I just found out on Saturday that my band has eroded and must be removed. I am totally devistated. I have had the band for 2 years and have lost 85 lbs. I am terrified of regaining the weight. I am trying to do some research. I really do not understand what has happened. The doctor took all of the restriction out, but I do not understand why I am told that it will not heal itself. Any thoughts?

Hi Sallianne, I just read your post and was curious about your symptoms. You said your erosion was found by random endoscopy...why did you have the endoscopy? I have just completed 3 weeks of a liquid diet and I have one to go before I go back to the surgeon to see if I have erosion. I ate a little bit of solid food 3X while I was on vacation, which I wish I hadn't done, but I've been all liquid since I got back. I've lost about 10 pounds in the process. I'm sorry you have to have your band removed - I heard the same statistics that you did about regaining the weight, so I hope Headhunter is right that there are many out there who don't regain. I don't know of any support groups for "debanded" people, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one. Don't give up hope. Perhaps if you start your own thread on the topic you will find others. Let us know how you make out - best of luck!

Mary

Hi Mary

I am a heart patient and was hospitalized. While running tests they found my hemoglobin to be low, so they ordered a colonoscopy and endoscopy to determine if anything was wrong. The dr. that did the procedure was not my bariatric surgeon. I had asked if my BS could do it, but he was going to be out of town, so their office advised me to use the dr. recommended by the hospital. I had it done and went for the follow up appt and was told that my stomach was severely irritated and possible drops of blood inside could be causing the low hemoglobin. i asked her how my lap band was and she said it was fine. she gave me photos of the procedure and sent me on my way. afterwards, i had a scheduled appt. with my bariatric surgeon and thought i would take the photos to show him and note in my files. when he saw the pictures - you could see my band from inside my stomach. i never even made the connection, especially since the one dr. told me my band was fine. My BS said no way should you see the band in the photos and showed me where it was corroded and said it needed to be removed. I was told i would have to let it heal for about 6 mos. I probably will not be able to have any type of replacement because i am at goal weight with a normal BMI now. I am so scared that I will regain my 115 pound weight loss or alot of it. I am very strict with my diet and hope that I can continue so without the band, but from what i've read, it seems almost impossible. i need to find a website or support group to help me through this. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. I appreciate this site and everyones help. Thank you.

Hi, Grandma;

You know, I think I WOULD push for the endoscopy. That way, you/they would know for sure if there was erosion, and what stage it was at.

The problem with erosion (one of the problems) is that it can often prevent you from having ANY future WLS procedures, including a new Band. So, you really, really want to KNOW what is going on down there. That way, a treatment protocol can be established and you can solve the problem.

The endoscopy is really a simple procedure, I've had a number of them. And they take some nice pictures, too.

It's always best to know EXACTLY what you are up against, and the sooner the better.

Keep us posted, please!

HH

HH

you are so positive.....i need some of that right now. I'm glad you are doing well.

is it your understanding that following the 6 month waiting period your doctor will re-install the existing band or will you have to purchase a new one? because the failure rate, especially from erosion, is represented as so low, i was wondering if the doctor indicated an intention to re-install at no charge. most lap band patients are paying this out of pocket and can ill afford another procedure.

my dr. indicated that i would have to wait 6 mos. for my stomach to heal. he talked about the gastric sleeve, but also said insurance would not pay for it because technically i am not overweight anymore.

is it your understanding that following the 6 month waiting period your doctor will re-install the existing band or will you have to purchase a new one? because the failure rate, especially from erosion, is represented as so low, i was wondering if the doctor indicated an intention to re-install at no charge. most lap band patients are paying this out of pocket and can ill afford another procedure.

You could never hold on to a band and replace it at a later time. Always it requires a new band.

Erosion is a risk we all take with this surgery. It isn't the doctor's fault, no reason he should pay for it. It would be like if you took a new antibiotic and you turned out to be allergic to it. It's not the doctor's fault, he had no way of knowing.

Lots of things in medicine... you don't know if it will work until you try it.

You really can't reband an eroded person, if they eroded once they are very likely to do so again.

were you overweight when you got the sleeve put in?

were you overweight when you got the sleeve put in?

