HI,

Firstly, I am a long term bander. It will be 16 years this february. It was not a great success for me and I have no interest in weight loss at this junction but I have a problem and it is a weird one. My port has vanished. It disappear about five years ago and CAT scans, xrays and ultrasound has failed to find it. Removal is not an option. Due to severe complications from statins, I have mitochondrial disease and cannot have anaesthetics. I am wondering if anyone else here has had this happen and what was the outcome? I have googled this multiple times with no luck.

Wow, I've never heard of this. What is your surgeon saying? Also, just for interest sake, how has your weight management been after all of these years?

I am sure it has to be there some where maybe just not visible to any xray or ct scan. You might have to do it with contrast. I am certain it probably is displaced. If you have gained weight it just might be hidden. Because it is plastic it can not be absorbed by the body. It may pick up on an MRI. But it cant be gone.

I am sure it has to be there some where maybe just not visible to any xray or ct scan. You might have to do it with contrast. I am certain it probably is displaced. If you have gained weight it just might be hidden. Because it is plastic it can not be absorbed by the body. It may pick up on an MRI. But it cant be gone.

Here's where it gets weird: the damn thing was radio opaque. It appeared on normal films for years the same way a piece fo metal would and the rest of the band still does and then it didn't. I just realised I have had an MRI too. I have been very ill and it is easy to lose track. I would have presumed it was unlosable myself. I am worry as to what it might be up to in my abdominal cavity.

Wow, I've never heard of this. What is your surgeon saying? Also, just for interest sake, how has your weight management been after all of these years?

My surgeon died two years after my op and I had no contact with anyone how had a clue until about five years ago when a surgeon qualified locally. I live in Australia. When I had this done, there was only one surgeon doing it. I got terrible advice from the people caring for me. There were complicating factors as well. I am not the poster child for this procedure. I vomit a lot and originally was told this is normal and now we know that is not. My band is wide open, I still vomit. I should have had it taken out but I had no money to do so and when I finally met someone (the new surgeon) who understood the situation and concluded I am incompatible with the band and coul do it for free, I was WAY too sick to have it removed. My current surgeon is deeply confused by the whole situation. I am the only person he has met who has had it as long.