PamRN

I'm just wondering if we can get an idea of how the numbers stack up since the complications information once gathered by another bandster never made it to completion. I'm eroded, band removed, no new band for me.

Today is my bandiversary... one year of banding, and 73 pounds gone (85 from my highest weight). I'm so SO glad I found this site. I found it while doing research for a gastric bypass. I had hit a mortifying #280 pounds, wore a tight size 24, and I was desperate and depressed. I even seriously wondered if I should get a prescription for an antidepressant. My cholesterol was creeping up, and with my taste for all things sweet, I'm sure diabetes type 2 was setting up camp. I would on occasion have sharp chest pains and PVC's (skipped/irregular heart beats), and after working a 12 hour shift my poor heels would stab with pain to the point of tears. They wanted my fat ass off of them in a big way. One french mid-band and 12 months later... I am happy, feel healthy, and am wearing a loose size 16. I haven't experienced any of the above health issues since very shortly after banding. I am honestly joyful. I feel good, everyday someone tells me how good I look, and l'm happy about my changes. I haven't lost much weight this past couple of months, but that's my own fault. I tend to gravitate toward creamy foods (higher calorie) because they go down easier, and I haven't totally tackled my sugar demons yet. I have certainly beat it back by huge measure, but it still gets me somedays. After a couple of months away from it, I am once again in the mind frame to get back to the Protein shakes and Vitamins that I seem to have taken a break from, and kick start another downward trend. I think that's the beauty of this band; I took a break but didn't loose my momentum like with regular diets. On a regular diet, when I would get bored or tired of it, I'd gain back what I'd lost and then some. With this band, I took a break and stopped losing... but I haven't gained! How encouraging is that? This was probably one of the fastest years of my life. I can't believe it's gone so quickly. The changes have been really great, the weight loss just slow enough that my body seems to be keeping up. I've needed no additional adjustments or fills so far, and I've gotten to know so many of you! Other than the typical banding issues... finding just how badly some foods don't like me anymore... the occasional ill timed super restriction...sliming/PB's (blech), my journey (knock on wood) has been fairly smooth sailing. Thank you to LBT and all of you bandsters who come here and share your journeys, your opinions, your ideas, your lives, and your random but entertaining thoughts. I sit here today intestines intact, alive, and in increasingly good health. I also need to thank my surgeon and his group, because for all the rumors flying early on, they certainly did right by me. Good luck, Good health, and may God bless you all! Pam~

That sure was a nice year. I hadn't felt that good about me in years, and I haven't in the last 2 years since. The following 6 months from this post would reveal erosion with an 80% migration. I would regain about 30lbs before band removal, and all the rest of the lost weight in the next 2 years. I went from a high of 280lbs to 172 to 284. I am back even higher than where I started, no band, and obese with painful heels and elevated cholesterol included for good measure. I wanted the band because it was reversible. It reversed all right I attempted to keep the weight off, but it just wouldn't stop. I joined nutrisystem and followed it strictly but gained instead of lost or maintained. My body saved everything from the stress of the erosion I guess. It took me until now to know for sure what I should do, and of course get the financing together. I was paying for a band I no longer had for a while. After tons of research, I've decided to revise to the VSG procedure with Dr Pleatman. He's close to home, I really like what I've read about him. He is very quick and concise when corresponding via email. His office staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and his price rivals Mexico. I am scheduled for my revision August 26th, 2008. I hope to be as happy one year from today, as I was when I started this thread. Losing the one weight controlling tool that really worked for me was devastating. Wish me luck. I'm shooting for permanence this time!

