ellendeette

I had the band procedure in May 2008. My band twisted and slipped and it was removed in July 2009. I had a kayak accident in Hawaii so my band slipped when I was getting into the kayak. My stomach was too swollen and tramatized during the removal to put a new band in. My doctor told me to return in 5 weeks to have a new band put in. I've been quite sad without my band but yet felt good that it was out. It sometimes felt weird that this plastic object was in me with no certain time when it would come out. I just went to see my bariatric surgeon today for a new band. He told me that my BMI is too low and its possible that Blue Cross may not cover my new band. Can you believe that too low of a BMI? I explained to him that it was an accident that my band slipped and I shouldn't be penalized for not getting a new one. He agreed and he is going to submit a request for a band for me but will need letters from my various doctors to support my claim. I thought I could maintain my 85 pound weight loss with my behavior changes, exercise, eating less, going to support groups, therapy, etc. It lasted a couple of months where I actually thought I could do it. But then I found out my Dad has cancer in both lungs and it freaked me out! I go to therapy every week and its helping me but I really miss the support of the band. It helped me tremendously with giving me a small appetite, no cravings and I did not feel hungry after eating. My doctor also suggested today that in my request to Blue Cross that I also ask for an alternate bariatric surgery like the sleeve. I said YES! I really do not want to gain my 85 pounds back and it has been difficult for me to not to snack and to feel full once again. People have told me they have done it without the band after it has been removed but I honestly do not think I am one of those people. After my swelling went down, its been much tougher. I wish you luck. I would say it all depends on your medical insurance about what procedure it covers. Insurance is (and has been) picky about the reasons why they cover bariatric surgery. Good luck to you! Please post again and let me and others know how you are doing.

Trana, My band slipped in July 2009. I'm considering having a new one put in. I was wondering what your experience was from having the first band put in and the second band put in? I am having serious doubts whether I can lose weight without the band. I'm eating about the same portions and exercising even more than I did with the band and I am not losing weight. I had a very good relationship with my band and it was a powerful tool to keep my portions in check. My slippage was a total surprise. I really had no idea that it would happen to me. I would not have considered taking my band out. I had no choice because the band twisted and my stomach was too swollen to replace it. I would appreciate your feedback on thsi subject. I would like to respond to the subject raised about whether or not you go "back to normal after the removal." Yes, you can eat bigger portions, gulp a glass of Water without burping, don't have to concern yourself about chewing, can race through eating without slowing down, drink water when you eat, etc., but you LOSE the ability to STOP eating when you had enough. I can see how I could GAIN all the 85 pounds I've lost and GAIN even more. I have had what it takes after losing this weight to go to any store and buy whatever clothes I want because they fit, like what I see in the mirror, cross my legs for the first time in my adult life, feel good in my clothes and not have buttons pop or keep the zipper down to feel comfortable, go across a mall walking and not have to stop for a break, go on an airplane and strap my seat belt without an extention, etc. These things are priceless. I guess you can say you go back to "normal" after they take the band out but I don't think I will ever look at food the same way again. Food took over my life for so many years. The band put it in perspective. Made me realize that I used it as a friend rather than fuel. I don't want to miss out on any part of my life because of my weight EVER again! If there is those out there that are throwing up too much, eating cold food, can't drink without getting ill, etc. There is something wrong. The band was meant not to be doing those things to you. Either the band is too tight, slipped, eroded, etc. You need to go to a bariatric surgeon and have it checked out ASAP. You can get dehydrated and very ill for not correcting it. - Ellen

I understand what you are going through. Its the pits! I recall the thinking in AA and OA that says we only have today. Tomorrow is over and tomorrow is not here. We really have to focus on today. Do you have a support group or other bandsters that you can talk to? My support group that I attend really helps me. In addition to the posts on this site. One of my co-workers suggested that I get some type of medication to curb my appetite if I don't have the band put in again. It is an option but I'm trying to avoid that option at this point. I don't know if my bariatric surgeon would help me with that. I'm headed out for the gym. Exercise does help in many ways. Also be sure to drink fluids. Sometimes I think I am hungry and I end up being thirsty more than hungry. Sometimes it can be "head hunger" that makes you feel hungry and can't get full. That is why I returned to therapy to help me deal with the issues that make me turn towards food. If you would like to e-mail me. My e-mail address is: e.tippit@yahoo.com It is very scary without the band. I can't believe I was one of those people whose band that slipped and had to have it removed. I was really optimistic that they could have repaired it (they couldn't). I am seriously reconsidering it (like I said before) but if my odds are increased for slippage in the future. I don't know. I would like to lose another 50 pounds or so. Hang in there! Don't panic. Keep yourself occupied with seeing people and doing things. Like I said before, I'm going to the gym for a workout. Later this afternoon I'm going to the aquarium with my husband and friend. I am doing chores around the house. I eat how I ate before I had my band removed, I really watch that I am taking in over 48 ounces of Water a day, exercise, talk on this site, e-mail friends, etc.

