Banded091307

Hi Anne, Please send me a PM or email at banded09132007@gmail.com. I would be interested in talking to you about your band leak. What you are describing sounds exactly like what happened to me. I was also banded in Federal Way and a self-pay. I would also be interested in talking to any other bandsters self pay or insurance who have had a leak too. I am specifically looking for those who have had a leak on the band itself.

Hello, As you can see, I was banded in 09/2007. I have managed to lose weight with the band by following the protein and portion control. After about 4 fills it was disovered that I have a leak on the band itself. This was found under a fluoro study. I contacted the band manufacturer and was told that this is unheard of. I would like to find others like myself to show them that this does happen. Regardless of if your insurance convered a new band, if a second surgery was covered by the manufacturer, or you were cash pay please contact me. If you have had a leak on your band and you believe the leak wasn't caused by a puncture during a fill please contact me by PM or directly at Banded09132007@gmail.com. If you know of someone who has had a similar experience, please pass this on to them. Thank You, Melissa (This has been posted in other forums as well.)

Hello, As you can see, I was banded in 09/2007. I have managed to lose weight with the band by following the Protein and portion control. After about 4 fills it was disovered that I have a leak on the band itself. This was found under a fluoro study. I contacted the band manufacturer and was told that this is unheard of. I would like to find others like myself to show them that this does happen. Regardless of if your insurance convered a new band, if a second surgery was covered by the manufacturer, or you were cash pay please contact me. If you have had a leak on your band and you believe the leak wasn't caused by a puncture during a fill please contact me by PM or directly at Banded09132007@gmail.com. If you know of someone who has had a similar experience, please pass this on to them. Thank You, Melissa

Hello, Before your doctor does the surgery they can request a fluoroscopy study. When they do this they will insert contrast into your band while you are under x-ray and then they will be able to see where exactly the leak is. It can be common to have a leak in the port or the tubing connection. The leak/whole I had actually was on the band itself. I have seen three surgeons and none of the three have seen a leak in this spot. Depending on where the leak is at will depend on the type or surgery needed. If the leak is in the tubing/port then it can be pretty simple, if it is beyond the connection point in the tubing or on the band then the entire band, tubing and port need to be replaced. I hope that this makes sense. Of course depending on where the leak is at will impact the cost. By doing the fluoroscopy you will know where exactly the leak is and be able to plan better. Also, if the entire device needs to be replaced you may decide to convert to a VSG, etc. I had looked at revising to a VSG, but in the end decided no VSG and I didn't get a new band in either. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

If you are a self pay the warranty is worth it. The band manufacturer does not have a warranty on the band. If ther are any complications they can be costly. I was a self pay and at 4 months out they discovered I had a leak. I never had restriction so they did a test under fluoroscopy. The leak was a pin sized whole on the band itself. This is a rare complication, but a costly one. I just had the band removed and had to pay out of pocket for that too. $1000 is a good price to pay for the warranty and just in case. If the surgeon is offering this though make sure you know your surgeon and why he offers this. Does he have patients who frequently have complications, etc. Also, who is the warranty through? For example, is it insurance that will pay out to the hospital, anesthesiologist, or diagnostic companies should something go wrong, or does it just cover his fee as the surgeon. Good Luck.

I wasn't allowed to lift more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. My surgeon was very firm on the six weeks and at the time my son was only 13 months old. I asked if there was any way around this and if I could lift him any sooner being he was only 20 pounds. He said for my health and the long term success of the the band wait 6 weeks and no sooner. It gives your body time to heal, especially the ones on your stomach. Good luck-I know this can be very difficult, but in the end it will be worth it!

What you are going through is completely normal. For once in my life I don't want to shop for clothes, just shoes. I know how they will fit and what size will fit. Friends, family, and any significant others won't understand what you are going through. They will think you just be doing back flips. For me I realized that every diet I went on I would end up buying larger sizes versus smaller, so buying smaller clothes was a new concept to me. I too started out at 4x and now I am down to a Large/XL. I still tend to get looser clothing because that is what I am used to. The other thing is to actually try on the clothes as you are "purging" your closet. I thought I had cleaned out my closet and then my husband went back through it and came out with two more bags to donate to a shelter. I told him he was getting rid of clothes that fit me still so he had me try them on, and they didn't fit-they were too big. I sat there looking at the bags teary eyed and not knowing why. Its parter of the process of letting go. It can also be scary once you no longer fit into the "plus-size" stores. The day that I realized that they didn't have a size for me was really hard. That was where I was comfortable at and knew I wouldn't be judged. The thought of going to a "regular" store was new and scary and it still is. Just realize it is part of the process, part of growing, and it is normal to be emotional about getting rid of some of your comfortable items from the past. As far as cost goes I have learned to love second hand stores and now frequent good will because my clothing size changes as much as my 19 month old sons does which isn't good for a budget. Make sure to make a splurge when you can. Hope this helps.

No matter what you do, make sure to crush the pills if that is what your doctor has told you to do...even if the pills are nasty crushed. Some docs are extra cautious and don't want to take the chance of having anything get caught or stuck. I am about 6 months post op and still have to crush pills-in fact my doctor has told me that I will always have to crush pills or take them in liquid form. This is to err on the side of caution, but each doctor is different.

A pharmacist told me to try using sugar free chocolate because I was gagging on some of the pills I was crushing. If you look out there you can find a sugar-free syrup that will do the trick. Just make sure not to over do it on the chocolate. What I do is put a little bit of chocolate on a spoon cover it with my "powder" and then top with a little more syrup and it goes down smoothly without too much gagging. Good Luck!

Hi Jayme, You will want to check with your insurance company to see if they will cover complications after surgery. Some things to consider are that your surgeon may order testing after surgery if you do have complications, for example xrays with fluoro, an upper GI, or a Scan with contrast. (Keep in mind some of these test may be ran even if there isn't a complication, but more of a precaution.) All of these procedures can be pretty costly out of pocket. Most hospitals will give you a discount if you are paying up front with cash and ask for a discount. Also, talk to your surgeon. See if there are any "warranties" with their work. If you have a problem right away, will they cover it, etc. Good Luck!

It is one the band right next to the tubing.

Hello,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I am 4 1/2 months post op and had a fluoroscopy today. I have a large hole/leak on the band. My surgeon has told me that I will have to pay for a new surgery (another $15 K out of pocket) plus removal of the old band. Any advice? I need help here...I don't have $15K hanging around for another surgery.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The radiologist said that this type of leak was either causes from the installation of a defect in the band. I have contacted Inamed, the band brand, and all they have referred me to were different ways that I can finance a new surgery, disregarding the fact that the band may be defective.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Thanks.<o:p></o:p> Melissa