Hello. I'm new. I'm having my band removed because it just keeps slipping after fills - OUCH!!! The Dr says either have it repositioned or removed. I've opted to have it removed because ever since I got the band in June 2004 I've gone from never getting sick to catching and hanging on to every big or small flu or cold that goes around. With each one, I just get more sick! The last stomach flu I had a few weeks ago, had me on the verge of going to the ER for quite a while from the severe pain.

Now surgery again! I am new here and have been reading about all the scar tissue scrapping etc. I am SO scared!!!

What are the complications of having this surgery to have it removed? Ahhh!

Hi Paige,

Once again, I find myself playing devils advocate. You make valid points but they are so laced by your negativity, no one really wants to listen. THere is no PERFECT WLS. I have bypass friends who are sick looking, anemic or DEAD in their pursuit to be a normal BMI and healthy. I have lapband friends who have had numerous complications, several erosions, several slips, some pouch dilatations etc. I do not have any DEAD lapband friends although I know that there are a very very few that succumb to complications of surgery. I like the reversability factor because I do believe that one day there will be a pill or medication available to me to put my obesity permanently in remission. Since their presently is not and I had two small children to consider, I did not want a more dangerous rerouting of my anatomy and the band was a great option for me because of my problem with satiety. I never got full. We all know that the lapband is not a perfect solution and does not cure obesity. It is simply a tool to aid in weight loss and the patient must do the work (both mentally, dietary and exercise compliance) THe same applies to all WLS. Sure there are probably better options for long term like the DS as an example, but the associated risks are significantly higher even with a great surgeon and in my case, I was not prepared to take the risk. The band is actually quite barbaric in nature as a restrictive device rather than malabsorptive.

Despite all my problems with the band (12 fills and unfills over 3 years, endoscopies, floruoscopies, and all the post op care I have endured, I still feel I made the right decision. Statistically, I am a success, but I busted my butt. Do not think it was an easy journey. I am still considered to be overweight, but I will take my size 14/16 over a size 28-30 anyday.

Babs in TX

334/190 ish

This less invasive and reverasble thing is sooo repetative it seems like the laimest excusess for a band i have ever heard. It says you expect it to fail and when it does its easy to fix. Whats the point in entering into a lifetime commitment to change with the expoectation its likely to fail.

i seriously cannot see why you would ever want it reversed if things are going well. And in most bypass cases things go well like the stats say there is higher complications probs with a band than any other method of WLS so again if this are going great why would you consider revision?

I don't think anyone is saying that they want their banding reversed if it's all going well?

And yes, one reason I chose banding was because it is easier to reverse, if God forbid there are problems. I didn't get banded expecting there would be, but it's a possibility.

I'm wondering what stats you have that say that banding has a higher complication problems?

I would like to see the numbers to support the ideas expressed. Facts are things are hard to come by. But I do like to hear opinions.

Hi Paige,

Once again, I find myself playing devils advocate. You make valid points but they are so laced by your negativity, no one really wants to listen. THere is no PERFECT WLS. I have bypass friends who are sick looking, anemic or DEAD in their pursuit to be a normal BMI and healthy. I have lapband friends who have had numerous complications, several erosions, several slips, some pouch dilatations etc. I do not have any DEAD lapband friends although I know that there are a very very few that succumb to complications of surgery. I like the reversability factor because I do believe that one day there will be a pill or medication available to me to put my obesity permanently in remission. Since their presently is not and I had two small children to consider, I did not want a more dangerous rerouting of my anatomy and the band was a great option for me because of my problem with satiety. I never got full. We all know that the lapband is not a perfect solution and does not cure obesity. It is simply a tool to aid in weight loss and the patient must do the work (both mentally, dietary and exercise compliance) THe same applies to all WLS. Sure there are probably better options for long term like the DS as an example, but the associated risks are significantly higher even with a great surgeon and in my case, I was not prepared to take the risk. The band is actually quite barbaric in nature as a restrictive device rather than malabsorptive.

Despite all my problems with the band (12 fills and unfills over 3 years, endoscopies, floruoscopies, and all the post op care I have endured, I still feel I made the right decision. Statistically, I am a success, but I busted my butt. Do not think it was an easy journey. I am still considered to be overweight, but I will take my size 14/16 over a size 28-30 anyday.

Babs in TX

334/190 ish

I totally agree with you, Babs. I was too scared to take the bypass route and chose lap band because of it's reversability. I too am now a size 16/18 down from a 32 and considered a success but I have to work at it EVERY SINGLE DAY!! I have had my share of complications too. Anyone who tells me I took the easy way out does not even know the half of it. Congrats on your weight loss. :eek:

Paige, why did you put a link for an ad for an RNY surgeon on here? Of course she's going to criticize the lapband, it's her competition!! The lapband surgeons are going to have their little pages criticizing the RNY, that doesn't make it bad. I made my choice because my sister was on the verge of death after her RNY. Now 3 years later she has regained all her weight.

I think that if I HAD to reverse my lapband I could. But I hope I never have to.

I want to read the bad stuff, so that I can check it out. If it is Bull Shit that is ok. It has made me do my homework and along the way I feel much better about what I am doing. Just becuse I will read someones ideas does not mean I will follow them.

Open minds work better