JennyJ

Hi everybody. I'm new to the website so I thought I'd say hi to introduce myself. I was banded in January 2004 and had a lot of success. I lost 65 pounds in the first year. Then, last year I came down with aseptic meningitis and was VERY ill for months. Not only did I get meningitis, but I also came down with pneumonia and several other bacterial infections at the same time too. I was completely bed-ridden for three months (due to dizziness, vertigo and weakness). My doctors were concerned that I wasn't eating enough and had me increase my calories using juice and other high calorie, easy to eat foods. My weight started creeping back on during this time. No surprise - I was eating more and not working out AT ALL (I used to work out 4-5 hours a week). Anyway, long story short, I've continued to suffer from weird symptoms over the past year. I get bad headaches, dizziness, vertigo, weakness and persistent fevers. It seems I might be having recurrent meningitis, and my doctors don't know why. I saw a rheumatologist who said that my symptoms seemed similar to an autoimmune disease, but that I didn't have an autoimmune disease (not enough evidence - mostly normal blood work). She said some autoimmune diseases can cause meningitis (like lupus), but she said there was no evidence of lupus in me. She said that my symptoms seemed more like a foreign body reaction. I told her I had a LapBand, and she was concerned. She was worried that I might be having a weird reaction to the band. I spoke with my surgeon who said there has only been one case of a person having an allergic reaction to the band, but the patient presented with very different symptoms (she had a weird rash). My one worry is that I have a lot of allergies, including allergies to metal. I was assured at banding that titanium is not reactive in humans, but I've heard conflicting reports since. I'm even allergic to stainless steel (I can't wear stainless steel earrings). I recently found out that in addition to the titanium in the band, the band also contains stainless steel in the form of a connector in the port tubing. Could I be allergic to the band? And could this be causing my meningitis? Despite my surgeon's doubts, she felt the band should come out just in case. So I ended having the band removed last Tuesday (May 9th). It's too early to tell if this is the cause of my symptoms. I really hope this helps - but who knows. I'm freaking out now though, over the past year I've gained back all of my weight plus 5 (I'm up 70 pounds). I feel pretty empowered though. I was able to gain and lose all of this weight WITH the band. It really shows me that it was all of my hard work that made me lose weight, and not just the band. I know when I get better, I'll be able to lose the weight again. I'm just not that worried right now - my health is my current concern. I'm wondering if anyone has heard of people having a foreign body reaction to the band or similar complications. I know the manufacturers warn of this in their brochures, but I'm pretty sure this is to cover their @$$#$. I'm feeling pretty alone (if there is only one other person with this complication). I'd love to hear from some of you that have had band complications and removal and who have decided not to have further WLS. JennyJ 298/302/175 banded 1/04 298 - 1/2004 230 - 3/2005 band removed 5/06 302 - 5/2006

I haven't updated this post in a LONG time! Well things were really looking up after the band removal - within a day of surgery my fever was completely gone. It seemed that I was having an allergic reaction to the band. Or so we thought. After about 2 months after removal, some of my symptoms returned (dizziness, mild vertigo, weakness, fatigue). So now my docs are starting to consider the possibility of an auto-immune disease like MS or lupus. It's possible that the band was complicating things, by making an immune response worse - because I am definitely better since having the band removed - I haven't had a fever since the removal. Another possibility my doctors are considering is that the band was causing the problems, but after having such a bad immune response (lasting over a year), it may take my body time to recover hence the mild relapse. I was unable to get my insurance to pay for my removal, so I had to pay cash out of pocket for the removal. My surgeon still does not believe the band was the problem and she only removed it because I insisted and I paid cash. She told me that when she removed the band there was absolutely no sign of immune reaction in the surrounding tissue (no redness, swelling, discharge, etc.). If I was having a reaction to the band, it was some kind of systemic response to a foreign object - which might not have shown a local immune reaction near the band. Who knows? I'm going back to see my neurologist and getting another MRI next week to see if they can explain my recurring dizziness and weakness. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of complex auto-immune diseases can take years and years, and I fear that I may have a long rocky road of doctors and tests ahead of me. I'm still glad the band is gone. At least now, the band is out of the equation! I've very optimistic though, I'm definitely feeling better now, and my symptoms are more of an annoyance. My new problem is trying to control my weight! I got the band for a reason. Now I'm just trying to keep from gaining! I've managed to lose about 10 pounds, but you know the routine, I keep bouncing around those same 10 pounds week to week. I think it's important to remember that even with the band, it's you that is doing all the hard work. Remember, I was able to lose and gain 70 pounds all with the band in place. Good luck to all of you having complications - things will get better!!!

