I'm very new here and trying to research my options.

I know absolutely no one with a band -- but many people who have had RNY. One of my coworkers mentioned his sister had the band done in Mexico and lost some weight but in his opinion didn't utilize the band as a tool but thought it'd be an easy fix.

The main reason I would prefer the band to RNY is that every person I've known who has had an RNY for more than 10 years has had at least one complication requiring hospitalization, and because I've seen that your gut is never the same again. My mom has had to have two hospitalizations -- one for stretching out the stoma because she had a tendency toward bulimia (the stoma ulcerated due to too much acid on it, she couldn't hold down anything), and then they had to do a revision because apparently her gut started twisting on itself, they said it was due to the specific procedure they were using at the time she had hers done that they learned was not the best about two years after her surgery. I've known others who have had severe gastric motility issues.

Now, even with all of that -- not a single person I've known who had RNY has said they would have changed their mind, even with the complications. I would rather go through what every person I have known with RNY has gone through combined than die like my grandmother did, in a nursing home unable to walk at 600 lbs. I think the weight loss would be worth it. My thought with the band is that if there was a complication it could be removed, and if there was no other way, it could be converted to an RNY.

Soooo.... for those of you who have had to have the band removed, did you convert to an RNY?

Had my band removed because I never lost weight with it and developed acid reflux. My daughter had the RNY about 9 months after my lap band and has lost over 140 lbs since May 08. She did have two strictures which caused the vomiting but had two endoscopies to open her up. This was in the beginning stages which I think if you're going to have strictures is when they happen. Since then she's been fine but she's still shy one year post-op. I haven't made up my mind yet of whether I will revise or not but if I do it's likely it would be RNY as my surgeon only does that or lapband. Good luck on your search I didn't vote, Nancy.

Ooops, sorry if you get my reply in your inbox, stumbled into the wrong forum.

I basically said I'd try a band first but you were looking for those who'd had bands removed.

I'm very new here and trying to research my options.

I know absolutely no one with a band -- but many people who have had RNY. One of my coworkers mentioned his sister had the band done in Mexico and lost some weight but in his opinion didn't utilize the band as a tool but thought it'd be an easy fix.

The main reason I would prefer the band to RNY is that every person I've known who has had an RNY for more than 10 years has had at least one complication requiring hospitalization, and because I've seen that your gut is never the same again. My mom has had to have two hospitalizations -- one for stretching out the stoma because she had a tendency toward bulimia (the stoma ulcerated due to too much acid on it, she couldn't hold down anything), and then they had to do a revision because apparently her gut started twisting on itself, they said it was due to the specific procedure they were using at the time she had hers done that they learned was not the best about two years after her surgery. I've known others who have had severe gastric motility issues.

Now, even with all of that -- not a single person I've known who had RNY has said they would have changed their mind, even with the complications. I would rather go through what every person I have known with RNY has gone through combined than die like my grandmother did, in a nursing home unable to walk at 600 lbs. I think the weight loss would be worth it. My thought with the band is that if there was a complication it could be removed, and if there was no other way, it could be converted to an RNY.

Soooo.... for those of you who have had to have the band removed, did you convert to an RNY?

Nooo, I wouldn't get RNY. It's just not a surgery type for me. Way too much regain and your options for a revision after bypass are limited. Once you stretch out your pouch/stoma you are done for life without a revision. I am one that would have failed with bypass. With bypass in the beginning you just sit on the couch and pounds melt off. After the honeymoon stage you are back to diet and exercise and that would have been me. I wouldn't have taken that time to change my eating habits, etc. I would have been one to lose well and then regain well. ;o)

I see too many people that several years after bypass they really are doing things the right way, eating well, exercise, etc. Yet they are regaining. I think part of it is that they stretch their stoma over time and the food just pours into the intestine and they really are hungry all the time.

After I had my band removed I opted for a sleeve. It has the fewest long term complications of banding, sleeves, bypass, and DS. Weight loss is as good as with bypass just not as fast. At five years you lose as much as you do with bypass but without all the risks.

Inamed came out with their long term stats on banding and they are showing 55-60% of your excess weight will be lost at the end of 5 years. Sleeves and bypass are 80%. Bypass is loaded with risks and complications (potential), sleeves are not. Not long term.

My whole reason for choosing the lap-band vs. the bypass was to avoid the complications and death rate of the bypass. I've had the band for almost four years, and have been miserable. I developed GERD shortly after my first fill, and have been fighting it ever since. I can't tolerate any fill because of the GERD, rendering the band relatively useless. I had the flu last month with some vomiting and I my band slipped. I'm having surgery tomorrow to have the band taken out. I had a small moment of panic when I heard it had to come out, but within a few minutes that passed and I've felt nothing but peace and relief since. The doc offered to replace the band (but noted it was more likely to slip again) or do a bypass, and I declined both these choices. If I had this much trouble with the band, there's no way I want to risk additional complications with a surgery I can't reverse. That's the right decision for me; only you can make the best decision for you. Good luck!! :thumbup:

I'm very new here and trying to research my options.

