Hi, all..

I've had several inquiries and got lazy about answering them, so I hope you don't mind my making a lengthy Sue-Post. (Okay, not lazy, loaded, Vicodin...just let me say that you NEVER want to hear the phrases "urethral stenosis" and "urethral dilation" coming out of your urologist's mouth.)

For the innocent...My band surgery was October 15th, 2002, in Monterrey, Mexico, with Roberto Rumbaut Diaz, a band pioneer surgeon and a band patient and a really nice, down-to-earth guy. Prior to banding, I went from my all time high of a BMI 52+ to about a BMI of 48 on the day of surgery.

For the first several months, I did okay. I recall that for my mom's 80th birthday, I finally hit a BMI of under 40...I was not morbidly obese! But shortly thereafter, I started dealing with reflux. I had to sleep sitting up. I took various drugs, but they merely lessened the problem. One day, I was having Breakfast with my cousin (an RN) and her husband (an MD) and was able to eat only about two tablespoons of oatmeal at 10:30 a.m. and realized that THEY were looking at someone with a bizarre eating program...maybe an eating disorder. I hopped on a train (I just happened to get to the station seven minutes before departure) and went to Tijuana and had Dr. Kuri unfill me.

My reflux immediately resolved. And my weight loss began to resolve. So I eventually went in for mini-adjustments. I had unfills for my panniculectomy surgery and for my breast reduction surgery. In between, I had small re-fills. In two or so years, I had a dozen adjustments.

But then I started to feel like my food was bouncing around in my esophagus. It would happen once in a while, and then more often. Not every time, and not just after I had eaten too much. Sometimes, I'd be having a cup of coffee before dinner and the coffee would bounce around. Other times, it would be Water. One day, I could eat a considerable amount of foods. The next day, one stupid bite of oven baked fish, and that was all I could eat.

Well...after you do that for a while, you tend to get a little nuts. Especially when well-meaning people start telling you you just have to "work your tool." And when a doctor who doesn't have a band wants you to go to a support group meeting so that you can hear other successful banded people telling you they ALL go through that, with every meal. (Yeah, right.)

I finally got to the point that most of what I was eating was Soup and ice cream. Because it would usually go down.

I decided that, since I was within ten pounds of my pre-op weight, I wanted to consider the DS. I had an upper GI done. My esophagus is widened. In doctor talk, it's "esophageal dilatation." I went to Dr. Ara Keshshian in Delano, California and told him my story.

He said, "Are you expecting me to look surprised? This is NOT the first time I've heard this story."

He told me that I needed to have my band emptied...but that he didn't have the needles because he didn't DO bands. So I went to Tijuana and saw dr. verboonen, as he was available right away. He, his partner, the lab tech and my husband watched as I drank the barium and it just sat there in my esophagus. Didn't move. When stuff that isn't blocked just sits, the additional diagnosis is "esophageal dysmotility," in other words, the esophagus is NOT moving the food toward the stomach. (Ignore doctors who tell you that EVERYONE does this.)

So, I'm scheduled for an endoscopy, to make sure that I'm not dealing with erosion as well. If that checks out, I'll be having the band removed and DS surgery within the next month or two.

So...wisdom? I learned when checking with European surgeons that band removal is a booming business there. One surgeon said that 20% of his practice is revising bands to Rny or DS. (Remember, bands have been there longer, so more people have had more time to encounter problems.)

That doesn't mean I think they are a bad thing. I just think that the band is good for whomever it's good for...but that certainly is not everyone. In fact, my insurance began covering the band after I self-paid, but is no longer covering it for people with BMI's in excess of 49...because they lose the same percentage of excess weight which leaves them still MO. And older people have more problems. I was 55. Esophageal dysmotility or "dysperistalsis" is more frequent in older people. Adding the band may just make the problem appear sooner and with more vigor.

Not here, but at another site where it is mostly newer people, the band-enthusiasm is not tempered by experience or reason. Here, there are old timers who have been through problems. For many, the band is the answer. For many others, it is not. I am one of the latter.

Thanks for your time,

Sue

Sue,

Im so very glad you shared this.

Your story is one of the reasons I opted for the band as being my first choice - because if it fails, I can go to plan B.

Would you mind giving us hungry nosey folks an explanation as to why youve chosen the DS as your "plan B"?

Hugs, Sue.

Posts like yours are one of the reasons that I have found this site to be so valuable in my research of the Band. It keeps me from getting all fluffy & fuzzy about the wonders of the band.

