Hi I'm newly subscribed, although I feel I'm probably a bit of a foreigner!

I was banded first in May 1999 by Dr Vincent Frering in Lyon France (some may have heard of him?). My first band was a Lapband and while I successfully lost all of my excess weight it was at a cost. I suffered with really bad reflux and after about two years developed a really severe pain in my upper left-hand abdomen. After loads of tests to try and find out what was causing the pain and the reflux and not getting any conclusive answer, the only thing that alleviated everything was to remove all of the fill Fluid. Clearly this defeated the object of having a band and I fairly swiftly regained about 70 pounds of my lost weight.

After much thought and consultation with my fill practitioner, Sharon Bates, and Dr Frering I decided that the only course of action was to have my Lapband if possible have a MID band installed at the same time. So in March of last year Dr Frering flew to the UK to work alongside a British surgeon, David Hewin, and together they removed my Lapband and installed a MID band.

I'm delighted to say that I've pretty much lost all of the weight that I regained and in the meantime I've had a TT in Lyon as well.

So that's me. My total weight loss from my heaviest to my current weight has been around 160 pounds.

Since I first started researching weight loss surgery back in 1998 and I discovered banding there were only around 8000 people worldwide who were banded. How things have moved on.

Anyway, it's nice to meet you. If you want to ask me anything about myself then I'd be happy to answer.

Janet from UK

Hi! I'm new here too. I'm just starting the process, and hope to be banded in early 2006 (if not sooner).

Welcome Janet and Karen too

Janet can you tell me more about the MID band? I dont think I have heard of it before.

Welcome...what a story. Glad to hear things are going better for you. Your weight loss is amazing!!!! Yes I have never heard of a "Mid Band"...can you share?

Ello Janet !

Fancy meeting you here !!

Nice to see you onboard !

Aud x

Hi Audrey nice to 'see' you too.

For those not familiar, the MID band manufactured by French company Medical Innovation Developpment, website for those interested is http://www.midband.fr/ - the site is in French and English and there's a nifty little flash presentation to show the basic principle of banding. Clearly because it is a French band it is largely installed in Europe only, although I believe there have been a number of US patients who have travelled to France to Dr Frering to have a MID band installed.

The main difference between the MID and the Lapband is that the MID is low pressure and flexible as opposed to the high pressure and rigid construction of the Lapband. While I know many thousands of people have no problem with the Lapband I think for the few, like myself, who have possibly more sensitive stomachs the MID band might be kinder and less likely to cause reflux etc.

I certainly can testify that I notice a distinct difference between the two devices.

Thanks for that Janet

I still dont know what sort of band I have. Mine was soft and flexible but didn't look like the MID-band... Oh well, at least I'm eliminating all the types that mine isn't!

Welcome Janet!

Hi Loopyloo, I wonder if your band is a Swedish band, formerly made by a European company called Obtechmedical now made by Johnson & Johnson. The Swedish band or SAGB as it is also known was the first band manufactured. It is also a low pressure band and is soft and pliable, so it sounds like it could be.

You should maybe find out which band you have as it is pretty important for your aftercare. All the bands (there are six different bands on the market now) hold differing maximum amounts of Fluid and also some need a different type of fluid - the SAGB included. Fills on an SAGB should be with Iopamiron which is a denser type of saline and does not leach out of the band.

Janet from UK

hmmm thanks Janet, I am not seeing my Doctor until November, but may be I could email him and ask what kind it was. I will keep you posted

Hello & welcome Janet! What was the date of your 2nd banding?