Ross

I am not one to post to forums. I am a lurker and I admit it. Having said that, I have finally brought myself to share my experiences so that, perhaps, someone out there will come forward and commiserate. I had my surgery in 2007. I was 280 lbs. at that time and chose the surgery because I had already tried every fad diet imaginable and, like many of you, was tired of beating myself up over a very low self image. I chose Dr. Alan Geiss at the Syosset Medical center. He put the smallest possible band in my stomache and never even discussed that aspect of my surgery with me. After 2 years I was down to 180 lbs. and my life had changed completely. By 2009 I was in great shape and the band was doing its part to keep my bad habits at bay, while I did the rest of the work with excersize and reasonable choices. Then came 2010. I started noticing that I was able to eat more of the wrong foods and got worried so I went for a fill...and then another...and then another. I found that each time I got a fill it would help and work for 3-4 weeks but after that I could start eating more once again. I started gaining weight at a rapid pace and then, in 2011, I was informed that my small band was already at maximum capacity and that no more could be done for me. I was checked with a colonoscopy and barium swallum/x-ray and it was determined that the band was securely in place. I met with Dr. Geiss and told him how disappointed I was. I was now back to 230 lbs. and was trending back upwards at a rapid pace. I could eat nearly the same volume and types of food that I consumed before ever having surgery. He said that "Lap Banding is not a solution for everyone and that I should go see a psychiatrist to get my head in the right place". Really? Would any of you agree? If it were only a mental impediment and a good "talk" was the proper solution - would any of us have a band in our body right now? Hands up? I told the doctor that I thought this was bad advice and that I chose the lap band to work for me as a tool. A daily physical reminder to make better choices and an deterrent to volume eating. I can now eat a full cheeseburger and fries without stopping once for breath. Should I be able to do that? The next week I received a letter from him that he was dropping me as a patient because he was no longer taking my type of medical insurance. Very convenient. I decided to give it one more shot. Surely it was just this particular doctor that was in the way of me getting back on the right track. I had all my files transferred to a local doctor at Mather Hospital named Dr. Arif Ahmad. This well known surgeon met with me just a few weeks ago and I left his office having had one of the worst experiences of my entire life. He met with me for 10 minutes. Asked me questions about what I am able to swallow. I told him exactly what I told all of you. He said that the band is not always an answer and that it only worked in about 10% of the cases on a long term basis. He said that sleeving or bypass were better alternatives but he would not consider these options on someone who was already banded by another surgeon. I told him that my surgeon dropped me and he said "well I can refer you to another doctor but I don't want you since your insurance has too high a deductible limit". Now, I have no idea what that means, mind you. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO and I think it is pretty good. He explained very clearly that he did not want me as a patient because he could not make any money on me. He said this right in front of the nurse practitioner in the office and I saw her look away and roll her eyes in disgust at his comment. I walked out of the office, now at 265 lbs, and decided that my life was pretty worthless. This is only one man's story but I find it particularly odd that there are so few "long term" success stories posted anywhere. This lap band was the biggest decision I ever made and the failure of it, combined with the overt greed by the doctors in my life, have led me to a bitter and cynical place. Perhaps I am better off. I no longer believe that there are easy solutions to anything. Life is hard and full of Herculean challenges. The only way to take them on is straight through them...never around them. I hope that someone out there is reading this and can learn from my mistake. Otherwise I will have wasted more than just the last 5 years in this fruitless endeavor. -Russ

Why would I Brandi? That's a question I asked myself before the band. I didn't have the answer then and I don't now. Will power? Anxiety issues? Justification for a lack of self control? All are probably valid and part of the answer. The bottom line is that when the band worked I was less hungry and the urge to solve every ounce of tension and anxiety with high calorie comfort food was somehow abated. I learned to eat about 1/3 to 1/2 of everything that was on my plate and then walk away. I learned that fatty and starchy foods had acceptable substitutes or could be shelved entirely for long periods. I learned that not every urge was best satisfied with food. Since the band has stopped restricting me I have un-learned these things somehow. I know they work...I just can't seem to implement them. My will power seems to have a maximum three week shelf life :-(

I have made yet another appointment with yet another doctor for June. One more try. If he is either unable or unwilling to offer any sage advice then I will instruct him to remove the fill. I will follow Stephy's advice above...give it a month and then try to fill it again and see if a "reset" helps any. The whole 5 year journey has been a far more expensive emotional investment than the dividend it payed.