No, I was at goal. 20.8BMI.

so you were at goal weight....excellent. Did you have to pay for it yourself or did insurance cover it?

so you were at goal weight....excellent. Did you have to pay for it yourself or did insurance cover it?

My insurance would have paid for a bulk of it due to the severe band problems I was having but I didn't want to jump through hoops and such and most of all, I wanted my original surgeon so I decided to self pay.

I am not 'eroded' but have been diagnosed with 'herniated lap band above the diaphram' according to my last upper GI. I can tell you that I'm having chest pain, some other symptoms too. WHAT THE HELL!! Ins is still denying my appeal, I've consulted legal council. Whomever the policy administrator is-whenever they respond to the inquiries will be named in the lawsuit blah fkn blah. HATE litigation. Oh well, they'll have to pay all legal fees and court costs eventually plus the surgery.

Still trying to deal in the meantime. So, any suggestions? I started a thread "peer consult" and not much has happened since but more tests and trying to keep up with work and home.

Has anyone had or have a herniated lap band? It would seem logical remove/revise to another procedure. All of these sypmtoms are the same as my hiatal hernia only more chest pain. HELP!! My surgeon wants me to go w/the rny revision, right now I just need the band out but don't want two surgeries.

I am not 'eroded' but have been diagnosed with 'herniated lap band above the diaphram' according to my last upper GI. I can tell you that I'm having chest pain, some other symptoms too. WHAT THE HELL!! Ins is still denying my appeal, I've consulted legal council. Whomever the policy administrator is-whenever they respond to the inquiries will be named in the lawsuit blah fkn blah. HATE litigation. Oh well, they'll have to pay all legal fees and court costs eventually plus the surgery.

Still trying to deal in the meantime. So, any suggestions? I started a thread "peer consult" and not much has happened since but more tests and trying to keep up with work and home.

Has anyone had or have a herniated lap band? It would seem logical remove/revise to another procedure. All of these sypmtoms are the same as my hiatal hernia only more chest pain. HELP!! My surgeon wants me to go w/the rny revision, right now I just need the band out but don't want two surgeries.

If you are not obese anymore they don't have to pay for a revision. If you have WLS benefits then they do have to treat the existing band problem.

If you have a lot of swelling right now then a revision may not be possible until the swelling subsides. (

Wasa! There you are. I was hoping you would respond. Have you ever seen this before? herniated lap band above the diaphram? This freakin hurts!! And yet I'm still FAT. All the fluid was removed from my band and even tho it hurts i can eat grapes, citrus, broccoli, all kinds of fiberous foods i haven't eaten in 3 years. I just think patients who have a hiatal hernia to begin with aren't the best candidates for successful banding. Poor choice on my part. Expensive lesson.

So i saw it (and can feel it) pop above the muscle of the diaphram on the flouroscopy monitor. The radiologist pointed it out. Now i know why i have constant chest pain and my voice is often raspy.

Wasa! There you are. I was hoping you would respond. Have you ever seen this before? herniated lap band above the diaphram? This freakin hurts!! And yet I'm still FAT. All the Fluid was removed from my band and even tho it hurts i can eat grapes, citrus, broccoli, all kinds of fiberous foods i haven't eaten in 3 years. I just think patients who have a hiatal hernia to begin with aren't the best candidates for successful banding. Poor choice on my part. Expensive lesson.

So i saw it (and can feel it) pop above the muscle of the diaphram on the flouroscopy monitor. The radiologist pointed it out. Now i know why i have constant chest pain and my voice is often raspy.

You are always welcome to PM or email me. Anytime!!!! Always and forever.

I'm not sure of the phrase herniated lap band, are you referring to a slip?

Do you have my email address? I'll PM it to you.

i wish more people who are considering getting a lap band would read through this thread.

I feel so bad for people who are so happy they are getting band surgery. They are only asking for trouble and they don't know it.

Well I for one am EXTREMELY happy with my band. I'm down 108lbs in six months and have had ZERO problems much like the rest of my fellow bandsters that were banded with Cincinnati Weight Loss Center.