mbz

"I have no use for an entire stomach, it has done nothing but hold too much food. It just hasn't been a good friend to me." <br><br> MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!!!!!!:clap2:

I had no symptoms of erosion except for no restriction, and therefore, weight re-gain. My removal was an emergency...I would think all erosions would be, due to the chance of leakage into the abdominal cavity, which is deadly. The insurance company should COVER this!!!! I would FIGHT on that one. I never even considered another band, as I was afraid this would happen to me again. My surgeon did not recommend it, either. I had to heal for over 6 months before they would even consider me for another surgery. My band was over 1/2 eroded in my stomach.

I would suggest scheduling an endoscopy for as early in January as you can....those sound like my exact symptoms of erosion. I had no restriction, and they could not see the erosion in 3 upper GI's under fluoro with barium. I gained half the weight back I lost. THen when they found it, they had to do emergency surgery to get it out and fix the hole it made in my stomach....please schedule an endoscopy, better safe than sorry!

Hi Penni, almost my exact story!!!! Except my doc rolled me into emergency surgery an hour after endo. THere was basically NO discussion. I had a cruise with my family planned the next day. Cancelled. The band was over 1/2 inside my stomach. Life-threatening. Left a huge hole, very painful recovery! Also, no discussion on another band. He said no way, plus I was afraid it would happen again. I researched the VSG and DS. I got the DS after over 6mo of healing, and (knock on wood) doing great! PLEASE research! Go to obesityhelp.com and look at the VSG and DS boards!! Good Luck!!!

Bands are really great, but unfortunately, not for everyone! My doc said absolutely not to another band after mine eroded. If it had slipped, I dont think I would have kept it either, call me pessimistic, but I see it as a sign of worse things to come. I know there are lots of people who were rebanded after a slip and are doing fine, though! I would seriously consider VSG, or DS, (duodenalswitch.com) The doc can tell the insurance co that the band is not working for you and causing you bad complications and request a medically necessary revision to another surgery.

Hi, and I am so sorry to hear your mom's story--. I think that she should look into a revision surgery. When my band failed, not only did my surgeon tell me he did not think I was a good candidate for another one, but quite frankly, I didnt want another one, to always be scared that the same thing would happen. Even if mine had been a slip, I would have taken it out, do do something else. I only need to loose a little over 100 lbs, but I still want something more permanant with less room for mechanical errors...good luck to her!

lila/Amanda, are you fills done under fluoro? I think perhaps, could you schedule a fluoro so that your docs could do a swallow, to see what position the band is in? It is better to do this earlier, than later. I know the maintenance can be a pain, but it does lead to a little better piece of mind, that, if its ok-great, if not, get a plan to fix it. Good luck!

There are 2 other options I can think of, other than RnY--I am going to DS (Duodenal Switch), but there is also a less-extreme version (no intestinal bypassing) called the VGG (vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) You can read posts about them on obesityhelp.com, good luck!

HI Harley, I never had any symptoms, or issues, except gradually being able to eat more easily, and more amounts, then I began to regain. I only had one fill, and it was wonderful--a lot of restriction. I told the doc to please do something cause after I healed from sugery, it was like I didnt even have surgery, and under fluoro, he said my opening was large. So, after that, I learned what/and what not to eat (some sliming and PBing, but not a lot) and the weight just dropped. I was never hungry and even forgot to eat! I thought I died and went to heaven. Then I went to get it checked under fluoro again, I seemed to be plateu-ing (sp?) for a few months, perhaps get a little more fill..? He said I had planty of fill, the band looked ok, but that it was perhaps a few degrees below the optimum 45° angle it should be at. And that maybe the pouch had stretched, a little. So, I left feeling fine, just telling myself to watch the head hunger and I would lose more. But, I was bad at that, and gradully started gaining more and more. I was in denial, and embarrased. There was no pain or any symptoms of something wrong. THen, finally I go the courage to go to my current doc, who did 3 fluoros (could not see anything except the pouch looked like it was drooping(??) a bit...he was very confused) and then one endoscopy. He was going to schedule me for surgery the next week to go in and fix it or replace it. In the endoscopy is when he saw the band halfway into my stomach, and they put me back under almost immediately for emergency removal. I cried for weeks! THey told me that most are lucky, and some are very unlucky--it could have been as small as a stitch in the wrong place, or the fill was too aggressive for my stomach, or it moved and then got itself into a weaker area....they really dont know. I would say, that no matter what they probably would not have caught it unless they did an endoscopy on me every few weeks-! (Which is really unrealistic) I would just say, dont worry, and do gradual fills. If something goes wrong, there will not be anything you did, and they will probalby be able to fix it. Slips have many more symptoms and are more easily fixed! My case was rare and extreme, you will be fine, keep an eye on it...good luck!

