Short and Chunky

I had my band 3 years when it slipped and had to be removed via emergency surgery. I had it taken out on Friday and went back to work on Wednesday. Very easy surgery. I had a new band put in 6 months later and I can't tell I have a band...it is not helping me one bit. I see the doctor next week. I really want this band to work but I just don't know. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. Melinda in Florida

Terrydumont - that sounds awful. So sorry for that experience. I know the pain you are talking about and how scared you were. A slip is no joke and something that should be dealt with ASAP. You may not die, but boy do you think you will. The doctor told me that I could have actually "killed" my stomach with the restricted blood flow. So glad you are doing better. I didn't blame by band either and I don't blame it now, I think this is a case of the doctor not "listening" to the patient and/or the patient not being totally clear as to a situation. Melinda in Florida

Thanks guys for your posts. I felt so alone in this. Lisa I will ask for a barium swallow. I have had them before and they do say so much. Frustration is such an awful thing and it only leads to more issues. I hope to see the doctor within the next few days to get some answers and get back in the saddle once again. I want the old, skinnier, healthier me back. I felt so much better - but I also know that I have to dig deep and find my old "will power" too...that appears to have taken quite a beating. I'll keep you all posted on what he says. Thanks again for the support - you all know what it means! Melinda in Florida

I got my first band in July 2012..we got along great. I lost 120 pounds and felt like a million bucks..then the slip happened in April, 2014. Thought I was going to die. I was rushed to the ER in an Ambulance- vomiting blood and unable to hold down spit. My band was removed via emergency surgery. for the next 6 months I tried to be good but not happening. Gained 40 pounds..The doctor said he could put the band back in and he did December 2014. Since then, I have gained another 20 pounds. I have had 3 adjustments and one "super fill"..well, you wouldn't know it. I can (and do) eat anything I want and a lot of it. I feel like a PIG. My clothes are too tight and I am miserable. I wonder if I even have a band in place. now to top it off I have developed "mystery pains". joints, muscles, back and even my hands.. I wonder if my body is saying get this "alien baby" out of me. The doctor had talked about RNY but I was scared and I had enjoyed such success with the band I never gave it a thought. DUMB I should have listened to my inner self. My insurance would not approve a sleeve. Well, here I am, 7 months post-op and miserable. I don't know where to turn. If they take the band out, I know my insurance would never approve RNY now. I am not sure another fill is the answer either. If I do have a band in the correct place. too tight would mean another slip and I sure don't want to go through that again. Anyone out there had this issue and what did you do about it. I am 63 years old..5'2" presently 211 pounds. I used to walk daily and completed a 15K this past February (9.3 miles). Today, all I do is SIT. I tried to walk today and went about a mile. Now I am in pain again. This is nuts. I was in excellent health just a few months ago. What is going on? I have had blood work, but no answers there. I don't know if they are looking in the right place. Please give me your 2 cents. I have always trusted this site to give me good advice and I really need it now. Thanks: Short and Chunky (Melinda in Florida)

Hawazenf - the doc said he could not reposition the band due to scar tissue that had formed. He said it forms very quickly but it can heal. I BEGGED him not to take the band out. I was still begging as I went under for the surgery. He said he had no choice and that my stomach could have died..if he had not removed the band. When he went in the 2nd time, he said there was still some scar tissue present (no way to check prior to surgery - I asked) but that it had improved enough to put a new band back in place. I am just so thankful to have my band back - you have no idea..even knowing how sick I was and how close I came to dying - it was still something I felt strongly about and I had the support of family and friends. Now, of course, the rest is up to me. Melinda in Florida

