Hello! I was banded in 2007. I am afraid it was never put in right or slipped right away. I had fills for about 4 months then just had them take the liquid out because of the pain. The Dr. told me it is a tool and when I am ready to use it as a tool I will come back and have it filled. I have never gone back. I throw up about once a day and when I eat it feels like rocks in my throat, I start producing copious amounts of mucus then run to the bathroom. It is painful and I am sick of it. Has anyone else ever had this experience? The last 6 weeks I have been coughing due to a lung irritation and I think my band has slipped even further. I found a Doctor with a good reputation that takes my insurance and when I was on his site I looked into the gastric sleeve procedure. I would really like to lose weight. Over the past year I have lost about 20 pounds on my own but I am a diabetic with high cholesterol. My BMI is 39.

Has anyone had the sleeve procedure after having a lap band? Was it the same thing? Was there nausea, feeling like I just want to eat- dang it and I can't because I have to throw up? What are your success stories for the sleeve? I am going to have the lap band taken out even if I have to self pay. Do you think it would be a mistake for me to get a gastric sleeve?

Thanks for any input!

Why didn't you go back? I'd be looking for answers, and to be honest, your surgeon should be the one who should be providing them.

If your doctor said what you say, then he is the TOOL, and not the band. You should not be feeling pain or experiencing PB with an empty band. Something is wrong. The doctor should have expressed a strong interest in finding out what was going on. If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking for another surgical group for a second opinion, ASAP.