yes, wheetsin is right--the band was fine, but the wall of my stomach was not! When I got the band (2003) they said erosion was less that 1% of lap band people. So, that was PRETTY low! Now, I am hearing the numbers are higher, like 3-5%, however, at the same time, I think they are learning from us, perhaps so that it will go down again...updating procedures, stitching, fills, etc. He also told me that the band would be permanent, too, that I could very well have it the rest of my life....I was very happy to hear that! I am sure it is true, in most lap banders today. I dont think erosion is easy, in most ways, I think it is kindof a crap shoot, most are lucky, some are not. They told me it could have eroded for many reasons, one stitch could have been in the wrong spot, it could have slipped a bit and gotten itself into a spot that was maybe weaker, more prone to erosion, maybe my fill was too much, they dont know. But, it was working great! I looked great, and felt great! Never hungry! I even had fluoro check ups, (especially when the restriction stopped) and they said you look fine, but no more fill. They could not see the erosion in 3 or 4 fluoros, that I know now that it was already eroded. It kind of just looked like a bit of my stomach was sort of drooping over the band, or that my pouch had gotten slightly bigger. the only way they saw it for sure was in the endoscopy (camera down my throat). I am fine now, thanks! I had an upper GI, they said everything looks just like it was before. I am sure I have scar tissue that they might have to cut around in my next surgery, but otherwise I healed fine....its been a crazy few years!

When a band erodes, it must be removed immediately, it can kill you. It basically means there is a hole in your stomach that they also have to sew up, if you leak, its deadly, just like in any of the other bypass surgeries. When eroded, as far as I know, they can NOT replace the band right away, since they must fix the stomach and this must heal for a good while. Insurance may pay for a new one later, I guess mine would have, cause I did end up gaining all the weight back with a bmi over 40 again, but my surgeon advised against it, and I dont want it because I am just afraid it will happen to me again. Perhaps my stomach was not the right one for the band! When a band slips, it can be fixed and put back in place surgically, or replaced if needed when they are in there. I think insurance covers that, cause it can become serious and is definitely medically necesary!

Hi 4 timer,I am so sorry for your problems! It really sounds like you are having a bad time. When they woke me up from my endoscopy, and my doc showed me the picture of more than half of the white shiny plastic band inside my stomach...I cried....and cried!! I said, please, dont take my band away!...THen they had to put me back under--emergency removal. I have healed for over 6 months and gained all my weight back, horribly depressed, but still fighting. PLease dont make yourself be in danger, with this continuous open wound! I know it is horrible to think of removal, but there are other options. I made myself SICK thinking of if I would ever have to get removal. I knew I would gain every pound back without restriction. I am ALWAYS hungry....so, consider your options, it wont take that long! Most are the lucky ones with the band, some of us are not, good luck!

Hi skinnymom, I really have done a lot of research, and that is why I did NOT opt for the RnY Bypass! I have read too many threads that they are looking for revisions, too, because they have re-gained. That is why I am opting for the Duodenal Switch, which has the best longterm success rate. There are MANY bypass patients looking for a revision from rny to ds, but not one DS person looking for any kind of revision, to anything! At least, I cannot find one. I have read, out of hundreds and hundreds of threads, of 3 people with less than satisfying results, and this seems pretty rare. I hope the DS will be my solution, after all this! thank you!

Wow, that is such a hard question. Remember, this was pretty early on, and I think they know SO much more now!! (i.e., placement, avoiding slippage/erosion, perhaps??, also, gradual fills, that I didnt have)....I always said (when I was so thin, and so happy, that I would do it again, in a second! But, now I guess, looking back, I was probably not as diligent about the maintenance as I could have been. My doc was 2 hours away, and I run my own business. No excuse, but I kind of said, if it aint broke, dont fix it. I didnt feel it was broke. The weight came back on, gradually. At first I ignored it, thought I was just leveling out. This is probably the point that it started eroding, since I was starting to no longer have restriction, and would have been to late to fix it anyway. I Dont know. Could they have caught it and fixed it? I dont think so. Just because,I had no symptoms. Now, I would say, no, I wouldnt do it again, because I think for me anyway, the band is kind of more temporary. I am sure, for most people, it wont be! And I am sure there are many who disagree. But, I need something permanent. At first, I said "no re-arranging my intestines, no way!" But now I say. I need the mal apsorption, and permanancy, because The band had too many variables, and I need this solution forever. Sorry if I am confusing....I have been thru a lot! Hope it helps...

