I have had this band 10 long years and while I had no documented slips or issues, I am starting to feel like something is wrong in there. I never lost weight, I did very few fills and there was no organized suport when I was first banded. I had other issues over the years and found a new Dr here in Chicago, tried to make it work and then turned my energy to infertility and have a wonderful little boy. During my pregnancy I unfilled and let it sit for 3 more years.

I had my band checked when I starting having discomfort and through a fluoroscope the new Dr said nothing was wrong., I am researching revision but am looking into another surgical group. I am awaiting all of my medical records and I am still not feeling well. I am really freaked out about possible damage inside of me. The new surgical group will not see me until they have my records. I am welcome to come to a seminar but that is all. It is making me nuts.

What were your experiences with a long-term band removal? What tests should i ask for? What were your symptoms?

I had the band since 2006. Lost 40 and gained it back after not being able to live either choking or loose. Never found the sweet spot. VSG does what the band is supposed to do. I am thrilled its out now. Was revised to sleeve on 1-31. I am happy the port is out and cannot believe how frrely everything goes down, yet am truly full on 2 oz. . I think the lap band should be taken off the market. I thought I would have had erosion or tons of scar tissue. The surgeon said no erosion and minimal scar tissue.I paid 11000. cash for revision and it is my new used car!

I had the band for 10 years. I had bad scar tissue, slippage and pouch dialation.

I revised to the sleeve and have lost nearly 150# since Dec 1 2011 (start of preop diet). No complications, love my sleeve - hated the band!!!

Don't be scared, get the facts, choose a surgeon who has done alot of revisions.

Jane, how did they confirm the damage and did you have 2 surgeries or 1?

They confirmed the damage with an upper GI endoscopy. I chose to do it two step but they would have done it one step. I made that decision for 2 reasons:

1. possible reduction in risk of leaks and other complications although frankly that is not 100% clear

and

2. I knew the band had to come out but I wasn't committed to the sleeve. It was the 2.5 months of raging hunger after that band was removed that I knew I needed to be sleeved. IT was much easier to be comfortable with the risks and any "tough times" once all doubt was removed from my mind.

I have had success beyond my wildest dreams.

Jane, you been so helpful to me. Thank you so much. What you said makes sense. I am no-doubt suffering from some kind of damage internally from this. The only thing that keeps me from thinking my insides are not a total train wreck is that I never was on the fill roller coaster. They simply did not have that kind of follow up right away and I moved a few years after getting my band. The last thing I did before moving was to have an upper GI which showed no issues. I had another one not long after that, also no issues. But because of my band, they found something else. It turned out to be sarcoidosis but for a moment there, the radiologist called it lymphoma. I forgot about the band for a while as I healed from that and went into remission, then went for infertility treatment and had my son. Time moves in the blink of an eye and here I am 10 years out. It's time to get this thing removed and move on once and for all. I hope to have the same success as you do. I have at least 100 lbs to lose.

I think you would do great. I have the ok to advance my diet and it is so good to feel totally satisfied on a 1/4 c. chicken salad and not want more. I love it. That raging hunger and bottomless pit is gone forever. It will be so much easier to create new habits that wont be sabotaged by the hunger pangs. A yogurt is a great lunch, before I would have died of hunger! A diet failure always! So much more iin life to do besides filling that empty hole!

I had the band since 2006. Lost 40 and gained it back after not being able to live either choking or loose. Never found the sweet spot. VSG does what the band is supposed to do. I am thrilled its out now. Was revised to sleeve on 1-31. I am happy the port is out and cannot believe how frrely everything goes down' date=' yet am truly full on 2 oz. . I think the lap band should be taken off the market. I thought I would have had erosion or tons of scar tissue. The surgeon said no erosion and minimal scar tissue.I paid 11000. cash for revision and it is my new used car![/quote']

Hi Kate, I too am a bander to a sleever and am self pay $11,999, I love your used car analogy! I had my band in 2008 and did well losing 114 lbs, but a year ago it slipped and had to be removed, since that time I put on 50 lbs so after insurance denied the 2nd WLS I knew I had to pay for the sleeve on my own! I just had the sleeve done last week on Feb. 7 and I'm looking forward to my new journey with the sleeve, I'm finding this journey Is somewhat different post op than the band, in that I'm experiencing some pain while drinking, but I understand that will go away with time, so I'm focussing on hydration now, but really happy to be on this new journey!