health1st

Trana, sending you good thoughts and know you are not alone. I feel the pain and suffering of many posts here. I wonder if this banding is really meant for some people. It seems some of us just have complications from the start. Is it bad luck or not the appropriate weight loss surgery solution? The band is suppose to cure reflux, instead it seems to cause it in some people. I was banded 5/06 and back then they didn't talk about complications postsurgery OR I wasn't listening. I was in so much physical and emotional pain from being obese, I was desparate for something, anything. I had a slip immediately and was rebanded. I had 8 months of success and it's been downhill since. Some legitament bad-band complication issues, and some of my own self-made issues. My band has never been easy; if I am filled where I am not hungry, then I am naseaous and in some pain most of the time, even when I am not eating, and no matter what I eat, even soft food. I've slowly gained back 1 pound a month, eating about 300 calories a day more than I need and exercising less. That is my problem, not the band. Late night eating and bad choices. My reality is the band is far from a perfect solutoin but it does keep me from eating huge amounts like I used to. I dream of getting a sleeve, and I get exciting thinking of the following high of weight loss but I think unless I get real honest about what I am doing with food and have done all my life, it is just one more potentially failed solution. And the sleeve probably has many of its own unique complications. I am often so hard on myself. Using some negative response to try and motivate me to do better. That works for about 3 days. I'm not giving up, and am still trying to get me and this less-than-great LAP-BAND®® working for a healthier life. Best wishes to all of you, and we are not alone.

I wish I'd have known this before being banded. There are two sizes of lapbands available from Inamed. The first and oldest available is smaller and more rigid. The 2nd one is larger and more flexible. I had the smaller one placed on May 2, 2006. I had band slippage immediately and had to have it replaced on May 5, 2006, just 4 days later. My Doc used the larger more flexible band on the second surgery to give my stomach a chance to heal. I am not very hungry but have very little restriction which I am very happy about. The slipped band was VERY painful, pretty much total restriction. I am losiong weight now and I'll do anything not to have the pain with so much restriction, I follow the eating quidelines faithfully. I just thought maybe people looking into the lapband might want to ask their Doctors about the 2 sizes of bands. My novice take on size is the larger band gives less restriction but maybe allows the stomach to heal quicker. If I'd have known, I'd have asked for the larger band in the beginning just to make postop a bit easier. I'll deal with making good choices on what and how much I eat.

Bubble, Wow... I've seen you post this situation before, how horrible! Wouldy you mind sharing what doc did this? Was it Kirshenbaum (sp?)? I'd be happy to reply via private email. publicmail@pobox.com

"because I could only eat 5 bites of food at a time and then sit there at the dinner table while everyone else ate like a starved football player." I HATE THIS, I want so bad to just to wolf it down. I watch them take such HUGE bites, 3 chews and swallow. They're done and I’m still on my 3 bite! I just have to not watch and make them wait for me! Sometimes I am a littel mean-spirited and make them feel weird that they ate so fast and gobbled it down, just LIKE I USED TO DO! "So, the bottom line is that you really, really must stay diligent in not overeating/purging or gulping down large quantities of liquids and learning to manage stress for the rest of your life. I feel that these are the things that eventually contributed to me damaging my band." Thank you so much for being honest. I know I’ve done what you have and your honesty reminds me I have to be watchful for the rest of my life! I guess most of us have wanted to eat “normal” and done it. I had a revision but only 3 days after the 1st surgery. My Doc put in a too small of band and I came out of surgery with a prolapse! I was in so much pain I told the Doc not to put in another band. He and my husband told me to reconsider and I did. Glad I did but my recovery was months, not days. You have years of good eating, but I don’t think I’d be able to keep my weight off without help. I have never before. If I’m not restricted enough, I feel that starved feeling and I eat too much. Eating like most everyone around me. You had your band done so long ago, you might not remember that starved feeling we have pre-banding. Best luck with your decision. All the best!

