I wanted to share my experience.

I was banded on 9/16/08.

On 1/21/09 I woke up feeling bloated. I though I had gas.

The following Monday, 1/26 I went to see my regular physician, palpation revealed a hard mass at the port and she contacted my bariatric surgeon. The word that came up was hernia. My doctor ordered a CAT SCAN.

I had the CAT SCAN on thursday 1/29.

On saturday morning 1/31 I received a call from my doctor indicating that there was air in my abdomen cavity and to go to the nearest ER as soon as possible.

Called a friend and went to Kaiser in San Rafael.

The CAT SCAN made the rounds and the situation became very severe.

I had surgery that same day 1/31to remove the band who had eroded and created a hole in my stomach. My stomach and liver had begun fusing and it showed a have a lot of scarring.

Two days later on 2/2 I had surgery again to fight wide spread infection.

I then spent 3 weeks in the hospital fighting for my life. I do not remember the first 10 days. 1/31- 2/20.

My lapband is in the pathology dept and I am seeing my doctor tomorrow to remove one last drain.

I am extremely weak and recovery is expecting to take weeks.

I understand this is very rare but I wanted to give everyone a heads up that you must go to the doctor if you are feeling gassy or bloated for more then a day. I was not very uncomfortable and the only reason I called my doc was because of a friend who insisted. Had I not, I would have died as the surgery was just in time.

The band was supposed to be the new and improved one.

Best wishes on your recovery, that must really be traumatic for you. Do you know exactly which band it was? Also, how many Lap band surgeries has your surgeon performed?

:thumbup: Did you have the Realize Band? That is so scary. I'm so glad you took action when you did. Thanks for sharing with us!

Thank you. I am going to find out and write down what model it was. I know my bariatric surgeon who is extremely experienced had mentioned it was a newer model.

I am no longer a candidate for bariatric surgery due to the scarring and I will miss the band. I had lost 44 lb in five months easily and without stress and was very happy with the pace of loss. I have lost another 16lb for a total 60lb between the hospital and home.

The irony is I am on the post lapband diet and eating basically a yogurt for Breakfast, a sugar free pudding a lunch and an apple sauce for diner because of how traumatized my stomach was.

As I get more details I will post them here.

Wow that's pretty traumatic. Erosion seems to be a pretty tricky thing and it's amazing to me that something like that can be happening inside you and you not really know. Glad your friend insisted and I wish you a speedy recovery, Nancy.:thumbup:

Thank you for sharing this, and I hope you continue healing. I'm really glad your friend insisted you see the doctor.

Wow! I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. My prayers are with you.

You're right...........like any other surgery the LB can hold great risk and I think we forget this sometimes.

Thanks for sharing.........

You should definitely obtain the product identification number and your medical records. Then call a personal injury lawyer. If the product hasn't been recalled, I don't know if they could do anything for you, but I would still check into it. i work for a personal injury lawyer that deals with medical device malfunctions, and it sounds like that is definitely what happened to you! Please let us know when you find out exactly what band you had. Good luck and blessings in your recovery!

By the way, to all of you folks who are about to get banded, it is a good idea to get the nurse to write down the Product ID for you just in case something like this should ever happen to you! I got my nurse to write down the number on the back of my lap band card that goes in my wallet. If you ever need to file a lawsuit against the product manufacturer, this number will be vital to your case.

I am so sorry that you had to go through this. I also had a very bad experience with my band, and it was removed last year.

This kind of thing DOES happen, and my feeling is that it happens more than we are aware...a LOT more.

Last year, my Surgeon told me that it is his feeling that the band will be taken off the market in the next few years because of increasing incidents like this. He is known as a specialist in the area of problems with the Lap band, and that is why I went to him.

I am not opposed to the band, even though, like the OP, my experience with the band almost killed me....a couple of times, in fact. The band has changed the lives of many people, MOSTLY for the better. But, there is a dark side to the Band that is often glossed over.

Problems like this is one of the main reason why I continually emphasize the importance of selecting a VERY EXPERIENCED surgeon....experienced in the LAP BAND, not just a general surgeon. I also encourage people to have their Surgery close to home, if possible, so that when problems like this arise, you will have easy access to the doctor that installed it. I know that there are a lot of people who have had successful surgeries in Mexico, but when I hear stories like this one, I have to wonder what people are thinking when they go outside of the country (or even outside of their own state) simply to save some money.

The band can work wonders for most people; But for others, the cost is just way too high....and I'm not talking about the money.

Thank you for all the support and the recommendations. I do have the serial number for the band. I agree with everything the previous poster said and I will miss my band.

I am so sorry that you had to go through this. I also had a very bad experience with my band, and it was removed last year.

This kind of thing DOES happen, and my feeling is that it happens more than we are aware...a LOT more.

Last year, my Surgeon told me that it is his feeling that the band will be taken off the market in the next few years because of increasing incidents like this. He is known as a specialist in the area of problems with the Lap band, and that is why I went to him.