I'm so glad I read this thread tonight. I never heard before that your risk of complications rise because of having slippage. My band slipped in July and I had it taken out. They couldn't repair it because it was so swollen. I am eating about the same as I did before the band slipped and exercising more and can see that life is tougher dealing with food without the band. I thought I was hungry the other day (for the first time in a very, very long time) but I learned in my support group that sometimes you can confuse thirst for hunger so I drank something and it went away. I really do not want those horrible cravings and feeling empty and eating and eating and not satisfying myself. I also don't want to gain back those 85 pounds I worked so hard to lose. I am in therapy and my therapist is encouraging me to stay where I am and not have the band put in. My insurance may cover my procedure to have the band put in again if I do it in 2009. Otherwise, if I wait until 2010 I may have to pay a much bigger portion. I am so confused. I am planning to see my surgeon again and talk with her about my options. My bariatric surgeon previously told me that I can not only maintain my weight loss but lose more. Its been two months since my surgery and I can't seem to lose. I go to support meetings, measure my food, exercise even more, etc., and not even a half of pound. I also found out from my gynocologist that I only have a trace of hormones so I've started hormones so it may change my metabolism and give me more energy and maybe start burning weight off. I haven't had two months of not losing weight in a very long time. With the band, my weight went down every week. Sometimes even a 1/4 pound. All I can say is that I am frustrated. With the band, we made a great team but without it, I can see how tempting it is to overeat. I go out to eat and bring home half the food. I hope the people who have lost their band post again and give me an update. I think we are in the same boat. I keep thinking if I get a new band and it slips like the old one. That will be so hard but I am so afraid of not maintaining my weight loss.

I had my lapband removed on July 8, 2009. My band slipped and twisted when I was on a kayak trip in Hawaii. The fluid could not be removed so the band had to be removed. I am contemplating having a new band put in. I have lost 85 pounds and would like to lose more weight. I cannot see realistically how I can lose more on my own. The band was a powerful tool. Obviously, it did not help me lose all of the 85 pounds but it helped me tremendously. Its very rare that a band will slip (2-4%) of the time. Unfortunately, I was one of the few this happens to. The best part is that I can have it put back in.

I'm so glad you posted today. I was quite concerned about you. Your doctor did the right thing to take tests before the surgery. That way they can see the damage and prepare for surgery (that is what I have been told). I had my band taken out last month due to slippage. It rarely happens (2-4%) but it happened to me. It could have been a combination of weight loss, lifting my arms and being pushed from behind onto a kayak. Who knows? It slipped and I had to take care of it. All I know is that I didn't plan on taking my band out but because of the tests and surgery, my band had to go. It was too swollen and traumatized to add a new band. My surgery last 15 minutes. My port area has taken the longest to heal. I can feel scar tissue and Fluid under that area. I have heard of the band eroding onto other body organs, etc. I am still uncertain about whether to have the surgery to have the band put back in. I need to heal fully. I have to pay my out-of-pocket expenses to have it taken it. Insurance paid most of it but I have to pay almost $3,000. One thing good, after I pay for this $3,000 (or so), I will have met my $5,000 maximum and I could probably have the band put back in for nothing! BUT, I will have to pay this out-of-pocket expense in 2009 and have the new surgery in 2009. Not much time since its August already. I am doing quite well since the surgery last month to remove the band. I eat, exercise, go to support groups, go the therapy, etc., like I did before. I am confident that I can maintain my 85 pounds weight loss and lose more. I can see with the band gone that it helped me tremendously. I guess you can say in the short run that I'm doing okay. I am uncertain about the long run but I'm going to see how it goes. For those of you out there that have lost your band to slippage or erosion, please post and let us know how you are doing. It helps not only me but helps others in the same boat. Tell us what happened and where you are today. We need all the support we can get! Ellen