I know absolutely no one with a band -- but many people who have had RNY. One of my coworkers mentioned his sister had the band done in Mexico and lost some weight but in his opinion didn't utilize the band as a tool but thought it'd be an easy fix.

The main reason I would prefer the band to RNY is that every person I've known who has had an RNY for more than 10 years has had at least one complication requiring hospitalization, and because I've seen that your gut is never the same again. My mom has had to have two hospitalizations -- one for stretching out the stoma because she had a tendency toward bulimia (the stoma ulcerated due to too much acid on it, she couldn't hold down anything), and then they had to do a revision because apparently her gut started twisting on itself, they said it was due to the specific procedure they were using at the time she had hers done that they learned was not the best about two years after her surgery. I've known others who have had severe gastric motility issues.

Now, even with all of that -- not a single person I've known who had RNY has said they would have changed their mind, even with the complications. I would rather go through what every person I have known with RNY has gone through combined than die like my grandmother did, in a nursing home unable to walk at 600 lbs. I think the weight loss would be worth it. My thought with the band is that if there was a complication it could be removed, and if there was no other way, it could be converted to an RNY.

Soooo.... for those of you who have had to have the band removed, did you convert to an RNY?

I lost my band Sept. 19, 2008. I have gained about 50 lbs since that time. I considered a gastric sleeve, but have decided that I would have another band placed instead. My doctor thinks that the new band should do quiet well. I would not consider a RNY due to complications that my daugter experienced.

I want to have the new band placed this summer but my insurance will only cover it at the hospital I work in. I will have to pay out of pocket. I have thought maybe I should go ahead with the sleeve since I will have topay out of pocket and not take a chance on it not working.

Corliss

I lost my band Sept. 19, 2008. I have gained about 50 lbs since that time. I considered a gastric sleeve, but have decided that I would have another band placed instead. My doctor thinks that the new band should do quiet well. I would not consider a RNY due to complications that my daugter experienced.

I want to have the new band placed this summer but my insurance will only cover it at the hospital I work in. I will have to pay out of pocket. I have thought maybe I should go ahead with the sleeve since I will have topay out of pocket and not take a chance on it not working.

Corliss

There was a convention of some sort for bariatric surgeons a couple of weeks ago and they discussed repositioning or rebanding.. they claims stats are 70% chance of a future slip with a re-op.

I'd really think long and hard about the sleeve. It's easier anyway.

My whole reason for choosing the lap-band vs. the bypass was to avoid the complications and death rate of the bypass. I've had the band for almost four years, and have been miserable. I developed GERD shortly after my first fill, and have been fighting it ever since. I can't tolerate any fill because of the GERD, rendering the band relatively useless. I had the flu last month with some vomiting and I my band slipped. I'm having surgery tomorrow to have the band taken out. I had a small moment of panic when I heard it had to come out, but within a few minutes that passed and I've felt nothing but peace and relief since. The doc offered to replace the band (but noted it was more likely to slip again) or do a bypass, and I declined both these choices. If I had this much trouble with the band, there's no way I want to risk additional complications with a surgery I can't reverse. That's the right decision for me; only you can make the best decision for you. Good luck!! :thumbup:

My experience as been similar, with the GERD, so that I can't tolerate fills that are effective in helping me lose weight. So after an initial weight loss of 25 lbs, which has stayed off, I've been stable for about 2 years, although I need to lose 50-60 pds to be at best weight. Since an upper GI showed signs of esophageal dilation above the band, which may not be reversable, the doc says that band needs to come out. He would like to do an RNY, but I've decided I don't want that - too radical an alteration in how the organs work for my level of overweight. Because I'm able to exercise regularly, go for long walks, etc., I don't have many of the usual co-mobidities. So I'm not ready to have an RNY... Keeping my eyes out for the new, improved Phen-fen.

My experience as been similar, with the GERD, so that I can't tolerate fills that are effective in helping me lose weight. So after an initial weight loss of 25 lbs, which has stayed off, I've been stable for about 2 years, although I need to lose 50-60 pds to be at best weight. Since an upper GI showed signs of esophageal dilation above the band, which may not be reversable, the doc says that band needs to come out. He would like to do an RNY, but I've decided I don't want that - too radical an alteration in how the organs work for my level of overweight. Because I'm able to exercise regularly, go for long walks, etc., I don't have many of the usual co-mobidities. So I'm not ready to have an RNY... Keeping my eyes out for the new, improved Phen-fen.

Well I had hoped I would be one who could keep their weight off with diet and exercise. Well it didn't work for me. I have continued to gain wt and hurt my wrist lifting wts. Now I am limited to walking. I am scheduled to have my band replaced June 19. I am so looking forward to it. I decided agains having the sleeve done, but reserve the right to have it done at a later time if for some reason this band doesn't work. I mean by "doesn't work" if it slips again or if I am unable to maintain my wt. If I don't loose back down to goal, that is not a big deal with me, but I hope I can. I mainly just don't want to get any larger than I currently am. ( cannot imagine having the RNY as my daughter almost died and is currently disabled due to complications from RNY. I can accept that I may never be thin again, but I am willing to do some things differently in order to keep my band.

