Long story, short: I was having a lot of reflux and my doc unfilled me lat week. I spent a week on liquids and had a UGI scheduled for Monday for him to check that the swelling and dilation had gone down. It didn't. He admitted me to the hospital and scheduled for me revision surgery. I went into surgery understanding that he wanted to reposition the band... but came out of surgery hearing that he needed to REMOVE the band due to the inflamation in my stomach.

I have to be bandless for at least 90 days - he said that will allow my stomach to heal and the inflamation and swelling to completely go away. They we can talk about my options for getting it replaced.

In the meantime I have so many questions. He has me on full liquids for 2 days during recovery. What did you first eat? Did it go down OK? Stay down OK? Did you find that your stomach shrank any and that it took less food to feel full than before you were banded?

I know after reading many of the threads in this forum, many do not want their band back - but I DO!!! I was banded for just shy of 2 years and had many more GOOD times than BAD with my band. I've lost 93 lbs. and don't want to gain any. Luckily, my doctor is going to work with me and prescribe an appetite suppressant to help keep me in line during the interim... Right now, I'm just concerned with starting to eat like a "normal person" again. What did you eat? How long were you on liquids before eating? He didn't say anything about a mushy stage - just liquids, then do my own thing. Help???

I was having alot of pain and trouble swallowing also. Unfortunately what was wrong didn't show up on any tests. I had pinhole perforations under the band, so I was about to be in a lot of trouble, but it got taken care of in time.

I'm also a nurse. I'm officially off two weeks, so if you have it done early in the week, it's reasonable you'd only miss one weekend I think. The removal for me was a little worse than the putting in. But I've had it so long, I had a lot of scar tissue and while he went in over the same incisions, he had to make them bigger, so I have staples. I'm 5 days post op, and I feel pretty good. Little sore, little itchy, little lumpy swelling but all tolerable. And I've eaten oatmeal and pudding with no pain or nausea, and nothing came back up. If I wasn't sore, I'd have done cartwheels : )

Thanks for the info, kslexi. I found out about the slip on Friday, and was hoping the doctor's office would call today with a surgery date, but didn't hear anything. I know I am being impatient, but like I said before, I'm ready to get it out! I read a few other posts from ladies who had the band out, and said that afterwards, it felt different when the ate or drank anything. One of them said she could feel when something hit the bottom of her stomach. Have you experienced anything like that? And I am so glad you are able to eat without vomiting and pain, and that they were able to get your band out in time.

Actually, for me, it's been the opposite. In having it so long, I was so used to feeling everything move every cm through me. Now I swallow and it's gone. Very weird sensation. I'm not used to normal anymore, lol. Good luck with your surgery, whenever it is. Let us know you're ok when it's all done : )