Hello! I am new to this forum and I am looking for some help/insight. I was banded in 2010 and lost over 90 pounds my first 15 months. Felt great and then I started having the same issues and problems that many people have, terrible reflux, vomiting, difficulty with solid food. Reflux so bad I can't lay down or eat. I am also having pain in my port site. Slider foods are the only thing I can eat and not get sick or get stuck. I get stuck on eggs!!! I am so over this lap band and deeply regret my choice. Several fills/Unfills/adjustments and I am still not where I need to be. My weight is creeping up close to surgery date weight and I am miserable most days. Anyone have the same issues? I have an appointment with a new surgeon next week (the surgeon that did my surgery is no longer in state) and I don't know what he will say. I am hoping and praying I can get a revision because I am miserable and uncomfortable daily. Any tips? Insurance issues? I am so appreciative of any support and insight.

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Wow listening to you all is really helpful and encouraging. I was banded in 2007 lost some weight I think it was mostly due to liquid diet after surgery, been struggling with it ever since. I have been feeling like a failure for many years now with it. I moved so I had to go to another dr for follow up, he made me feel that it was my fault that I don't know how to use the band, I had lots of heartburn so we emptied the band.... And I never went back to that dr. A year went by, more weight came on... I finally decided I have had enough and started doing research on revision surgery even though I was terrified. I was shocked to learn that revisions are very common now, so many people have issues with them (the band) and many surgeons don't even offer it anymore. Before I learned this I felt like I was all alone in the world and that it was my fault that I could not make it work. My husband has been telling me for years to get this band removed because I would have all these stuck episodes, be in so much pain and still obese. So finally I made up my mind, found a new doctor last August who is great, but about an hour drive, well worth it... Did all insurance requirements and now 2nd week into insurance review... Really hoping for approval on the first try, if they do approve I most likely will be having surgery in May as well. I already have my pre op clearances scheduled for mid April. Cannot wait to get this done and start over again and hopefully this time get there and stay there. I so appreciate everyone sharing your experiences and stories, definitely need this support!

Edited March 30, 201610 yr by UsernameTaken

Wow listening to you all is really helpful and encouraging. I was banded in 2007 lost some weight I think it was mostly due to liquid diet after surgery, been struggling with it ever since. I have been feeling like a failure for many years now with it. I moved so I had to go to another dr for follow up, he made me feel that it was my fault that I don't know how to use the band, I had lots of heartburn so we emptied the band.... And I never went back to that dr. A year went by, more weight came on... I finally decided I have had enough and started doing research on revision surgery even though I was terrified. I was shocked to learn that revisions are very common now, so many people have issues with them (the band) and many surgeons don't even offer it anymore. Before I learned this I felt like I was all alone in the world and that it was my fault that I could not make it work. My husband has been telling me for years to get this band removed because I would have all these stuck episodes, be in so much pain and still obese. So finally I made up my mind, found a new doctor last August who is great, but about an hour drive, well worth it... Did all insurance requirements and now 2nd week into insurance review... Really hoping for approval on the first try, if they do approve I most likely will be having surgery in May as well. I already have my pre op clearances scheduled for mid April. Cannot wait to get this done and start over again and hopefully this time get there and stay there. I so appreciate everyone sharing your experiences and stories, definitely need this support!

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Usernametaken

Sorry I'm new to this and don't know how to tag you. Your post sounds exactly like me. Hope you get that approval very soon. Please let me know what your surgery date is. Mine is May 6th so maybe we could keep in touch. Good luck with everything.

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Usernametaken

Sorry I'm new to this and don't know how to tag you. Your post sounds exactly like me. Hope you get that approval very soon. Please let me know what your surgery date is. Mine is May 6th so maybe we could keep in touch. Good luck with everything.

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Heather,

Definitely! Glad to know we are not alone:) I am still nervous about the revision and I am sure I will be freaking out before surgery but I am not letting fear stop me. I actually regret not get bypass done first time around.

