Hey everyone!

I haven't posted in a while but I got my Lapband about 3 years ago. Needed to lose about 100 lbs and at one point lost almost 70. Recently I have gained some weight, and although still down 50 lbs since presurgery, I still feel like my lapband is failing me BIG TIME.

First of all, I never ever felt what other people have described as the "sweet spot" of restriction. I felt the same hunger i've always felt and could get everything down. Still, determined not to fail, I carb cycled, worked out like a beast and lost the weight. I kept asking myself if the band was worth it, but felt that i would still do it again if I had to choose. If nothing else, it was an internal reminder to get my act together!!

It is now 3 years later, however, and suddenly, a week ago I felt reflux... I didn't feel tight (everything would go down) but there was definitely burning in my chest. I emailed my surgeon who told me to come immediately. He was upset that I gained some weight and said that my band was likely too tight. He removed 0.3 cc's (or was it 3.0 cc's??) and sent me home after making me promise that I would keep him updated on my heartburn. (he made sure i was able to chug down a full cup of Water with no difficulties before sending me home, which I had no problem doing. it went straight down)

The next day I continued to feel heartburn and he emailed him immediately. I told him I want a COMPLETE unfill and then we'll slowly scale up from there. He found that acceptable and also said it might be a good idea to even get some xrays of the band

Suddenly I am nervous- after a quick google search on lapband heartburn it led me to horror stories about lapband removals. it is clear to me that it is NOT such a simple procedure- there seems to be much greater complication risk, scar tissue buildup around the band, and many many people still feel restriction post band removal. It started to make me feel like this band is poisonous and will destroy my body.

Sorry to sound all dramatic but you should see what people are writing! sheesh!

I know I have to take all things found on the internet with a grain of salt, but I am legitimately horrified

I just feel like I want this thing out of me before it causes me more damage, and especially since I have never seen any real positive effect. Now there is only negative effect (the heartburn/reflux)

Am I totally nuts?!?!

And advice/replies would be really appreciated

PS, aside from the heartburn this lapband always leaves me with a nagging feeling, for example everytime I travel there's this little voice in my head wondering what I will do if it slips/gets too tight.

Does everyone feel this way? Or am I the only neurotic nut??!!

Edited July 12, 201511 yr by Lapbandster

It sounds like you got a good Dr. You don't sound nuts. I've been banded for 3 years and also have never found that sweet spot. I've been having some problems and my Dr did an egd, he found erosion. Hopefully, I'll have a conversion. You should really have an upper gi done to see how it looks on there. God Bless.

I'm actually now leaning more toward getting the band removed being a good idea for me as well. I've had mine since 2009 and recently started having issues. I've been reading and posting all over the board about this. The more I think about having this thing inside me...the less inclined I am to keep it in there. I'm just afraid my insurance won't cover it...and I'll still be out $300+ having to go through the program (I have to do that before insurance will decide if they will cover it or not).

My surgeon already said he could do it in one surgery. And also remove my gallbladder (which will need to come out either way).

I just had my band removed 5 days ago. It was painful, but so glad I did it. I have not had any reflux, heartburn or vomiting which has been just amazing considering, I had endured that for 9 consecutive months due to complications from a prolapse and then slip where my band was sitting sideways and was up nearly on my esophagus. My insurance paid for my removal after there was imaging confirmation from an Upper GI and esophageal manometry. There was quite a bit of scar tissue removed and that in itself is painful. I am on percocets currently but pain has improved and so thankful that it's gone. I actually have relief and no more vomiting. I drank a glass of orange juice today for the first time after 4 years. I had not been able to drink any juices or eat any acidic fruits since the band due to too much acid. I will be revising to gastric bypass in a few months after I heal from this

I'm a lap-band failure...my lap-band has never done anything for or with me...I am now back up to my pre-surgery weight I moved to another state since my surgery so next Friday I am going to a new surgeon....maybe I'll speak with him on the lap-band to sleeve conversion. I'm so sorry to hear of others having problems; I've not experienced any problems other than slow weight loss, constant hunger when trying to eat small portions and now right back to where I started. I suspect my previous surgeon never really filled my band as much as he could have.