I had the endoscopy too while I was in the hospital. The catscan showed that the band had slipped (I had it done in Kauai) but they wanted the endoscopy to see if there was any erosion and to see the condition of my throat and to see the damage the band did. Luckily, there wasn't any erosion but my stomach was pretty traumatized and swollen with the band being twisted for several days. My band slipped when I on vacation in Kauai. Fortunately, the last few days of our 10 day trip. The emergency doctors there had no clue about a band so I know what you mean about seeing a doctor who doesn't know about the band. They spoke to my doctor in LA but they couldn't take any Fluid out because my band was so twisted. I had three emergency doctors standing over me trying to get fluid out so I could take fluid in my mouth. Lucky for me that started an IV and had fluids started right away. I don't know what to tell you other than to take it one day at a time and not project about how tomorrow is going to be. It sounds corny and simple but that is how I am doing it. I exercise every day even if its for 15 minutes. Build a support system so you have people you can talk to like me who are going through a similar experience. My personal e-mail address is e.tippit@yahoo.com Take care! Ellen

Yes, I am keeping up with making good choices with the type of food I am eating, the quantity of food, exercising, attending support groups, reading Lapband Talk, continuing to see my bariatric surgeon, talking with others that have the band, etc. I would be lying if I told you that its easy without the band. Its not. The band really helped me. We made a great team. I could feel the restriction when I ate too much. I know I can eat more without it. Its a bit scary but I have tremendous hope that I can do this without the band. I have made tremendous progress in modifying my eating behaviors. I always tell myself that if it gets too overwelming, I'm going to have the lapband procedure done again. I really do not want to regain the weight I lost. Why are you having the band removed? Did it slip? Or was it a personal choice to have it removed?

I can't even guess when I was under 200 pounds. I am only 6 pounds away and its surreal. I do recall when I was close to 300 pounds. That was not a good time for me. I thought I would NEVER be so close. It really scared me. I am so excited to reach 200 and then go UNDER 200. Can't wait!! I'm glad you all posted. Its a goal that I thought I would NEVER reach and here I am.

I had the lapband procedure on May 20, 2008. My band slipped when I was on a trip to Kauai last month (July 2009). It is my understanding that it is quite rare for the band to slip but mine did. I had to have it removed when I returned because it not only slipped but was twisted. As you know when you have the band put in, the costs for the procedure vary from insurance to insurance. The same is true when you have the band taken out. I have Blue Cross PPO and my out-of-pocket cost for the hospital ALONE was $2,920. I have not received my doctor's bill yet. I am sad that I don't have the band any more. We were a great team. I've lost 85 pounds and I want to maintain my weight loss plus lose some more. I may or may not have a new band placed again in the future. I would suggest going to a bariatric doctor and finding out the status of your band (slipped, eroded, etc.). Also find out through your insurance company what would be covered and not be covered so you will know ahead of time. I am very concerned about your symptoms. When my band slipped and twisted, I could not take any liquid or food and my saliva would even come up. It was terrible! You get dehydrated very quickly. The emergency doctors in Kauai did not know much about the lapband procedure. One thing they did do which was good is that they put me on an IV ASAP. If I was on Oahu, it probably would have been better. They tried taking Fluid from my port and were unable to. I had three doctors trying to remove fluid. Later we found out, the band had twisted so they could not remove fluid anyway. Good luck to you! Please let me know what happens when you go to the doctor. I would suggest not seeing any other doctor but a bariatric doctor because any other doctor is not trained for lapband problems. The longer you delay with a slip or twisted band, the more it could damage your stomach. I had to be in the hospital three days for testing prior to my removal because the doctors had to find out the status of my stomach. All was well (no erosion) but it really traumatized my stomach.

I had a feeling you would say that (that it is difficult living without the band). Its been pretty easy so far with my food but I think its only been a few weeks since my band was taken out and my stomach is still swollen. I can tell that I can eat more than I used to (little restriction) but I also have little appetite and no cravings (thank goodness). I will investigate this new band you talk about and see if my bariatric surgeons use it or not. I think you are in Australia? I am in California in the US so the band has not been around as long as it has been where you are located so maybe they are more advanced than here. I also heard from someone from this site about doctors suturing not only the port area to the stomach but also suturing the band to the stomach. Have you ever heard of that? Maybe this would help slippage. Maybe the new band solves the problem of erosion and slippage. I was wondering how your port healed after it was taken out? The area were my port was located has been accumulating Fluid and has scar tissue. Its like the size of a small egg. Its very hard. I can't sleep on my stomach like I used to because of the pressure of laying on this area. My doctors have told me that this is common and have been to the doctor twice for them to take the fluid out. It feels like a fill or unfill when they withdraw the fluid. They told me if it continues to fill up with fluid, they could be a drain in it. Its slowly getting smaller so maybe my body will accumulate it eventually. Thanks for sharing your experience. Good luck to you! Please keep us posted on what you decide to do. You will be helping not only me but others that are trying to figure out what do without their band.

