I am having problems with my band. Not to mention my weight loss overall has been minimal. I lost a lot at first then my weight has creeped up because the only things I seem to be able to eat are high calorie foods such as ice cream.

I am having serious acid reflux issues and am Vitamin deficient. I have been looking on the web for follow up doctors but I think I am leaning toward having the band removed and having an MGB which is a Mini Gastric Bypass surgery.

I am trying to find someone who will both remove the lap-band and do the MGB at the same time. The MGB is a laproscopic surgery as well with minimal complications.

I f any one has information on this please let me know.

Thank you.:help:

If you have insurance you can check with your insurance company to see who is in their network. If you don't have insurance, there are some good doctors with good self pay prices. Where do you live?

bonjeanie, I feel your pain! I've been having a rough go of it too and looking at some other options. If you check out CLOS.net that is the main mini bypass doctor. The sugery is 17K, plus 5K for band removal. You might also look into VSG, which is another restrictive procedure. I've looked at two doctors, Dr. Pleatman in the US and Alvarez in MX each do the sugeries and will remove the band. Feel free to PM me. I've been doing a lot of research and I know how you feel.

I live in the North Carolina area. I found a Dr. Rutledge that does the MGB but he is from Las Vegas, My concern is the follow up.

I already have problems with follow up on my lapband because most US doctors won't see anyone that has their lapband done in Mexico, such as I have done.

What is the VSG? I was interested in the MGB because it sounded like they could remove the lapband and do the MGB at the same time laproscopically.

Thanks again.

Bonjeanie, as I understand it the MGB is really not considered a safe and effective surgery. It's not done much at all these days. However, there are lots of other options and almost all of them can be done laparascopically.

I know there are many, many doctors who do both RNY and lap-banding who will do one on top of the other if necessary. Your best bet is to find an experienced laparascopic gastric surgeon and talk with him about your specific case. It may be a good idea to talk with more than one, if you can. You might start by looking at the OH website (obesityhelp.com) to locate bariatric surgeons in your area.

Good luck!!

Alexandra, can you expand on your thoughts on mini-gastric bypass? I know that Clos.net site is quite possibly the most obnoxious medical site I've ever seen...and the tactics seem very sales-pitchy. That said, it does look like they have a lot of data to support the safety of MGB being on par with that of RnY. It is not the old loop bypass procedure which has been phased out due to saftey concerns.

Just wondering if you'd share your thoughts on MGB -- or any alternatives as I've had a hard time with the band.

What is the VSG? I was interested in the MGB because it sounded like they could remove the lapband and do the MGB at the same time laproscopically.

Thanks again.

VSG is like the band in that it is restrictive...it involves actually removing a part of your stomach and levaing a sleeve shaped stomach the size of a small banana. It was originally the first part of a DS but they found many patients lost weight with just this first procedure. It is NOT malabsorptive, just restrictive. Here is a good website:

Unofficial VSG FAQ

Alexandra, can you expand on your thoughts on mini-gastric bypass? I know that Clos.net site is quite possibly the most obnoxious medical site I've ever seen...and the tactics seem very sales-pitchy. That said, it does look like they have a lot of data to support the safety of MGB being on par with that of RnY. It is not the old loop bypass procedure which has been phased out due to saftey concerns.

Just wondering if you'd share your thoughts on MGB -- or any alternatives as I've had a hard time with the band.

I really don't have any thoughts about it, just what I read back in 2002. It was discredited and very few insurance carriers covered it. Of course, I don't mean to say that insurance carriers are the final authority, but that's just the impression I got at the time.

If you're doing research now you will know a lot more about it than I do.

I dont know much about band removal. But I had a bad experiance with Dr. Alvarez and his staff. I would avoid him if I were you.

Most surgeons don't do the mini gastric bypass. I've heard that the reason is because there have been a lot of complications and it's not very affective.

The VSG is the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. A lot of people have switched to that surgery after having problems with their band. From where you live, I suggest looking into Dr. Pleatman. He has the best sleeve and bypass self pay prices in the U.S. You can find out if they have a package. Call 877-765-8446 www. alighterme.com and find out.

hi , i am sorry your having trouble with your band.i am not sure on the difference between the standard band and the MGB band .the hospital that did lapband messed up my stomach. now i have to go see a new surgeon on tuesday and was told by my new G I doctor that the band might have to come out and they will have to do the bypass on me.i had my lapband done in november of 2004 and my problems with my band has been going on since october of 2005, i am having trouble swallowing food and liquids,i get pains in my stomach and chest, my bp has been off goes all the way done to 58/46 on days and the doctors told me i was nuts and will live to be 200 years old.thats why i need new doctors the other ones i had were nuts and got the license from a cracker jack box.

hugs Ann

Hi there. I've also read that the MGB isn't the best of the options. I only know of one person who had it. She lost the weight, but was in the hospital for unidentifiable abdominal pain.

Obesity Help website has lots of information and message boards on all of the weight loss surgeries. I have just been approved for the band, but the surgeon is beginning to to the VSG (vertical sleeve gasectromy) and it sounds like a great alternative to the band, so I'm looking into that before making final decision on which way to go.

What kind of problems are you having?

Ann

I've actually read a lot of positive feedback from MGBers on their yahoo group. But I guess for every happy success story there will be some percentage of complications.

Ann, as for my problems, pretty much just hating what the band was designed to do -- restriction. Heartburn, PBs, stuck food, slimes...it's really hard on me physically, emotionally, socially...all that and no weight loss in 6 months. I have an un-fill scheduled in a few days. I hope that helps. It is very frustrating and makes me question the band entirely.

Alexandra, can you expand on your thoughts on mini-gastric bypass? I know that Clos.net site is quite possibly the most obnoxious medical site I've ever seen...and the tactics seem very sales-pitchy. That said, it does look like they have a lot of data to support the safety of MGB being on par with that of RnY. It is not the old loop bypass procedure which has been phased out due to saftey concerns.

Just wondering if you'd share your thoughts on MGB -- or any alternatives as I've had a hard time with the band.

The MGB actually is nearly exactly the same as the old loop bypass...

Personally, I would recommend either a sleeve or a lap RNY. Either can be done in experienced hands laparoscopically.

Dr. Trace Curry - Cincinnati, Ohio

Got a question? Ask the doctor at Trace W. Curry, M.D. Lap Band Surgeon :: Home

10475 Reading Road Suite 117, Cincinnati, OH 45241

(877) 442-BAND(v) (513) 559-1235(f)

DISCLAIMER: If am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Thanks Dr. C. Do you do the VSG or RNY -- any thoughts on advanatges/disadvantages of those? thanks!

Thanks Dr. C. Do you do the VSG or RNY -- any thoughts on advanatges/disadvantages of those? thanks!

I do both, although I have a lot more experience with RNY. It's pretty easy for an experienced band/bypass surgeon. If you have bad heartburn issues the RNY is probably better, if not I'd lean towards sleeve.

Dr. Trace Curry - Cincinnati, Ohio

Got a question? Ask the doctor at Trace W. Curry, M.D. Lap Band Surgeon :: Home

10475 Reading Road Suite 117, Cincinnati, OH 45241

(877) 442-BAND(v) (513) 559-1235(f)

DISCLAIMER: If am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!