txbbwstrwbry

People please by all means take this very serious...The lap band isn't for everyone and needs to be thought of carefully....I've seen commerical after commerical for the lap band placement and I'm here to just state an opinion about it....Personally for me it wasn't worth it....I had my band in for 5 yrs and had horrible complications from it all...Within 2 yrs I wanted it removed and the doctor wouldn't remove it....So, its not that easy to get it reversed....The only way I was able to have it removed is I ended up with a GI Bleed from all the vomiting I was constantly doing and they found that the band was in 3 different sections....Then once they got in there, they (doctors) found scar tissue all over the band pieces which was causing the horrible pain that I kept trying to tell my orginal doctor about and he wouldn't listen. So, PLEASE think about the band carefully and only if its a last resort after trying dieting, exercise and all that good stuff first before doing the band....I personally was on a 1500 calorie a day diet with 15 grams of fat and cycling 5 miles a day which I didn't lose any weight from after 6 months....So, therefore that's how I got started on my trip to having the lap band....But, I take it back now and have the scars to show what used to be....I am more healthly than I was when I had the band in and thankful that a TEAM of doctors finally listened to my plea. Txbbwstrwbry

If I'm not mistaken it's called Beverly Hills Physicans Group....I actually got their name off of Tyra Banks website one time for something else....If I get an email from them again I will post the correct name...But, I do believe its Beverly Hills Physicans Group.....Now, this was a few years ago when I was quoted the price so I'm not sure if it has changed since then. Txbbwstrwbry

Shirley, Actually, it didn't cost me anything because I had no insurance and no source of income....Because of the county I'm in I have a special insurance program that is offered to me and I had to go through them to get it removed...The surgery cost was about $50,000 but I stayed in the hospital for 12 days but, in the long run I didn't have to pay anything. I know of a CA surgeon that will remove the band for $6000 for a cash base client....But, I decided not to go with him simply because he sounded too eager to take the darn thing out. However, I'm sure you can look them up if you would like it was Beverly Hills Physicans that will take it out without insurance....You can leave them a message and they will call you back via their website. Txbbwstrwbry

Shirley, The only way I was able to get my band out was not through having insurance and being basically diagnosed with a GI bleed before anything would be done....I'm sorry to hear that you are going through such complications because in my mind at times they will get worse and then better....So, just hang in there and find a hospital willing to take it out if your doctor says it needs to come out. I had a doctor that basically said I had a GI bleed and when that didn't appear to be the case and ruled everything out the only thing left was the band....So, they removed the band and I'm fine now. I'm not sure if you have Chrons or not, personally I would get a 2nd opionion on that if you think its your band....Let me know if there is anything else I can try and help you with. Txbbwstrwbry

Yes I feel like my old self and I am thankful for that...So, that's one thing to look forward too :smile2:

I am great now....Thanks for asking!! Yeah I'm still overweight...But, I'm a happier person for it :smile2:

He wouldn't remove it until I lost a certain amount of weight....Until I reached what he considered my "goal weight" he was bound and determined not to remove it. Txbbwstrwbry

Darlin' I know how you feel...As soon as I was banded I wanted the darn thing out...However, it took me 5 yrs and many many complications later to get a TEAM of doctors to remove the darn thing....I hope you have better success in having it removed than I did....My orginal doctor wouldn't even talk to me or remove the band...He blew me off.....So, I had a lot to deal with....Just in the mean time, be careful from vomiting because that caused mine to break into 3 separate pieces....Best of luck to you. Txbbwstrwbry

sizewise, I actually have this as well and I've had surgery 2 times in the past 10 yrs to have cysts removed so, I completely understand where you are coming from. Even with the banding that I had done, I only managed to lose 65lbs until recently when I couldn't hold anything down and then I lost another 25lbs in less than 3 weeks. I had the band in for 5 yrs and was just removed on 06/14/07 due to complications. With PCOS, it seems to make it more difficult to lose weight than the doctors imagine I believe. My lap band doctor was constantly on me about losing more weight. I was sticking to the program that his office suggested and exercised my butt off but to no avail would the pounds come off. I also believe that until you can really get a handle on the PCOS it makes it more difficult to lose weight. Now, so far my OB/GYN only gives me the options of birth control to slow the cyst growth or to get pregnant. Apparently this is to reverse the hormones the way they are naturally supposed to be and stop PCOS. Now, I currently don't do either one of these therapies that are recommended for PCOS. I actually read in the New England Medical Journal years ago that the help of glucophage has had tremendous success with the battle of PCOS. I am trying to find a doctor that will listen about trying this out as PCOS is actually insuline resistant and this is the cause of the weight gain from what I've read thus far and with my medical background. Glucophage is actually used to treat Type II diabetes in most people but, OBGYN's are starting to come around to the new therapy that is a possible solution to getting the body back on track. Right now, those are the only 3 treatments that I know of. I'm sure there are herbs and such to use as well, but consult a doctor before trying those out because sometimes they tend to make the problem worse before getting better. You know? :guess Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry

vluckey, The doctor is exactly right It will either be local or general and in either case neither is bad. Just the stupid spray stuff for the local sucks. Of course after the nurse sprayed it into my throat and I made a comment about how bad it was, she told me what she did for a sore throat by using that stuff and she learned a lession ... LOL :biggrin1: At least she was able to put me at ease about it all. You will do fine, I promise. Hopefully, you will be able to figure out what is going on and be able to make a decision on what you want to do from there. Oh!! And congrats on your baby girl!! You go woman!! Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry

vluckey, Its ok!! Really no worries now. I feel a lot better after having it removed personally. I just wish I had known then what I know now :cry Then, I probably would have done something different. But, don't get me wrong, before having the band I was on a very strict diet and exercise program for 6 months with a doctor watching me closely. She wanted to prescribe diet pills to help with what little progress I had made. So, it really came down to a fight with the insurance company. Go figure, at the time the surgery was $35,000.00 and they wouldn't go in halves on diet pills with me. So, they paid for the surgery instead. Now really, what sense does that make, I tell ya!! But, don't give up by any means!! Just pay attention to what your body is telling you and voice your concerns ahead of time before. Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry

Actually, there are many ways that a band fill can be done to be honest. I've had practically every one that was listed on this thread :rolleyes I had a doctor that could feel around for the port and stick the needle in and inject the saline directly in and I could actually feel the band becoming full. Another time, I had the fluroscope done because the doctor actually lost count of how many CC's he had placed in the band (LONG STORY) and that worked out fine. And then another time was with an x-ray type of machine in the office to be able to tell about the band filling. And then of course there are the lucky ones that won't experience this at all. Of course, my band fills were over the course of 5 yrs and I didn't need one every time I went however, the doctor still managed to charge the insurance company $300 bucks!! So, depending on the experience of the doctor you can have the fills done all different ways or one particular way that He/She might be comfortable with. Personally, I prefer to be able to watch what is happening so things aren't forgotten about how much is injected and so forth. As far as the band centers, I live in TX and haven't come across any of those. I would just check them out closely if its not your normal band doctor suggesting you go there. :nervous Txbbwstrwbry

Hate to hear that a lot of people are having problems like this. I don't believe all these complications were apparent several years ago when the whole "lap band" thing started. The upper GI isn't really going to show anything other than if the band has slipped to be honest. I have recently experienced what you are currently going through. I managed to last 5 yrs with my band and then within the last 6 weeks things became so bad that I ended up in the hospital for 10 days. The end result was having the lap band removed and new scars. Go figure. But, anyway just pay attention to what is going on with yourself is all I can tell you at this point. I had been on every medication under the sun for the past 5 yrs for acid reflux and tons of medical tests only for them to say nothing was wrong. It was only until my recent battle with this whole thing that I finally got someone to listen. After all, vomiting day and night is a horrible way to live. Txbbwstrwbry

Honestly, its not all that bad with either sedation techique that is used. You will either go under local anesthesia which they spray this horrible numbing solution that is supposed to be "cherry flavored" in the back of the throat which is pretty strong and might take your breath away for a moment. (that's the worst part) And then they will give you some meds that will put you asleep but not completely out to do the scoping.Or, they might do general anesthesia and if this is done you don't have to worry about the numbing spray they will just completely put you under and do the scope. Which personally, I've had both done since having the lap band and there really isn't a preference on how it is done because you will be watched closely. Now, because you mentioned in one of your other postings about your esophagus being dialated already a little, you will probably be sore at the bottom of the esphagus or where ever the dialation might be and possibly a little bit of a sore throat if you've been vomiting a lot lately. At least that was my experience with this last one because of how sick I was. But, the first one was a breeze and no soreness at all from it. So, don't worry and chin up:nervous It will be ok. Just remember if they use the numbing spray just be prepared and say "I need some AIR" :nervous Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry

Depends on how long you have had your band I would suppose. Band erosion or leakage does not show up on any of the tests that can be done. Go by what you feel like, not what the doctors say. If you feel something is wrong and not right stand up for yourself. You may need it replaced or removed. I ended up with no choice but having mine removed, which I posted on your other question with a long sob story... lol :scalesno: But, I know I'm better for it. Just remember to listen to what your body is telling you, as there could be something serious going on and the doctors don't always know everything. Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry

vluckey, I recently developed this problem about 6 weeks ago which ended up causing me to lose a lot of weight of approx 25 pounds in less than 3 weeks mostly by vomiting and not holding down a single ounce of Water. This in turn caused me to seek a doctors medical advice as I was afraid of how sick I was becoming and how weak I was. Well, needless to say, I spent 10 days in the hospital and just released a few days ago. I had to have the band removed from all the vomiting and within the last 6 weeks my port slipped (even from being stitched in place) by 5 inches downward. The cath tubing came apart from the port and from the band causing it to free float around in my abdomen. Then to top it off, the lap band itself managed to work itself up about 2 inches upwards (even from being stitched in place) with all of this, the doctors (a team of about 10) was hoping the band would deflate with the cath tubing not being connected to the band but instead it still stayed completely inflated. So, after all the testing that was done being in the hospital they figured the best thing to do was to remove it as I was having so many complications from it. And I must say, best choice I made for myself personally. I was probably not a good candidate that should have had it done in the first place. But, hind sight is 20 20 :paranoid Anyway, if you are having these complications now, please be careful and have all the testing done that your insurance carrier and your doctor will allow before going any bigger. It sounds to me as if you are already having problems and you might want to have it deflated to get some release from it for a bit of time and then have it re-inflated. Make sense? Just know this to anyone else that reads this. I'm not saying don't get the lap band or do. However, there is more research out there now that suggests that the band is only good for 5 yrs and then it is to be replaced. This is recent information that is out there about this device. I had complications as soon as the band was placed and my doctor was a nightmare and refused to listen. So, just make sure that you do your homework on this gadget because it can get messy down the road. Now, I have to contend with more scars and healing all over again. But, I feel more like myself than I have in 5 yrs and feel that I will be able to be healthy which I haven't been able to experience in a long time. Sincerely, Txbbwstrwbry