I appreciate hearing about things that can happen, even while I hope with every Fiber of my being that they don't happen to ME.

Sorry the band didn't work out for you. Please do keep coming here to keep us posted on your progress.

:]

What can I say Sue, except DITTO's to what everyone has already posted.

I'm very sorry the band did not work out for you but I am really glad that they figured out the problem and can work on getting you back to normal (for lack of a better word). Its a shame you had/have to suffer.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Eileen

Sue, I wish the best for you. Your wisdom is something I cherish. The research you have done is so valuable to us all.

Your total approach to your banding issues is superior and well documented. I read sometime ago where you wrote to the effect…when your car is in need of repair, you try and fix it first instead of replacing the engine. I believe it was in response to why you decided to get a band instead of GBP to begin with. That’s my way of thinking as well.

Thanks for explaining your situation and informing us of your plans.

I’m curious like Paula, as to why you’ve chosen the DS? I’m guessing it has to do with "esophageal dilatation."?

And as Kathy said don’t forget us bandsters...we still need you! And we want to know how you are. Keep us updated!

Love, Hugs and Kisses!

Vera

I second everyone's comments. Sue please keep us informed and visit as often as you can. We miss you.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your recovery and new surgery!

Kim

Sue -

Fabulous post, and thanks for taking the time to share. From one whose journey with the band ended without choice, to one who is choosing to start on a different path - I know how disappointing this bump in the road must be.

I admire you for persevering, and for taking a step back, evaluating your options, and then moving forward for what is best for you.

No matter what you do, though, we will always be banded sisters! I hope we can meet up again someday, and please stick around and share your progress with the DS. I know you will be more than welcome here, as am I - these people are so AWESOME!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and that all goes smoothly, and that you get the results you want.

xxoo

Sue, I'm very glad you decided to share your story. I'd seen that you were having your band removed, and got a little info here and there from various posts, but it's nice to hear the 'whole story' so to speak.

I hope you stick around here tho! Keep us posted

I do think it's true that no matter how much you research ANYTHING it's easy to get the idea in your head that the complications won't happen to YOU. I'm glad that you've researched enough to know what's best for you. I agree about the 'other' site (assuming we're all talking about the same one, although I could be way off). I get frustrated with a lot of them refusing to hear that things CAN go wrong, even when You have done everything right! I posted about getting my port removed (big deal to me) b/c of infection and received maybe 5-6 replies, but other people can post about a particular NSV and get 20+ posts. I think the support is there if you're doing well, but God forbid you have a problem. I'm hope that this next surgery will be the answer that you need. Erin

Thanks for your post Sue, and I too ditto what everyone has already said. Good luck, and please keep in touch with us.

but God forbid you have a problem. Erin

Boy.. isn't that statement true! You'd think we all had a stake in Inamed/J&J stock...

I'm having my band replaced by the DS because of Sue. Sue and I have very different opinions on alot of things, but the woman is on top of it, and very respected by me. (Thanks again, Sue, and no, I'm not stalking you!) Well, I mean, I figured if Sue was considering the DS, there had to be something to it. Sue is a very intelligent woman, who is very capable of providing you with all the reasons she choose the DS.

I research, but read and go on. So, I don't have any links but the reason I have decided is because of all the surgerys, the DS has the highest long term success rate and the highest EWL. There is no dumping because the pyloric valve is intact. There is no pouch stretching because there is no pouch. The stomach is reduced into a long banana shape meaning the outside portion is cut away, reducing stomach acid and the chemical "hunger hormone" grenlin?? Is that what it is called, Sue? DS relies highly on malabsorption. With RNY, their body learns to reabsorb fat and nutrients eventually, thus causing some to regain more easily. This is probably true about the DS also, but not nearly as much. That's why supplementation, Dexascans and blood levels are so important. There is less chance of ulceration also. One disadvantage is some people experience the trots and very offensive gas. Most people I have talked to about that said the trots can be avoiding by avoiding high fat foods and sugar. Which most high sugar foods ARE high fat. The dietician said it's not the sugar but the fat that is the problem. I would assume it would be an individual thing.

Also, a more "normal diet" can be eaten than with the RNY or the Band. I am looking forward to a nice peice of steak again....and I figure it really is no more maintenance than the band was. I am actually quite excited, a little scared, since I now have a 6 month old daughter, but ready to be done with it.

