Just wondering whe has had the band the longest?

I first got my Lap Band in October 2004. I had the band replaced in October of 2009 (I think) I am now looking into getting it removed after a little over 10 years.

Edited April 7, 201511 yr by pinklantern

I first got my Lap Band in October 2004. I had the band replaced in October of 2009 (I think) I am now looking into getting it removed after a little over 10 years.

May I ask why you're removing it ? Thanks.

@@JustWatchMe

All of the healthy foods I want to eat like grilled fish and steamed broccoli for example are impossible with the lap band. This is not right. For the last few years I've been bringing food back up daily and I've basically been eating lots of smoothies at this point or unhealthy options that don't cause me any trouble. It's been getting worse. I feel that the band is causing more damage mentally and physically than it is helping me at this point. This anxiety is no way to live.

Edited April 8, 201511 yr by pinklantern

@@JustWatchMeAll of the healthy foods I want to eat like grilled fish and steamed broccoli for example are impossible with the lap band. This is not right. For the last few years I've been bringing food back up daily and I've basically been eating lots of smoothies at this point or unhealthy options that don't cause me any trouble. It's been getting worse. I feel that the band is causing more damage mentally and physically than it is helping me at this point. This anxiety is no way to live.

Indeed not! Sounds like you may be one of the many who find scar tissue builds up and makes the band tighter. Clearly your band is not working as it shouid and I can see why you want it out!

I have had my band since 2002

I have had my band for 10 years. I haven't used this forum in a very long time. Boy things really look different here! I have not had any major issues up until this point. I am thinking that I am having gallbladder issues right now though.

I have had my band for 10 years. I haven't used this forum in a very long time. Boy things really look different here! I have not had any major issues up until this point. I am thinking that I am having gallbladder issues right now though.

Can you share what your symptoms are?

I have been having extreme gas & diarrhea since March/April. I eat a lot of veggies & have been under a lot of stress (grandmother with lung cancer and she passed away in April, plus 3 adopted children under 10), so I chalked it up to the stress/ maybe a little IBS. Then the pain and discomfort started. the pain started in the epigastric area. Sometimes a dull nagging discomfort, sometimes burning. The pain radiates up into my shoulders and into my chest. My heart is good so I know it's not that. Within the last week I have started having nausea. Nothing serious, just generally miserable and uncomfortable. On top of everything, my band became super duper tight when the tropical depression came through Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas a couple weeks ago. I had episodes of aspiration at night. I was also having back pain from an old back injury so I went and had a steroid shot. From working in a doctor's office for many years, I came to realize that when my band got miserably tight, I could get a steroid shot and it would take the inflammation out and I could go back to normal. It worked. My band is no longer tight & no more aspiration. YAY! But, the other symptoms are getting worse and are pretty much constant. I called my surgeon and I will see him on 7-15. I called the clinic where I used to work and they called in some Carafate and omeprazole for me. I have been on these for about a week and it has made the symptoms bearable. I didn't even think about gallbladder until I started searching through some of the posts on here. When I googled gallbladder symptoms it appears that I have every stinking one of them! Praise the Lord for this forum! I was beginning to freak out just a little. Especially since I have had my band for so long. If it gets worse I will go to the ER for sure. I am really tough, and stubborn, and a little shy so we will see. LOL!

I have been having extreme gas & diarrhea since March/April. I eat a lot of veggies & have been under a lot of stress (grandmother with lung cancer and she passed away in April, plus 3 adopted children under 10), so I chalked it up to the stress/ maybe a little IBS. Then the pain and discomfort started. the pain started in the epigastric area. Sometimes a dull nagging discomfort, sometimes burning. The pain radiates up into my shoulders and into my chest. My heart is good so I know it's not that. Within the last week I have started having nausea. Nothing serious, just generally miserable and uncomfortable. On top of everything, my band became super duper tight when the tropical depression came through Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas a couple weeks ago. I had episodes of aspiration at night. I was also having back pain from an old back injury so I went and had a steroid shot. From working in a doctor's office for many years, I came to realize that when my band got miserably tight, I could get a steroid shot and it would take the inflammation out and I could go back to normal. It worked. My band is no longer tight & no more aspiration. YAY! But, the other symptoms are getting worse and are pretty much constant. I called my surgeon and I will see him on 7-15. I called the clinic where I used to work and they called in some Carafate and omeprazole for me. I have been on these for about a week and it has made the symptoms bearable. I didn't even think about gallbladder until I started searching through some of the posts on here. When I googled gallbladder symptoms it appears that I have every stinking one of them! Praise the Lord for this forum! I was beginning to freak out just a little. Especially since I have had my band for so long. If it gets worse I will go to the ER for sure. I am really tough, and stubborn, and a little shy so we will see. LOL!

Ooh boy :/

Hopefully things will get better hang in there!

I actually just came on to look into info about this. I was banded April 2005 and still have my original band. I have lost 65kgs give or take 6 or 7kgs. I go up and down, but get my eating back under control if my pants start getting too tight. I have to stay on top of my eating and exercise because the weight comes back on very easily.

I seem to be surrounded by anti band people at the moment. A lot of people converting or bagging the band, but I really dont have a lot of bad things to say. I mean at times I wish I didnt have to take nexium every day due to horrific reflux or the occasional blockage, but overall my band serves me very well and I will be eternally grateful for everything it has done for me or helped me do (touch wood).

In the beginning I was on forums constantly, but in the last 6 or so years I have been ...well, living. It was very suprising when I caught up with some previous band friends who all had their bands removed due to issues. They have basically told me it is inevitable that I will have issues and have the band removed, hence here I am researching again.

Who here is +10 years with a band? How are you going?

Edited July 19, 201511 yr by Kelliebelly

Hello all!

I have been banded since 2004 so that makes me 11 years out. I have had basically very few problems. Re flux when I was pregnant with my twins. I have also no fill since then. when I unfilled I still have restriction, but I think I am a strange case,. I can not eat fast or too much or I will get sick. I also changed my way of life. I have stayed at around 189/190 for most of the time I however did gain weight with my twins and then last year when my father was dying I put on about 20 pounds but afterwards I went to weightwatchers got back into the gym and I have been steady here ever since.

I think of the band as a tool. Its not a cure. It allows me to have some discipline when I need it. I used ww to track and make myself understand my habits. I still occasionally forget myself and have seen way to many bathrooms. But 200 plus I know I will never stay for long if I every go there again. This addiction is a life long problem for me, but I will face it head on and keep fighting.

Stay strong everyone! Fight on!

I've been banded for a little over 8 years. I've had issues the entire time, but I put up with them for the first year or so because I was losing weight. I reached goal. Had awful reflux, had to have most of the fill removed. Started gaining weight. Went to a new surgeon when I moved and found that I'd been living with a really severe slip for years. Had the band replaced. Never could reach a good restriction with the new band, so I kept gaining weight. Moved again and had to find surgeon #3. This year, I started having major reflux again after a PB/sliming session, so I had to have all the Fluid removed and apparently can't tolerate any restriction anymore. So, there's no point in me keeping the band. It's a broken tool that I can't use for its intended purpose. I just got approved for revision to RNY, and I can't wait.

Had my band removed this year after 10 years. :-(

Had my band removed this year after 10 years. :-(

Why was it removed?

I had severe pain last year on my left side as well as it would not hold a fill. They could not find a leak. I had exploratory port surgery and the port got infected thus my band was removed. Devastating after 10 successful years. I am waiting for vertical sleeve surgery. I have a friend who has had her band for 14 years pretty much trouble free.