Hey B-52, Why don't you actually read what I wrote instead of just adding worthless sarcasm to a constructive discussion. You were banded 15 months ago. The post was about "long term failure". I pray that you don't suffer the same problems I have but I also pray that if you do there won't be someone like yourself to add poison to your already-bitter situation. To everyone else, especially Stephy for the constructive suggestion, I thank you for the optimism. Evy, did you have your band removed for the same reasons as I am now experiencing?

Hello everyone, I have lurked here awhile but was afraid to post my problems as many have had it worse than I have...and I believe one should count their blessings. Now I feel it is the right time to ask for a little advice. I was banded on the 17th of May. Surgery was quick, recovery was easy and problems were and continue to be minimal BUT I do have two or three issues/questions that my doctor seems to just fob off with a "don't worry" answer. If someone will address them for me I will be forever grateful. 1. When I swallow most things I feel and hear something like a burp come up inside my esophagus. I am sure many of you recognize this sound. It is like air bubbling back up from the stomach pouch but not quite making it up all the way. It happens every single time I swallow and it doesn't hurt but it is VERY annoying and usually audible to others. Does anyone recognize this phenomenon and is it something that goes away with time? 2. I am getting heartburn now even though I have been heartburn-free on PREVACID for years. I am still taking the PREVACID but the heartburn is a daily thing anyway. Is this also something that gets easier perhaps? 3. Throwing up. I am concerned that if I ever have to vomit that it will not happen normally due to the roadblock of the stomach pouch and I will choke. Is this a foolish concern? Has anyone out there had a post-band vomit incident and has it been the same as before the band? That's pretty much it. Aside from these issues I am a happy camper. I don't feel any real restriction yet with the band but I suppose after I am back on solid foods I will be a better judge. Seems to me that a banded person can just eat all the soft mushy foods they want without the band getting in the way so I will have to learn to stay away from them as much as possible. Don't want to cheat myself and the band! Thanks all, Ross

<TABLE class=tborder id=post481548 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e9e9e9 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #e9e9e9 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #e9e9e9 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e9e9e9 0px solid" width=175></TD><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_481548 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e9e9e9 1px solid"><!-- icon and title --> <HR style="COLOR: #e9e9e9" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --><!-- google_ad_section_start -->Hello everyone, I have lurked here awhile but was afraid to post my problems as many have had it worse than I have...and I believe one should count their blessings. Now I feel it is the right time to ask for a little advice. I was banded on the 17th of May. Surgery was quick, recovery was easy and problems were and continue to be minimal BUT I do have two or three issues/questions that my doctor seems to just fob off with a "don't worry" answer. If someone will address them for me I will be forever grateful. 1. When I swallow most things I feel and hear something like a burp come up inside my esophagus. I am sure many of you recognize this sound. It is like air bubbling back up from the stomach pouch but not quite making it up all the way. It happens every single time I swallow and it doesn't hurt but it is VERY annoying and usually audible to others. Does anyone recognize this phenomenon and is it something that goes away with time? 2. I am getting heartburn now even though I have been heartburn-free on PREVACID for years. I am still taking the PREVACID but the heartburn is a daily thing anyway. Is this also something that gets easier perhaps? 3. Throwing up. I am concerned that if I ever have to vomit that it will not happen normally due to the roadblock of the stomach pouch and I will choke. Is this a foolish concern? Has anyone out there had a post-band vomit incident and has it been the same as before the band? That's pretty much it. Aside from these issues I am a happy camper. I don't feel any real restriction yet with the band but I suppose after I am back on solid foods I will be a better judge. Seems to me that a banded person can just eat all the soft mushy foods they want without the band getting in the way so I will have to learn to stay away from them as much as possible. Don't want to cheat myself and the band! Thanks all, Ross<!-- google_ad_section_end --> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Thanks to everyone for the advice and support. I have to question the theory that the band is too tight because I am already able to eat more than I thought I would and I can still drink Water with gusto instead of tiny sips...even now, only two weeks after my surgery. I can imagine that it is probably still swollen in the area though, which would account for the heartburn probably. Perhaps I just need to ride this wave until it crests and pray hard that it lets me down on peaceful shores. One thing I notice is that I have lost almost all interest in food. I still get hunger pains but I have lost all motivation to get creative and find the right things to eat. I am also terribly depressed and I don't even know why. Very strange indeed. This surgery is, so far, a mixed bag of curses and blessings. I am glad to have found a nice group of people like yourselves to help me vent off some of the bad mojo.