Hi Everyone,

I am brand new to this site. I decided to join in hopes of getting some information and support. Here's my story:

I got banded in January 2008 in San Diego by Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul. I paid out of pocket since my insurance wouldn't cover it. I have been over weight my entire life and I thought the lap-band would be the answer to my prayers. (I was over 200 pounds). I literally had problems with my band from day 1! I had to drive from Temecula to San Diego just hours after my operation because I could not keep Water down. I was vomiting after every sip which caused intense pain since I had just had my surgery! My Dr. took everything out of my band that evening. (I didn't even know that they started you with Fluid inside your band).

Initially, I lost weight, but not without struggles. I would suffer from this constant pain in my left shoulder. It hurt every single day! I would throw up my food almost daily. I went from being such a huge lover of breads and meat to now being a vegetarian and I rarely have bread. The lowest weight I ever hit was 162, which lasted for maybe a month and then I've never seen that number since. I'm currently dead stuck in the 180's.

About two years ago, I got sick with a common cold. I took alka seltzer and began to vomit, and vomit, and vomit. When I tried to drink water it felt as if I was swallowing glass! The pain was unbearable. Then I would vomit again and it would look like blood. I had to visit the ER twice in one weekend. The first time, they basically just sent me away. The second time, they performed an upper GI and it showed major restriction on my stomach. Imagine the band around your stomach and then your stomach flopped over the band. The doctor that was helping me that day had never performed a fill before but she knew I was in so much pain that she did it anyways with my help. I had to explain to her exactly what to do. I was in such a state of unbearable pain that I could care less that she had never done it before. Since then, I have never had fluid put back into my band!

I thought that I would just go on living with my unfilled band and it would be as if I didn't have one at all. That wasn't true either. Now, every time I get sick and I vomit, it irritates my band so much that I start dealing with painful acid reflux, I cant eat, and I fight to keep liquids down. Which is where I am right now. Friday night, 4 days ago, I got sick and threw up. Ever since I have been in bed.

This is and has taken so much from my life. I hurt so much from the constant absence from my husband and kids I must go through every time I get a common cold or stomach bug. I think it is safe to say that my band was a failure. I only lost 15-20 pounds and I have had endless complications. I am now on the hunt to find a surgeon who will take my band out.

However, I would like to to hear from the people who have similar stories and had their bands taken out. What was the recovery process like post op? Can you eat without vomiting? Do you have any kind of pain anymore?

Thank you for reading my story...I can't wait to hear back from you

-Lyse8432

First let me say how sorry I am that you had such a difficult time with everything. It sounds like who ever did your surgery did not prepare you very well for life with the band. Carbonation is a big no-no, so that alka-seltzer you took is definitely not good since it can inflate you stomach and create all sorts of problems. Also the amount of vomiting it sounds like you have done is bound to damage your band as well.

Did you take any prep classes prior to your surgery? it is absolutely crucial to learn "the rules" of banded life in order to be successful with the band. Even if you have the band removed they are good healthy guidelines to live by so it may be worth looking into. Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

I would have to agree with you JerseyGirl, I definitely was not well educated going into this. I never went to any prep classes because my doctor didn't require them and he didn't stress the importance of going to them.

I genuinely think my life would be better without the band as I live a very different lifestyle then I did four years ago. I love working out and I have fallen in love with running. I count my calories and never eat junk food or go to fast food places. The only thing that doesn't add up is how I still do not lose weight. I didn't lose with the lap band, I didn't lose on Lindora, I didn't lose on Weight Watchers, and even though I count my calories and do not pass 1300, I STILL do not lose weight. I am starting to think that I may have a thyroid problem. However, I can't even deal with that problem until I get rid of the band :/

Thank you for writing back and for your concern. I hope all is well with you

-Lyse8432

As the above poster said, I am sorry you've head stop many issues. When is the least time you've seen your band doctor?

My thoughts are that you have had one of the most common complications - a slip - but that you have had no proper medical care for it!

This is easily fixed - the band probably needs to be removed. Sometimes unfilling completely will fix a slipped band but it obviously hasnt in your case. I'm a bit baffled as to why your band doctor has not suggested this - have you even been back to him/her? This is why you need to see, not doctors in the emergency room. Often the band can simply be replaced at the time of removing the slipped one. And you could go on to have a text book perfect band experience. Or you could just remove and not replace it depending on how you feel about it.

