Had the Lapband in September 2008 lost 185lbs over the next 2 years. In oct of 2012 Lapband was removed because it was tearing into my stomach. I lost 8 pints of blood and spent almost 3 weeks in the hospital. Now I have to live without it and its really hard. I'm only up 8lbs from my "normal weight" but I'm starting to slip in old habitats.

JustWes,

I'm sorry to read about your situation. It sounds tramatic. Sadly I have spent the morning looking at the latest studies on long term complications and they are not good. The rate is much higher than I was initially told. I was just banded three months ago but had I known, I am not sure I would have so readily picked the band over other options.

Do you have some kind of alternative plan in place?

Had the Lapband in September 2008 lost 185lbs over the next 2 years. In oct of 2012 Lapband was removed because it was tearing into my stomach. I lost 8 pints of blood and spent almost 3 weeks in the hospital. Now I have to live without it and its really hard. I'm only up 8lbs from my "normal weight" but I'm starting to slip in old habitats.

Good Morning To You,

First of all sorry such a long email...I am a writer so it just happens!!! I am so sorry to read about your story. That is terrifying! Besides your weight issues, how are you doing emotionally and do you have a support system? If you don't mind me asking, how did all your issues start with the band. Like was it an emergency situaton or did little things start happening? As you, I was a huge believer in this band from the begaining. It changed my life around so much when I dropped the weight. But always in the back of my mind I did not like the fact I had a foreign body in me and the fact you really can't see what its doing to you as the years go on. But speaking for myself I would do just about anything to lose weight and keep it off. My leak started after 2 1/2 yrs of being banded and I am still waiting for the approval for insurance for the sleeve. Although taking most of my stomach out sounds scary, its more of a natural way....make sense? I am thinking about your story and it just clearly helped me understand why we shouldn't have foreign things in our bodies. Maybe the band isn't as safe as they once thought. We all go into this thinking I will be fine and won't have any of these horrible side effects....because we want to believe in this intervention so badly. Again, I am so sorry you had to go through this. I am sad my band has to come out, but in some ways I am relieved because I always did worry about some of these issues I hear about. I pray if I get the sleeve things will work out. Because I know this is my last surgery I will have for my weight issues. I wish I could one of those people that could do it on their own. I don't have enough money to pay a trainer or make my meals for me..like you see on TV. I have gained all my weight back within the last say year and oh how disappointed I am in myself. It just proves that surgery does work when its working for you... What do you think you will do? Have have you lost faith in the bariatric programs or will you try on your own. I am just curious. The other reason I am glad I will be getting the band out is because I do have so much port site pain that it keeps me from doing certain things. Only if my doc (that I fired) would have listened to me sooner and not 8 months later . I really like my new surgeon and have much confidence in him. I like him because he actually listens to you!! My old surgeon never knew how many CC's were in my band at times. Good grief!! He scared me so much towards the end. And he is the chief surgeon of general surgery at Froedtert in Milwaukee, WI! One of the best hospitals in the country. Like you, i just want to be healthy and be around longer for me and my family...So I wish you well and continued strength thru this new journey of yours. It has to be very difficult for you...this is what this site is for..so we can support one another and help eachother going through the good and bads..Man, I can't imagine your band landed you in the hospital for 3 weeks. That is just horrific for you and your family. Did they say this is rare??? Or did your doc not listen to you when you started noticing issues??? ..Again, just curious how it all started with this event you had...Take Care and best wishes...Renee

Hi Wes, I'm sorry this happened to you, kind of scares me as I was just rebranded in. Jan 2013, my last band I had for two years, lost 88 lbs, then the trouble began. My band slipped and my port had flipped. So my Dr. took my fluid out in November , hoping it would slip back into place, but , he winded up put in a brand new one. Since November I have not stopped putting on weight. I keep getting my new adjustments and nothing is happening so far. :-(. Try really

hard cause the weight will slip back on,as it is for me. You worked hard to get it off. All the best! Keep us posted :-)

Wes,

First of all, it's amazing that you lost so much weight! Congratulations. Secondly, how frightening this experience must have been. I hope you are feeling better. Like many of the others have said, it's strange having a foreign object in your belly. I really think I will have my removed after I lose the weight, because the thought of having some of these complications are too scary. Please let us know how you knew there was a problem. Best of luck.

Strangely I didn't really feel anything different. I little weird gas pain but it was normal. Basically just started to feel like I was gonna pass out. Like I was drunk. I didn't see black stools until that day.

One of doctors blamed it on taking naproxen and aspirin together which can cause ulcers.

All the doctors I spoke to said the sleeve is much easier on your stomach. I really had zero problems with the band. I would tell anyone that has it not to fill it to the max maybe 75%.

Soooo Almost 3 years post band removal and I'm up 30lbs... Damn that hurts just to type it... Didn't realize how the little things the band did to help me.. I miss it. I guess its back to doing it the old fashion way...

Hi Justwes. Per your previous post you talked about the sleeve. Will you get it or are you considering being rebanded?