I was banded on May 15th 2011 and 8 months later I'm going to have it removed.

I've had on going problems from day 1.

I'm feeling pretty down about having it removed although I know it's for the best.

It just feels like a waste of time and money.

Somone out there please tell me that there is life after lapbanding!

I had my band removed Oct. 7, 2011 had it a little over 4 years. The complications are to numerous to list. It took me mentally about 3 months to come to grips with the fact it was gone. The one thing I know for sure is if I would have kept it in I would have probably died. I still have complications from it that I hope in time will heal. This is the first time I have talked about having it removed, and will not go into much detail. I am now on weight watchers and walk every day. This seems to be a much healthier alternative for me. I encourage anyone who has complications please be honest with your phiscian.

TOPS stands for "Take Off Pounds Sensibly" It is an amazing weight loss support group. I was the area captain for TOPS for several years in Idaho. There are TOPS chapters all over the world, go to www.tops.org and there is a place to find a meeting near you. I wish you the best of luck, I am just starting on my 'band journey' as I just had my band placed on Dec 22nd. I am going in this afternoon for a revision of my port since it flipped. Not a deal breaker complication for me, just a speed bump in my journey.

Thanks Joan.

By the way, what's TOPS?

Don't think we have it in the UK>

Just want to say thanks for sharing everyone! Haven't been on here forever but I was banded in 2009 had a band slippage in 2010 and had it repaired, was having problems for the past month and went to the er this past Saturday n was told it slipped yet once again!!! Made a tuff decision but decided to have it removed not salvaged this past Sunday!!! I lost a total of 110 lbs so gotta have faith in myself and know I can maintain this weight loss!!! Just got home today !!! Good luck all

My doc told me if I had a lot of drainage at night to take a teaspoon of lemon juice in the morning to break it up. It totally works! Though i do add a little splenda to it.

Wow.. after reading this post, alot of the symptoms were the same ones I had.. the "alllergies" etc.. I would take 2 bites of food and start sneezing with nose running like crazy. My lapband was removed on Mar 15 and I have to say i saw an immediate change. The problem was found with mine after I complained about pain in my esophagus right below my throat and excuse me for tmi maybe but basically I was coughing up mucus in my sleep or waking up to do it.. not a good feeling either way . I had a barium swallow.. went back to dr in 2 days and he said it has to come out. I had never had any fills but the band appeared to be only allowing flow as if it was full.. completely full.

I was scheduled for 1st thing in morning at 7:30 and the dr said it would only take about 30 min to remove it... however I was in the OR over 1 hour. When he went to remove it.. the stomach under it was completely inflamed and he had to put a drain in since he was worried about erosion. He saw no infection luckily but put in the drain as a precaution. Even now when I eat a week or so later.. I still feel some discomfort when it hits the "banded" area.. he said it should slowly stretch back to normal and if not within a few weeks to come back in and they would have to check again to maybe remove or stretch the scar tissue around the stomach.

Overall .. I do feel better.. the pain of eating is not too bad.. I will not get another lapband as he said he would NOT recommend that as it appears my body rejected it.. (one of the few)

I did lose from 340 at the start of the total WLS down to 225 so I am happy with that and I have good exercise habits now and can actually move better with the weight gone..