Hello... I had the gastric lap land 8 years ago. I was under 18 when I had the surgery (but not by much). At one point I lost over 100 pounds going from 265 to 153. (5'9 female). Life was great went to college was able to eat milk and Cookies and lose weight, worked out 2x a day, etc. 3 years ago I went for a swallow test (because my doctor never sent me for one) and the doctors found I was completely closed up. food, medicine, etc had not processed thru my band in over 2 years. I was malnourished, severely anemic, and now have a permanently enlarged esophagus. I have spike to a little over 200 and for 3 years now have struggles between a 5 pound radius not being able to budge the scale. I have been on every prescribed weightless medication out there (all have failed) and now have been given the option of the sleeve. I am scared it will be like all the medicines I tried, where I am excited and then they too fail. Whether I eat a little or a lot I don't lose weight. I want to feel what it is like to be happy and "light' again.

Has anyone been or is in a similar boat? I would appreciate any offerings.

Thanks so much.

Girls girl

I am still with the same surgeon who did my lap and. Tried for years to work with it. I med with him four months ago to discuss how I tried and the issues I have had and failures. I had to meet with my nut for four months meet with the psychiatrist for evaluation, cardiologist my primary care physician get my letters from those doctors EGD. And that was that. He did take out all the Fluid from my band four to five months ago. He does the removal and sleeve in one surgery. I have noticed on this sites not all doctors do. I'm happy not to have to go under two surgeries. I'm from Ny. I hope this helps. If you have another questions I'm here for you.

Im from NY also. May I ask which doctor you will use?

Mydoctor is Peter Kwon. Tri state bariatrics. Middletown NY

Hi, I know exactly where you are coming from........ Band 10 yrs ago, got down to 8st 13 lb, band eroded July 2013. Had it removed Jan 14 and piled the weight back on....... Now 16 stone.

I look at it this way, find a good surgeon, listen to the positive success stories on here......there are some amazing people out there who have been through so much and are nearly at the end of their journey. Try not to think of the what ifs, you just put yourself through mental torture. Research, make friends from the forum and face it head on. Deal with the reality and not the maybe's.

I hope this helps and huge goos luck.

Debbie x

Hi, I too was banded in January 2009. Did well at first then i plateaued @ about 205. I could not get below 200 for months. then i finally came down below 200lbs. I always had problems with certain foods, vomiting, hicuping and needing soda the push the air out so i can eat. About 18months ago I had bilateral knee replacements and I ate 3meals and 2 Snacks while i was rehabing, i was as low as 185lbs. last year I had to get a upper gi because i was having pain in my chest and burning in my esophgus most times i eat. Doctor found that my band was very restrictive and causing my esophgus to work harded and swell. Fluid was removed and i felt better but still did not fell full, causing me to eat more then I should. I had anoth GI study last month, which was better, but my esophgus is still a little swollen. I asked my doctor for a revision, found out this week I was aproved and my surgery is June 2nd band to gastric sleeve. I am now 238lb, 7lbs more the last week

Edited April 5, 201412 yr by BLAKQUEEN

Hi I too was banded in 2009, did well at first some discomfort with certain foods but lost about 90lbs in all. Last year I noticed that I was having a lot of pain when I was eating and drinking, so my doctor ordered an upper GI study which showed that I was closed up and my esophagus was enlarged, surgeon took fluid out and.pain slowly went away. Had another GI study in March and although my esophagus was better it was still enlarged. My surgeon and I agreed to do a revision, I'm scheduled for June 2nd. I'm being my two week liquid diet today. I'm anxious about the surgery but I did think long and hard about it and I know this is the right decision for me. I'm am back up to 240lbs. You have to make that decision for your self. Good luck