Big Dan

There have been many improvements made to the band and the procedure over the years, but there will always be risk just as there is with any WLS. The statistics say that there will be failures and complications. Luckily they are low percentages. But they are not zero. Some of us are the unlucky ones that make up those statistics.

I have had to have a band removed do to erosion. In my case the surgeon said he wanted me to heal for six months after the removal of the band and then he could put in another one. I had the second band installed and for a year all was going well. Then I had to have a port revision do to my port flipping and the tube was trying to poke out of my skin. That didn't hurt, it just looked creepy. After the port revision thing seemed fine for a couple months and then I started getting reflux and night coughs really bad. I put up with that for almost a year while trying different remedies. During that time I quit losing weight and even put some back on even though they kept adjusting it tighter. Finally, they sent me to have it checked with a flouroscope for leaks. No leaks found but the area above my band was way too large! They figured the band slipped down my stomach and now there is acid producing area of my stomach above the band. So, they emptied it until we decide what to do. They have told me that I am no longer eligable for a band after three major failures. So, it looks like I am going for a vertical sleeve or bypass now. I'm leaning towards the sleeve. So, having said all this my personal opinion would be to do something other than the band again. But, you could have total success with a second. I'd have to say it is a gamble though. I really wanted a band (and a sleeve was not an option at the time) so I gambled and lost. Ultimately it is your decision (with your surgeons guidance).

I just had .5 cc's taken out. I was too tight. Had trouble drinking water. I should be right around 9cc's now. So far so good. I did manage to lose 12 pounds in 2 weeks while it was so tight but I felt sick all the time. I feel better now and still have restriction. :thumbup:

Yep, I'm still here. :thumbup: My second band is doing well and I am feeling major restriction at this point. I am actually thinking it may be too much but I'm going to stick it out for a couple weeks and see. It's kind of interesting being full after eating a quarter cup of oatmeal or just a few ounces of chicken. No signs that this band is eroding. I do have an issue with my port tube trying to poke out of my skin a little but in a few months I may have that fixed. It is not a big problem right now.

My latestest fill (5 days ago) put me at about 9.5cc's and right now I am almost too restricted. So that should be about right to keep me in line. :thumbup: At this point eating instant oatmeal or even chicken is a little uncomfortable.

I would and did. I was very nervous about the second band failing too but it has been working great! I am slowly losing weight and I have great restriction. No complications this time.:bored:

Um, I don't know about your doctor but mine do not allow drinking with a meal. Typically no drinking for at least half an hour before and half an hour after a meal. Otherwise you are washing the food through too fast and not getting the benefits.

So if .2cc's was too tight why didn't they remove .3cc's and then put .2cc's back in? That way you would have only a net increase of .1cc.

Happy Holidays to you as well! I hope your next surgery (whichever it is) goes well. Feel free to ask me questions any time.

They waited to make the decision because the surgeon wanted to re-inspect everything after I had healed for serveral months. He was going to try for the band but if conditions were not good for banding he was going to go with the bypass. Evidently he found everything in good working order. :tongue:

In my case I was banded and things seemed to be going well for a couple months. Then I did not have much restriction even though I was going in for adjustments every month. Finally, after months of that I met with the surgeon and he was alarmed that at 19cc' I still had no restriction. He sent me for an upper GI. The results showed that the band was in perfect position but the barium was not going down the center of the band as you would expect. Suspects erosion. Next I get an EGD (camera down the throat) and they see no erosion but they are able to run the camera through my band. Now to put this in perspective the openning with 19cc's in should be like a pin hole but they could put the camera through! The camera is about as big around as your pinky finger! So, the surgeon concluded that there was something wrong with the band and it needed to come out. After the surgery to remove it I found out I had an erosion. My erosion was unique though in the fact tha instead of the band working into my stomach it actually came out the side of the pouch and left very little scaring. They wanted to do a bypass on me after I healed but I asked the surgeon to do some research. He did and after all that he said that he felt that a band was possible again although he did not feel confident giving me any success statistics. So, I started the process again but proceeded in a way that would allow either a band or bypass (to be decided by my surgeon once I was on the operating table) to be done. The surgeon knew I would prefer a band. He warned me that the pouch would have to be bigger (harder to lose weight) or smaller since they could not place it in the same location. I don't know which way they went (he was planning to go smaller if possible) but I came out of the operation with a band. So far all has been well.

