Today, at a routine visit with a new lapband surgeon, I learned my band had slipped. Rather than being at the traditional 45 degree angle, it was pretty much vertical. I was not experiencing any pain or other sign that anything was off, other than some esophegal spasms from time to time. But I'd had those spasms since being banded in 2013, so this wasn't worrisome to me.

I actually set up this appointment just for a routine band check. I used a new surgeon because my banding surgeon would not respond to any phone calls or emails. The new surgeon doesn't do lapbands anymore and hasn't in years, but he knows bands and showed me on the xray what a slipped band looks like.

Those of you who've followed by lapband story (from "Fantastic tool! Wish I'd done this years ago!" to "uh-oh. I'm having some complications") know that my band has been pretty much dormant (with little restriction) since I developed heart arrythmia (due to the band's placement). Still, I kept the band in, mainly because I don't relish the idea of surgery, but also since the damage was done and removal wasn't going to fix my heart. I figured a dormant band was better than no band, in terms of helping keep my weight down.

But now it has to come out.

I will not be moving forward with any other weight loss surgery, for reasons that I will keep off this board so I don't offend any members who have opted for revisions.

My emotions right now include being angry that I ever chose the lapband (I hate that fact I fell on the wrong side of the statistics) to being sad that I wasn't one of the successful bandsters I had been so certain I'd be. I'm also frankly fearful of the surgery and how my heart arrythmia will be managed during the procedure, but I'm sure the surgeon can address these fears.

I'll close this now with great thanks to all of you who were in my original bandster cohort (March 2013). So many of you are no longer on this board (whatever happened to Carolina Girl?) which I'm hoping means that you are all out there living good, slim lives. For those who are still around, thank you for all the inspiration and support you show each other.

I wish you all the best. Hugs to you. I feel your pain.

I'm so sorry Shel. I am sending you a PM.