Hi everyone,

I aprreciate any advice that anyone has.

I was banded in November of 2008 and at first had no other issues other than having my gallbladder removed that following St. Patty's day. I have had sever asthm for almost 20 years and basically have lived on long periods of prendisone to help me breathe. I started out at 330 on the day of my surgery and at first lost 90 lbs. in the first six months. Then the acid reflux set in. Over the past two years thing have gotten progressivly worse--I kept aspirating into my lung and winding up in the hopital. I had been unfilled and still had issues. The acod reflux continues and I still vomit about two times a day on average. I told my doctor something was wrong and he doesn't listen.

Anyway...fast forward to the last two months and I have had two upper endoscopy because I have had severe reflux and stomach pains. When i had the endoscopy ultrasound this past week, the doctor informed me that the band is about two inches too high and that it is "suffocating my esophogus and that I should have the band removed immediately." He blamed the band for all of my reflux problems, and told me that if I didn't get removed that I was headed for mores serious problems.

I called my surgeon's office and went in for an appointment today. he removed a little more liquid and when I showed him the results from my endoscopy he said, "Other doctors who are not trained in bariatrics should not be handing out advice." When he asked what I wanted, I told him that I was miserable and wanted the band out because of all the issues and having to be on prendisone for almost six weeks straight now because of my reflux being so out of control. He said that since my band was completely empty to come back in a month and then maybbe I will change my mind. I am so aggrivated!!

If any of you have had the band and then taken out, what procedure did you choose and why?

Thanks for letting me rant!

RANT!! Away !!

Unfortunately it's commonplace for Surgeons to think they KNOW EVERYTHING about bands, and blame patient's for the complications.

But it's a FACT that a lot of Gastro Dr's are becoming quite versed in band complications since so many ppl end up having to see them to get answers, especially when the Surgeons doing bands love to BLAME the patient UGH!!

REALITY= you need a NEW SURGEON.

removal of all the Saline may help but it's only going to be a Temporaty fix at best

Reflux is common with a band ( 33% of banders experience it) and Dr's love to RX proton pump inhibitors ( acid reducers)

Until Aspiration pneumonia ends up being a frequent occurance.

Good Luck!

Sorry to hear you are going through all of this Ace. Hopefully the defill will help. Sorry I have no advice. I'm on my second band....zero weight loss. Good luck.

I've heard that bandsters who have severe reflux shouldn't get the sleeve and are usually steered toward gastric bypass since it's a non restrictive surgery like the band and sleeve. I have to have my band removed after 2 years. I don't have reflux just a bunch of other issues and am considering a revision. Best of luck!