Misi

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I understand where you are coming from. I had my band put in back in 2002. I only had one time that I had any restriction and that was when the band was so tight that I couldn't swallow. Fast forward 7 years, and I began to have acid spill over into my lungs. I then had to have my band replaced 2 years ago due to slippage/etc. Now, I am waiting to have my band removed due to the acid - the second band did not fix it. I am not saying that the band failed - it didn't. I lost over 70 pounds and have kept it off. Am I down to a normal bmi? No. I am healthier? Absolutely. This is why I made the decision to remove the band - I will not spend my life drinking pepto bismal every night and sleep sitting up when it is obvious that the tool has done all that it can. Good luck to you.

I just found out that I will finally be getting my band out August 23rd (yeah!). At that time, they may or may not be doing the sleeve (doctor won't let me know until he gets in there - may need the sleeve due to erosion/hernias/etc). My question is this - what do you wish you had done before you had your band out and were sleeved? I am just curious - was there anything you wish you had done but didn't? Anything you did but wish you hadn't done? My doctor did not put me on any pre op diet. I was just told to show up to the hospital on August 23rd. I have no instructions at all - either good or bad!

Yes, it is making me a little crazy. That is why I think I have been gaining some weight - too much stress!

Just to let you know - I also was doing tums the first time and I was told by my doctor that tums does no good at all for our situation. It has to do with the fact that the stomach acid isn't in the pouch? Not sure on all the whys. He said just to drink the pepto bismal/etc to coat the lining of the stomach. I also had stopped going to the surgeon for quite a few years - they were difficult to deal with! They kept telling me that the reason I wasn't losing weight was because I was eating too much and not working out. I showed them that I was working out over 2 hours a day 5-6 times a week, and that THEIR nutritionist kept telling me I wasn't eating enough. But, they didn't believe me and I got tired of being put down. So, I waited too long the first time, which is why I ended up in the emergency room twice. Now, as soon as I started getting the same symptoms with the new band I told them it was time to get the band out - getting esophogeal cancer just to keep my band didn't seem like a good trade off to me!

Thank you for the info - I think not knowing what is going on is the hardest thing for me! I am just waiting on my surgery date (insurance has approved the band removal) to see what happens.

I have a question - I got my band back in July 2002. Like a lot of people I lost weight the first 2 years, then stopped. I was able to maintain my weight for quite a while. But, 3 years ago, I had band slippage so bad that acid spilled into my lungs and solidified - it was as if I had double pneumonia but no infection. After 2 trips to the emergency room, I went in to see my 4th (?) doctor (the doctors move around a lot) and I was told that I had to have my band replaced. I was told that it would be like I had a brand new band and I would lose more weight and that the acid problem would be fixed. When they got in there, they found that I had a hernia, but they said it was fixed and they even secured it by putting the band over the hernia. That was 2 years ago, and no more weight loss - I have actually gained a little. Back in April 2011 I began getting the same acid symptoms again. I went in, and they removed some of the fluid. I had another relapse, and they removed the rest of the fluid. I also found out that I had the start of a sliding hernia. At that time I said we needed to get the band out - drinking pepto bismal each night is not fun! When I was in the doctor's room, the doctor said that he would remove the band and that when he was in there he would probably remove a portion of the stomach - he guaranteed that would take care of my problems. But when I went in for the second consult, he just said he was doing the band removal as my BMI was not high enough (I am a 36). He left me in the room and I heard through the door "vertical sleeve". So my question is this - has anyone gone in for the band removal and due to complications from the band ended up having a vertical sleeve? Just as a side note - he wants me to have the surgery at a hospital instead of outpatient, "just in case" I have to stay the night. Thank You.