I was banded on 6/9/08. The day after, I had a terrible pain in my chest. I told the doctor and he said it was just gas. I didn't eat for 1 month, ran a 102 or higher fever every week, and ended up in the emergency room each time. On 7/2 I could not stand it anymore and begged my surgeon to remove it, I was starving!!! He agreed to remove it and I almost died in the hospital. Come to find out, the band was placed too high and I got a hole in my esophus when he removed it. I ended up at the Cleveland Clinic for 10 days where I am finally home and feeling a little better everyday. It's been 32 days since the removal and I cannot eat "normal" foods, breads, potatoes stuff like that. The specialist at the clinic said I should be back to normal by now and I have to go back there and decide what to do.
I wish you luck on your journey but I know I will NEVER do anything like this again!! I would rather be fat than be as misserable as I was.