Good luck to you all. I had my band 3 1/2 years, lost 124 pounds and was doing great until my doctor moved and I had to get a new doc. In no time, my band was overfilled. It slipped. The reflux, night coughs and rapid weight loss..it was crazy until April, 2014 when I began vomiting blood, could not sit or lay down, horrible pain - I thought I was going to die - rushed via ambulance to the ER. I could not even sip Water. After a total unfill (a different surgeon - #3 in the mix), cat scan and complete bed rest for twelve hours, the band had to be removed as it was restricting the blood supply to my stomach. For the next 6 months, I went without my band - I felt OK, but was ravenous when it came to food. OUT OF CONTROL was an understatement. I gained 50 pounds in less than 6 months. I went from a size 8 to a size 14/16 and climbing. Fortunately, I was continuously seeing the #3 surgeon and he saw my struggle. December 29, 2014 - he put my band back in (secured a different way I think) and I feel fantastic. So glad to have my little reminder back. I have lost 20 pounds in the weeks since surgery and doing great. No fills yet and don't really think I need one yet. We did discuss doing RNY - but I weighed 208 and he doctor thought I would lose too much weight and that could cause a whole bunch of issues (I am 5'2" and 63 years old). So, we went with the band again. I am so happy. I walk every day 3-4 miles and my portion sizes of food is back to the way they should be. Have I eaten a "no no" - sure - we all do from time to time, but now I know it will only be one cookie and not the whole bag..one or two chips and not the whole case..Good luck with whatever your decision is and whatever the results but I for one am so glad to have my band back. It is part of me. I plan on taking this part of me when I leave this life. I will be so careful. As for the cause of the slippage - the doctor says he has no idea...sometimes, they just slip. He did say he did not think it was anything I did to make it slip - that was a good thing. The journey continues.... Melinda in Florida

I got my band in July 2011..it slipped April 2014 and was removed. It was put back in December 2014. Originally, I lost 124 pounds - gained 50+ back upon removed and now have lost 20 since it was put back in. I feel fantastic. I am sorry your band slipped. You need to ask your doctor why he thought it slipped and if he is anchoring it a different way this time. My did. I am so glad I had my re-done. I feel great and so glad to be losing weight again rather than gaining. Good Luck...

Well, It has been awhile..In April, 2014 - my beloved band was removed under emergency surgery due to a nasty slip..By December of 2014 - I had managed to regain 50 pounds. Not a welcome sight. Nothing fit. I got rid of all my fat clothes. I was no longer a cute little size 8. I was a sloppy, ugly 14/16 and still gaining. I was angry with myself and that made me eat more. I had continued to see my surgeon and he knew I was very unhappy. We tired everything, pills, support groups, WW (again) - everything. I just couldn't stop gaining much less lose weight. FINALLY...he asked if I wanted to have WLS again. I almost kissed the poor man...You bet... What type WLS?????? Well, the sleeve was Out as my insurance would not pay for it. My doc said he really didn't like RNY for me as I was 208 pounds and he was afraid I would be horribly thin in just a matter of months and that could be dangerous. He asked if I wanted to try the lapband again. I jumped for joy and said ABSOLUTELY. He did say, that he may not be able to put it back and would not know until surgery - due to scar tissue that he saw when he took my other band out. If he could not do the band, I would have to wait another 6-8 weeks and he would do RNY. He submitted the paperwork to my insurance company and they said YES in only 5 days..I guess they agreed. So, on 12/29, I went to surgery. The doctor was able to put the band back in and I feel fantastic. I am down 20 pounds and dropping (with no fills yet). I am walking 3-4 miles every day. My eating is once again controlled and I am back in a 12 - look out 8s - here I come again. I know there is a lot of "band haters" out there. They feel the sleeve or RNY is the ONLY WAY TO GO..but they have to understand, not everyone is 300-400 pounds..some of us need help who are 200 pounds...the sleeve and RNY just aren't for us. So, I have once again began my Journey...Thank you all for the support you gave me during my firsts Journey but most of all when my band slipped. I was very scared and very sick. I am just thankful that I have so much family support (my kids are great cheerleaders and my grandkids too) but also a great surgeon who listened to me and was willing to help me out. Have a great week and take care of yourselves....

