Amazed at the damage the lap did...

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Thanks to all for posting your experiences here. It's good education for many folks.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

I didn't know. What showed up on the barium swallow test (that was just done as an annual exam) was that I had pseudo-achalasia (from what I understand, that is a stretching of the esophagus and is associated with motility issues with food moving from the esophagus to the stomach.)

As far as the band and it being embedded in my stomach and liver and me having lots of scar tissue and inflammation, I was totally asymptomatic.

We only knew when the surgeon went in to do a revision surgery from the band to the sleeve. That is what he found....

I was soooo disappointed, when I awoke from surgery, to learn that the sleeve procedure wasn't able to be done. But, now I am glad to wait the four to six months for the organ healing to be complete.

I worry about this all the time..... I know going in that it was a possibility. and i still am hoping for the best. My mentor and friend had the same thing happen... But she was having issues. She would get a fill and couldn't hold anything down... but if she got it removed... she could eat anything...

I had a fill and did great... then all of a sudden i was having trouble keeping supper down. Breakfast was good, lunch ok... but by the time supper came around... what ever i ate came back up and took lunch with it... it was like i was backing up. Anyway, i went and got 1cc removed and i do feel much better... i can eat and no reflux for throwing up.

So, i guess for now i will keep my fingers crossed. Plus my new insurance won't cover removal or sleeve... so i just have to keep it in the Lords hands... and pray for the best

Edited March 25, 2015 by bayougirlmrsc

[liannatx 897]

@@sleeveee

I was also devastated when I came out of surgery and he hadn't done a revision. He told me it was a 50/50 chance he wouldn't be able to do the revision in one surgery, due to me having the band for so long... he anticipated scarring, but couldn't predict the extent. I was so hopeful that it was still crushing. Like you had I also had a mess of stuff going on in there. My surgeon said he had "excavate through the scar tissue and follow the port tubing" to locate the port. Adhesions on the liver, scar tissue build up inside my stomach where the band was, etc... Scary.

However, when I went 5 months later he was able to do the sleeve with no problems! In and out in 1 hour. I found the recovery from this very easy. The first 2-3 days after Sleeve surgery were bad, but it was all smooth from there out... Had the sleeve done on a Monday and went back to work the following Monday.

Just know that your surgery date will be here before you know it, and this will all be in the rearview mirror!

Edited March 25, 2015 by liannatx

[Liz W 11]

I am six weeks out of revision surgery (January 29th) and down 55 pounds at this point (way more weight than I ever lost with lap band). I saw my surgeon for a one month follow up last week and am amazed at the amount of damage that was done to my stomach by the band. He told me that the band had adhered to my stomach and was eroding through. He said there were small holes throughout my stomach where the band had attached itself. He was able to fix everything in one surgery (thank god...no way I could have done two surgeries) and I have been on the mend for a month and a half.

What is amazing is that I had no symptoms of anything that could be wrong. No fever, reflux, etc. The only time I suspected anything is when I would go for fills and the band would be unfilled and I could actually feel it pulling my stomach (worst feeling ever).

I'm glad you are feeling good, I had my band removed last month, but no revision surgery yet. My doctor wants my stomach to heal first, I don't know how long it will take? I had similar damages done to my stomach, but I had fever for about two months, first I thought it was just a flu, but my fever was not going away even with the antibiotics. I had a pain by my port area. After the surgery all my wounds started to get infected, not a nice thing.

How long it took you to heal after the removal and how long you waited to have the revision surgery, any problems?

[Liz W 11]

I also had horrible scarring and adhesions. My surgeon was going to do a revision but once he got in there he felt it would be better to let my stomach heal and return to a semi-normal shape. I had to weight four months for the Sleeve surgery. I had the band for 9 years though, and apparently the damage was extensive. I am also surprised they still do the Lap-Bands, and surprised anyone would want it.

Did you gain any weight during that four months and how did you feel after the sleeve surgery?

[Liz W 11]

I was not so lucky. I waited 1 year after the band had been removed. 1st surgery the suture was not closed, so another surgery two days later and again not closed. Then I got a heavy infection in the abdominal cavity. Another surgery to put in a stent. Did not sit properly, so another stent was placed on top of that one. Did not work either, so both came out and another one was put in. Meanwhile infection and inflammation got worse and worse. Many more spectroscopic measure, Water in the lung area, 5 drainages and one that had to stay in for 3 months until finally the stent could be removed.

I was in the hospital for 3 months, came out 66 lbs lighter but so weak that I was in a wheelchair, then in a walker and now finally I can walk by myself. Still very weak and burnt out.

