Due to some complications that have been occuring over the past year, and my new inability to keep anything down my surgeon is recommending that I have my band removed, or at least revised to a RNY. I need some feed back. My fear of removing it is that I will gain all of my weight back. I have to have surgery anyway because my gall bladder is full of gall stones. I was hoping that we would just take out the gall bladder and see, but he really thinks there is more to my problem than this. I have had my band since 11-18-03 and have lost 140 pounds.

Hi,

Glad to see that you are waiting to see what happens after the gall bladder removal. One thing that occurred to me is that is it not possible that your band is too small? Perhaps a Vanguard band would be a better option for you? Just wondering. I hope you feel so much better and the problem is resolved.

Babs in TX

334/180

-154

The pill ball is one thing that may have something to do with him wanting to remove the band.

Did he suggest that maybe this pill ball had hurt the stomach?

When you got the band, were you told to crush all pills?

I was told crush all pills. Open all capsules and mix them w/ a little pudding or something mushie and take them that way. I was told absolutely no timed release pills because they probably won't go through the restricted band.

What kind of pills were piling up? That can't be good for the lining of your stomach.

The upper part of your stomach (above the band) can't disolve a pill, it can't in any of us, that's why we have to mash them. So that part isn't just you, it's all of us.

You may want to ask him about the condition of your stomach because of those pills being stuck in there for so long.

I don't see hoe removing the band would help it heal if the pill ball did some damage to it.

??????????

One thing you must rely on is your instinct. If women's intution is telling you to hold onto the band, then listen to your gut. Don't fret and stew over a decision that doesn't have to be made right now. Ditch the gallbladder and keep the band till you know you're ready to let it go.

have him dig around while hes in there.. my surgeon told me after my gallbladder was removed that my band looked great and everything was looking good