3636millie2

I had the same issue as you. I had a complete unfill. Continued to not be able to get most things down (including Protein shakes at times). Was accused by my surgeon of not eating right, cheating, etc. Come to find out, I had an adhesion UNDER the band. When they took out the fluids, my stomach opening was still basically swollen shut. I had surgery for the adhesions only 3 months before this episode started. My body just didn't "accept" the band and anywhere the band touched, I developed adhesions. You might want to research "band intolerance". Not sayin you have this but it is worth checking into. Good luck.

It does get better. I am now 5 months post sleeve. My energy is finally back to normal these past few weeks. Mine probably took so long because I work 5 shifts of 14-16 hours a week. Just be sure to take your vitamines as ordered by your surgeon. I also find that if I do not get enough Protein in that I have a really bad time with fatigue. Congratulations on your new sleeve!

Director of Nursing in an Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Have you considered getting the gastric sleeve? Especially since you are self pay. Don't forget that with the band, you will have to pay for fills until you get to your "sweet" spot. You will also need to have follow up EGDs yearly to check for erosions, etc. Lastly, contrary to what some say, the band isn't always "reversable". I spent nearly $40,000.00 after I had the band dealing with the problems that the band caused (this is not including the original surgery which my insurance paid for). I am not trying to scare you but just think about it. The sleeve is the same thing as a partial gastrectomy, which they have been doing for years for other issues such as cancer, severe ulcers, etc. It is considered "experimental" for weight loss because of the "newness" of doing it for weight loss. Kind of like when they use a medication for one thing and then a few years later find out that it helps other diseases than just those that it was approved for. There are many people who I know that have had "partial gastrectomies" for years. The only problem they have is that they are "skinny". Once you get the sleeve, you are done. No going back and paying for "fills". No having multiple surgeries to correct adhesions and other issues caused by the band. No paying for yearly EGDs. No worrying about finding another surgeon to take care of you and do the fills if you move away or your surgeon decides to "retire" or close his practice. I could go on and on but I won't. As I said, I'm not trying to scare you or piss on your parade so to speak. Just giving you something to think about. This is especially true since you are self pay. Just trying to let you know that there is a cheaper, safer way to achieve weight loss through surgery. Just go to verticlesleevetalk.com and obesityhelp.com to the revision sections/complications section and read, read, read, read before you have your surgery.

I had revision from band to gastric sleeve in Mexico. I had the best care there. Actually the care I received there was better than I've ever received in the U.S., England, The Middle East, Singapore. I would go back to Mexico in a heart beat. You just have to be very careful about who you choose. Do your research. I've worked in hospitals all over the world and my experience in Mexico was fantastic. The surgeon I used is in the top 5 physicians I've ever met in skill and knowledge.

The adhesions were found by exploratory laparoscopy the first time. The second time was when I had the revision to the sleeve. It took about 3 times longer than most revisions due to the horrible adhesions that I had. The adhesions were pretty much anywhere any part of the band, port, and tubing touched. If you read all my previous postings, you will see what all happened during the time I had my band. DO NOT ever let any bariatric surgeon convince you that you are having problems from being non-compliant. I followed all the band "rules" to a "T". Nothing you will ever do will control formation of adhesions. It is not because you aren't eating like you should, not following the rules of chew, chew, chewing, etc. This is a condition called "band intolerance". There isn't alot of information on it (or at least when I was researching it). There may be more info now as more and more people are developing the same problems. I haven't read/done much with the band as I had the revision to sleeve in 12/09. Good luck and I hope you get some answers soon.

I am so sorry for you and the problems you are having. I have several comments: I had the LAP-BAND®®® and it nearly killed me. All went well for about the first 9 months, then all hell broke loose, so to speak. I developed adhesions, had surgery for them. Then a few months later, developed the same symptoms. Went to the surgeon who placed the band. Was blown off like I was crazy and told "you should be happy with the weight you've lost (went to him due to vomiting and inability to keep anything down). Left his office and continued to vomit and not keep anything down. Survived several more months by getting IV fluids every other day or so that were ordered by Anesthesiologists that I work with. I tried Doctors in 3 different states and no one would take me due to the "liability". Guess where I ended up going? TO Mexico. I saw one of the best bariatric surgeons in the world there. He literally travels around the world precepting other bariatric surgeons. He saved my life. I now have the gastric sleeve and am living a normal life. I had severe adhesions once again. These were found during my revision. They were everywhere in my abdomen that the port, tubing, and band touched. In fact, I had an adhesion form under the band (between band and stomach). THAT was why nothing would go down and I was vomiting even completely unfilled. When your surgeon told you that only people who go to Mexico have trouble with their band, he out and out lied to you. I have lived in many other countires of the world and worked in hospitals in those countries. I had the best care in Mexico that I've ever had anywhere. I AM VERY HARD TO PLEASE. If you are having trouble with the band, you may want to consider self pay and go to Mexico. It cost me less for the revision than my deductible would have been with my insurance. Yes, I had insurance that would cover the surgery but CHOSE to self pay so that I would have one of the best surgeons in the world take care of the "problem" caused by the band and my AMERICAN surgeon. Good luck to you and hopefully, you will get some resolution to your problem. P.S. I did not use the surgeon that you will see if you run your curser over Mexico, Mexicali, etc. in this post. That is just Jerusalem Clinic's way of ripping off everyone elses patients. I used Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. As stated above, I have worked in many hospitals all over the world and with thousands of physicians. Dr. Aceves is definately in the top 5 best surgeons I have ever met. And no, I am not a "troll, or paid poster". Just a very happy customer

