Well on Monday 7/30/07 @ 7:30 am my band is officially leaving me! I found out on 6/1/07 that I had a slip with some errosion and was trying to hold out for my insurance to cover a revision from Lap Band to RNY, but my stomach will not let me wait any longer. The reflux is so bad and the esophogitis is really painful even being on 3 different meds to try and help settle things for a bit (nexium, carafate, and reglan). My paperwork went in this afternoon for my revision surgery and it was a total joy to have to do EVERY little thing over from scratch again (cardio, psych eval, pulmonary, dietary, support group, endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal sono and primary care MD). So unfortunately I'm going to have 2 surgeries now :car: I'll probably have the RNY revision after 8/27 when I get my daughter settled into her freshman year at college. So this is my tale of woe for now

Jane

Well on Monday 7/30/07 @ 7:30 am my band is officially leaving me! I found out on 6/1/07 that I had a slip with some errosion and was trying to hold out for my insurance to cover a revision from Lap Band to RNY, but my stomach will not let me wait any longer. The reflux is so bad and the esophogitis is really painful even being on 3 different meds to try and help settle things for a bit (nexium, carafate, and reglan). My paperwork went in this afternoon for my revision surgery and it was a total joy to have to do EVERY little thing over from scratch again (cardio, psych eval, pulmonary, dietary, support group, endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal sono and primary care MD). So unfortunately I'm going to have 2 surgeries now :car: I'll probably have the RNY revision after 8/27 when I get my daughter settled into her freshman year at college. So this is my tale of woe for now

Jane

I'm so sorry for you. May you be blessed on this new journey.

I feel your pain. I had mine out because of a bout with bronchitis 5 months before. You just dont realize how much your really depend on your band until you dont have it. I hope you can get it put back in. I know its easy to think that you will eat the same way without the band as with it, but that just hasnt worked for me. I think i need someone to kick me in the patooty to get me back on track. Still have 2 months to wait until I get it back in. I will be there for you, just keep me posted. Maybe we can do this together.

Just alittle update.... had my band removed yesterday and besides being sore and having a swollen abdomin and the usual shoulder pain....I have NO reflux :whoo: today!!! I was actually able to brush my teeth and have no reflux. I can even drink Water again painfree :whoo: I feel like a new person:clap2: I never knew that my band that I LOVED so much and gave me a whole new life could have made me so miserable at the same time :cry: My MD had to do some repair work because my band caused some damage to my stomch. So may I share a little advice...if you notice that you're having reflux and some heartburn...tell your MD ASAP, don't wait 4 months like I did before I said anything to my MD because in all honesty my slip probably could have been fixed with an unfill and a few weeks of liquids

Jane

Thanks for the great words of wisdom! Sorry it took your band to let us know! Good Luck to you and I hope your next surgery works better for you.

ethansgrandma Did your band slip because were you coughing so much with bronchitis?

yes, the cough never really went away, and after having it for about 6 months, my stomach couldnt take anymore. what kinda made me mad was that i had checked with my band doc around january and told them what was going on and they assured me it couldnt be a slip because it was sewn in so tight. it just got really out of control, to the point that i was vomiting up "coffee grounds" (tissue and blood), and the weight was just dropping off. (that was kinda good). so they took it out in april, and i cant have it put back in until october.

That is to bad . How are you doing now?

Hi Jane...I just saw this now. So sorry for all you've been going through. I know you feel bad about having to wait for the revision, but at least you'll be able to get your daughter settled in college.

My revision has gone well so far...it's definately much different w/the RNY, but the good news is that they used the same holes, with one or two additions.

Have you posted on Obesityhelp.com; the New York forum? A lot of Dr. Cussati patients post there & they seem very happy with him. It's a nice place because...gasp!...bandsters & RNY'ers both post there and get along great!

Feel free to PM me if you want; I'll be watching here to see how you're doing.

Feel good,

Hi Karen! It's been 5 days since I'm band free and I can't believe how much better I feel already!!! The reflux is totally gone and the only annoying thing right now is that I look about 7 months pregnant from the removal surgery. Hopefully the swelling will be gone in another week or so. I should hear by Monday afternoon about my revision surgery, I have a GREAT appeals nurse over at Empire who let's me call her anytime and has been great about keeping me posted on the happenings. As far as Dr Cussatti is concerned, I know he's he GREATEST!!! I was actually the 2nd lap band he ever performed so that let's you know how much faith and trust I have in him.

Just alittle update...I got my insurance approval today :clap2: and I'm schedualed for my revision to RNY on 8/29 :omg: I want to thank everyone for the kind words and support they've shone me over the past several weeks!

Jane

Another update...My surgeon changed my revision date to 10/1/07. He said that my insides were so inflamed and removed a good amount of scar tissue so he wants me to be completely healed before I change over. At 1st I was disappointed, but when I thought about it, it makes sense!

Just alittle update...I had my revision from lapband to RNY on Monday 10/1. I'm actually feeling great and the surgery was a breeze My anesthiaologist kept me "snowed" in the PACU because he knows I suffer from hyperemesis and it was the best because when I finally woke up 4 hours AFTER my surgery was done I had no nausea :bounce: I'm also VERY happy to report that I have NO GAS pains this time around My shoulder feels great!

So glad things are going well for you!!! Just because you had the revision, don't take off, hang out and let us know how you are doing!!

Kat

Hello Darlin',

Glad to hear you're o.k., I haven't been on-line for several days, and see what I miss! I know you were waiting for this; you'll do great--you deserve it!

xoxo,

Karen

Hi All...

I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.