pholloway

Just a word of caution from someone who had a band and now doesnt. dont get too much fill too fast. I didnt but a person could. It seemed like there was a delayed reaction in the fills and I found out that my stomach would swell. one day I could eat a certain thing and the next day the same thing wouldnt go down. it was very hard to regulate mine. i just had it out after 3 years as well as my daughter. I have a sleave now and my daughter doesnt want any more to do with it. We both had errosion. Good luck to you just do things very slowly no matter how long you have it and if your stomach swells as mine did to start the errosion keep it in mind that you could eat one thing one day and it will be a big problem the next day.

I just want everyone that has done well with the lap band that I am very happy for them and hope it continues to work for them. My daughter and I both had lap bands put in in July 2007 and neither one of use still have them in. My daughter had a very bad case of errosion and had hers out along with her appendex in Oct 09. The errosion made a hole in her stomach and the doctor thought it was a critical situation. I have had nothing but problems with mine as well but in different ways then my daughter. We went by the book and did not abuse them! We did everything right. I have found out recently that there are more cases of errosion or leakage than they say. I found out from another person that had her band out that her stomach would swell with stress and she has symtoms more like me. She just had hers removed because after 6 years of having it it also erroded. I just went to Tijuana where I got the band and had it taken out. I got the sleve plication from Dr Lopez Corvala.At Hospital Angeles. I wish this would have been available 3 years ago but it wasnt. I dont think my daughter will have another surgery so it is too bad the band didnt work for her. I am more hopefull about the sleve and really believe it will be better than having a foreign object in your body. There are only stiches no staples. I had it only 5 days ago so will keep you up to date but one of the ladies that I spoke about had done the same thing and she has had her sleve for 1 year and doing better with it. she told me that if you have to have your band unfilled for any reason it can cause the errosion to start if you have it unfilled for more than a month. evidently because of my stomach swelling and too much restriction, this is what happened to me as well as for her. It was very interesting to hear her story since it was so much like mine. If anyone is now thinking about getting the band, I would suggest they get the sleve or sleve plication instead. The sleave plication is only $6700. from doctor Lopez and the band is $5400. I would spend the extra money to get the sleave instead you will spend the extra money on fills as well with a band. with the sleave there is no filling.

I am an adult but I have been there and I think with all the ups and downs that you may go through that you would want to keep this more private and not tell everyone. I think you have the right idea. Some things are better without all the attention.

My fill doctor is in Boise, Idaho. His name is Dr. Luke Mayes. He is great, professional, caring! They dont keep me waiting long which is nice. When I first go in, I get on the scales that tells my weight, BMI, muscle, ect. The assitant takes my blood pressure and puts on the oximiter to see what my oxygen level is. It is thorough but quick. We talk about my needs and he just tries to help me decied what I need in a fill or unfill. He wants me to feel good about it and knows that I know my body. I like to have help with my decision but like to feel like I am in control. He does not us Floroscopy but that didnt make me nervous at all. He is very, very good and I feel that he doesnt need floroscopy. It is so nice to have someone near me to do the fills. I have had to work on the perfect fill for me as well as my brother and daughter so it is great that we dont have to travel a long way. If anyone is interested his number is 208-375-9000.:thumbup:

I have had a problem with chips as well especially tortillia chips. I have created alot of hell for my self with chips and wont eat them again. I got to where I couldnt eat and had to have my band unfilled completely to get fully recovered and I am just now getting it filled again. My fill doctor says he thinks I have first bite syndrome where I take too big of a bite when I first start eating. I have gained 8 pounds in about 2.5 months while I had my band unfilled. By the way if anyone is in my area, Boise Idaho, I have a great doctor named Luke Mayes.

I am not a teen but I am very open minded and my daughter was banded along with me when she was 18. We didnt tell very many people, I did think people may be critical of such a young person as my daughter getting the band. We have told people slowly and I think that is better. When the other young people start noticing a difference in you you can decied all along how to handle it. There are still people who we tell that we are just eating more sensibly, smaller portions, ect and it seems to satisfy them. People you are close to will be happy for you and understand but distant people seem to respect us more if they think we are doing it all on our own. These are just our experiences. Good luck, Hope it goes well.