JACKIEO85

If you struggle with food NO WLS is going to "fix" that, get your head straight first. I think you've already realized that a 2nd band isn't the answer and with what you posted about having an abcess etc. it "might' not be possible? Besides the studies don't support 2nd banding, I 'd put the link here but it would just get bashed to death. I'm sure your aware but revision to a sleeve will be slower weight loss and the actual long term WL results are better with the RNY=Bypass. Just depends on if you can/do take supplements due to the Mal absorption. I don't promote any 1 surgery over another it's your decision, But it's best to RESEARCH all the options, studies then decide WHAT YOU can live with!!! Your Doctor's NOT having the Surgery YOU ARE. GOOD LUCK

Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, should be used with caution and may contribute to an increased risk of band erosion. http://www.lapband.com/hcp/Safety-Information/ Medicines to Avoid After Lap Bandhttp://www.ehow.com/list_5985275_medicines-avoid-after-lap-band.html Bottom Line talk to your Surgeon.

Anterior slip results from upward migration of the anterior wall of the stomach through the band. This can be due to insufficient anterior fixation and disruption of the fixation sutures. The second cause may be related to increased pressure in the pouch due to early solid food, vomiting, overeating or early (< 4 wk) band fill Posterior slip is defined as a herniation of the posterior wall of the stomach through the band. This is usually related to the surgical technique but is less frequent now with adoption of the pars flaccida approach instead of the perigastric approach n both types of slip, the patient usually presents with dysphagia, vomiting, regurgitation and food intolerance. The diagnosis is made by upper gastrointestinal series. Complications related to band slip include gastric perforation, necrosis of the slipped stomach (type-V prolapse), upper gastrointestinal bleeding and aspiration pneumonia. A type-IV prolapse is defined as an immediate postoperative prolapse and is usually due to placing the band too low on the stomach. Band slip types (I, II, IV and V) are acute and always require surgical intervention. Laparoscopic removal or repositioning of the band is the preferred method of treatment. Pouch enlargement is a chronic complication that should be managed nonoperatively in the first instance, and surgical readjustment is reserved only for those patients in whom conservative treatment fails. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038361/

Pouch enlargement Pouch enlargement (type-III prolapse) is diagnosed when dilation of the proximal gastric pouch is present with or without change in the angle of the band and in the absence of signs of obstruction. The lower esophagus may or may not be dilated. Pouch enlargement is a pressure-related phenomenon that may be surgically induced by band overinflation or overeating with resulting high pressure in the pouch.You might have an overzealous Surgeon as well . Symptoms of pouch enlargement include lack of satiety, heartburn, regurgitation and occasional chest pain. The diagnosis is made with an upper gastrointestinal series GOOD LUCK !! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038361/

Go Back to your PC doctor have them chekc your Thyroid levels it's the Thermostat Regulator for our bodies, your level might be off due to weight loss? Hope this helps.

Why do you continue to post this old study of 74 patients operated on 15 years ago using flawed bands and evolving surgical techniques? You know very well that the product and surgical techniques have changed and newer studies show a 12% re-op rate compared to 9% for the sleeve. The slightly higher rate(3%) can easily be attributed to the fact that band patients can have their bands revised and it is so much harder or impossible if you're sleeved. I'd have to agree with Jim1967 that odds aren't in your favor in regards to band replacement as you fully aware and the studies aren't great either:( Have you researched other WLS' ? vertical gastric sleeve, RNY, DS? Get somone like jim said that is a True Revision Surgeon that you can discuss the options. PLEASE decide what YOU think is BESY FOR YOU!! NOT the surgery that your Surgeon does. I hear too often that ppl allow their surgeon to decide their surgery. Problem is YOU live with it NOT them. Best OF Luck!! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17593435 I urge you to discontinue using misleading studies. You're harming your own credibility and scaring patients who are researching WLS options with these unreliable studies. tmf I didn't realize that CREDENTIALS were an issue on this site since I haven't seen any posted from anyone before. I am THRILLED though that someone realizes the 12% failure rate of the BAND since it's long been preached that it's only 5%. Patient's researching WLS should be scared it's SURGERY. And I was commenting to the OP who has already had 3 bands, with that statement alone something is wrong, it needs to be addressed and maybe they want to have the band removed for good, I don't know that is their choice. But I do Agree that band technique has changed even the amount a band can hold 4cc vs. 14 cc but it's just as interesting that the COMPLICATIONS remain unchanged.