I am not opposed to the band, even though, like the OP, my experience with the band almost killed me....a couple of times, in fact. The band has changed the lives of many people, MOSTLY for the better. But, there is a dark side to the Band that is often glossed over.

Problems like this is one of the main reason why I continually emphasize the importance of selecting a VERY EXPERIENCED surgeon....experienced in the LAP BAND, not just a general surgeon. I also encourage people to have their Surgery close to home, if possible, so that when problems like this arise, you will have easy access to the doctor that installed it. I know that there are a lot of people who have had successful surgeries in Mexico, but when I hear stories like this one, I have to wonder what people are thinking when they go outside of the country (or even outside of their own state) simply to save some money.

The band can work wonders for most people; But for others, the cost is just way too high....and I'm not talking about the money.

I agree with and relate to every bloody thing you have written except for the MX thing. I am alive and kicking BECAUSE I went to the best of the best in Mexico.

Good post.

I agree with and relate to every bloody thing you have written except for the MX thing. I am alive and kicking BECAUSE I went to the best of the best in Mexico.

Good post.

Hi, M!

I thought you might chime in on this one!

I DO understand that many, many people have had great success with their surgery in MX, and that often the price is the deciding factor as to whether or not they are able to HAVE the surgery at all. I guess it just comes down to one's comfort level. And, I guess one factor that should be a consideration when choosing your surgeon in MX is whether or not you can find a LOCAL provider that will assist you if there is an emergency. Some local Drs won't touch you if your surgery was done elswhere, so I would have to suggest that as a PART of the process of finding a surgeon in MX, you should locate and get a committment from a LOCAL provider that they will service both your fills, and will treat you if a problem comes up.

Other elements to the MX question would be the dramatically increasing drug violence (particularly along the borders) and what seems to be the increasing number of kidnappings of Americans, who are then held for ransom.

Just all things to at least CONSIDER when choosing a surgeon. My thoughts also apply to those who travel large distances within our own borders to have surgery.....I think it's simply a BETTER idea to have your surgery close to home....if at all possible.

I chiming in on this one as I've noticed that many people have to travel far or choose to travel far to have surgeries. I'm speaking of all WLSs not just LB. It might be me but there is comfort with knowing my surgeon and his team are only 45 minutes away from me. With my daughter's RNY and my LB (now gone bye bye) and my revision (hopefully in my future) and the few times we've had emergency situations that could only have been dealt with a team familiar with WLS I could or would not choose a surgeon much further away than that. This of course has limited the type of surgery revision I choose but I suppose I'd rather them be close than have to worry when something goes wrong and who would treat me in that situation. Nancy:smile:

Wow, sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing your story.

I hope you start feeling better.

Hi, M!

I thought you might chime in on this one!

I DO understand that many, many people have had great success with their surgery in MX, and that often the price is the deciding factor as to whether or not they are able to HAVE the surgery at all. I guess it just comes down to one's comfort level. And, I guess one factor that should be a consideration when choosing your surgeon in MX is whether or not you can find a LOCAL provider that will assist you if there is an emergency. Some local Drs won't touch you if your surgery was done elswhere, so I would have to suggest that as a PART of the process of finding a surgeon in MX, you should locate and get a committment from a LOCAL provider that they will service both your fills, and will treat you if a problem comes up.

Other elements to the MX question would be the dramatically increasing drug violence (particularly along the borders) and what seems to be the increasing number of kidnappings of Americans, who are then held for ransom.

Just all things to at least CONSIDER when choosing a surgeon. My thoughts also apply to those who travel large distances within our own borders to have surgery.....I think it's simply a BETTER idea to have your surgery close to home....if at all possible. :thumbup:

What you describe is a risk we all take. If you go down the street for surgery to Dr. Jones and then Dr. Jones dies, moves, or retires... who will do your own follow up care? It is not a matter of going to Mexico and there is no follow up care, it is a matter of going to ANY doctor and hoping he is still in practice for the life of your band.

Comfort level is an issue, MX isn't for everyone. Too many people get their education on countries outside the US from yellow journalism and individual cases. Those people are too stupid to leave the US and they should stay in the US. If people aren't willing to educate themselves about the world around them they should stay in the US or not have surgery at all.

I agree with you about the violence in Mexico. It is a serious problem and this is why I push location so hard. Not all of Mexico is a horror and not every border city is of concern. This is exactly why my list of good doctors in MX is shrinking. Location is very much an issue. But you know what? The problem is in the US now too. There are places I won't go to in the US and there are places I won't go to in Mexico.

This is another reason I love the concept of sleeves over banding. The weight loss is better, it's faster, there are FAR fewer long term potential complications, and no aftercare. If for some reason you do need aftercare you are not stuck with band surgeons only. You can go to any general surgeon, GI surgeon, or bariatric surgeon. Not just band surgeons.