From all the antibiotics I had numerous other problems and my CRP now is up again to 150 (normal is <5) and I have pain, can still not really eat properly. So I do not get enough Protein which I need urgently.

Hi Elia1981,

after reading your post I'm so scared to have a sleeve surgery, had my band removed last month and I'm having a lot of problems with infections, but on the outside. My family don't want me to go thru the surgery, but I know I have to, I don't want to regain my weight, I am so confused and don't know what to do???? Any advise???

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

I was not so lucky. I waited 1 year after the band had been removed. 1st surgery the suture was not closed, so another surgery two days later and again not closed. Then I got a heavy infection in the abdominal cavity. Another surgery to put in a stent. Did not sit properly, so another stent was placed on top of that one. Did not work either, so both came out and another one was put in. Meanwhile infection and inflammation got worse and worse. Many more spectroscopic measure, Water in the lung area, 5 drainages and one that had to stay in for 3 months until finally the stent could be removed.

I was in the hospital for 3 months, came out 66 lbs lighter but so weak that I was in a wheelchair, then in a walker and now finally I can walk by myself. Still very weak and burnt out.

From all the antibiotics I had numerous other problems and my CRP now is up again to 150 (normal is <5) and I have pain, can still not really eat properly. So I do not get enough Protein which I need urgently.

Same thing happened to my friend Lori... except she had not had the band before.... But she had the sleeve done and something happened that she had to get a stent in... She too had a long stay in the hospital, and came out... 60-70 lbs lighter. She was one of those people that busted her ass in the gym and could not lose weight. Now what she was eating behind doors.... i don't know. But one would think she would lose something... any who. She decided on the sleeve, which i completely supported. She is doing much better now. She has lost prob. 150lbs or more. Looks great except for all the loose skin due to the rapid weight loss.

I know if anything happened to my band i would sell a kidney to get the sleeve... i will do what ever it takes. but I would do the sleeve.... I pray i never have to make that decision.

[Elia1981 3]

@@Liz W

I know that this is scary and you need to talk to your doctor and make sure he is competent and knows what to do in case something goes wrong. He should look at your stomach very closely to assess the damage if there is any.

I do not want to discourage you or anyone else, but to me the risk is very real. I never had any problem with my health and it was a terrible experience to go through. but I might have prevented it, if I had known before what I know now.

So the only real advice I can give you is to work closely with your doctor. You must trust him to do the right thing.

@ bayougirl

I have been told that it also happens easier to people with a very high bodymass index, which is why doctors here recommend to go on a liquid Protein diet weeks before surgery.

[shetrekie 0]

I too had horrible problems with lapband. Placement surgery was April 2011. I had 1st fill Sept 2011. Did fairly well with the band and all the lifestyle changes. In 2013 I went to the DR and got food poisoning. I was horrendously sick. I vomitted for 2 days straight and we all know as bariatric patients that's a no-no. Upon returning I had band emptied to enable healing. For 6 months I dealt with sever nausea, dialy vomitting and lost the ability to eat soild foods, mushies or thick liquids. I amazing didn't lose any weight eventhough I was consuming no calories. In November of 2103, my Dr wanted to go in laproscopically and see what was going on. My band had magor scarring and was embedded. He was thinking he could adjust it but ended up having it removed. =(

I gradually gained back 35 of the 50ish I lost. I am now beginning the process of the sleeve and am loving all the positive feedback on this site. I hope this is successful.

Good luck to you as well! =)

[liannatx 897]

I also had horrible scarring and adhesions. My surgeon was going to do a revision but once he got in there he felt it would be better to let my stomach heal and return to a semi-normal shape. I had to weight four months for the Sleeve surgery. I had the band for 9 years though, and apparently the damage was extensive. I am also surprised they still do the Lap-Bands, and surprised anyone would want it.

Did you gain any weight during that four months and how did you feel after the sleeve surgery?

@@Liz W I started having problems with my band around 2008 and had a total unfill, followed by a cycle of small fill/unfill episodes, and was never again able to tolerate any fill after the original unfill. I gave up on trying to have the band function for me. I think I was back up to 170 lbs on my last unfill in 2009 and had an empty band since then.

Over the past 5-6 years it has been a slow steady gain right back up to my Pre-Lapband weight of 225.... plus an extra 20lbs to add insult to injury, lol. So my regain was not really in the period between Band removal and Sleeve.

To answer your actual question, Not really. I gained about 5 lbs in the 5 months between band removal and Sleeve surgery.

[thecakewasalie 41]

My tube had broke and was embedded 2 inches into my intestines. I am 4 weeks post and I still hurt in my lower left side. I have a photo of all the damage done to my stomach. Calluses everywhere.