I had my band removed 2 weeks after I got it (October 2nd). It's a long story but in a nutshell my actual band (not my port or incision) became infected. It was very painful and very scary. I was devestated. I swore that I would never do it again however, after a month and a half of healing and recovery, I am starting to reconsider. I am considering having it put back in for a few reasons. One, I am out $15,000. Second, I am still big and still need to get healthy. Apparently this RARELY happens. Alot of ports become infected and have to be removed but they can easily be put back in. They don't know why it happened but they do assure me that it is very, very rare.

I am looking for anyone that this may have happened to or anyone who has had it removed and then put back in. Am I crazy to put myself through this again? My life and my health are more important to me than losing weight but I still really want the life that the life band can provide for me. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated!!

Hi JMH-

My heart goes out to you. What a challenging journey! God bless, and you're self-pay, too!

I'm not writing with any brilliant insight or answers.

I recently had my band out, too, but I was fortunate to have it for four years and my insurance paid for it. Now I'm investigating other options. The thing that I really liked about the band is that it wasn't really altering how my body metabolized the food. I've been reluctant to have pieces of my digestive track removed or rerouted.

I'm seriously considering the sleeve. However it's still in the early days of the procedure (meaning that there aren't a lot of people that are 5+ years out). The medical community is watching closely and assembling the data. However it looks very hopeful.

The other day I was wondering if I should try and get rebanded, too. Hopefully I could have the band for a few more years -- then ifhave complications again I could go for another procedure... but it's an odd thing to know that I might not keep the band for the long haul.

I've been talking with a lot of bandsters who are 4+ years out and there seems to be a lot of us who are experiencing complications.

However, I'm sending prayers that whatever procedue you are guided to do, it works beautifully for you!!!

I have nothing to contibute as far as knowledge about this, but read your post and feel horrible that you had to go through that. It is a wicked blow when you are out physically and monetarily. You got nothing out of your money but pain and misery. I can see where you are conflicted. I always wonder if something happened to my band if I would do it again. My surgery was 17,500, and I was selfpay also. I think I would want to, but I am not sure financially it would be possible. I hope both of you find the answers that are best for you. I will pray to help you find the answers your seaking. I wish you both good health and happiness.

My opinion is just based off of assumptions, because I don't really know what goes into infection of the band.

But I always assumed there's just certain people whose body rejects artificial things.. Like some people's bodies reject silicone implants--and I assumed that meant they always will.

Anyway, my point is, not knowing the truth in how that works, I would be leery to put another piece of silicon in, if your body rejected it the first go around. I thought it would be very,very rare for someone's body to reject it--but if it rejects it, it always would (kind of thing). I would definitely do some research on people whose bodies reject things (try looking at silicone implants for an idea, I'm sure there's more info on that than on people rejecting the band).

What is your docs insight on it? I would probably look at something like the sleeve from here if I were you, but that's just my 2 cents!!