It was hard day for me finding out Tuesday and then jumping immediately from the gamut of emotions to thinking about surgery all in the same day.

I left our house Tuesday morning at 5:30am headed to Ventura for the Endoscopy so Dr. Billy could check out the band. None of us thought I had eroded. Even Dr. Billy was surprised. I did hear him say, "I don't know how she knew but she did." I had not been "feeling" right for the last month. But I couldn't put my finger on it. Then a Michelle was diagnosed with Erosion and that got me scared. I immediately called Billy's office and asked for the Endo. They got it scheduled right away.

OK so after the Endo is done, he takes the tube out of my throat and I say, "Did I just hear you say I am eroded?" He said yes. I then just shut down. I cry immediately and never heard another word for a few minutes. I then had to have a silent talk with myself and get it together. I had a decision to make and quick. Billy told me that the band was eroded but it was not a life-threatening situation. He did say we can take it off that night. He said we can work you into the schedule and take it off. He also told me that I could wait till after the holidays if I wanted. I told him to go ahead and schedule the surgery. I did not want to wait hoping there would not be any complications later. He was also leaving town on the 15th and I would have to go to Tahoe and have the procedure done there if I developed complications and wanted him to do it.

Mind you all these thoughts and emotions I was experiencing while I was still on the table after the ENDO procedure. I hadn't even left the room yet. When Billy left the room to check on something for me I just broke down and bawled my eyes out. I was facing losing the ONE thing that had worked for me in my weight loss battle. I was scared, mad, angry, frustrated, hurt, disappointed, discouraged, deflated, why me, why now, every negative emotion you can think of I think I experienced it while I was on that ENDO table.

Billy came back into the room and said for me to stop by his office before I left to make sure I knew what I was making a decision about. He was concerned that since I was under the influence of the ENDO sedation that I might not be making an informed choice. Believe me when he said I was eroded I was very alert and aware of what my decision would be. It had to come out. And it had to come out that night.

So, John and I stopped by Billy's office and he told us to go home if we wanted and to call him at 4p so he could tell us what the plan of action was. So John and I headed home. On the way home, we briefly discussed the options and I wanted the band removed that day. I barely was home long enough to send out a few emails and make a couple of calls to let people know what was going on.

At 4p on Tuesday I called Billy. He said to go to Admitting and he would have paperwork ready for me. Initially the surgery was set up for 7p but I was a work in remember so I didn't get into surgery till 9p. I got back to my room at around 2am on Wednesday. Don't know how long the surgery was, but Billy said it typically takes 2 hours. That would make sense. Two hours in surgery and at least an hour to an hour and a half in recovery. I don't remember much about that night.

Wednesday after I woke up, I was sore and had to go for an upper GI to rule out any perforation before they would let me drink anything. The UPPER GI was all clear, so I started on a clear liquid diet that day. I was able to get up and go to the bathroom and to walk some.

Thursday, Billy came in and took out my drain and sent me home. THANK GOD!!

I am now recuperating and getting stronger every day. It has been a struggle and I am adjusting to the notion that I don't have this tool anymore. I can't really feel different yet because I am still on Clear Liquids. I can start on mushie foods after tomorrow, Saturday.

IT will be a hard battle, but with the knowledge I have learned thus far with the band I will use knowing I don't have the band. SIGH!!

It has been a long time since I could eat large quantities of food. Just tonight I was eating some Soup and was concerned when I went to regular food how the band was going to react. Weird like some phantom is hovering over me still. I would compare it to when someone loses an arm or leg. The arm or leg can still be felt but logically you know it isn't there.

Billy used 3 of my old scars and used a 4th scar from my tubal ligation from years ago. I am really not in alot of pain but every now and then I feel a tug or a burn and I am reminded that yes I did just have the band removed. So I take a half of a pill and that quiets the pain.

With my history of depression it would be so easy to slip into a dark hole but I can't and won't allow myself to even look inside that hole. If I start to fall I am afraid I won't come back out. I have fought too hard to get to the point I am now. I won't let myself regress.

My parting words:

When you don't "feel" right, check it out.

When you know something is off but you can't put a name to it, check it out.

Be Proactive in your how health care, check it out.