I had my band removed a few weeks ago due to slippage. I fell out of a kayak in Kauai on vacation and when I climbed back in, my band slipped! I thought I broke a rib. My stomach was too swollen to have a new band put on. My doctors seem to be confident that I can not only maintain my weight loss but lose more weight. I've lost 85 pounds so far but would like to lose more. I am very interested to see the responses to your post. I am still keeping the option open of having the band placed in me once again. I have not heard of this new band and am interested in finding out about it. I have read about having the band inserted through the mouth rather than through the stomach with the 5 or 6 incisions. I don't know how many people have had this procedure and would be interested if there is anyone out there that has had the band placed through the mouth. I would be curious to know why you think you need another band. You appear to have tremendous success in maintaining your weight loss. Did your appetite increase and cravings return? My stomach is still swollen so I do not have much of an appetite or cavings. I am fearful of what will happen when my swollen stomach goes back to its natural state. I've made HUGE changes in the way I eat, exercising, etc. The band was a powerful too and sometimes I think its still there.

Thank you for responding. I know that my port was sutured because I have been having Fluid around that area since it was removed. I have had fluid taken out twice and its hard in that area due to scar tissue and fluid. I do not know if my band itself was sutured or not. According to my informal internet research, slippage occurs 2-4% of the time. My doctors said their slippage rates are even lower than what I researched. It seems to happen infrequently. I have not meet anyone personally who has had a slip yet. I heard about slippage before I had the procedure but I thought it would never happen to me. It was a freak accident that I would have my hands up, being pushed from behind, etc. I have lost 85 pounds. I had my procedure done on May 20, 2008. Its very scary. I am still eating small portions and exercising even more but I can tell I can eat more than I did with the band. The band stopped me. Now I have to measure even more carefully otherwise I will eat more! Obviously, I don't want to gain the weight back and I've researched and found out that you can not only gain the weight back but gain even more! If it becomes a struggle, I am having the band put back in! There is another part of me that I'm glad its out because it was a foreign object and that bothered me at times. It was a powerful tool combined with my eating the right foods, right amounts, exercise, etc. I would recommend the procedure to anyone struggling with weight. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it. I am still going to my support group and have a fantastic group of lapbanders that help me tremendously.

I did drink soda before my lap band procedure but after the surgery I stopped drinking it. I think I lost the desire for it (among many other things). It just didn't taste the same as it did before the surgery. I had the lap band procedure in May 2008. I had numerous fills and unfills. On a recent trip to Kauai, our kayak tipped over and when I climbed back in (with help with our guide and my husband pushing me back in from behind), I thought I broke a rib. I later learned in emergency after a catscan and x-ray that it wasn't my rib or spleen, but that my lap band slipped! It was a freak accident. I had it removed several days later when I got home by my bariatric surgeon who put it in. He says I can wait 5 weeks and have it put back in. I am still debating with myself whether or not I want to put it back in. I was in the hospital for three days taking it out because I had to have numerous tests to see if my stomach was damaged from the band slippage. I have thousands of dollars of out-pocket costs. The insurance pays for most of it but I have to pay a portion too. Having my band slipped, meant that I could not swallow liquid or food and even my saliva came up! I feel much better since it was taken out. The slippage was something that I thought would NEVER happen to me. I am fearful that I will gain my weight back that took so much effort to lose and I will gain more. I am eating the same as I was before my band slipped and exercising even more. One of my bariatric surgeons is confident that I can do this. If not, I am having it put back in. For now, I am taking care of myself and recovering from my surgery. If there is anyone out there who is recoving from having the band taken out, I would appreciate hearing from you. My band was taken out not out of choice but out of an emergency. My band was so traumatized that they could not put a new band in after they took the old one out. Is there life after having your lap band taken out? If so, what kind of life? I've been changed on so many levels just having the procedure and living with the band for over a year. Can I keep my weight off? Can I lose more?