1. I will not have it any tighter than absolutely neccessary to dim my appetite. I will not use it as a restrictive device. It is my job to do the work, not the job of the band.

2. If and when I do get a stuckage, I will go on liquids once it is past and stay on them at least 24 hours.

3. If I have continuous problems, I will immediately have all the fluid pulled out and go on liquids at least two weeks.

The band was the best thing I ever did for myself health wise and I am still 140 lbs down from where I started. I am just greatful I am able to borrow the money to have it replaced. Good luck to all in what ever choices you make to deal with the loss of your bands.

Corliss :grouphug:

Corliss,

Sorry your daughter had such comps from her RNY. Do you mind me asking what they were. My daughter had hers a year ago and besides a stricture has been complication free so far. My RNY is this Thursday. Thanks Nancy.

Corliss,

Sorry your daughter had such comps from her RNY. Do you mind me asking what they were. My daughter had hers a year ago and besides a stricture has been complication free so far. My RNY is this Thursday. Thanks Nancy.

Initially she just had nutritional deficits then two years out her intestine was strangulated in her omentum. She became septic and had to spend a long long time in hospital with about a month in MICU, much of it on a ventilator. She had much of her colon and intestine removed which had died off, an ostomy for a while, multiple strictures. She has had over 20 related surgerys due to strictures and hernia repairs. She has had multiple hernias and has major nutritional deficits. She has had to have supplemental tube feedings for several months after getting out of the hospital. She has had numerous infections in her incisions, then due to the nutritional issues she has major dental problems. She has had almost every tooth in her head worked on, multiple root canals and caps, many of which crumble anyway. She now has short gut syndrom and has had to go on disability because she has to go to the bathroom about 12 times a day. She cannot hold out physically to do a job either. Her life will never ever be the same. It is horrible because she desperately needed WLS as she weighed about 350 with major injuries to long bones in her legs from an automobile accident. I would personally favor the Sleeve due to the fact that your intestines are not if my 2nd band doesn't work.

I hope things go well for you. I know noone can ever perdict the future and no one knows anyone elses situation, but as you can see I have strong reasons for feeling so strongly about the RNY. I know several other people that have had major complications from rNY and I know of two that have died from them. The scary thing is the complications are just within the first week or two but can be years later.

Take care.

Corliss

Thanks Corliss for sharing that with me, that's awful! I know being a mother of a daughter who also had it done that it is really scary when there are complications with it and hers has been so mild compared to your daughter's. I hope your daughter's health improves and it does show the dangers of WLS, RNY in your case and how real it is and unpredictable it can be. If I was able to lose weight the band I would consider the sleeve but I need the malabsorption of the RNY. Take care, Nancy.

Corliss, that is indeed a shame what your Daughter has had to go through.

It is unfortunate that all WLS have their risks and side effects. It is FORTUNATE, however, that complications such as those your daughter experienced are very, very rare. I experienced life-threatening difficulties with my band, and I also recognize that what i went through was a rare experience. BUT.....those types of experiences ARE becoming more common with the Band as time goes on.

No, there is no perfect procedure. We just choose what we think will be the right path, follow the rules, and hope for the best!

HH

Corliss, that is indeed a shame what your Daughter has had to go through.

It is unfortunate that all WLS have their risks and side effects. It is FORTUNATE, however, that complications such as those your daughter experienced are very, very rare. I experienced life-threatening difficulties with my band, and I also recognize that what i went through was a rare experience. BUT.....those types of experiences ARE becoming more common with the Band as time goes on.

No, there is no perfect procedure. We just choose what we think will be the right path, follow the rules, and hope for the best!

HH

It is so scary that we have to go through these things. Who knows what the future brings? Life as a morbidly obese person is pretty scary too!

Corliss :grouphug:

A GREAT BIG HUG to ya, Corliss!

For all you've gone through with your Daughter and yourself.

You have my admiration, and my prayers. :grouphug:

HH

My experience as been similar, with the GERD, so that I can't tolerate fills that are effective in helping me lose weight. So after an initial weight loss of 25 lbs, which has stayed off, I've been stable for about 2 years, although I need to lose 50-60 pds to be at best weight. Since an upper GI showed signs of esophageal dilation above the band, which may not be reversable, the doc says that band needs to come out. He would like to do an RNY, but I've decided I don't want that - too radical an alteration in how the organs work for my level of overweight. Because I'm able to exercise regularly, go for long walks, etc., I don't have many of the usual co-mobidities. So I'm not ready to have an RNY... Keeping my eyes out for the new, improved Phen-fen.

I am with you on RNY. I didn't want it either. What about a sleeve?