Having a band means developing a relationship with a surgeon and a clinic that will provide specialised care for you. If that's difficult or the surgeon is too far away or even in another country, that can really spell the difference between success and failure. And if you were unfilled by an inexperienced doctor in an emergency room, are you even sure that you HAVE been unfilled?

I really urge you to find PROPER care.

Lollicat- I haven't seen him in a long time since I moved further away from him. Now, I'm about two hours away :/

Jachut- I really wish I had been able to have that type of relationship with my surgeon and his staff, but I never did I am curious though as to why you think my band has slipped. Not that you are wrong...You could be completely right! I just have such little information about that sort of thing. So, what are the symptoms? How long can you go on with it being like that? Any other info would be Greatly appreciated!!! Thank you so much

-Lyse8432

Lollicat- I haven't seen him in a long time since I moved further away from him. Now, I'm about two hours away :/

Jachut- I really wish I had been able to have that type of relationship with my surgeon and his staff, but I never did I am curious though as to why you think my band has slipped. Not that you are wrong...You could be completely right! I just have such little information about that sort of thing. So, what are the symptoms? How long can you go on with it being like that? Any other info would be Greatly appreciated!!! Thank you so much

-Lyse8432

The way you explained it sounds exactly like a slip. I was thinking that while reading your story but I guess I got sidetracked when I realized you never mentioned after care. Which is critical to your success as a band patient. I've heard stories about doctors hesitant to work with patients they didn't band but I would do some research in your area of docs, share you're story with them, and I'm sure you'll find one to help you. With the right after care and the proper education, you can bounce back and still be successful.

I would say that your experience sounds like a slip. I experienced a slip about a year ago. Vomiting, couldn't keep food down, vomiting blood, reflux at night...

As the other posters said...do get back to your surgeon. I had revision surgery and have been trouble free for a year.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!

I just wanted to let everyone here know that I went to see my doctor yesterday. Good thing I did.... I had to have an emergency operation done last night around 11:30pm. You were all right, I had a very severe slip! It slipped half way down my stomach and it was completely shut tight. Nothing was able to pass through my stomach in either direction. The reason for the urgency was that my doctor was afraid that the top part of my stomach might die due to no blood circulation. I sincerely want to thank each of you who replied to my post because it was you all telling me that it had to be a slip that pushed me to make the call! So thank you, thank you, thank you! I am already home and I am doing fantastic! I feel ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!! In the future I'll try to give you updates on life after a band removal

Sincerely,

Lyse8432

Lyse, thank you for sharing your story. As I was reading your first posts my brain was screaming that you had a slip. I am so very happy you saw your surgeon and got it daignosed and treated!

If you have medical insurance at all, there is a good chance they will pay for the removal as this was a life threatening complication. Please work with your surgeon's office on how they code the billing (I don't know how it should be done--but I do know the fact that you self-paid for the band doesn't mean that they won't pay for removal due to severe complications!)

Best wishes to you as you recover, and I hope you find the cause of your inability to lose.

Wow,

So sorry to read about your struggles. The band isn't for everyone. The two women I spoke with the most at the beginning of our collective journies have since had their bands removed and switched to the sleeve.

Personally my journey was so incredidily slow I wondered for three years why I did it. May 21, 2012 will be my four year baniversery and now I'm happy.

Lana

Lyse - my experience has been the same. Went to TJ and weigh actually about 2 lbs more than I did to start way back in 2008. I've hated the band. I try and eat a whole food high protein diet but throw up on meat and veggies unless soaked in some kind of sauce or gravy. The foods that are easy are candy, ice cream, sweets. I have since gone to school to learn about nutrition and can't wait to get my band off soon. Wanted to comment on your inability to lose weight even on low cal. I'd highly reccomend Atkins for you. It is satisfying, gives you lot's of energy and you lose weight easily on it while getting lot's of veggies and healthy proteins.

My nutritionist says not to touch the Atkins Diet with a ten foot pole. To hard on your body long term.