Having band removed

Listywood · May 9, 2007

I am having my band removed 5-14-07. I found a surgeon here in town that will take it out. It is going to cost me about $7000 if no complications arise. It was not that much cheaper to go back to Mexico to have it out. I just didn't want to go back there and have this done and have possible complications so I opted to use the doctor here in town that graciously agreed to do it for me.

My esophagus is not funtioning and is spasming. I have had the band in 2 years and have lost 60 pounds. They say the band is in the correct place and does not look eroded or slipped. It seems that my body is rejecting it. I never could eat very well and I was mostly just eating soft foods. Hence the slow weight loss.

I'm okay with it all. I got a band to be healthier and it has actually made me sick and possibly damaged my esophagus for life. I am very happy with the 60 pounds and I am going to work hard to keep it off. I need to lose about 50 more pounds and I am determined to do that. I just have to do it without a band or pills. I plan on using visualization and life style changes to fight my battles with weight from now on.

I see the surgeon tomorrow and will try to write something then. I am possibly unemployed now because of all of this. I am using vacation time right now and either my work place will let me go on FMLA (family Medical leave) or they won't and I will lose my job. It has been a nightmare year of being sick and going to doctors. It was only after a esophagram that they realized that I was not making it all up. The doctor I have is a jerk. But now it is almost all over and hopefully my esophagus will come back soon and life will go on like normal.

Mr Soots · May 9, 2007

I, too, am having my band removed in June after 3 years and 4 months. Ever since I got banded, I was tight (4 cc band - didn't have the larger ones back then). The longest I was able to keep a fill was 6 weeks, and then an unfill. I tried fills four times, but it always resulted in feeling miserable -- like a lump in my throat, then an unfill. This has now developed into GERD (I had the ph test), and all the unpleasant symptoms associated with GERD -- breathing, acid reflux, etc. Saw a GI for an endoscopy, and have also developed barretts esophagus - a precancer condition.

After approx one year of discussing options with my surgeon, he did a floro, and has spotted a large hiatal hernia. Floros in the past never showed a hernia, so I have to guess it has been developing over time. Hopefully, the tight band caused the hernia which caused the GERD. I'm hoping that's the case, so once the band is off, everything goes back to the way it was designed.

I know it's been said here before, but, only you know your body. The doctors rely on research, so it's up to us to be persistent and ensure our doctors are listening and taking us seriously when our bodies react against the norm.

KarenB · May 13, 2007

Listywood, I'm sorry for your problems. I'm going through something similar, but the problem is not my band, it's my esophagus. My GI dr. and Dr. Ortiz diagnosed Nutcracker esophagus, which caused tons of spasming. My body did not reject the band, it just sits there now, sad and unfilled. Oh yeah, that's me. Now as I've been unfilled for about 9 months now, and regained over half my lost weight, I'm awaiting approval for RNY at the same time my band is removed.

BTW, are you sure your insurance won't pay for band removal?

Take care,

Karen

Alexandra · May 13, 2007

Listywood and Mr Soots, I feel for you and am here to tell you that band removal can be a good thing. Here's hoping that your removal surgeries are as quick and easy as mine was, and your healing is immediate. :hug:

And for anyone who thinks their insurance won't cover removal because they didn't cover the band: TRY! Your surgeon should classify the removal surgery as medically necessary, and put in a request for expedited precertification. It's not an emergency, that's true, but if removal is needed to preserve your health your insurer should cover at least part of the cost. Even if the initial banding was denied for whatever reason, this is a different procedure and should be considered on its own merits.

Good luck!!