Don't let someone else tell you "it isn't necessary", check it out.

I say all this with all the love and compassion I can muster cause I don't want any of you to look back and wish you had and didn't.

I am mentally accepting of the outcome. I am physically healing and taking it slow. I can have another band in 6 months. I will go see Dr. Billy in a month for a check up. He said we will discuss my options at that time. He also said he would support me in whatever decision I made whether it be surgery or not. What a great and caring Doc. I have said on here that I might consider the DS operation. I now know that I will NOT have any other surgery. I am through with surgeries for now. I am gonna fight the good battle with nutrition and exercise.

Shoot you might see me on the next "Biggest Loser". LOL!!!

Thanks for the support.

HUGS

Just wanted to re-emphasize that listening to your body and your intuition is a GOOD THING. If something just doesn't sound right or too good to be true then it probably isn't.

Dr. Lopez was a greatly skilled surgeon and came highly recommended when I had my initial band placed in 2004. I had every confidence that he would take care of me and provide the aftercare. I was sadly mistaken in my assumptions. If you want to know specific details of my story just do a search of my name and you will find all kinds of entries about my story.

I have talked endlessly with Inamed (as it was called back then) about their practice of "certifying a surgeon". It was shocking as I am an RN and know the ins and outs of healthcare. If I had known then what I know now I would NEVER have gone to Mexico for the surgery. NEVER!

That is me not you. So if you are OK with going to MX and feel comfortable with that decision then go for it.

Hello to all my old friends here. I don't post as often as I used to and that is partly due to several reasons. The big one is I don't have a band anymore and don't feel I have a dog in this fight anymore. The other is I don't feel I can contribute to this site anymore. But I do check in every now and then.

Penni - I've read your post, and read a lot of your postings often. You have a lot of good information especially for people that are facing complications. I for one do appreciate all your input. I know you are especially helpful in the complications thread for others experiencing your situation. Thank you for all your contributions.

Your Grandson is adorable by the way!

Hi Penni, almost my exact story!!!! Except my doc rolled me into emergency surgery an hour after endo. THere was basically NO discussion. I had a cruise with my family planned the next day. Cancelled. The band was over 1/2 inside my stomach. Life-threatening. Left a huge hole, very painful recovery! Also, no discussion on another band. He said no way, plus I was afraid it would happen again. I researched the VSG and DS. I got the DS after over 6mo of healing, and (knock on wood) doing great! PLEASE research! Go to obesityhelp.com and look at the VSG and DS boards!! Good Luck!!!

Erosion = the band can erode into your stomach which is what mine did. Understand the band itself does not erode (break down) the stomach wall does.

Here is a link to the page that shows pics. My Endo results -- NOT GOOD!!

Hope this helps.

just how did you feel to even think something was wrong did it hurt. reflux or what

Is my research correct that Inamed was pushing the partnership of Dr. Lopez Corvala and Dr. Ariel Ortiz several years ago for the best choice of surgeons in Tijuana Mexico, who ran a training program out of Baja to certify other surgeons to place the band? I know Lopez is/was Inamed's Proctor and Ortiz wrote a book about being Inamed's top surgeon in NA but I don't see their patients around here. Rollcall please? How are everyones bands? Are these surgeons still around?

I am sorry you had to go through this Penny. I wish you the best.

How did it feel when you said it just didn't feel right? What should we look for? a lot of pb and heartburn?

Is my research correct that Inamed was pushing the partnership of Dr. Lopez Corvala and Dr. Ariel Ortiz several years ago for the best choice of surgeons in Tijuana Mexico, who ran a training program out of Baja to certify other surgeons to place the band? I know Lopez is/was Inamed's Proctor and Ortiz wrote a book about being Inamed's top surgeon in NA but I don't see their patients around here. Rollcall please? How are everyones bands? Are these surgeons still around?

Of course these surgeons are still around and their patients are posting. No need for a "rollcall" of any type, just read what is already written.

I had my done by Dr. Ortiz earlier this month. Take WASaBubbleButt's suggestion and hit the recent support boards (broken down by month) to see there are plenty of Ortiz patients around this board. I don't recall any references to Dr. Lopez since being very active on this board that past few months.

THNX!