gosh carrot, its ok, I dont want to freak you out! It will be fine!--- I think it is luck of the draw in most cases. The band failed me, plus I had large fills, not very gradual ones. I think my doc should have maybe counseled me on that..(???) He was also an hour away. All my surgeons told me that anything could have caused it, even a stitch in the wrong place. I think they are more savvy now with the placement of the bands. I wanted the band to be permanent for me, but it was really more temporary, and now I am going for a more extreme surgery, because I feel I need something more permanent, and, well, more extreme. Feeling so tight for so long got me so used to drinking things, mostly, and although I did try to stay with healthy low calorie items, I did have too many starbucks! But, on the same token, I was good, too, I NEVER had ice cream! I didnt care, about the sliming & PBing, and sometimes, the pain...because I was thin, and I looked wonderful! I never said the band didnt work, it did, but in the end it wasnt the right tool for my stomach! I know someone who was banded last year, and he is fine...his doc told him that since his banding was a few years after mine, that they have come up with more and more ways to avoid erosion, I guess they are seeing what not to do more. You will be fine, you will need all new clothes!

Hi---my erosions symptoms were nothing, but no restriction! I could pretty much eat wahtever I wanted, I tried not to, but I was hungry all over again. They did an endo and saw it almost 60% inside my stomach, took it out that night...please get an endo. I was the stubborn type that never wanted to go to the doc, "if it aint broke dont fix it", you know? Well, I figured soemthing wwas broke when i had no restriction! So I went, good thing I did....

My band eroded. put in feb 2003, emergency removal and fixed hole in stomach 4/07. I had NO symptoms at all except weight gain due to no restriction! They couldnt even see the erosion thru the fluoro. THey only saw it in an endoscopy and took me right into surgery to get it out. Pretty bad...ICU, etc. I think that people with slips have more "symptoms" and can try to unfill and play around with it to fix it first before having it removed. Doc said no more bands for me, trying for DS surgery now. Gained all weight back. good luck, make sure you get a fluoro, and perhaps take out some fluid!

yes, this happened to me. The endoscopy found it had eroded over 60% into my stomach....I had to have emergency surgery the same day. The doc said it was life-threatening, and now I am no longer a candidate for another band. The only symptom I had was no restriction. I have gained all my weight back (I had lost 75) and now I am looking into a new surgery. I was horribly depressed to lose my band!! and angry that this happened to me. But, I am dealing with it now, and I am fighting to fix myself again! Get you band out--asap! Good luck....everything will work out...!

Wow, Alexandra...this is so wierd....I think we may have met 4 years ago at one of abkin's support groups---I used to drive almost 2 hours to get up there--he did my surgery in 2003.....I stopped coming to this board because I got some pretty negative remarks that hurt me several years ago, from some users that just were not reading my concerns correctly...I got very frustrated. 2 weeks ago, I had to have my band removed in an emergency surgery due to over 50% of it eroding through my stomach. I had no symptoms, except that I had no more restriction, and I have gained back now over half the weight I lost. I had the "leave well enough alone" attitude. Plus, I am never sick and I am not a good patient, I guess making me not the greatest candidate for the Band. But I did follow the rules! I found a surgeon closer to me who is a genius at laparoscopy, although not as much experience as abkin/bertha. I am very pleased with him as he seems much more thorough, and involved more closely, not so much of a "factory" type feel...anyway, he was very pro-active, I wanted it FIXED...NOW! So he was going to go in and fix it or replace it (we thought it had slipped under the fluoro) but he did an endoscopy just to make sure there was no erosion, and he said I had to go into surgery immediately, like in an hour. My family and I had a cruise planned 3 days later, we had to cancel it. He said I was VERY lucky. This was life threatening...I could have died on the ship...yikes. I was in ICU. My stomach is very damaged. I can never have another band. I am looking into the Vertical Sleeve now, perhaps in a year or so. My recovery has been slow, and painful...I think that the slippage and erosions are VERY UNDER-ESTIMATED! Do you? I am so glad you are ok, I know how you feel losing the band! What procedure are you thinking of doing now? Will you stay with Abkin? Good luck, if I dont speak to you...!