I was banded for 2 years. I chose the band because it was reversible in the event of a problem, and less invasive than the RNY. There was a problem...erosion - 80% was inside my stomach...so much for less invasive huh? 2 years ago I had it removed/reversed, and it reversed me all right...right back up the scale, and I'm now scheduled in Aug for the VSG. I've spent the last 2 years researching, reading, and waiting before finally deciding what to do. I've finally decided to do the VSG. The studies say it's as effective or better at 5 years out than the RNY in weight loss and maintaining. Wasabubblebutt is right, they use an improved technique to prevent stomach stretching. I've read that you may gain a 3 to 5 % stretch over time. That's still a very tiny stomach. I've read that some patients do experience a bit of a dumping feeling. A discomfort if they intake the wrong food, generally sugar alcohols... or eat too fast, described as a feeling of discomfort in the chest and or abdomen, lightheadedness, feeling faint, and sweats. It eventually passes, you have to wait it out. Many do not experience any kind of dumping feeling. I would think it would be a good thing to train us avoid foods that arent good for us. I've also read that the body compensates over time and generates a new location in the intestine for grehlin production, but it's never at the former levels that the stomach produced, so it's still a reduced level of hunger. It's permanent. Just like the band you can eat around your sleeve with high calorie liquids. We still have to monitor what we fuel ourselves with. I've read that much like the band causes the slimes, VSG can cause 'foamies' brought about by eating too fast, not chewing well or eating too much. I like the newest VSG studies for 5 years out. I like that this time it will be permanent. No risk of erosion, no risk of slippage, no port, no fills, a constant sweet spot not affected by TOM, stress, time of day... I'm having difficulty locating any post up VSG'ers who regret the sleeve, but am finding lots and LOTS of banders that regret banding.

Alexandra, I'm so glad all is well with you. I agree with you that if you can get a replacement you should. If I hadn't lost mine to erosion, I sure would've! I'm struggling to maintain on my own after an initial weight regain of about 40 of the 96# I lost. I don't seem to be able to lose any of the regain, and if I'm not very careful, the pounds jump right on. I even attempted nutrisystem, but can't stick to it on my own. I wish you good luck til you get your safety net back.

I paid $1850 for the removal, plus my trip down. Luckily I was able to have it removed via endoscopy, so I only had a small incision where they pulled the port out. I had a sore throat for a few days, but otherwise was fine. Yeah the added cost sucked, but not nearly as bad as losing my band felt emotionally. I'm still bummed about the loss, and the weight regain.

I suspected a problem when I started gaining weight. It was confirmed with a barium swallow and flouroscopy at my fill appointment. About the time I stopped losing, I had some left sided abdominal aches and pains. They usually came and went, sometimes leaving me feeling sore for a day. Because they came and went, I overlooked them, hopeful that they were nothing...apparently they weren't.

Have any of you heard about or know of anyone using glucophage for weight loss? I have a friend at work that told me last night that her doc put her on glucophage to help her lose weight, and she has a friend on it that lost 30 pounds in 2 months so far. I know that it's used for PCOS, and fertility as well as blood glucose control, but this is the first I've heard of it for weight loss... verrrrrry interesting... I need something now that I'm bandless, so this is has peaked my curiosity.

You haven't posted in a few days, I'm hoping everything is going ok and you're doing well. << hugs >> for strength through this awful time.

Those of you who feel this poll is flawed are right, it is. It isn't a perfect study. I was just wondering if we could track any kind of trend for band issues. We had a bandster supporter who began collecting a lot of info and then didn't finalize the report, so I was hoping to kind of see where we were. Once I created the poll with the initial questions I had, it wouldn't let me edit to add new questions. It's true that there are many without problems who don't post, and many with issues or removal who no longer post. Instead of good poll results, I'm finding that the support for those who've lost the band isn't quite as steady as for those looking into or still banded. I think it's fear and insecurity. I understand it, I hated hearing about problems for others while I was banded too. I am not anti band, I loved it while I had it. It worked to the tune of a 96 pound loss. The band failed me though, and my experience is something I should share. Bandsters and would be bandsters need to know the whole picture. The good, the bad, and the fixable. Mine was not fixable, though I could risk another band, I've opted not too because of fear of another failure. I miss my band, I mourn it's loss as I feel my clothes get tighter, and see the scale climb slowly back up to where I was sure I'd never have to go again. It's heart breaking. I'm glad I had the experience though, and I'm keeping my eye on the studies, and experiences of others who've taken another route post band loss so I can pick another way to win the battle against the bulge. There are a couple that look especially appealing to me, now if only the cash fairy would drop a sack of benjamins under my tree...

In speaking with different surgeons while researching about mine, I was told that for some folks with minor erosion, a simple unfill and time would allow them to heal. Some erosions are caught early, and can be saved. Most erosions, especially those whose band are already inside the stomach, must have the band removed. I added it in case anyone here fit that category.

