Hey all, I don't know if I have ever posted to this site, I must read in here. I was banded Oct. 25, 2003 and I just found out yesterday that my band is eroding and that I have to have it removed. I'm very frustrated, because I went to Mexico and paid out of my pocket for something that I thought would be there to help me the rest of my life, and here it is a year later and I have to have it taken out. A lady that went at the same time as me and had it done the same day by the same doctor also has to have hers removed this Thursday. Coincidence we think NOT. Has anyone else had this problem and if so did you contact Inamed and did you get any information that would be helpful? Please share your story with me. Thanks

So sorry that you have to go this. Lopez was my Doctor also. I am so glad that we have this place to come to and get information. We need to know and be aware of these things.

I also think we all need to not let this alarm us into to thinking it will happen to us. This is after all one of the risk. I don't know what the actual numbers are but I know that I was aware when I had my surgery that this could happen. I am not defending Lopez in any way just don't want us all freaking out. I think we have to look at the positives and focus on them. How many patients has he had? How many haven't had problems? We need to take good care of ourselfs, try to follow the band rules, have regular check ups and most of all think positive thoughts. I just don't want everyone including myself to worry their selfs sick over this. We are very lucky that everyone here shares their stories and we can all learn from them and be aware of the risk.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

i am so sorry you are having to deal with this. i cant imagine how you feel. you are in my thoughts.

michelle

Chrissy,

It would be nice for all of us to know what/ if any symptoms you had in regards to erosion and your fill history. Thanks for the info, Teresa

I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems Chrissy, and truly hope that it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. I would be devastated too if it were to happen to me. Please keep us updated on your journey whether banded or not. You're in my prayers.

bumped for newbie

Hey La_Madam: I didn't know Lopez was trained by Ortiz. How long has Ortiz been doing bands? This is a surprise to me. I thought they were both certified by Inamed at the same time. CONFUSED!!

Maybe it was the batch of bands Lopez used that year is the reason for the erosions?? It is strange that all 6 were banded nearly the same time frame. This is why it is so important to report these incidents to Inamed so they can track all of this....Dr. Ortiz trained Lopez so does that make his techniques wrong? I have not heard of any cases of erosion from Ortiz since I have been banded( doesnt mean there arent any) but it is just very odd to have this many with one Dr. in the same time period.. Like I said it could be a bad batch of bands??

All this time I thought Lopez trained Ortiz. I honestly never knew Ortiz trained Lopez. I knew they were partners, but I was under the impression that Lopez had a lot more experience in bariatric surgery. If Ortiz did train Lopez, maybe he needs to sit in a few surgeries with Lopez to see if everything is being done correctly.

GOOD point Teresa: Dr. Billy was proctored by Lopez. When I went to Billy for my port protrusion thingy he stated that the reason this happened was because Lopez does not push the excess tubing up into the abdomen or trim the excess tubing both of which is the standard technique Billy uses. I think that the docs Lopez proctors take his training and then use it to perfect upon.

Lopez is very personable and caring but he doesn't follow it through when complications arise. Or at least he didn't in my case. In fact I was ignored and dismissed.

I was thinking about statistics and our Lopez dilemma and here is the mathematical approach to numbers of erosions that could occur. Also some hypothetical curiousities. If Dr. Lopez proctored in the United States wouldn't all the surgeons he trained use his technique? Teresa

Kathy: I couldn't agree more but the one thing that keeps bugging me about Lopez is he never gave me follow up care instructions of any kind. I was never told when to come back for a check up. Never told when to come back for a fill. Wasn't given guidelines for how to determine if and when I needed a fill. I was banded then released and given a hand shake. That was my follow up appt the day after surgery. Knowledge is a powerful thing.

I am not defending Lopez in any way just don't want us all freaking out. I think we have to look at the positives and focus on them. How many patients has he had? How many haven't had problems? We need to take good care of ourselfs, try to follow the band rules, have regular check ups and most of all think positive thoughts. I just don't want everyone including myself to worry their selfs sick over this. We are very lucky that everyone here shares their stories and we can all learn from them and be aware of the risk.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Catfanlover....Please tell us your SYMPTOMS and how this was discovered so we can all be on the lookout for this problem. I feel your sadness and I am so sorry.

I am really sorry to hear so many people are having problems. I know it must not only be devastating but scary as well. One of the things the Dr. that is going to band me said in his seminars is they found they need to stitch the area of the stomach where the band comes together differently and the % of erosions have come down.

How long after banding does this usually happen if it's gonna happen? Is there a time that passes and then you're considered over the hump so to speak or could it happen at any time?

I think it can happen any time

Beth, that's the first time I heard the topic of stitching the stomach discussed. Did they say any more at the seminar that you can share?

People don't always have symptoms. Three of my band buddies were getting normal fills under fluoroscopy when the fill doctor noticed the barium wasn't flowing through the band correctly. It's supposed to flow through the band, but with erosion the barium will flow "over" the side, sort of like a waterfall. Once they see that they schedule an endoscopy to confirm erosion. They usually remove the band at the same time as the endoscopy is done. So far, everyone that I know that had "suspected" erosion from seeing it under fluoro proved to really have it.

My understanding when they place the band around the stomach they bring the stomach up over the band and stitch is in place. The have found that by putting an extra suture where the band fastens helps against erosion. I had specifically asked him regarding what % of his patients had a problem with erosion and also if it decreased or increases with how long you had your band. He said he found no difference on how old the band was. He told me how many he had that had eroded but he also fixed some that where not his. Thats when he mentioned adding the extra stitch had decreasesd the problem I think he said he had 6 erode out of almost 1000 bands and so far none with the new technique. The lap band center in Port HUron Mi where I am going just done their 1000th band last month since they started in 2002. I know Dr. Bhesania is one of the Drs. that go around for inamed giving seminars and teaching Lap banding.