I was the 2nd post on this thread, nearly a year ago. I haven't been back to this board in 8 months. I had to stop reading about complications...every little twinge in my belly was a certain crisis, but in my head only. I had to back off and get a life. And life I've had. This is the best year I've had in a long, long time. But I've also gained back a little weight. And as the pounds starting slowing coming back on….in my darkest moments….remembering the physical and emotional pain pre-banding, I considered getting a gastric something! I had ALWAYS said I'd never do a gastric bypass. I must admit being a little righteous about it back then! I’m sorry for that now. Never say never. The reality for me is the band is fine, my attitude is not. I need to be more diligent about my fills and I need to follow the rules of the tool! I didn't have surgery on my head and I can conveniently forget the reasons I had WLS in the first place. Obesity kills, if we’re lucky and cripples if we’re not, a very painful and slow death. I was feeling so good only halfway to my goal weight; I forgot the pain and shame and the serious health issues. I got sloppy and lost my focus. The successful banisters I know are serious about their health and they eat right most of the time, they know the slippery slope of getting sloppy thinking. They stay pretty much on plan until they get to goal and then they stay focused to stay there. If they start gaining a little, they get back to the rules of the tool. I plan to be one of them. I support anyone who wants to get healthy; no matter what surgery they choose. In my opinion, any WLS can be beat. And any WLS can have complications. But any WLS has to be better than being morbidly obese and all that is associated with it. I’m grateful for my band, even if I did have complications and I haven’t reached my goal weight. AND I’d do it again. Best wishes to everyone!

I may have had a too tight fill on Tuesday and I am headed to Guadalajara Friday. Does anyone know of a good lap band doc that I can call if I get into a serious problem? Hate to cancel the trip and we've been snowed in for 2 days and couldn't get an unfill. I think I'm OK but just incase:help:

Good questions and I encourage you to ask as many as it takes. Long term effects: The band is relatively new so after 10 years who knows for sure. I read on this board of a person who did have it removed because of rejection of the silicone but it is rare and she was alergic to other substances too. However, when people compare it to a knee or joint replacement or pacemaker, in my opinion, it is NOT completely accurate. The silicon firm band is around a SOFT organ, the stomach, that is used all day long. There is going to be some irritation. Just ask banders about AM tightness. Who knows why but we are tight in the AM and loosen up in the PM. We can tighten up when we are nervous, or with some foods, the band is very unpredictable and very individual. I don't think a pace maker or joint replacement is quite the same. Going to dinner: I don't know of any bandsters that have any problems over the long haul. If people noticed, I just tell them I'm not hungry, or I ate earlier. Most of the time the normal people are so busy eating fast and unconscious they don't even notice! And I do eat more than 1/2 cup of food at times. It is critical to follow the rules the first 3 months but I think if we're honest, most of us can eat a lot more than 1 cup of food. Having the band out after you lose weight. I can relate. I lost 100 pounds on a liquid diet 15 years ago and it took me 10 years, 10 pounds a year to gain it back. So I have pretty good will power, and I exercise a lot so I just need a little help. I have very mild restriction in my band, compared to others. TO me excessive restriction can cause problems. If you decide to have the band removed, keep in mind there are possible complications to ANY surgery, including death. You can have it removed but do you want to take the risk? You may want to consider losing your weight and then getting a total UNFILL, having all the solution removed, so there is ALMOST no restriction and see how you do for a few months, maybe even a year. If you can keep it off, great. If it is just a thing in your body, and not giving you any problem, let it be. If you need a little help to maintain your weight, have a fill. One more thing, the band can be removed but there is a lot of scar tissue that builds up around the band and the stomach and abdomen and it isn't always a simple procedure to get the band removed. It may take longer to remove it than it took to put it in. A FEW SUGGESTIONS: Limit who you tell. I didn't tell very many people and I am SO GLAD I did that. It wasn't a secret so much as I figured it wasn't anyones business but my own. I can always tell them months later if I feel like it. AND investigate the Vangard band. It is larger and has fewer problems. Good luck on your journey.

