aneurysm which would have killed me. However, I came out of this unable to lift weights, play softball or baseball, with a right arm and shoulder with nerve damage in it and a bad knee and hip. Then the meds quit controlling my diabetes, the new meds added weight and now it is out of control, I have nerve damage in my feet and my wife has to look at them every night to make sure I don't wind up with an infection. I was approved as a metabolic Weight Loss Patient on the first go around. I am now on my second doctor because the staff of the first one frankly was incompetent. I was lied to when they told me that they had filed FMLA, and I was pre-approved by insurance, they hadnt submitted either one of them. So being the analyst that I am I checked and found out everything. Added to that the hospital that they wanted to have the surgery in didnt have the best reputation. I should have had the surgery two months ago to keep nerve damage to a minimum. I am very nervous, from my major surgeries I live with pain every day. I was told that while they can do the sleeve that the results are better with bypass. However, the horror stories with malabsorption worry me. I am doing this to be able to have a life again not just to trade one set of issues for a whole other set. So any feedback is appreciated.

Hi and welcome I'm also new to this website (well I was actually in lapbandtalk but switched to gastric bypass) and I also meet my surgeon on the 14th

I just found out about 2 weeks ago that my band has slipped. This is what lead up to finding out and the problems I’m having and facing now that I know.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I had the band placed on 10/25/07 and have lost about 120 lbs so far. During last summer I was filled too much and had crazy reflux and two months in a row I had unfills. Then I was fine for 6 months. Then this past holiday season, between xmas and new years I started having weird symptoms. It started with weird side pains when I ate. I'd have the tight pain in my left chest/shoulder, felt short of breathe from the side pains, couldn't breathe very deep. (I actually passed out around new years once). Over the course of three weeks it lead to reflux on everything even water, just burping up a little bit of everything all day. Then progressed into 24/7 uncontrollable heart burn. On Fri 1/9 I called the hospital because I couldn’t sleep at all or eat any solid food. I had to wait until the following Wednesday to see my surgeon. I was on liquids for nearly a week until I saw him.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On 1/14 my surgeon removed just over a CC of fluid and ordered a full blood panel and an upper GI. He said it could be one of 3 things. 1) mega esophagus 2) slippage or 3) erosion. He thought it was #1 for sure since I wasn't throwing up, I could keep food down. It just reeked havoc on me until it passed. He said if it was the esophagus problem, worst case would be band removal. (freak out!) I had the upper GI done on 1/16.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I felt great after the unfill and the upper GI. The Upper GI found that my band had indeed slipped. My surgeon isn't concerned with it as is unless it keeps causing me problems. Now he says that I might just need a revision surgery, he didn't speak of removal. His plan if it keeps acting up is to remove all fluid, then if worse, schedule a revision surgery. I’m set to see him again in 8 weeks, but he said that if the reflux returns or any other symptoms to come back and see him.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In the last week my symptoms have started flaring up again. I’m hoping to get in to see him next Wednesday. My poor husband can’t sleep at night when I’m up pb’ing, choking on acid reflux and coughing up spit foam (I can’t seem to throw up even when I try because I hope to get some relief, just sliming and pb’ing).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Note, I’ve also had other weird abdominal symtoms that I’ve checked with my GP with, she then referred me to the GI specialist. Whenever there is food in my stomach at all no matter what it is, I get these weird side pains, still short of breathe, crazy abdominal cramping and weird uncomfortable radiating back pain. They don’t seem related to the band other than it only happens when food is in my stomach. My lapband surgeon didn’t seem to know what those pains were from and how they were related. So that’s why I’m going to see the GI specialist. Who knows!<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I'm so scared. I don't want another surgery, I don't want it removed. It's done for me what I can't do for myself. I've made drastic changes to my life and food habits, but I still don't trust myself without it. I want this band to work. I want to be able to live with it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> If anyone has experience with slippage like this, please continue to share. All of this informaiton in this thread has been really helpful. I noted the smoking, coffee, chocolate, mint and articicial sweetners as triggers. This week I am going to cut out these items (coffee has already been reduced to 2x's per week from daily.)</o:p>

Hi Morningoasis, I'm glad you're going to get this taken care of. I forgot to mention that some of my pain was very simular to yours...I couldn't take a deep breath either. I'll be interested to hear if your insurance will pay for this. I looked up my policy with BC/BS and it states: "No coverage for bariatric surgery including reversal, revision, repeat and staged surgery, except for the treatment of sickness or injury resulting from such bariatric surgery, or unless required by law." I'm hoping they consider abdominal pain when eating sometimes a "sickness" . If not, then I'll have to go back to Mexico and I'm not looking foward to that with all the killing going on there. Ofcourse, I could always wait until the band causes me a "sickness" :thumbup: I am also worried about living without my band. Although I never got to goal, my band has kept me from gaining it all back. I hope that repositioning is all we'll need. Take Care, Marsha