If you've been banded more than a year and haven't had your band looked at from the inside, it's time. Some of us had perfect Upper GI (barrium swallow) results even though we were eroded. My Upper GI results a few weeks ago came back normal, but I'm about 50% eroded according to the pictures taken with the endo camera yesterday.

Getting a band means a lifetime of band maintenance. Even though the surgeons say erosion isn't emergent, I haven't seen a surgeon tell anyone to go on vacation with their eroded band or anything like that.

I was warned to take it very easy from now till band removal. I'm to chew extra well and stick with mushies and liquids. A perforation at this point could send me to the Emergency Room, and that's the WRONG place to have band removal surgery. Having an experienced band surgeon for the removal is a must.

It bothers me now, after the fact. Back when I was banded, I was lost and desperate. What's that thing they say about hindsite?

Leenerbups, unless you're hanging around in Europe you won't meet anyone with a band for more than 10 years. And even overseas, where they've been doing it since the early 90s, banding technology has improved over the last decade.

I thought quite seriously about the prospect of having a band installed and then having to have it removed, but it seemed a completely worthy risk to take. In my early 40s, with two small children, 340 was no way to live and my health would only get worse. I was unable to do anything to affect my weight in any meaningful way. Banding, with all its risks, seemed like a practical and proactive step to take. And I still feel that way, even if I were to be the next member of club erosion.

I hear you DeCarla.

Alex, to be honest, that's where I'm at. I have insulin resistance, PCOS high triglicerides, cholestral, sugar is getting higher and other issues and I'm fast headed to early death if I don't do something.

i am seriouslyconsidering the lap band procedure and I was wondering if you would be willing to share your experience.

Hi Richard,

Welcome to LBT! All you have to do is read through some of the threads so as to get an idea of many people's experiences. When you have specific questions feel free to respond to a thread, as you did here, or start a new one with your questions. There are loads of folks here in all stages of banding who will be more than happy to share!

I was banded 8/29/05 and have had troubles on and off since. Yes, I have lost about 50 pounds (yippee!), but i am so restricted at my food and drink intake. Burping??? I know all about it, Delara... I can pump 'em out with the best of 'em...lol. I go for my endoscopy 2/26/06- yes, a doctore that does them on Sundays! No missed work!

I have a question... I am losing a lot, not just a lot, but A LOT of hair. I assume it is because i am not getting my protein, as I should. Any one else have this happent o them, and if so, what did you do? I used to have awesome hair, but now it looks like a bad Barbie doll hair....HELP!