Wildin97, I had the same thing as you. You are the first person I've found with this immediate slippage It is really rare! I woke up from surgery in trouble and 3 days later back in surgery with a slipped band. They replaced a small band with the Vandgard. It is not clear what caused the slipped band, I didn't vomit or anything but best guess was the band was too small for me. My DOC is a US doc and he DIDN"T charge me either and no charges from the hospital. So not all US Docs and hospitals are bad. I have no problems now but am pretty cautious. I knew all the possible complications but I just didn't think it would happen to me. Surprise. Would I have the band again, probably. I feel so much better. I would never do the Gastric bypass or anything that alters my stomach, but that's just me. For some it works just fine. I am just hoping that my band lasts until they get the grinlin hormon pill that works. Estimated 10 years and they'll have it figured out.

Having total and complete desperation and chronic shame for years led me to make a quick decision. I had a long history of feeling totally defeated and devastated after dieting for 6-8 weeks, losing weight and then feeling so starved that I had to eat and eat until I gained back the weight I'd lost. (I learned from my lap band research that I wasn't just being weak-willed, my brain really was telling me I was starving! The band took care of that physical problem. Emotional eating is another story.) The daily joint pain and possible health complications of obesity is terrifying and was pretty much a forgone conclusion as I got older. I got away with being obesese when I was younger but at some point it was catching up to me. I believe I would have been in a wheel chair within 10 years. Now I exercise every day. Quality of life is so important. I consider this my last chance (I'm 55). I no longer feel starved and more important, I no longer feel shame. It hasn't been easy and for me there are many challenges to having a lap band but I'd do it again!

Congrats on your success. You have a lot more experience than I do....so take this thought based on my very limited experience. My first fill didn't do much until 3 weeks later. I was nauseated for another 6 weeks. I just tuffed it out and all the symptoms went away. Now I need another fill and I am hesitant, for all the reasons that an overfill can cause. And I do realize now that have a very sensitive stomach compared to other bandsters. I also had a slip early on and at least for me there was no wondering...... something was really wrong, it hurt really bad and I couldn't eat or drink anything. Best wishes and keep us posted.

LindaV, what a priceless gift to be accepted just the way you are. And to be with people who "get it"! So glad you had that opportunity!

Yes, usually because my blood sugar is low because I haven't eaten for too long.

From what I've read and gleaned......about the band Yes, there are a few people who follow all the rules, do everything right and still have problems with the band, but I believe most complications can be avoided. The attached doc helped me a lot. Lap Band Info avoiding complications.doc

garlandmom, thanks for sharing, sorry you had to go thru all that. You have a fantastic attitute so I'm betting you are going to be fine!

Marcy, there is no way for me to fully understand what you are going thru but I can relate to feeling down and desparte. I am thinking of you. I also think it is never too late. Losing even a little weight has to help your overall health and whatever health issues you face in the future. Be gentle with yourself.

Lapbandit1, I think you're doing great. I have VG w 1.5cc. Slow but sure. Marcy, sorry for the bummer news about your kidney. We are all working so hard to get healthier and then you get blind sided like that. I can only tell you what sometimes helps me when I want to stuff my face, 1. my health has to come first and 2nd what damage am I causing to my pouch when I overeat? Number 2 FEAR! usually does it and I go back to dense proteins and sometimes I go to bed early, just so I won't emotionally overeat. I got this band to get healthy not to cause myself more problems. Hang in there.

Momof4, I wonder if you asked another band doctor you might get a different opinion. My band doc has removed a band for someone with similiar symtoms (it was a slipped band), he did not put one back in. A Doc that won't consider all issues isn't listening to you. By the way, I'll be in Las Vegas later in October, are there any band support groups there? Might be fun to hear some other stories.

jcby, thanks for asking. I did see my lapband Doc and also my GP. I had a sinus infection producing serious drainage into my pouch and stomach which was clogging me up, causing nausea, especially in the AM after draining all night. I was drinking only Isopure for days. Started a few mushies tonight but still feel pretty restricted. The restriction may go away when I get over the sinus infection. We'll see. I've been on antibiotics for 36 hours and I feel better, nausea comes and goes. At least I feel that my band is OK.

