Hi all,

I'm having issues with my band and my doctor is saying we may need to remove it. If so the option is to either simply remove or to remove and if possible switch to a bypass. I'm very nervous and am wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experience?

A little background: I had my lapband in 2007 and for the first few years I did great. I lost 145 pounds. At about the 4 year mark I started having issues with heartburn and night cough (basically, I would wake up choking on fluid0 and had a series of unfills that put me at about 50% restriction. I've been there for awhile and over the last 6 years I've gained back about 100 lbs. However, after a cold in January I started having serious issues. I could eat food, but when I would drink fluids without food they would get stuck above the band and I was again waking up choking. Doctor did a complete unfill last week and I am feelig better. She wants me to wait 2 months with NO fill so I can heal some, and then we can try small refills to see if I can g3t restriction again without the issues. She is doubtful of success and wants me to start thinking about if it fails do we remove or do we remove and convert to Bypass.

For those of you who chose the conversation, what helped you make that decision? And, how has life with Bypsass been different than with the band? I really appreciate any insight anyone can share!

Lori

I had a band placed back in May 2011 (or was it 2010) did great at first until my gallbladder pitched a fit and had to be removed. It was a straight uphill climb after that. I started at 239 with my band, got down somewhere around 185 then shot back up to 242 when I consulted my surgeon about a revision. I didn’t have any major complications with my band, just couldn’t get back into the zone. I had enough when water started to get “stuck” and i would have to pb into a plastic bag while driving.

Fast forward to 2017 at 242 I asked a different surgeon (due to location, still love my original surgeon) about a revision.

8/8/2017 I was revised from band to SIPS DS. No hospital stay, it was done in one outpatient surgery. As with almost all band patients I had a lot of scar tissue but my surgeon was able to remove the band and complete the DS in one. So thankful for that.

On 10/20/2017 at 7:31 PM, mrsto said:

Omaj, thanks for your response..... I haven't logged onto this site in a few weeks, but I'm wondering how you're doing 1.5 months post op? I saw my surgeon today and I'm still waiting to see what insurance will approve. We decided to put back 4cc of Fluid into my completely empty band; see if I tolerate it. If I don't, that's more ammunition to make a case with insurance. It's such a game, but I guess that's what we have to do. If I can't get back into banded life comfortably, I'll have the band out. Still not sure about the bypass. I hear some, like you, do very well right out of surgery. Then I hear others who had a lot of complications right out of the gate. Ugh.....I wish I had a crystal ball!

@mrsto I'm still doing very well, thank you. ☺ I go to see Dr. Ganta (my surgeon) this Wednesday for 6 week follow up. I did hit a 3 week stall that lasted 3 weeks, but am now starting to lose weight again. I'm told this is COMPLETELY normal, and have read several posts from people referring to the 3 week stall. I stopped weighing daily & weigh once a week now (as difficult as it is to do). Am just focusing on 64 oz. water, eating as directed, increase walking slowly but at least 5 days a week. The 2 days I don't get out, I do careful exercise inside such as Tai Chi, and added arm exercises of 3 lb. wts. Keep me posted on your journey, it'll all work out. We went through the whole process of trying different saline amts. prior to my Lapband revision with Gastric bypass, and I wish I had known it was what contributed to my severe reflux (GERD) - but am SO thankful it resolved immediately after! God bless you!