Hey Paula, To answer your question: I was banded in January 2004. I started getting sick all the time in about October 2004 - constant colds and flu. I just blamed it on not eating enough food during this time, thinking that my body was just weak. The next spring, March 2005, I came down with meningitis which is when I got deathly ill. Not only did I get meningitis, I also had several bacterial infections on top of it - pneumonia, sinus infection, bladder infection. I got over the infections and the meningitis, but then a few months later, the meningitis came back. This went on (recurrent meningitis) right up until I had the band removed. My doctors think that I was having some sort of massive immune reaction to the band, and that this could have been causing the recurrent meningitis. I do hope that the band was the source of my immune problems, and I hope I don't get the meningitis back again! So far this seems to be the case (knock on wood).

Hi marys. Thanks so much - I am feeling much better now that I've been de-banded. I haven't had a fever since having the band removed. I still get a little dizziness and vertigo from time to time - but it is GREATLY improved and getting better every day. My doctors say it can take years for the vestibular system (the balance system) to get back to normal, so it's not surprizing that I'm still a little dizzy. To answer your question - yes, I have the Inamed LapBand. My surgeon wants to see me again in a few months to see if I'm still feeling better - and to see if my blood work supports my improvement. At that point (if all is well) she said she would write it up and submit my case to the FDA and possibly a medical journal article to let other doctors know of my complication. I must stress that my case is EXTREMELY rare. So far there has only been one case of an allergic reaction to the LapBand - my case would be number two. So I'm six weeks band removal post-op. I've finally been given the go-ahead for exercising. Yeah! I really miss it! Besides, I've been so inactive for the past year or so, that I really need to get my butt moving to try to shed these extra pounds! The weight loss is going slow (I guess that's good in the long run anyway - right?), but I've managed to lose 12 pounds in the past 6 weeks! I'm using Weight Watchers this time around, and I think it's something I can stick with for life. I'll keep everyone posted on my recovery. And I'll let you know if my doctors end up sumbitting my case to the FDA.

DonnaGT - don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine! This complication I'm having is SO rare, there is only one other example of a person having a LapBand allergy (that's like two cases out of how many?!). I was probably not a good candidate for an implant of any kind - I have a ton of allergies (which my doctors told me wouldn't be an issue but are now saying it is an issue - go figure!). Anyway, please don't get scared from my story or any stories on this site. Remember, people who are doing super great with the band don't usually post on websites like these - it's usually the ones that have had complications. So don't get the idea that EVERYBODY has complications - it's really a small percentage. There have been tons of people who have done awesome with the band. You've made a great step forward in improving your health! Good luck to you!!! :love:

WW is great! I joined WW last year while I was banded to help me stay on track. Now that I'm unbanded, I plan to rejoin in the near future (after I heal from surgery two weeks ago) to help me lose the weight I've gained over the past year. Good luck to you! I've met many people online that have used WW to lose over a hundred pounds. It works.

It's really weird. I'm only 2 weeks post band removal, and I'm already starting to feel better. I haven't had ANY fevers or headaches in the past two weeks - which I have suffered from chronically over the past year! Maybe my doctors were right after all and I was having some weird immune rejection/reaction to the band. I haven't had this much energy in the past year. It's amazing! Now that I'm starting to feel better, I'm actually starting to think about how to lose the pounds I've gained back (before I was feeling to crappy to care). I've even been thinking about exercising again (although I have to hold off for another 4 weeks - when I have the go-ahead from my surgeon). Yeah - there is life after LapBand! I know I have a long road of hard work ahead of me, but anything is better than the past year I've had being super ill! I'm actually looking forward to the work! :hippie:

Just had my band removed last week. I plan on losing weight on my own from now on. I'm already down 4 pounds this week - yeah! I was able to lose 65 pounds and then gain 70 pounds all with the band. It really showed me that my initial weight loss after surgery was a result of my hard work rather than the band. My doctor keeps reminding me that 98% percent of people on diet and exercise alone are unable to lose weight and keep it off. Hey, I just plan on being that 2% that succeeds!

I can't stand head hunger! I've managed to gain all of my weight lost due to head hunger (and from being chronically ill and sedentary for a year). I know what you mean - I constantly think about food and what my next meal is going to be. I have found that simply keeping track of my food intake helps me cope with head hunger. It makes me more aware of what I'm shoveling in. And I guess it makes me more accountable and even guilty, so it helps keep me in check. I don't know about you, but I'm a real control freak. Obsessing about food was my way of coping with control issues. Tracking my food intake and WW points is my new obsession! The more aware I am of my consumption, the more I can control my need to blindly eat everything in sight!