So sorry you chaps are having a problem with your bands. I had a band slippage in April of last year (3.5 years after getting my band - 124 pounds lost). Reflux and bad pain, vomiting blood - just awful. Well, my band was removed (too much scar tissue) and 6 months later - I had gained 50 pounds..I was just sick - I missed my band and wanted it back. My surgeon agreed he said I did not weigh enough for RNY and my insurance would not pay for a sleeve. On 12/29 he put the band back in. I have lost close to 20 pounds - I have not had any fills and I am doing fantastic. I feel like I am in control and have the power once again. Good luck to you both and I hope you can have your problems taken care of without regaining the weight you lost. Regaining was so hard on me mentally - made me eat even more. Good Luck...

AtoZ - 1st, congratulations on the new baby. I am sure you are excited and I wish you only the best. 2nd, your lapband experience was sure scary. Been there..my band had to be removed in April of this year for the same reason - a bad slip - nothing going through and horribly sick. I was actually vomiting blood. My band had to be removed too. I am glad you are home and feeling better. I did feel better, almost instantly. I do miss my band (I know crazy thought) because I have regained 30 pounds - in 3 months. I am under a new doctor's care now and hopefully, that will get better now. Best wishes and good luck in post-band but most of all best wishes on your new family member.. Melinda in Florida

Terry, glad to hear you are doing so well. Hope you get to keep your band. I miss mine terribly and the scale proves it. Melinda in Florida

Band removal is called "revision". To have a different procedure, my doctor says 6 months or longer. My insurance company says one and done..won't approve a 2nd procedure even though #1 's revision was not my doing. Sad. I really miss my band. My doctor says I can't have another band either..too much scar tissue at the stoma area. Really stinks..I have gained over 20 pounds since my band was removed on 4/25...I really need help..I have zero self control, that's why I got the band as a tool to help me with control.

I had my band 3 years when it slipped and I began throwing up the lining of my stomach. My band was removed via emergency surgery 3 months ago. I had lost 124 pounds at the time. I have "found" 15 of those pounds. It is a struggle and I only wish they could have kept the band in place. The doctor told me this is normal and keep exercising and let life move along. In a month or two we will discuss my options. I don't think I have many as I don't weight but 155 pounds - I wanted to be 140. I feel fat and out of control. The doctor said that is normal too and just to hang in there. My band was going to kill me or at least cost me my stomach, it had to come out. I really miss it and I don't regret having the surgery in the first place. I don't know what will happen now. I hope you are feeling better and a decision has been made as to your next step. They did remove the Fluid and waited several hours but the band would not move. As I look back. My band probably slipped in January but it was late April before it gave me a hard time. Keep asking questions. That is the only way to take care of yourself. I wish I had been more pro-active. I perhaps would have been able to keep the band. Take care and good luck. Melinda in Florida

RavenClaw..I sure understand that malnutrician thing. I have sores in my mouth and bruises and just weird pains. Still having some of those issues. I thought I was eating better (balance - too much - but balanced) I have actually gained 20 pounds since my revision surgery..I am still have malabsorption issues. I see the surgeon Thursday. This whole thing is so strange..Fluid retention is also a big issue with me right now. Hot in Florida and I am really hanging on to every last drop of Water. 5-7 pounds each day (gained - from AM to PM weight) then I take a water pill and it all goes away but I hurt all over from carrying that weight..fingers, feet, legs wow..really sucks.

Congratulations MissL..The pre-op diet is awful and really the worst part. Friday will be here soon and then welcome to the losers bench! In regards to your shakes. Play around with those things..you will find one you like. I had my WLS almost 3 years ago and I just found one that is really good. I actually wanted seconds..LOL...1 scoop vanilla unjury, 8 ozs Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk and a shot of sugar free Torani Black Cherry Syrup. YUMMY...I am actually having one for lunch today by choice! I saw a post regarding the syrups and I love Cherry Cokes so why not...well, it sure surprised me how good it was. I will try the chocolate Protein with it next - Hummmmm - Chocolate Covered Cherries!!!! Good Luck Friday.... Melinda in Florida