Hey guys. Looking for feedback from anyone that has had issues with the following: band slip (including how/if it was fixed and costs involved), severe heartburn/acid reflux and conversion from band to sleeve. Any responses are much appreciated as this is difficult time for me with a lot of things in the air.

My story so far....

Banded and loving it for over 6 years. Last fill was 4 years ago and it was perfect. Lost nearly 100 lbs total and maintained within 5 pounds the whole time. Over the past 6 months I have gone up in 5 lb increments. 205-210 was no longer the range when I hit the scale. It became 210-215, then 215-220. Also, I have been experiencing strong heartburn and nightime reflux for about one year now. Headed in for a fill on Tuesday afternoon of this week.

4 years ago I was at 5.75. When I went in the other day I was 5.5. They took me to 6.0 and it was ugly. I could drink, but it's like it wasn't making it through the band. A couple of spoonfulls of mashed potatoes and I was fully blocked. Went back in yesterday and they dropped to 5.5. Things were somehow worse. liquids would just build up, had to spit constantly and I couldn't lie down. Went in this morning and barium was just pooling and slowly dripping through. Also, band looked to be horizontal on the xrays. They took out all the fill and I can now drink successfully, haven't tried real food yet.

We are going to let it sit for a couple weeks and see it it goes back in place. As you can imagine, I have a million questions about what happens next. What percentage of band slips can be fixed? How many fix on their own? How many need to be moved? How many need to be replaced? Is there long term damage caused by the slip? Do I have to pay the full surgery cost again if they have to replace? Can I switch to a sleeve? If so, is there a cost for that?

Millions of questions I am thankful for any answers!

Just Want To Encourage You

Don't Be Scared, JUST PRAY, PRAY, PRAY...

WITHOUT CEASING AND TRUST GOD TO SEE YOU THROUGH.

HAVE FAITH YOU'LL BE GREAT

Ps I'll PRAY for You Too

LovePeaceJoy!!!<br />Q3Carla721

I am 9 month post op.. and just Wednesday had my band repair. It was not a total slip but it was tilted from a stomach bug I had in May... I threw up so violently being sick that my stomach protruded up through the band. We hoped it would settle itself but it was to the point I threw up 4-5 times a day and lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks.

I dreaded it because I don't do with the anesthesia. I am now 2 days post op and very nauseated and trying to talk myself out of throwing up.

They did not have to remove my band.. he just unbuckled it, pushed my stomach back down and rebuckled the band in place.

We shall see... I just hope my esophagus is not having spams that may be from all the throwing up.

I've had my band since Oct 2009. Successfully lost 104 lbs the 1st 2 yrs. Until my slip last year. Was partially unfi.led until 4 mths ago when my band actually herniated and needed total unfilling. I started researching the vertical sleeve. Especially when my dr informed me that the chance of a slipped band after an initial slipped band is like 80%.

2 1/2 wks ago I had my revision done in 1 surgery. The dr spent 30 minutes digging my embedded band out of my stomach. Had it been in there much lkonger, it could've caused irreputable damage. Left me a little sorer than most post op sleevers but Im feeling great now. Still on a full liquid diet (when I was banded I cheated in the 2nd wk of my 4 wk liquid diet. Consequences r much bigger with the sleeve so Im abiding by the rules)

IMHO (and according to my dr) the bnad was a fad (li,e Phen Fen in the 90s). My docs nurse tries to talk band candidates out of that choice. When I chose to have the lapband 4 yrs ago, I never even heard of the sleeve. It was either the band or bypass.I figured I didn't want anytning permanent done (why alot of people choose the band). But the closer I came to goal, the more I realized that I needed a permanent tool, not a temporary 1. So glad that Im now sleeved. I've lost 13 lbs in the past 17 days (now only about 30 lbs to my goal of 130)

If u have any questions, please pm me. Please no one complain that Im on a band board bashing it. I was very happy with my band and it allowed me to lose the majority of my excess wt. However, after a serious complication, I chose to move on to the sleeve. U do have a hhuge chance of a 2nd slip after the 1st 1, btw