Muggle you have very good points. I think that sounds like a whole other new poll. You should start one asking those very questions. Polls are easy to set up, and the answers to your questions would be interesting to a lot of folks. I am really just wondering how many folks are leaving band land, (not lbt) and why. Your questions delve deeper and could really help others understand the band.

Wow, I'm thinking maybe I'd rather not go there... one of the reasons I chose banding originally was it didn't cause dumping. It would have to have some great results overall to make that symptom worth it! Seems like a laxative would probably be cheaper if that's how it causes weight-loss.

Hi Kat, I didn't include newbies in not losing in under a year, because it can take up to that long for folks to get to the proper fill, get their head in the right place etc.. If newbie bandsters are under a year and having slip, erosion or band failure then the appropriate line includes them too. I missed a line about port problems/replacements and it wouldn't let me go back and edit to add it. I think that would be interesting to see too.

The manufacturers of Midband agree with GeezerSue, they emailed me that I should seriously consider some other procedure as the risk of eroding a second time were higher for some one who'd eroded already. I'm heeding that advise, no second band for me... not worth it IMO.

I gotta recommend airborne to you all. As an RN I am exposed to some nasty virus/bacterial illnesses. 2 years ago I started taking airborne (or the cvs brand) whenever I'm exposed to something, and I have yet to be sick. Despite sick patients coughing or sneezing right in my face (love that), sick children at home and yep Carlene...the worst patient of all... the sick husband... I've managed to avoid any type of cold/flu. I swear by it after last winter when all the girls at work were dropping like flies with a horrible head and chest cold that lasted up to 3 weeks...I took airborne a couple of times a day during that time and I'm the only one on the unit that didn't get it! Another nurse started taking it after talking to me, and the bout she already had of that cold wasn't nearly as bad, and only lasted 2 days. I keep it on hand at all times now... the cost of the cvs brand is like $5 and well worth it considering I don't miss work, or have to buy cold medicines. I don't miss the drippy nose, sore throat, cough or chest pain either.

I paid 1800 to have mine removed Nov 13, 06 by my surgeon's partner in Mexico. Mine was eroded and I've opted not to have another band placed at this point. I may have paid less since it was removed by the clinic that placed it. If you aren't seeing your original surgeon you may pay more

I havent tried it yet but have read that dryer sheets in your pockets keep them away

addison's disease is a cortisol deficiency disease. I am not a Doctor and can't diagnose you, but you could research to see if you meet the symptom's then see your doc and ask his/her opinion. Good Luck to you, I hope it's nothing serious!

Hey Nica, Thanks for the link. I think I'll like t9 much better now that I get how it actually works! That was a really easy tutorial.

You're right about the cost still being less by going to Mexico. I've seen quotes for band removal in the range of $5000 to $10000. I'm paying $1800. I am leaning away from rebanding at this point. Word from a rep with the Midband manufacturer is that once eroded I am at very high risk for a repeat erosion. They recommend looking into other gastric procedures. The MGB or the gastric sleeve look interesting, but again... paying big money for another procedure isn't on my horizon right now. I will consider Mexico though if I get the funding to have something else done. BTW: correction to my previous post... you'll need a passport after the beginning of January 07 to fly out of mexico, if you are crossing the border on the ground, you won't have to get one until the beginning of January 2008. Thanks for the well wishes, I do appreciate it.

You really need to see a doctor for a diagnosis. This is a gastric band support forum. If you aren't banded and it isn't band related you're really in the wrong place. We offer ideas, support, and motivation here, but only a licensed physician can officially diagnose a medical condition. My only suggestion is to see your doctor, and if you're having head pain with this perhaps you should see a neurologist. The symptoms sound serious and painful, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Hopefully you'll get some answers soon. Good Luck and keep us posted, I'm curious about what your doctor thinks it might be.

oct 18 2006 for fill/flouro :scared: flouro found erosion

oct 18 2006 for fill/flouro flouro found erosion

Have you had a scope (EGD)? If you are banded it could be signs of erosion. I agree that you need to see your dr. asap.