sorry double post can't remove this mess

You've probaly read this but if It helps.. I hope you get some answers!! The vagus nerve helps to regulate the heart beat, control muscle movement, keep a person breathing, and to transmit a variety of chemicals through the body. It is also responsible for keeping the digestive tract in working order, contracting the muscles of the stomach and intestines to help process food, and sending back information about what is being digested and what the body is getting out of it. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the response is often a reduction in heart-rate or breathing. In some cases, excessive stimulation can cause someone to have what is known as a vaso-vagal response, appearing to fall into a faint or coma because his or her heart rate and blood pressure drop so much. Selective stimulation of this nerve is also used in some medical treatment; vagus stimulation appears to benefit people who suffer from depression, for example, and it is also sometimes used to treat epilepsy. Most of the time, you don't notice the actions of the right and left vagus nerves, but you probably would notice if this nerve ceased to function as a result of disease or trauma, because the vagus nerve is one of the many vital nerves which keeps your body in working order. Without the functions of the vagus nerve, you would find it difficult to speak, breathe, or eat, and your heartbeat would become extremely irregular.

My only advise is to CHOSE WISELY..if you don't have insurance coverage and go self pay you will still have aftercare to pay for Dr's appt. fills appt. and god forbid any complications than you have to pay for that as well..and removal being the worst complication of them all good luck

Yep, all of the above is true, and Allegan sold to Apollo so they don't even have the LB listed on their site any longer it's listed on the Apollo one though. Just make sure that when you get banded that you get the Make Model # and Know how many CC's ( from your Dr.) your able to have in your band. Other than that I don't think you need the "tools" But you will need a good aftercare support system I hope your Dr's office has one. the LB seems to be 80% AFTERCARE.

http://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(13)00338-9/abstract yeah not sure why this link doesn't want to work tried to fix it multiple times so I decided to copy/paste the abstract, you can just search the site and find the same. Abstract BackgroundThe laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) is widely used for the treatment of morbid obesity. Many patients benefit from this procedure initially, but experience complications after a few years. The treatment for many complications is revisional bariatric surgery. A number of patients, however, request only band removal without secondary bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the perioperative and medium term outcomes of patients who had their LAGB removed without secondary bariatric surgery. MethodsPatients were retrospectively selected using a prospectively collected database. The LAGB had to be in situ for at least 1 year, and minimum postoperative follow-up had to be 12 months. ResultsThirty-eight patients who had their LAGB laparoscopically removed between 2000 and 2010 were included. Median follow-up after LAGB removal was 3.0 (1.4 to 8.9) years. Only 2 complications (5%) and no mortality occurred perioperatively. In the 21 patients who did not undergo additional bariatric surgery, the median excess weight loss (EWL) decreased from 41% (–12% to –100%) at band removal to 9% (–10% to 90%), 0% (–20% to 78%), and –11% (–12% to 56%) after 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Percentage weight loss (%WL) was 17% (–54% to –5%), 4% (–47% to –9%), 0% (–41% to 11%), and –5% (–29% to 9%) after these same time intervals, respectively. After a median 2.1 (.5 to 9.9) years, 17 patients underwent either a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (14 patients) or a Scopinaro (3 patients) all because of weight regain. The current EWL and %WL in these patients is 67% (24% to 113%) and 30% (12% to 53%), respectively compared with –11% (–33% to 57%) and –4% (–14% to 34%) in patients without a secondary bariatric procedure (P< .001). ConclusionPatients who have their LAGB removed are guaranteed to suffer from weight regain. It is inadvisable to only remove the LAGB without performing an additional bariatric procedure when deemed technically feasible and safe. In this study, no patient was able to maintain the weight loss achieved with the LAGB after its removal. I haven't removed my band just found this interesting because I have LB friends that have opted NOT to revise after removal and Yep, I guess what they say is true your going to regain ;( Hoping that day never comes but dang it happens.

I'm not an MD but I am a Dental Professional and that's really reaching for answers to say the inflammation caused by an infected tooth caused your lap band to give you problems. I'd be more inclined to say either the internal BAND scaring or The dehydration is what caused the issues with getting stuck. Good luck with your Root Canal and when they pur the saline back in your band. Sandy M that person that needed to be put on a vent because of a Dental abscess either had a pre- existing condition OR they waited Way too long to get treatment YIKES!

I question WHY? Your surgeon only suggested the Band or the sleeve. If he only does these two surgeries you might want to find a surgeon who is well versed in all WLS's. Just a thought.. RESEARCH and yes, ultimately it's your decision Make it a good one, allot of insurance companies are going to one WLS per lifetime BAND has reoperation rates higher than the other surgeries. Yes, removal of 80 of the stomach with the sleeve. Both are restrictive surgeries meaning they help you to eat less. RNY = gastric bypass has malabsorptive but if you are a sweet eater? It might be something to consider. DS = duodenal switch actually has a 98% success rate, it's malabsorptive, and lifetime of supplementation, and open surgery not something most want to deal with. Good Luck in your decision.

I saw this report what scares me is the highlighted area stating the 12% reoperation rate for gastric banding Doesn't seem like good stats. But only time will tell...............