I got home from my Mexican adventure a few hours ago, and unfortunately, the news is not good.

I am trying to put this in perspective, but I still cried all the way home. My band has eroded, and has to be removed.

I guess the good news is... it can be removed. And I have lost 97.5 pounds with it. It's just that... I don't mean to sound melodramatic, but honestly, I would almost rather be dead than gain that weight back. I think that's what all the tears are about. Not the additional surgery, or the $5,500 it's going to cost, but that terrifying fear that the weight is all going to come back on.

Again, writing this out, it seems like such a petty fear. It's not like my life is directly in danger, or anything like that. I just thought I had finally, finally found the answer to staying a more healthy weight without struggle. It was a beautiful dream...

Dr. Carmen did say that once everything is healed back up, I could be rebanded. But I have read on the support boards that once you have an erosion, the chances you'll have a second erosion is 50% (initially it's supposed to be 1-3% chance of erosion). I told Dr. Carmen that, and she said no, the chances remain the same, and in fact, may even be a little less, because the scar tissue left over from the first banding makes the stomach wall a little thicker, almost like a callous, which could help reduce the chance of a second erosion.

I will have to do more research to see if that might be true - it's the first I've heard of it. I wonder if they could use the same band, or if Inamed would take it back and give me a new one for free. Otherwise, I have no idea how I will find another $10,000 to cough up for rebanding surgery.

As I was bawling in the doc's office, she swore that they would do everything in their power to help me maintain my current loss. She even offered the possibility that Dr. Lopez could do a gastric bypass on me while he had me open to remove the band. At least I still had enough wits about me to say absolutely not, I definitely do NOT want a gastric bypass. I made her promise that no way, no how, would I wake up with a gastric bypass. She said not to worry - if I didn't want one, they wouldn't do it.

On the way back from the endoscope Dr. Carmen asked if I still had restriction, and I said yes, and she said that I could keep my band until I lost restriction. But once we got back to her office and she looked at the pics, she said the band had to come out. Then she called Dr. Lopez, and he said it needed to come out as soon as possible. So Friday, July 2, I go in to have my band removed.

Damn.

Dr. Carmen assured me that nothing I had done caused this, and nothing Dr. Lopez had done caused this – it just happens sometimes.

Hopefully I can keep from bawling over this too much. I am so very lucky, and so very grateful for all of my blessings. I love, love, love my band, and do not regret one moment. After talking with Inamed and hearing advice from my other various board memberships, if I am convinced that the erosion rate is not increased, and I can somehow find the funds, I will get rebanded after everything is healed up. I’m afraid it may be hard to convince me, though, that this won’t just happen to me again.

Now it is time for me to play the grateful game:

1. I am so grateful I was able to have the initial surgery, and have an unremarkable recovery.

2. I am so grateful to have lost 97.5 pounds virtually effortlessly.

3. I am so grateful I have made such wonderful bandster friends.

4. I am so grateful that my erosion was discovered before gastric juices started leaking into my abdominal cavity and really caused serious problems.

5. I am so grateful I have the money to pay for the band’s removal.

6. As much as I will miss my band, I won’t miss the annoyance of my port and tubing.

7. I am so grateful I made the time to have therapy for my compulsive overeating problem, and pray all that I have learned through that and over the past 17 months will help me keep off the weight I’ve lost.

8. I am so grateful to have my health.

9. I am of course grateful for my wonderful, supportive, and loving BF, family and friends.

10. I am so grateful to have a wonderful job, and a decent income where I can own my own home, and reliable transportation.

The grateful list could go on, and on, and on.

Here are the pics from the endoscopy.

A rough translation of some of the gastroentologist’s written comments:

The body of the stomach and part of the antro is deformed (pic 4) by foldings that go through this zone and which is an extension of the round portion of mucus formed by the band which is observed in the cardias (valve between the esophagus and stomach). The posterior part of this round part of mucus and penetration of the band in 40% of it (pics 2&3)

Can you believe I have actually been working for a change? While at WORK?!?! Will wonders never cease! lol

Sorry you're having a hard time of it kid. Wish I had some good advice for you. Sounds like you and Gerber have it solved for the moment...

**hugs**

xxoo

:banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny

Are you feeling any love yet??

(((((((((Donali))))))))) I was beginning to wonder if we were gonna have to get out the hunting dogs to find you. Thanks for posting. Glad to hear you're doing okay.

Leatha

Every day I tell my self, "self, today I'll actually do some work to prevent getting fired." Then every day, here I am posting my insanity for the entire banded world to hear.

Donali, you don't have to say much, but pop in at least once a week somewhere, okay?

Hey, how many days till the Vegas bash?

I felt just like you when I heard the news (same Dr. by the way) I left the office crying. I didnt have the money to have it replaced so I have had the eroded band for over a year I am scheduled to have it removed on Friday and I am really scared. Can you tell me how painfull and difficult the recovery was I am devestated to have my band removed but I do get that over the last year I have maintained with out it working so I will continue I have decided not to have any other type of procedure mainly because with this economy I unfortunately have other issues to worry about. Please let me know how you are doing Thanks

I felt just like you when I heard the news (same Dr. by the way) I left the office crying. I didnt have the money to have it replaced so I have had the eroded band for over a year I am scheduled to have it removed on Friday and I am really scared. Can you tell me how painfull and difficult the recovery was I am devestated to have my band removed but I do get that over the last year I have maintained with out it working so I will continue I have decided not to have any other type of procedure mainly because with this economy I unfortunately have other issues to worry about. Please let me know how you are doing Thanks

Roasrio, I am so sorry to hear of your issue. My recovery was much better than the initial surgery. I was up and around the very next day. They took out the band the exact same way they put it in, Laparoscopically.

Did you mean the same doctor put in the band or the same doctor is taking out the band?

Rosario, you have my condolences on the loss of your band, and having to go through another surgery.

My band removal was a much easier recovery than my band placement - that missing 103 pounds really helped, I think!

Are you really having no restriction from your eroded band? I regained all my weight plus 30 pounds after my band was removed. It took me five years, but once my normal hunger kicked back in I was fighting a "losing" battle.

I just got sleeved on 8/14/09, and am already down 38 pounds from my highest. Wish I had been sleeved to begin with!

Best of luck, and keep us posted.

Donali

I meant the same Doctor that banded you. Dr. Corvala

is the doctor who banded me and he will also remove it

I appreciate your response last night I was a mess and unfortunately all the stress of having the surgery is causing a lot of friction with my husband, I dont think that people that have not had weight problems really get our emotions any way I am glad to hear that it was a quick recovery !!