Yes, I went from a size 9 to size 8. I used to wear wide width and now I am a regular width. It was totally unexpected. I just noticed that my feet would flop in my shoes because my shoes were so big. It was almost dangerous at times becuase they were too big. I had to basically buy all new shoes - isn't that a shame? I also have had to move my rings from one finger to another finger because they also became too loose. I didn't expect that either.

I agree with you. It does give us a "jump start." I am on track more than I ever have been in my entire adult life. I asked my doctor if the kayaking would have contributed to move my band and she said it was probably did with the combination of lifting my arms up to get on the kayak and then pushing off the hard surface to get on it. Who would have known? I don't know how to warn others about this. Apparently, the band can slip even with weight loss. My insurance covered my lapband surgery in May 2008 but I still had out of pocket costs for the hospital and doctors. I still have to pay the out of pocket costs for the removal that I had last Thursday. I can't even imagine getting psyched up again for another surgery after this past week of being in the hospital so much, so many tests, needles, etc. I think a support group about those of us who had our bands taken out not out of choice would be an excellent idea! I am still planning on attending my doctor's support groups and staying on task with my program. Thanks for sharing.

I just read your message today. I really needed to read it. I had my band removed last Thursday. It got twisted when my kayak turned over. I twisted it when I was getting back into the kayak. It was not my choice to have it taken it out. I was hoping that it could have been replaced when they took the twisted one out but my stomach was too swollen. They say I can return in one month to have it replaced but I after being in the hospital three days, the time and expense may be too great for me to return in one month. My program is a strong one and I am hoping that I can just continue what I am doing without my band. Its very scary but I appreciate your posting to let me know that if you did it then I can do it!

Half of the battle is finding out what the problem is. Having lots of tests helps. Good luck to you too! Please send a post after you have your test. I was half hoping I had a broken or fractured rib rather than a twisted band but after x-ray and catscan it was confirmed it was my band.

I just had my band removed last Thursday and I'm feeling quite sad. It helped me lose 80 pounds. I was climbing into a kayak and it made my band twist and turn so I had to have it taken it out. I would also like to hear from others that you can continue to lose weight after the band is out. I know I have the option of having it put it in again but the time and expense is quite great. My doctors have assured me that I should continue to do what I was doing while the band was in me but I can't help but feel apprehensive that I may slowly increase the amount of food and cravings will return. Right now I have no appetite (thank God!) but its only been two days since surgery. I plan on continuing with my support meetings and eating the small amounts of food, drinking lots of water, exercise, etc. If any one else is out there in the same boat I am in (without a band), please post and let me know how you are doing. My band and I had quite a system going and know I lost my powerful tool.

I don't know how I missed this subject but I have been colder than I have been in many years. I grew up in Michigan and had lots of cold weather but I live in California now. Now that I have lost over 75 pounds I do feel drafts and cold. I know its because my fat insulation is missing. I am also very curious to know how I am going to cope with the heat. I used to suffer walking around with all that insulation and the heat. It will be another surprise to see how my summer will go with less weight. Lots of little surprises ahead!

You did not mention anything about getting fills. THis is a powerful tool to help you lose weight. Having a fill gave me the kick over the 250 point. It gave me more restriction so I was forced to eat less and I had to make decisions on the amount of food that I ate and what I ate. Don't weigh yourself for awhile. That also helped me. The emphasis is on getting stronger through exercise and focusing on what you are putting in your mouth. Make the band work for you. Good luck to you! If I can do it, you can too.

I had a very similar problem. I had the stomach flu and it lasted for more days than it should have. I went to my doctor because I was getting dehydrated and weak. I couldn't keep water or protein shakes down. I called my bariatric doctor and she said that my band was probably traumatized from the stomach flu (I threw up more than I have thrown up in my entire life). She had to do an unfill of 1 cc from my band. I ended up meeting her at the hospital because I didn't think I could make it to the Monday appointment we originally made. I met her in the emergency room and she did the unfill. I felt immediate relief and she had me drink some water to make sure it would go through. Call your doctor. Maybe they could meet you at the office or at the emergency room. It really helped me. Please let me know how you are doing. I know how awful it feels not to keep fluid down. My saliva was even collecting in my pouch and coming up. This is not how the band works. You can always get a fill later when you are not sick.