sharp18

I had my lap band placed in 2006. I have had several fills, and the last time I had a fill, I had to go back to the MD to have 3/4cc removed because of severe acid reflux. In Sept 2008, I had 1/4cc put back in. I had acid reflux again, and the symptoms are just now subsiding. I have not been back to my MD for a follow up as I changed jobs in Sept, and my new insurance won't kick in until April. I can't afford the $125 office visit. I am very, very disappointed with this lap band. I have lost about 30 lbs overall, and, I am not the only one who is not doing well with this band. I have 4 friends who have the same band from the same surgeon, and we are all at a standstill. I have to see a dentist now because of the erosion from spitting up at night and regurgitation. One thing I have noticed about bariatric surgery...some MDs address the mental issues and some don't. My fellow bandsters and I have all resorted to eating foods that will not hurt when they pass through the band, ie, sugary foods or fatty foods. Proteins and salads cause vomiting and generally don't pass through. We all feel we are addicts for bad foods, hence the need for bariatric surgery. I can personally say I wish I had received better counseling prior to surgery to understand my addiction to food, and think surgeons should require the 6 month counseling prior to surgery. (There is one MD in upstate South Carolina who does require this. However, he's a good distance from where I live so I wasn't able to use him, and my insurance didn't cover him.) Are there any other people who have older lap bands that are experiencing these problems? Is anyone with a newer band doing better? It all boils down to diet and exercise.

Thank you so much to everyone for your very informative, and especially to NCsQueen! When I got my band, I was only about the 5-6th patient my surgeon had done. There was no support group for lap band, only gastric bypass. I am not the only person who is having problems. I talk to others who have had the band in the time frame I have and we all feel like there was something "left out" when we had our initial consultations. The first three patients here in my hometown had a different band and they are doing very well. Theirs is a 5cc band, where mine is 10. (More visits = more $.) At the time I decided to have this surgery, there was hardly anything on the web about it. It's not like it is now, and this time 3 years ago, I wouldn't have gotten the response from everyone that I got today. I had the upper GI which only showed the reflux. I did not have reflux prior to the band. Cleo's mom-I called the MD and requested the CD today! Thanks for the awesome advice. I know I am my own worst enemy when it comes to my weight, but I paid a lot of money for something that really doesn't work like I thought it would. Cleo's mom-again-you are right on that the hunger pains don't seem to dissipate. At one particular visit, I had just started my cycle and the MD told me that this does not cause weight gain. I went back one week later and had lost 7 lbs from the week before. That's why I think I got a bum deal. I look at Sharon Osborne and she looks so good that I want to find out if she had a different band. I am going to take everyone's advice to heart and when my insurance kicks in April, I will get a second opinion. I don't want another fill because the reflux is too much, and I get it from everything I eat, including healthy food. Thank you to everyone who wrote back.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. It has been a very busy week! I feel a little better, but I don't feel as good as I should. I'm awake now because I'm coughing again. I had one night I made it through the night.

Has anyone had these problems after a fill? I was banded in April 2006. I've only lost a little over 20 lbs. I got a fill in March. The acid reflux started about a week after the fill. I went back to the MD. He said I was probably eating too late at night. He did not adjust it. I went back April 9. I had gained 3 lbs since March. I told him it was the first day of my cycle. He said that didn't have anything to do with it and he gave me another fill. The acid reflux started again that night. Last night I didn't have reflux, but the coughing kept me up most of the night. I woke up with a terrible headache. I feel like I have a constant tickle in my throat. I am miserable. I don't go back to see the MD until May 9. He did mention the last time that if the reflux wasn't better then he would do the swallow test to see if there was a problem with the band. I did tell him if further surgery was required then I would have the band removed permanently. Has anyone else had these problems? Thanks! Lisa

Dori: Thank you for your reply. My doctor is conservative with fills also. I don't know why this fill has bothered me so much. I had lost down to 206, then when I went April 9 I was back up to 209. I really think after $10,000+ on this operation and all the visits I should have lost more and not be so uncomfortable. Today has been really uncomfortable. I had the coughing really bad last night and it has continued off and on throughout the day. I thought I would tough it out til May 9 and see what he says. Do you have a constant tickle in the back of your throat? Since this started I feel like I have something stuck in my throat, but with all the coughing I know there is nothing there. Is this a symptom of reflux?

Lani: My doctor makes you drink two glasses of Water before you can leave the office when you have had a fill. There weren't any problems either time. The reflux started just two months ago. I think that's what has me worried. Everything was fine until March.