Heatherg0907

I am in the second week of insurance review. I hope to hear something by the middle of next week. I will keep you posted on my happenings. Keep your head up, live in the moment and just think how happier and healthier you are going to be when this is all said and done. I am jealous of you already haha.

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Heatherg0907

I am in the second week of insurance review. I hope to hear something by the middle of next week. I will keep you posted on my happenings. Keep your head up, live in the moment and just think how happier and healthier you are going to be when this is all said and done. I am jealous of you already haha.

kstein01

Looks like me and you are on the same schedule I am also 2nd week into insurance review:) this wait is a drag... They told me it could take up to 30 days to review, I am ok with them taking time as long as it comes back approved lol

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Usernamtaken and heatherg0907 we all have similar stories. I am waiting on my insurance decision for the revision. I can't eat real food most days and this band has been more of a hassle than help. My last surgeon stopped using the band. My last appointment he called in nurses to see what the needle looked like for a fill. My new surgeon is now concerned with a slip and erosion. I am grateful for all the support in this forum

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@@Stacylynn1982

Yaaay for another one of us:) what are the symptoms that you have of possible erosion? I am concerned about this as well because my surgeon said if I have erosion he would remove the band I would have to heal then do the bypass and I want to do both in one which is what he normally does. He said that I don't have signs of erosion so he is not worried but I am still concerned that i am going to wake up and find out they didn't do revision

Edited March 31, 201610 yr by UsernameTaken

Hi!!! So glad to talk to you! My surgeon told me that my band was way way overfilled for too long. My initial surgery report had that on the day of surgery I already had over 2cc in my band. He said that should have never happened. I had close to 8 cc at one point. I lost 90 pounds, not long after my weight loss, I started worrying because I was actually still hungry. which leads him to believe there may be erosion but there could be slippage too because of the reflux and vomiting now ️. I just want to be able to eat food again. I am scheduled for a upper endoscopy, Barium swallow, and gastric emptying test. I live off slider food because anything else gets stuck and you know what happens then. I was stuck on yogurt 2 weeks ago, it's pretty much been a roller coaster of things. I really hope you don't have erosion. I am pulling for you one surgery is more than enough.

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Stacylynn1982

It's nice to talk to you. Crazy how the band messed so many of us up. I'm praying you get the approval soon and can feel better. I never had reflux but I do vomit almost everyday with the band and still manage to gain weight because I too can only eat slider foods. Good luck and please keep me updated!!

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Usernametaken

I too, regret not just doing the bypass the first time around so I understand how you are feeling. I had a ton of gas pains with the band and they lasted for a few months in my shoulders so I'm not looking forward to that again but I wouldn't let that stop me. I'm determined to succeed at this and live a much better life. Don't be nervous, we got this!!! So happy to have found this forum and meet some people in the same boat I am.

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Back in November I was vomiting a lot. Even in my sleep. I had to go to a new place for my band cause my original place closed. So the new surgeon sent me in for an upper GI. Come to find out I had a grossly enlarged esophagus and hiatal hernia and my band we over constricted. I went back to the surgeon the following week and he had to pull out all my Fluid. Keep in mind my band was a 10cc and he pulled out almost 11cc. He was like how on earth where you eating? I was like slider foods and lots of vomiting. Needless to say we discussed in having it removed because he absolutely hates the band and with my GERD and heart burn so bad again I am ready for this band to come out. Oh and btw I have gained 35 pounds since November. Just really sad and depressing. I have even been dieting and I can't get if off. Ugh.

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Kstein01

It is just so crazy to me to hear all these stories after all this time of me thinking I was all alone. I had my band I filled in December and the dr was amazed at how full it was. They got almost 11cc out of mine too. I do feel better since he removed to Fluid but I have also gained some weight. I am pretty proud of myself because I have been walking around 4 miles a day and I've been really watching what I'm eating but still no weight loss. It makes it very discouraging and at times I want to give up. But I don't because I know it is going to help me out after my surgery. I truly do know how you feel. I'm here if you want to talk.

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@@marimar66

You mentioned you are losing at a constant rate... What does that look like number wise?

I revised from band to RNY in December....I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!