Hi

I am having my Lap Band removed today! My surgery is this afternoon.

I was banded in July of 2010 and was very successful in losing weight the first year.

Then I had a series of odd symptoms and a lot of discomfort that has taken 2 years and many tests/doctors to come to the conclusion that it is best to remove the band.

There is also a leak in the band (since there is no fluid in there at all after 3 fills) and I believe my surgeon accidentally poked a hole in it while doing a difficult fill early in 2011.

Because of that experience, I would suggest people have fills done under the fluoroscope and not blind, so the doctor can see exactly where the needle should go. It could save you grief and expense down the road.

I'll write again in a few days to let people know how I'm doing and how the procedure went!

Thank you to everyone who reached out to me when I first posted with questions for those who have lost their band. You were very helpful and comforting.

~hiddn

I hurt worst from having the band removed than from getting it. Also you had an erosion which is a very dangerous complication. For sure keep checking your temp. Where you hurt will depend on how much moving around of organs they had to do in there to get the band out. I am sure it was a mess for them. Take care.

As a self pay it is to bad you had the band instead of the sleeve for sure.

Thank you hiddn, I appreciate your insight! And yes I will call the doctor if I get a fever, lol .

Hi Amy!

How are you feeling now? I hope the pain has dissipated and you're feeling more like yourself again.

I've found that the more I can relax my body, the better I feel. Sometimes I don't realize I'm tensing something, so when I stop and tune in (and find a tensing!) I can relax it.

I had just gone back to work, after surgery, and worked 1/2 a day (just for one day, then I was going to go back full time)...and the very next day I had horrible sciatica! I was out another month!

I bring that up because I think I wasn't really paying attention to tension in my lower back which may or may not have been caused by being off work and out of my regular routine --- and being lazy

I don't want that to happen to anyone else!

Also, if you like massage --- get one!

Treat yourself to a facial or a pedicure/manicure. Things like that are such nice treats, feel good, and make you feel pretty (when you're feeling lousy).

Hang in there!

~hiddn

hi hiddn im not sure if you're still using this site but maybe someone else might have some insight into my symptoms. I had my band in feb 2013 and last 56 lbs over the following six months.then everything stopped. on my last fill(not fluro)my nurse said that i had a leak as the saline was not clear.that was 6 weeks ago and i haven't done anything with it since. Since it is self paid and i need to raise the funds to pay for a repair. however for the last 3 weeks i have had symptoms that i thought were a kidney infection. but numerous tests (ultrasound and Ct scan)showed that kidneys were ok. I also asked the hospital to check my gall bladder but they said it was ok. Now i have been discharged and feel no better. nauseous,campy and pain in left side. Has anyone else had a similar problem and could it possibly be related to my gastric band. if anyone has any insight into this i would be grateful as my hospital do not have any idea on gastric band problems or failures.