ok, so I am totally new here, confused on the tech end--but I am so worried! Need advice---I Do see that "leatha_g" has had a slippage issue...? leatha--what were your symptoms????!!!!--- I am banded going on 18 months, and life is just amazing, and I dont want anything to change. Lost 80. I am an extremist, and have had only one fill, with A LOT put in....almost 4cc's, on my request, because the band was doing NOTHING without a fill. Then the weight just slid off. I know, I know, I probably should have done it more gradually, but that's water under the bridge...it took a year to lose it all. so for 6 months, I am maintaining, and couldnt be happier....except when I "overdue" it....I have discomfort, and I go to sleep sitting up, but I wake up like 4 hours later with this excruciating acid in my throat. It's horrible. Then I go back on liquids for a day or 2, and I am back to normal! UNtil the next time when I push it too far. I had a bariatric study, check up, in June. Doc said pouch has stretched a bit, and band has slipped slightly, maybe a degree or 2, but did not seem overly concerned---told me to take it easy. I try, but every once and a while...I eat too much...: ( ...doc would not add anymore saline, said it was PLENTY full... I saw someone said they drink 20 oz of water before bed, to "clear out" the pouch? Do you think this is my problem?...I am VERY bad, dont drink hardly ANY water, always forgetting.... --->>>Do you guys think this will be ok, if I just try to be careful....my greatest fear is having to remove this thing! It is my LIFESAVER!,....thanks....

thanks for the kind thoughts Alex...was thinking of a support group...will talk more to you later,thanks again

Denise, that is so great that your husbands slip went back, he is lucky!....My doc says it doesnt usually happen..... Did his doc tell him how severe the slippage was?...Did he say it was "slight"???....Or more pronounced? Just wondering....thanks.:phanvan

wow guys I feel like I'm being screamed at. The doctor did not seem too concerned about this whole thing, I think I was more so... First of all, it took me OVER A YEAR to lose my weight. ARE YOU NOT READING? I have worked long and hard at this. Secondly, I asked the doc to put in a little more than usual, and he TOLD ME IT WAS OK because he seemed to think I had a LARGER THAN NORMAL OPENING to begin with. So for me, having an unfilled band was almost like NOT HAVING ONE AT ALL>.... A lot of you seem to have restriction with no fill. THats really great, but I DO NOT. I had an unfilled band for the first 3 MONTHS. My doctors have done huge amounts of bands. I was naive at my first fill, but the doc was fine with it. It was under fluoroscopy. I did several barium swallows. Maybe it was the DOC who should hav etold me to put less in?....I had no idea back then. Plus, I was not even told to go on a liquid diet after the fill. Imagine how I limped along. The doc does not seem to be overly concerned about me trying to get along with this, so I am eating mostly liquids for now. The first thing he said at the fill was: "WELL, YOUR BAND LOOKS LIKE IT IS IN A GOOD POSITION." (Notice the quotes). Then, when I turned to my side, thats when he said he noticed the slight slip.... The reason I will not go back right away is: 1. they only do fills like once a month. 2. I am going on vacation. 3. The MAIN reason_I will go back and get it unfilled for a while,,but only if he agrees to put more fill in and not operate if it doesnt correct. I would rather eat liquids my whole life. I'm feel upset about writing....dont know if I should come back, it just upsets me more every time.

I guess a second opinion is a good idea! Even if I have to pay out of pocket....I will look into it--there are VERY FEW docs near me....guess I could trek up to NYC.... I am taking a break for a little while, it's making me sick...just gonna be very cautious....I wouldnt mind getting the fill out for a month or so, as long as my doc agreed to put it back in, even if the slip didnt correct itself, but he said if it didnt correct, he would take me back in surgery, and I just feel that's the last resort ,and why "open up" a new can of worms, when Imight be able just to live with the slip. If I call and he agrees that if it does not correct after fluid has been out, that he will re-fill it, then I will try it. If he refuses, then I wont go....:think

I guess what I am basically so FREAKED about, is the fact that my doc told me that if I unfill it, and it doesnt heal, he will do re-surgery instead of just re-filling it and letting me try to live with it. I am going away for a couple weeks, I think I will be very cautious, and wait till I return (so he doesnt think I am COMPLETELY mental)....to call him back and ask him if I take out fluid and it doesnt slip back, will he be willing just to replace at least SOME of the fluid. I dont think I should be opened up, when I can try to go on with it like this and it could be ok. I am really losing sleep and making myself sick about it....I have to take a mental break.... thank you guys for all your widom