Shelly, glad you are doing better. This board is great when our emotions jump to What HAVE I DONE, I just don't feel right. It may be easy surgery but it still is major surgery. And major changes. It is normal and even 5 months post-op I have to say things just don't taste the same and sometimes some food smells really bad. I can eat steak but I don't like it anymore. (could be chewing the heck out of it, to some pulverized unrecognizable bit, does lose some satisfaction.) My husband keeps laughing at me because when we go out for my former favorite foods, I ask him "did they prepare this right, it just doesn't taste as good." He keeps telling me it is me that has changed! Eating slowly takes something away from the experience that just stuffing my face gave me pre-banding. Thankfully.

Mom of 4, sorry you seem to be rejecting the band. Best wishes on whatever you decide to do What were your symptoms of the band problems?

This is so fun! LOL THE CHAIR: My NEW hairdresser looked at me and pumped the damn chair up BEFORE I got into it and I had to climb onto it like a toddler climbing into a high chair. AND I'm 45 pounds lighter. I wonder what she'd have done 5 months ago. She was a skinny thing, about size 5, and the haircut was awesome. ELEVATORS & Planes: I step so lightly into an elevator so the don’t drop a few inches and then I tense up as the door closes as I am certain they just won’t be able to lift off with me in them. The same with airplanes, I am sure they tilt on my side of the plane, due to me of course. A long time ago in real small planes they’d ask me what I weighted before I got on so they could balance out the plane so my fear isn’t that far fear and aversion is bases on a real experience. OTHER NSV: Fearing the booth at a restaurant where I may be able to get into it, but I'm all squished up and my boobs hang over on the table and there is no room for a plate. It was so embarrassing. Not being the heaviest person in the room. That one just happened and it was weird!!! I wasn't sure what to do with the loss of that special distinction! I felt really odd. And like I said in my signature, pants with a ZIPPER!

Jachut, down under. So I think the band CAN be healthy. But everybody's body is different and unfortunately some people dont seem to physically tolerate a band well and others just cant get a handle on their bad habits and work well with it. I agree with you, all of it. Which band do you have? Time will tell and most of the time I am very happy with my band. Because I had problems early on and seem to have a real sensitivity to the band I am just hoping I am not the kind that just can't tolerate the band at all. I'm doing my best to follow all the rules. I've never pb'd. And never really slimmed except lately with the nausea I've been having, but not related to anything I ate or something getting stuck.

Ang, I have heard of teen-agers getting the band, I don't know what age that means specifically. I feel for you, it is so hard to see the ones we love suffer. And we've been there so we know the pain of being over weight, physically and emotionally! Since you've been there you can be the best support for him as opposed to a "normal" weight parent thinking he is weak-willed or whatever. Hang in there.

ang, congrats on a long term weight loss! I don't know for sure but I'll pass on what I heard at a lapband support meeting just last night. Someone there has had her band 4 years and she says she still gets pain in her left shoulder at times. The pain is very similar to the pain you get right after surgery when the gas gets stuck in your shoulder. Her doc told her it was scare tissue or adhesions on her diaphragm and the shoulder pain is related. Not sure how it works but she wasn't worried about it and a few others at the meeting expressed the same pain. The choking at night might be acid reflux. I had that acid reflux pre-banding and took Nexium which cleared it up. I still take it. Best wishes to you.

drewslou, you look so happy. Life is good! Just wanted to update you all on my nausea two weeks after a fill and pass on some info that was new to me. Looks like I had a sinus infection that produced serious drainage into my pouch and stomach which was stuffing me up, causing nausea. I've been on antibiotics for 24 hours and already I feel better. Another nuance to the band. A little gross, sorry. A new one for me and I'll pass it on....excessive nasal drainage can stop us up. And irritate things and cause problems. The good news, it did make me feel full and I lost some weight!