Did your doctor give you a reason why he would not install another band? I would think that after you heal for a few months he should be able to do another band. You may want to get a second opinion if a band is what you really want.

They don't know why, I guess there are a couple posibilities but nothing concrete. There was nothing I could have done to avoid or detect it. The only reason it was even suspected was that they could never adjust it tight enough to give any restriction. They finally decided to do a scope and x-rays after several months where it was over-filled and still not working. The scope showed nothing other than the fact that there was no restriction (they could pass the camera through and into my stomach when the restriction should not have allowed it). The x-rays made it look like everthing was in place and correct but the flouroscope showed the fluid going around the band. They suspected a mechanical failure and thought it may have come unclasped. When they removed it they found that somehow it has eroded out the side of my stomach (a condition they had never heard of before) instead of into my stomach. So, it was a weird experience the first time around and I am hoping this time it is textbook normal!

I would and did. I only had my first band a few months when I had an erosion and had it removed at almost one year from when it was installed. I gained a bunch of weight back (just to remind me that I can't do it alone). I had to wait about six months to get re-banded and now I have my second band (I am a little over a week out from surgery) and I still think it is a great idea!

Just checking in (for anybody that has followed my journey) to say that I have decided to get another band and am scheduled for October 26th. Now I get to be all nervous all over again.

Oh, I totally agree with you. I didn't mean that I won't go somewhere else, but I do want to hear them out before I do. Maybe the RNY would be right for me. I just don't know yet.

I would certainly consider a sleeve but the hospital system that I use does not offer the sleeve. They only do bands and RNY. I could possibly go elsewhere but I would have to start the whole process over again.

I would love to hear more information on this too. I lost my band due to erosion and my surgeon says he would be more comfortable having me do a RNY instead of getting another band. I am worried about the extra complications with the RNY and of its long-term success.

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. My band is out. It was definitely an erosion but different than anything my surgeon has ever seen before. There is nearly no scaring but the band evidently worked its way through my stomach?! I am hoping they took pictures that I can see when I go back to see him on the 30th. They told me I may be able to be re-banded as early as June. I'll update you guys again when I know something. Take care all!

Well, it sucks to be me. At my last appointment I met with the surgeon and he was alarmed that at 19cc' I still had no restriction. He sent me for an upper GI. The results showed that the band was in perfect position but the barium was not going down the center of the band as you would expect. Suspects erosion. Next I get an EGD (camera down the throat) and they see no erosion but they are able to run the camera through my band. Now to put this in perspective the openning with 19cc's in should be like a pin hole but they put got the camera through! The camera is about as big around as your pinky finger! So, the surgeon concluded that there is something wrong with the band and it needs to come out. They also mentioned seeing another hole (the doctor that did the EGD) buy my surgeon didn't mention it. So, in two days I will have my band removed. Then heal for a few months and maybe have it replaced. I feel sick even thinking about another surgery. :smile:

My next appointment is in two weeks. Right now I feel good restriction but I normally do for a day or two after a fill. This one does seem like more though so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Up to this point I have been able to eat anything and in large quantities. That is why I am hoping I finally have some real restriction this time.

I usually work out (cardio and strength training) 30+ minutes about 5 times per week. I have had my band 11 months and have lost about 48 lbs.

As of yesterday I am now at 18.8cc's in my 14cc band. Yep, you heard it right, I am nearly 5cc's past what you would think would be full. They still asure me it is safe and acceptable. I would have to say that right now I am finally feeling some restriction but the first two days after a fill are usually the tightest anyway so I reserve judgement for a couple days. I have another appointment in two weeks. I will let you guys know if this one actually makes a difference.

I was banded a little over ten months ago. I had lost about 40 lbs after surgery but have gained 20 of them back. I am really hoping for some restriction!