Banded over 10 years

[MelissaGG 9]

Hi there, I am Melissa from the Chicago area but originally from NY. I was banded almost 10 years ago and moved away from my hometown to start a new life here in Chicago almost 6 years ago now. When I was first banded, there was not much support and I found some folks online to help. I met with a nutritionist who did not have an office and I had to go to random locations to see her. There were no of ill schedules and I had only 1 or 2 fills total in NY.

When I moved I found a surgeon to help and had another 1 or 2 fills and was unfolded just over 3 years ago when I was pregnant. I am now 45 and have basically ignored my band until I started gaining weight and started having pain. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have run in 5k races and regular workouts but I have yet to be successful. I am a career Mom and commute just about 3 hours per day and I have very little time to be thinking day and night about exercise and diet. It kills me to say this after making some serious efforts over the years. I am starting to snap at the seams so to speak and I am worried every day about the damage this band may have done. I feel internal pinching, I still can't eat chicken, fish or rice but Pasta and chips slide down pretty good. I eat and have no issues with veggies and eat them every day. I am not a soda drinker but I am never too far away from my last cup of coffee.

I was in a great deal of pain this past November and I was having a particularly stressful time. I made an appointment with the surgeon here in Chicago and put myself on mushies. I think I may have done something while working out that triggered this all. I am currently 270 and put on 15 lbs in the past 3 months. My weight had remained at 257 since the day of my surgery 10 years ago, except while I was pregnant and I weighed 270 as I do now.

I am very scared. I am scared to remove the band, I am scared to keep it in, I am scared to get a new surgery and mostly I am scared of not being here to raise and support my little boy who is now 3 years old and deserves a mom who can get out and have fun. I push myself but I balance too many things. I feel like I should lose weight and then have the band removed and keep it off by myself. That would take watching my portions at. Every meal, fully dedicating over 1-2 hours per day to exercise and keeping a perfect schedule where everything is in balance...my work, my son, my house, my husband, my commute...everything. I think that is unrealistic and I do not know where to turn.

I did get to see the surgeon here who said that my band was placed well and that he saw the barium...so why the pain? No answer. I was STUNNED when he said there was nothing wrong and did I want to get a new surgery. Apparently I do qualify but I want a second opinion. I am not sure where to go from here and would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

Melissa

[shannon crotts 23]

Hey. I have had my lapband for 4.5 years and i bet the trouble you are having is from gaining the few lbs that you have. Everytime i gain, i have trouble with food getting stuck. Also stressed and our girly TOM will increase those odds. I have had my band checked several times b/c of the pain and everything is good. Just thought i would share. Good luck!

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

Did he do more tests than a barium swallow? My band caused a multitude of issues for me and a barium swallow would not have seen the additional problems that the band caused ...which lead to pain.

If your band is not working for you and you're not at a healthy weight.. GET RID OF IT! Don't wait for more serious problems....especially if you have insurance.

Check my profile story and do what you can to avoid what I failed to do. And yes, I panicked when they told me my band was removed in order to save my life. . They had to sedate me.

But I lived and with the sleeve I am so much more healthier and happier!

Good luck

[MelissaGG 9]

No, there were no more tests done but I am very concerned. Can you please point me to your experience as I was unable to find the location after looking at your profile. Thanks for taking the time no respond.

[shannon crotts 23]

Ms antiband...can u tell us what your issue's were? I have had two barium swallows and they said everything is fine but i dont feel fine. Thankfully i am having mine taken out in three weeks. Thanks for the info!

[MelissaGG 9]

Lol, I had a typo above

[The.new.g 48]

I was banded in 2007, and had a baby in Sept 2010. I had a barium study in 2011. I had a "perfectly placed band" as well, but it never worked after I delivered my baby. I finally had a revision when it was obvious fills were no longer doing anything and I was rapidly regaining weight. When I had surgery a month ago, my surgeon (a new surgeon, not the original one) discovered that the band was unbuckled and loose around my stomach. I am guessing this happened during my short, strong labor. Turns out the sleeve works the way the lap band was promised to work, but never did for most of us.

I agree with above comments, it's not helping you, it's making things worse by causing pain and pressure and reinforcing poor eating habits by not allowing you to eat solid Protein. This revision board is filled with people who had "perfectly placed" bands removed, only to discover one problem or another that didn't show up on imaging. May as well go to a surgery that can actually help you, if you are prepared to make the changes necessary...and since you've been down the band road, you may be more than happy to make whatever changes are needed so long as the surgery WORKS. And it does. Good luck.