lap band removal

[lauriearnold 40]

ok guys, need HELP!! Just heard from my surgeon and i'm going to have to have my lap band removed after having it for 8 years. My stomach has prolapsed in a very odd way and no chance of getting it replaced or repositioning. Too risky of it doing it again. NOW, what do i do. Going to have to have it removed in the next couple weeks so what do i need to expect after the surgery? diet? how long on liquids? how long is recoop?? PLEASE, NEED ANSWERS. I'm scared and worried about gaining my weight back. No option of sleeve either because of my bmi is too low for insurance to pay.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Most of us can't help you but here's a few who have similar experiences:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/305584-3-weeks-post-removal/?p=3450636

and search for Bandarella http://www.bariatricpal.com/user/198018-bandarella/

And we all feel for you and harbor similar fears

Edited April 25, 2014 by 2muchfun

[lauriearnold 40]

yeah it's not a good feeling to know you've done everything like your suppose too and still have your band slip. they can't explain why, they say it just happens over time. I'm 8 years out and never had a problem. they just did a fluro on me last week to see how things were going cause i felt like i was eating more and they found it. it will NOT correct, no replacement cause stomach is damaged and insurance won't pay for anything else cause bmi is 30. just really scared right now.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Did your stomach migrate up through the band?

Edited April 26, 2014 by 2muchfun

[parisshel 1,892]

You have all my sympathy; I'm so sorry you are in this situation.

Your surgeon will give you post-op directives. In terms of maintaining your loss, just know it will be tough. Be very mindful of how you were pre-surgery and how you never want to have to lose that weight again. It is extremely difficult to maintain a good loss such as the one you've had (we all know this, having dieted forever) but now that you are at a healthy weight, it won't be impossible. If I were in your position, I'd get right to a nutritionist and get advice on how best to keep you loss maintained as an unbanded person. It will involve more willpower than with the band, certainly, but it is not impossible.

Wishing you a good recovery and much strength.

[lauriearnold 40]

yes 2muchfun my stomach migrated through it over the past year. They don't know how or why but said it happens and there's nothing they can really do about it but to take it out. He told me that this is a chance you take when you do the lap band and have a foreign object in your body. After a while your body starts to reject it and that's what has happened. No saving it at all!!

[2muchfun 8,927]

So sorry for you. I've told myself that if my band lasts 7+ years I'm OK with that, but to not have the tool is a nightmare to me. Keep us informed as you progress?

[Bandarella 223]

@2muchfun. Laurie pm'd me...

I asked a bariatric surgeon who belongs to one of my FB pages if a band can migrate upward and he was emphatic that it cannot. So it seems that my band was placed on my esophagus from the beginning. I also asked if it could have inadvertently been moved during my GB removal. He said absolutely not. It seems that my original band doctor and staff must have been aware of this, since all fills were done under fleuro and I had at least 3 barium swallows with the band.

[Annette Corrado 39]

Sorry for the loss of your tool. I would say stick to the basics of what you learned in your WL journey. Mindfulness is the key each day of calories to track and stay within that range and exercise. Best to you.

[lauriearnold 40]

wow Bandarella that's awful. did you have symptoms from the start?? i never had any symptoms and did so good until this past year. still now signs or symptoms but somehow i have a small prolapse. he said it's like a shirt being tucked in and when the shirt overhangs over your waist, that's what mine doing and it won't go back. it's just hanging there and he said it needs to come out before i do start having symptoms or it starts entering into my stomach area and doing major damage and can not be fixed. hopefully it'll be fine when they take it out to do the sleeve. that's why i'm really being careful what i eat right now. just keep it where it's at and not do damage to it anymore.

[Bandarella 223]

@@lauriearnold

For the first year or so, things seemed fine. My first sign that things were not ok was chest pain that radiated to my neck, arm, back and jaw. It would happen only at night, waking me and last 30-60 sec and was relieved when I'd drink a little Water or change position. Turns out, it was esophageal spasms. Strangely, when my Fluid was removed, things got worse fast.

[lauriearnold 40]

wow, so sorry girl. that sounds awful.

[BadBand 0]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, but not to lap band. I got my band in Mexico in June 2009, and it has never really worked for me. I had many "adjustments" but always had issues. And never really lost much weight with it. Now it is a living night mare. I can't eat a single meal without running to the bathroom to throw up violently. Last week I thought I was having a heart attack I had such severe chest pain while and after throwing up. It scared me so much!! I'm 47 and weigh about 190 lbs. Female, 5'4". I think I have to have my band removed but I just can't afford the surgery. Does anyone know if it can be covered by Alberta Health Care? I'm so miserable, I just want to be able to eat a meal with my son and not have to toss my Cookies 3-4 times each and every day. I actually think that I've been gaining weight as a result of only being able to consume so little that my body has gone into hyper-drive and stores every tiny morsel that I don't puke up.

Does anyone have any advice?

I'd be interested to hear about others with my issues,

and those of you who have had their bands removed.

[lauriearnold 40]

BadBand you need to get to a dr asap. they found my slip in february and took out all the fill but the dr told me if i had any chest pain whatsoever, not able to keep Water or food down, that i had to get to the ER fast and the band would have to come out in an emergency. You need to call a dr and find out what's going on but i know that is not good at all. Your band could be eroding into your stomach right now and that is very dangerous. Please keep me up with what's going on girl. I'm worried about you. Sending prayers up for you. I don't know if insurance will pay for it due to you having it done in Mexico but def need to have an american dr look at it. insurance will prob pay to have it taken out. My insurance is paying to have mine removed next month.

[s0utherndivadoll 103]

Hey there!

I just had my band taken out yesterday due to a major slip. Having a lot of gas shoulder pain and my stomach muscles are very sore. How long did it take you to recover? Plus I've lost 170lbs and I've had the band for 3 years and I'm so nervous about gaining the weight back. Have any advice?