What are my options? Band has been gone for 2 years.

Lora · November 27, 2010

I need help. After having the lapband for nearly two years and 4 surgery's later, in Dec. I had emergecy surgery to have it removed as it was eroded into my stomach and made a whole that would not allow fluids to pass and causing great pain.

I am healed now but GOD I MISS MY BAND. I have gained 30 lbs of the weight I lost, have more than 80lbs to get to a goal and I do not know how to lose it.

Talk about a huge failure. I miss my band. I want it back (no dr. would ever give me the band again) which I have accepted but this 5 years journey (remember all the surgery prep) is over and I want my band back. No actually I want another option. Can someone help give me some direction? I live about 100 miles outside of Chicago.

I never hit goal and didn't know how to get to goal. Every bad thing (possible complications) about the band, I had. It's a big deal and I miss the band. It was a TOOL but gave me some confidence that I no longer have.

Any thoughts? And diet tips?

Lora

Tiffykins · November 27, 2010

Protein, protein, protein, and if you can, get the sleeve. I wouldn't let them put another band in me, and there's no way you could pay me to have all the PIA issues that came along with band life. NO way, especially now living with the sleeve for 18 months.

BugFarmer · November 29, 2010

Wow, I thought I was the only one who enjoyed having a band...

It was not always fun, but I was able to achieve results. It was a great tool. And I am thinking that was what I liked most about my band. After 5 years and 180 pounds gone, I lost my band due to an erosion. Never really had any symptoms other than a long plateau. My band doc was willing to put one back and has done so with a few patients and they have been successful with another band. To get the band replaced, I just had to come back in 6 months. Admittedly, at the time, I was dead set on having another band.

My band has been out for almost 18 months now, and I still miss it. On finding its replacement, I have been dragging my feet, saving money, appealing insurance, etc. But most of all, I have been researching. Reading, more reading, watching videos of surgeries, even more reading, etc. What I think was a landmark step for me was to have made was to meet with a surgeon who does a variety of surgeries and find out which one would fit me the best. I had the opportunity to ask why or why not the band? the sleeve? the RNY? I also met with the nutritionists and asked about what she sees in patients during follow up. Who feels the best? Who has good weight loss? What are outcomes like at the 2+ year mark? Overall, which group seems the happiest?

I have a bit of regret for waiting quite so long to find another solution, and regret for the more than a couple of pounds I have gained while charting the new course. However, I think this is certainly offset by having done every thing I could to make the right decision for me. I think losing the extra weight will be far easier than trying to undo or being stuck with having made the wrong decision.

For me, losing my band was like losing a friend. I needed to take a step back, take a deep breath. Once I was able to do that, I was able to find the pieces to start putting a new plan back together. The result is far different than I would have imagined, but I do feel like I have made the best decision possible for me.

The recommendation I have for you is to stick with the Proteins, Water and lots of exercise. Take a step back and once you are ready, start charting the new course.

Cheers!

Renee Marie · January 26, 2011

I need help. After having the lapband for nearly two years and 4 surgery's later, in Dec. I had emergecy surgery to have it removed as it was eroded into my stomach and made a whole that would not allow fluids to pass and causing great pain.

I am healed now but GOD I MISS MY BAND. I have gained 30 lbs of the weight I lost, have more than 80lbs to get to a goal and I do not know how to lose it.

Talk about a huge failure. I miss my band. I want it back (no dr. would ever give me the band again) which I have accepted but this 5 years journey (remember all the surgery prep) is over and I want my band back. No actually I want another option. Can someone help give me some direction? I live about 100 miles outside of Chicago.

I never hit goal and didn't know how to get to goal. Every bad thing (possible complications) about the band, I had. It's a big deal and I miss the band. It was a TOOL but gave me some confidence that I no longer have.

Any thoughts? And diet tips?

Lora

Renee Marie · January 26, 2011

Hi, I had my band for about 2 years. It slipped once and I had it put back in place. It slipped a second time and I experienced the same obstruction your talking about. I couldnt even swallow Water without vomiting. I waited to go to the hospital and tried to live with the slpiped band for several weeks because like you I LOVED MY BAND.Finally I went to the hospital with dehydration and a potassium level of 2.8.They took it out and would not put in another one. Its amazing what one will do to keep the safety blanket of the sleeve. The band allowed me to lose over 80lbs and my weight was 145lbs for over a year and a half. I put on 30 lbs in 8 months without the band. After 8 months without my band I had gastric sleeve surgery. That was 2 weeks ago. I was 174lbs the day of my surgery and I am 157lbs now. Before the band I started off weighing 218lbs. I cant say its come easy though. I have had a very hard time with the liquids and for almost two weeks I have felt absolutely exhausted.The incision site hurt more than with the sleeve but that makes sense because its a much more invasive surgery. The last 2 days however, I feel better. I'm eating small amounts of food like cheerios that I chew very well. Today I has 1/4 of a slice of pizza chewed really really well. With the band I couldnt eat any bread without it making me vomit within a few seconds.I used to go to the bathroom about 3 or 4 times to throw up when I went out to eat with my family. Remember with the band the way you throw up alot and that feeling you get when you eat too much like your having chest pain and it doesnt go away until you vomit? Well there is none of that with the sleeve.If I eat too much now my stomach hurts and I get diarrhea instead. They say there are no foods you cant eat with the sleeve you just cant eat more than a few ounces. So far that seems to be the case. I hope this helps. After the band I went to the sleeve because I just cant keep my weight down on my own even after adopting better eating habits with the band. Its only been days but so far so good.

dishdiva · January 30, 2011

Lora: I hope this encourages you! I had band removed in 2006 after second slip. I'd lost almost 70 pounds. After the band came out, I was released from food jail, because as you know, Water may or may not make you barf with a slipped band. Being out of food jail was so great, I gained about 15 pounds in two minutes.

Took a cold, hard look at everything I'd been through and asked myself -- "do you really want to be back where you started in a matter of months (250 pounds)?" NO.

I increased my cardio exercise, worked out with a trainer, and like everyone here says, Protein, Protein, protein. We all know diets don't work. I approached it as, "this is how I eat now." Not only was I able to lose the 15 pounds I gained in two minutes, I lost another 20 and maintained that weight loss for two years.

Then, in my case, menopause, hormone replacement therapy (no longer needed), low thyroid and honestly, the end result of 30 years of yo-yo dieting, kicked in. I've gained 10 pounds a year for two years. But I'm proud to say I still have the good eating habits (mostly!) I started after losing the band.

Because I'm feeling the effects of the excess weight -- which are harsher because I'm eight years older than I was at my highest weight when the band was first placed, I too am exploring owning new tool through VSG.

Best of luck to you. Choose to be kind to your body after what it's been through with good food choices. And if the time comes for the tool of weight loss surgery, then go for it! You deserve it!