Hi there! I issues with the lap band as well, I was always using the restroom with it and caused more harm then it did good. I regained all my weight back that I lost and plus some, but I had a revision surgery to the sleeve. Way to go on losing 5 pounds since surgery!

I think I read some where that 70% of lap band patients have it removed within the first 5 - 6 years.

I had mine done in August of 2012. I started having issues with it in April 2013. I wound up getting an unfill then refill in April, August, Oct then most recently in Dec. where I had 6 cc taken out of my 7cc, Basically, left with hardly any restriction. During these times, it seemed like almost everything I ate made me burp, and several times throw up.

Fast forward, this last time in Dec was awful. I was on vacation in NYC (live in CO), and wound up in the ER for 15 hours. Yup, what a blast. It was confirmed that I had a partial slip, again.

The good news, I suppose, is that I've lost 90 pounds while having the band. I'm at 155-156. The bad news, this is considered "elective" surgery so I'm going to owe about $12-$15K after all is said & done.

I'm scheduled to have my band removed, and a revision to the sleeve this Thursday. I'm quite nervous about not having much of a stomach left. I'm on full liquids starting today. Not liking it! I'm not sure how tomorrow will go at work with full liquids. Trying to stay focused on the big picture, so I don't get hungry.

Any suggestions?

For folks visiting NYC, we prefer you take in skating at the Roc or an off off Broadway show. A 15 hour visit to the ER is not on the Big Apple tour!

Hope I gave you a laugh...

For more details on my adventure, you'd have to scroll back through my blog.

It's been an interesting three, almost four years with an 11cc band that ultimately was never filled. When I went in for my first pre-band removal confab with the surgeon back in July he told me he's, "Taking out more than he's putting in...". Apparently this little detail has been out there for some time, just wasn't highlighted in all the 'Get The Band' hype.

Mine never slipped. When I got to see the films before and after they took it out, it was ugly. The band was entirely encapsuled in scar tissue. I was vomiting so much that the irritation triggered more scar tissue growth as my body was trying to wall off the foreign object. According to the surgeon, a couple more months and nothing would've gone down.

I can only imagine it would've come to a head sooner if I'd actually had fill in the band.

Suggestions...hmm. Well, clearly you've reached a good weight and learned to eat in such a way as to accomplish that, so I'm going to assume, not having a sleeve myself, that your new smaller stomach will accomplish the same thing as the band, without the negative side effects and extreme restrictions on what you can eat.

I can say that this past month has been great. Not having my hair falling out, my nails breaking, bruises all over and sores in my mouth due to poor diet and the inability to take supplements has made me feel more like myself than I have in a long time.

As for tomorrow - remember you can also have clear liquids, popsicles, italian ice, plus a full liquid shakes made with protein powder, yogurt, pureed fruit can be frozen and eaten like ice cream. Technically, an ice cream milkshake would also be a "full liquid" and if that's all you're eating you could afford those calories.

I've had more than my share of surgeries. I find that especially the day before surgery I'm so busy getting everything squared away that I'm generally too busy to concentrate on eating. Depending on your pre-op prep, you maybe able to do clear liquids all day and then nothing to eat or drink after midnight. I can guarentee you won't be hungry after surgery for at least a day or two. Don't freak if you gain weight - it's a product of the drugs you'll be given before, during and after surgery and those dandy painkillers which tend to be constipating.

As far as the "elective" surgery goes...I'd push back on your insurance carrier. I live in New York and there's only one plan in this state that allows you only one shot at WLS - MVP. I guess if you have the band and it fails you, that's it - no revision period. All the rest, including my carrier BCBS, approve revision or conversion especially when it's documented the patient made progress &/or the prior surgery or device failed.

I actual was aiming to do the removal/revision and BCBS approved it, but the WLS practice was insisting I go through all the pre-approval crap I did for the band again...sleep lab, psych, nutrition, labs, more tests repeating tests done just prior to this surgery. Want to guess why? $$$

What was really incredible was that they were going to rush all of these "necessary" pre-op clearances through in the two weeks prior to surgery. That's when my red flag went up and I wondered just how concerned they were about me as a patient.

Turns out they wouldn't have been able to do the revision at the same time due to the inflamation and scarring. When I asked my surgeon's PA if I'd done all the additional pre-op clearances and then the surgeon had found out when he went in that it was a no-go, would they just hold those clearances until it was safe to proceed?

Here's a laugh..."only for six months". Then I'd have to do it all again.

Apparently this has something to do with them knowing what the different insurance carriers will pay. One of my support group friends - had our surgeries at the same facility - had a similar experience, but her insurance would not pay to duplicate all the pre-op clearances. Bet you're guessing she didn't get her revision. Nope - she got her band removed, and her sleeve at the same surgery with no hoops to jump through! When the practice figured out they weren't going to get paid for all clearance nonsense, the fact they'd make more money on a removal/revision than a straight removal, meant that magically,they were willing to move forward.

My point - push for answers from your carrier and definitely read your health plan details or ask your benefits department for help - you never know.

Sounds trite, but you'll be in my prayers Thursday. All will go well, and you'll be fine. I look forward to hearing about your experience - maybe it'll convince me to go through the hoops again!