Lap Band for 10 years, then developed slip and then "GAS" like pain in shoulder! I lost 132 pounds with my band and I LOVED it, until it slipped and a couple months after it slipped I developed a "Gas" like pain in my shoulder(you know like after your lap surgery) at first only after eating, by Thanksgiving it was pretty constant.

That is when I decided to proceed with the conversion to a sleeve. I was sleeved on 3/1/2016. It was a 5 1/2 hour procedure because my little fried the LAP Band had attached to my spleen and liver ( more so my spleen). I therefore ended up with a bruise on my spleen as well as my abdominal wall from the removal and repair of my spleen. It has been a slow recovery process. 4 days in the hospital and it took me 3 weeks to return to work and I am still pretty tired. I am so very happy to report that I no longer experience the pain in my shoulder and am enjoying soft foods.

If you are reading this and are contemplating a LAP-BAND for whatever reason. DON'T DO IT! I was just like you reading people's post and thinking.......that will never happen to me. Here is the honest truth! I DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE ISSUES LIKE OTHER'S HAVE. I lost 132 pound in 5 years. I found my sweet spot and it was 9 years and my band slipped for no logical reason. In MY research and talking to my ORIGINAL SURGEON who was one of the first LAP-Band trained docs in the US. Reported to me that.....this is what they see. Somewhere between the 8 - 12 year mark the average being about 10 years, the bands just slip.

Oh there are things you can control, your diet, your Water, how much you exercise, how much sleep you get........HERE IS THE BIG UNKNOWN! YOU CANNOT CONTROL HOW YOUR BODY WILL RESPOND TO THE FOREIGN BODY (THE LAP BAND_ IN YOUR BODY! ALSO medical devices only have a life of 10 - 12 years, so also keep that in mind. Please understand that I am a RN for almost 30 years. I read people's post very much the same way you are reading my post......That won't happen to me, I don't want my guts rerouted, I don't want 80% of my stomach removed...But I am here to tell you need to really evaluate how you eat, what you eat, and have a frank discussion with your surgeon about the Sleeve or the Bypass what would be the best option for you,and don't even discuss the band. SKIP the BAND! Its not worth the hassle!

What is wild is I was feeling guilty, and almost put my surgery off. So glad I didn't and glad I did not damage my spleen and liver beyond repair!

I am happy to report I am down 39 pounds and can't wait to start exercising for longer intervals. If you are considering a LAP BAND or are scared and revising like I was and would like to talk to me feel free to contact me. I will talk to you!

Good LUCK and God Bless out there in Weight Loss Land!

Whoa! I know from my anatomy and physiology classes how hard (close to impossible) it is to fix a damaged spleen. My surgeon convinced me not to go with Lap-Band...he's put in 3-5 over the past year and removed/revised 20-30.

In the long run you will be so much happier!