I had scar tissue choking the tubing to my band. I am 3 years out. I lost 135 in about 12 or 14 months, then started having problems. I also have issues with spasms and dialation. I have gained quite a bit back from being unfilled throughout the pregnancy and then not being able to get a fill in or out after the scar tissue closed off the tube. I think the DS is for sure the right surgery for me. I will not get the RNY, so it's this or nothing.

Wow! What wonderful support.

•The band, as you know, is restrictive only. It can limit the amount of solid food you can eat at one time.

•The RnY, (and I'm biased, so ignore me if you're wise) is both restrictive (the stomach is reduced to 20 cc's--4 teaspoons) and temporarily malabsorptive (after about two years the remaining intestine "learns" to absorb much of what the missing intestine used to absorb. That's when the weight regain begins. To me, it works like a kind of non-reversible band.

•The DS is also a little restrictive (the stomach is reduced to 4-6 ounces) but it remains malabsorptive forever. So, the DS has the highest percentage of long-term excess weight loss...and the highest number of risks, including long-term metabolic stuff we don't even know about. OTOH...my 60-year-old cardiologist and I were discussing that the promise of long-term ANYTHING, when you are 60-ish and morbidly obese, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Here's a link to a site started by a DS patient:

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/index.html

And here's a mention of some research at Cornell:

http://global.med.cornell.edu/news/wcmc/wcmc_2005/10_14_05.shtml

If anything I read made an impact, it was a post by Melanie M (the woman who started the DS board.) Scroll down to read her take about the DS as a tool.

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/openbb/read.php?TID=3932

I know I will have to make some changes with the DS. But those will mostly--my friends tell me--be learning not to eat stuff that doesn't agree with my new plumbing.

I'm glad that this wasn't received as a the-band-is-bad post. You guys are cool.

Sue, I am in agreement with so much of what so many of the others have said. I think your input here is highly valued, your introspect is spot on, and your sense of humor is priceless. I'm sorry for all that you've had to endure, and also hope that you continue to come here and share your knowledge and wisdom. Down the road others will unfortunately have band related issues and need an experienced voice to guide them and help them remain strong. I hope you succeed in all your endeavors, and I too wish you good health and great results.

Sue

The facts of the matter is that you see a huge amount of "re-operable" complications with this band...all the time....weather it is re-banding,removal,slipping,erosion..

I have been doing research because I have a lot of pain,reflux all the time...no interest in the problem from my dr's and no recourse because of where I stay....

Being part of other boards where 100's of women are enthusiastically being banded (a huge lot of them by the same guy that doesnt even want to check to see if something is wrong with me.....) because he has done 100's of operations and havent had a lot of complications only every 3rd patient suffers form reflux......point is even the experienced guys like this one has only been doing the band for the past 3 years or so.......It just seems like they are doing as much of these ops as they possibly can and no one even knows what the longterm outcome will be......but then we can always have it removed cant we.......which so doesnt make sence....

I have found that when there is a complication with the other operations it is more serious and can more often be fatal......but I see a lot less patients with complications than with the band....

The other thing is how this operation is a faliure even by very low standards.....people lose 40 to 60 pounds of 130 and then they think that is now ok.......that is not a success......it doesnt seem worth the expence or trouble or risk does it?

I keep wondering when are people and the medical world "watch dogs" going to wake up and smell the roses?

So many people think that they will grow old with this band.....I doubt that very much,but only time will tell........

When you are desperate and researching what you can do about your weight problems you are not very objective about things......

I fully accept responsibility for my decision to have the operation in the first place,after nearly 18 months of research......Only after things didnt work out did my eyes open to all I did not want to see or hear about the band......

Even now,I have lost so much weight that I am quite happy to suffer the way I am....I am on Atkins and dieting every day of my life otherwise I just dont lose weight and I cannot see my last resort as a faliure in that sense....even though my follow-up guy said we would have to remove the band around April...if that late....I WILL BE THIN BY THEN......

Dont know what to do after that but.......

Please everyone, dont see this response as only negative...this band has changed a huge amount of things in my life and I regret having it and dont regret having it.....People just need to know the upside and downside of deciding to have the band....and having problems with this band is sometimes so tyring and consumes so much of my energy and I have to think so positively to get through each day with this fire burning inside my chest and throat that when I see a thread like this I have to respond no matter what all the happy bandsters will say..

You are a brave girl and I envy you your courage to have the DS...I also have come to think that it is the most successful operation of all the WLS.

Good luck and I hope all your future plans with this works out very well....