Hi all so I had the lapband placed Jan of 2011. Slowly was getting fills each month trying to get to the "sweet spot". Got down to 220 from hw of 275. Well in Oct went in for my monthly fill and it ended up being to much but I could still eat some things so I was going to try and take it easy until my next apt in Nov 3 weeks latter. Well the Sunday before my apt I got so stuck I couldn't swallow my own silva. So to the ER I went and they did an emergency unfill of about 5 cc's. Went in that following we'd for my scheduled apt and they put 3 cc's back in now that the swelling had gone down. 2 weeks latter I get my bill for both ER visit and fill apt and my insurance did not cover the unfill or the fill so that was $300 for the ER visit $250 per fill unfill. I could not afford that so I did not go back to get another fill for a few months I think it was Jan get 2 more cc's so now I'm back up to 7 cc's out of a 10 cc band. Go back in Feb get .5 cc's and am almost back to where I was when it started. Well in the few months of being at only 5 cc's I gain like 20 lbs back. Sill not covered by insurance so wait another year. 2013 get .3 cc's and now I'm am at 7.8 cc's. Still gained weight during this. And have always dealt with stuck episodes very often. My family got very used to me having to leave the table to go PB. I thought it was because of my teeth. I only had 1 molar and the 4 front top teeth to chew with all bottom btw. Spring fowawrd to this year Jan I got my teeth fixed so now I have a full head of teeth and can chew better. Still having stuck episodes often. So just to July teeth are healed well and I make an apt to get a fill. Go in and am told that they have found problems with the lapband and it causes the esophagus to dilate. So have to go for an uper GI. That looks good but no real restriction. Well at my apt I talked to my Dr about of this doesn't work wanting to go for a revision to Gastric bypass. She calls me the day after the uper GI and we talked and decided that my body is not seeming to be tolerating the band and with all my issues and the issues they have seen with the band to go ahead and start the process for the revision. Aug I decided I wanted to see if a slight unfill would help with some of the pain I am experiencing and thinking I might be experiencing silent reflux. So make another apt for Sept 8th. She tries to do the unfill but my port is angled and she can't get it so now I have to have it done under flora scope. And she wants me to have an EDG. Just had both apt this last tues Sept 20th. The dr that did the EDG found my z-line to be irregular did a biopsy and diagnosed me with GERD. so now here I sit waiting till Oct 19th for my second new patient apt and to start the process all over. And waiting for the byopsy results.

Wow, that's quite a negative experience with the band. Good luck with your appointment this week! Let us know how it goes!

i had a terrible experience with the band as well. I'm 2 weeks post revision to RNY and and I am mad at myself for not doing this years ago.

Byopsys ok got almost all apt for submission done if not all and now waiting to see what's next.

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