MichelleD

I am getting my lap band out this thursday (3/15) hooray! I am so excited. I have had problems the whole 3 1/2 years I've had it. My only concern is my recovery since I watch my nephew on the following Monday and Wednesday (he's 13 months) and I am hoping I will still be able to do so without being in too much pain. Otherwise I am so so so happy!

Glad your recovery went well! I am getting my band taken out soon after nearly 4 years! I also will not be getting rebanded or revising to another surgery.

I'm getting my band removed within the next month or so. My Doc believes my band may have eroded, I will dins out next Monday with and EGD. Also, I've been wanting it out for quite awhile. My band has been nothing but problems. Also, if you've had a slip your band could be removed. Really, if you have any sort of adverse effect from your band you can have it removed. Best Wishes to you.

Hi there! I am going on four years with my lap band. Next Monday (2/6) I have an appointment for an endoscopy. I am looking to get my band out after struggling with it since the beginning. After explaining to my Doc some of the symptoms I've been experiencing lately she thinks I may have have Erosion. If you haven't heard that term yet, it's when your band begins to migrate into your stomach. Anyways, I've struggled constantly with throwing up, my hair started falling out, I developed terrible acne after never struggling with blemishes at all, the roof of my mouth swells painfully (which i've now come to learn is an odd effect of Vitamin B deficiency) I have many other deficiencies as well. I have pain and nausea when I eat. In the 3 1/2 years i've had this I've lost approx 45 lbs, most of which was from constantly vomiting. I'm constantly exhausted and I can't wait to get mine out. My biggest suggestion to you, is if you get the banding done invest in a great juicer. Juicing is one of the best things you can do for yourself with the lap band. Also, EGD's are super easy, you have nothing to worry about with those. This one coming up will be my third. I wish you all the best with your weighloss journey.

OHMYGOSH So i've had my band for almost 4 years, and I've had the same problem the whole time! Except along with the extreme pain, the roof of my mouth also swells! It's terrible and happens quite frequently! I went to the orthopedic surgeon to inquire and they just said that they thought it was my wisdom teeth, but after getting THOSE out I kept having the problem with pain and swelling! It normally happened to me the first time i eat during the day, or after eating something after it's been a few hours. I absolutely knew that it had to have had something to do with my band! I just could never definitively say so. I am so glad to see I'm not just crazy! haha

SO HAPPY to hear that you are Juicing! I am going to buy my juicer this weekend! I recently watched a great documentary called 'Fat, Sick, and nearly Dead' (I highly recommend watching) and I wanted a juicer right away! As far as calorie intake goes: Don't Worry! The nutrition you are getting from juicing is far more important than the amount of calories you will be consuming! I believe that Juicing is one of the best things you can do for yourself with the LapBand. I am hoping to get mine out within the next month or so, and when I do, I am doing a 'Reboot' or a juice cleanse for a couple weeks. I can't wait! Best Wishes to all of you who are juicing!

If I could dissuade you from anything, it would be Gastric Bypass. At least if you have the Lap Band, it can be reversed if you experience problems. I am going on 4 years and getting mine out soon. I would do much more extensive research before sealing the deal. I regret my banding because of the many long term side effects I've experienced. I wish you all the best in your weightloss journey.

I am so sorry to hear this. I am in the same spot as you are, I go in next Monday for an endoscopy, my Doc thinks mine may have eroded as well. I was self-pay with my banding as well, and now that I am looking to get mine out I cannot get my insurance to cover it. Even if my band turns out to be eroded, I will have to pay for the de-banding. Insurance basically said that they wont cover it being taken out because it was my choice to have the surgery in the first place. I hope all the best for you and your surgery, I hope you are able to get the insurance to cover. If not, I know that in my case I will at least get a discount for paying up front.

I was banded at 16, it will be four years coming up in August. I just wanted to say I know exactly where you're coming from, wanting this surgery. I am trying to get mine out, I have an Endoscopy coming up next week. Doc thinks I possibly have an erosion; but I've wanted mine out for a while now. Just know, having the lapband is certainly a tough road, I've been through the ringer with mine. If you have any questions or concerns of any type, please feel free to ask me. Although you said your sister had it done so i'm sure you can ask her anything lol The best of luck to all of you teens who have been through this, or are about to.

I will have had my band 4 years this coming August. I have had a lot of side effects from my band. I go in next Monday for an Endoscopy to see if I have erosion or a slip. I've been having issues lately with pain in my port and band area, back pain with eating and lots of nausea. I didn't have any problems with belching until I got my band completely unfilled last Friday! I've burped more this week than I have in four years! It's very odd. I am hoping that after my appt on Monday that I will know when I can get this thing out! I lost 60 pounds in the first year I had my band and was SO SICK, physically speaking. I threw up multiple times a day, my hair started falling out, and I developed extremely bad acne (I hardly ever got pimples before my surgery). This can all be connected with malnutrition. I eventually got a large unfill after being filled too tight (I lost 7lbs in 3 days after not even being about to swallow my spit) and since then I have gained back 25lbs but feel much better, although I still often feel weak and tired and at times have trouble eating. Can I just say that I am looking forward to getting this out! I really hope things with your band work out! All the best to you.