No I didn't have my sleeve in Yuma. I went to Mexicali and had it done. I have worked in hospitals around the world. I, along with all my staff went to Mexicali and checked it out before I went. We were even allowed to wander around the hosptial and literally do the "white glove test". I had no hesitation about having my surgery done there and I am VERY hard to please. The surgeon who did my sleeve was Dr. Aceves. I have NEVER had better care anywhere. This was after being nearly killed by the surgeons in Phoenix who did my band because they wouldn't listen to me that something was wrong. I had the revision from band to sleeve for $12,500. This price included everything. The surgeons were in to see me after surgery 4-6 times daily. The nurses were fantastic. I would go back in a heartbeat. In fact, if any of my family or friends were to have the surgery, Dr. Aceves would be the only one I would let do it. He has more experience that most of the U.S. surgeons. He serves as preceptors for surgeons in other countries. Hope this helps!

There are quite a few bandsters in Yuma. There are 2 where I work. I had the band but converted to the sleeve (yea, there were 3 of us). There are people from several surgeons who attend the meeting at the corporate center mentioned in one of the above posts. From what I hear, these meetings are helpful and a good place to meet others who have had the band. Good luck.

I started out with the LAP-BAND®. What a mistake if money is an issue. I have ended up spending about $50,000 out of pocket for problems associated with the LAP-BAND®. I even had insurance that paid for the initial implantation of the band. I can honestly say, the band nearly killed me. In December, I self paid for the gastric sleeve. Believe it or not, my insurance would not pay to have the revision. They even stated in the letter they sent that I needed to have the band removed immediately due to all the problems. They would not however, pay for revision to something else. I ended up going to Mexico. I am Director of Nursing at an outpatient surgery center. I have been a nursing supervisor in hospitals all over the world. I can honestly say that the surgeon and care that I received in Mexico was better than any care I have ever received in the U.S. or in Europe. The surgeon I used has a world wide reputation for excellent work. I paid $12,500 for my revision from band to sleeve. This included everything. Please, before deciding to get the Band, go to the sleeve forum on Obesity Help and read how happy people are with the sleeve. There is also a section there dealing with revisions. Many of the revisions are those who are having problems with the band. I will say that the sleeve has been wonderful for me. Once you get the sleeve, that is it. No shelling out money for fills, etc. They have been doing the sleeve for years. It is the same thing that they have been using to treat stomach issues for years. It is the same thing as a gastrectomy. I know people who are years post op gastrectromy and the only thing they are is "skinny". Just want you to be aware that there are other options available besides the band. Good luck in your journey.

So sorry to hear of your difficulties. I started out with the LAP-BAND®®. All was great for the first 9 months. Then, it was all down hill. I spent the last 6 months of band life unfilled and still unable to get most things down. The surgeons and anesthesiologists I work with would write for me to have IV fluids 2-3 times a week just to keep me going until I could get the band paid off. It is a real long story. Anyhow......... In December, I revised to the gastric sleeve (after having several surgeries as a result of the band). It is like night and day. Wish I'd been smart enough to start out with the sleeve. I feel great. The weight is literally melting off. I am never hungry. I feel like a human being now. In my opinion, the band should be outlawed. Contrary to what everyone is told, the band isn't "reversable", did major damage to my stomach and everywhere the tube going to the port touched. Go to the sleeve site on Obesity Help to read the many stories of those who have revised from the band to the sleeve. It will help you see why so many people are revising. Good luck with what ever you decide.

I had the exact same problem that you had.. I received the band in May of 08. In Feb 09 I developed severe problems with the band. Had emergency surgery where they did lysis of adhesions. I attempted to get fills, went a couple of months with just a few mls of Fluid in the band. Started in again with the severe problems. Went back to the surgeons in Phoenix. They just blew me off. I continued to vomit, be unable to even get Protein shakes in. Was surviving on IV fluids that the Anesthesiologists I worked with would write the prescription for and about 2 Protein Shakes per day. Could occassionally get other slider foods in (ie melted ice cream, hot coffee with lots of cream, sugar in, etc). The whole time I was trying to get another surgeon in the U.S. to see me. OH HELL NO. No one would see me because of the "liability". Finally after much research, I found a surgeon who literally saved my life in Mexicali. I revised from the band to the sleeve. During the sleeve surgery it was discovered that I had severe adhesions around every piece of the band (port, tubing, band itself). What was causing the problem was that I had adhesions underneath the band. Not saying that this is what is wrong with you but...... there are people who are "band intolerant". Please research this phenomena.

Yes, I had this and yes, it was from the band. Please look up my posts for other problems with the band. Well, I just solved it all. Had the sleeve done on 12/19/09. Even though I am 2 weeks post-op, I feel better now than I have in the past year. The band was a miserable experience for me. And for all the nay sayers who think it was because I did not take care of the band, BULL CHET. I followed all the rules to a "T". Anyway, I digress. Please do not suffer with this pain. I had a complete unfill for about 2 months before revision and the back pain still did not go away. It was from all the scaring from the band. My revision was longer than expected due to all the scaring and adhesions. This is in spite of the lysis of adhesion surgery I underwent in Feb of 09. You may have what is called band intolerance. You do not have to live in misery. Just saying...............

Try mixing it with Tostito's brand of Creamy Spinach Dip (usually can be found back in the chips isle in the grocery store). It is 50 cal for 2 TBSP and only 2 gm carbs. Works great with both tuna and chicken. I get the small cans of meat that hold about 1/4 cup and mix with the dip. Also put in a few pieces of low fat cheese. Mix it all up and am good to go with a nice high protein low cal meal.