NYC_gal

My original troubles with not finding a comfortable zone were from my first surgeon, absolutely. The excruciating nerve pain I experienced? That's a roll of the dice. My surgeon who removed my band explained that some people experience it, some people don't. Its part of the risks of that surgery. If you felt it, you too would agree that its not at all worth it. My shoulder still gets little hints of pain, but very infrequently now. I also have what I call "phantom pains" lol from the largest incision on my stomach. My second surgeon (the good one lol) said I had a ton of scar tissue there. Overall, I'm feeling good. Not being able to keep the lapband really devastated me, but I found new ways to lose the weight that are working for me.

Your portions will be dramatically reduced. You lose weight immediately as long as you follow the diet plan they give you post surgery. Since it starts with liquids, then thicker liquids, then soft foods and so on.... most people will lose a good portion of weight right away. By the time of my first doctor follow up (about 2 weeks or so after surgery?) I lost 18 lbs right off the bat. Your band will need to be adjusted...the band isn't very tight once its placed. It may take many visits to determine at what adjustment you are comfortable at. My doctor pretty much used me as a science experiment and despite loosing weight at a good pace, he would tighten my band to speed things along so that I would be more in pace with his gastric bypass patients.... not right at all, but that's part of the reason why my surgery was so unsuccessful. Another reason why (this would be a big, big con!)...it wasn't explained to me that when the band is placed, it basically tightens around nerves running through your body, around your stomach and the exact area the band is in. This wasn't mentioned at all... by anyone. It could affect a patient.... it could not... its all the luck of the draw! I wasn't very lucky and my surgery resulted in terrible pain and nerve damage in my shoulder. In my opinion, its a very big risk that IF I had known about it, I would not have considered this surgery. newbie 2- As far as recovery goes, mine was terrible... I have absolutely no clue why. I wasn't able to comfortably get in and out of bed until about 3 weeks. The shoulder pain I had (from the nerves being irritated) came on immediately. The second I woke up! It was excruciating and when I complained about it, it was dismissed as "gas bubbles" that is very common after surgery. Well, mine never went away! I was told, even months and months later that I still had gas bubbles from the surgery. Yeah...not true at all. When my band was removed, I was up and around within 2 days! I'm not sure how much the surgery cost, as my insurance covered it. I think its in the $10,000+ range. All in all, not trying to scare anyone.... I guess I wish I would have waited or held out and tried one more thing before getting the band. I've been happily without it since last July (:

I never experienced that, I just got a weird feeling in the beginning when I would eat. I had trouble eating so many foods with my band in (things I should have been able to eat), so once I got it out it just felt strange!! Do you mind me asking why you're having it removed?

Honestly, I recovered quickly and felt great in a week's time! I didn't need pain meds after 2-3 days. When the band was placed it took probably about 5 weeks for me to feel right again, I struggled to move around for a long time (probably why I ended up having to get it out! My original surgeon was terrible). After removal, eating will still be slow. You may still feel like the band is there. Just gradually introduce foods. I would say in 3 week's time you should be able to eat with no issues, in small portions so your stomach adjusts.

The band can squeeze around a set of nerves, which was never mentioned to me by my original surgeon. Turns out, it can affect some people greatly and result in various pains in the upper body. I had/have nerve damage in my shoulder because of it and an outrageous pain in my cheek and left ear that progressively got worse, resulting in me getting it removed. I complained about pain from day one, just wasn't heard until I found my current doctor who eventually had to remove it. I thought since the band was gone (and has been for 8 months now), I wouldn't have a pain or contracted sort of feeling in the port site anymore. :-/

I had my band removed in july and I still find that I'm getting pain where the port used to be. Not too often, sometimes I go a month or two without it, but enough where I notice it. I feel a sharp pain and then sometimes a dull pain for a little bit. Sometimes I get it after I eat too. Is it just scar tissue, or nerves or something? Anyone else experience the same?

I was getting a lot of pain in the port site for some reason, but when I first had my lap band surgery done I experienced a lot of shoulder pain. Everyone dismissed it as the "gas pain" all patients get since they have to inflate your stomach. My pain never went away and it gradually got worse in the 2 years since having the surgery (and it was kind of undeniable that the band was causing it because I had it the second I woke up from anesthesia). I was also noticing really intense ear pain, which got outrageously worse in the 6 months before I had my band removed. I was told it was TMJ, so I didn't think it was related. Sometime in June I got really fed up and was ready to find a chiropractor, if that's what would help me (I was already seeing oral surgeons, and getting fit for headgear to help ease the ear pain)....and by chance I researched "shoulder pain and lap band" and a 12 page thread about it came up. Apparently, when the band is placed, it squeezes around two nerves that go through your body- one up to the shoulder, another up around your skull. My pain was to the point where I couldn't walk around much at all.....kind of defeats the purpose of losing weight!! Every time I went out with my fiance, I'd have to head home early. So I went to see my doctor and he explained the nerve situation and said mine are probably being aggravated, or damaged from the surgery. I got it out in July- he approved me quickly because I had been in complaining about pain before. The only hard part about it all was the insurance, it covered most of it, it was just annoying to have to wait around. I didn't know for sure I'd be having the band out until a few days before the scheduled surgery date! I have not had the same pain since! My ear pain is completely gone. My shoulder aches sometimes, which leads me to believe there was damage, but not nearly as bad as it was before. If you're uncomfortable, get it out asap!

Dr. Umbach is fantastic. I've seen 3 different bariatric surgeons and he completely comes out on top. I wish he performed my lap band surgery, because unfortunately I suffered complications from it. Dr. Umbach completely listened to all my fears and concerns and I can't even describe how well taken care of I was pre & post surgery. He's very involved, I feel like he really knows his patients. His office isn't treated like an assembly line like other doctor's offices are. He spends as much time speaking with you as you need, you never feel rushed and if he senses something is still on your mind, he wants to hear it. His staff and the hospitals he works with are great, top notch. If you live in Henderson, Las Vegas, or are willing to travel to get your surgery done, make him your doctor. I can't recommend him enough.

Thank you for this post. I too had my band removed (just last week!) and I can't even express how much healthier I'm feeling without it.

My band was finally removed on 7/13. I've been confused on what diet to follow since then. I asked my surgeon if my diet should be anything like it was when I first got the band...start with Clear liquids, full liquids, then soft foods, etc..... and all he told me to stick to were "Protein shakes"....? I tried that the first few days, along with other liquids, but the thought of more Protein shakes are pretty much making me sick at this point. I started eating brown rice yesterday, soft veggies like cauliflower today, and just now a little chicken for dinner. Am I doing anything wrong?

I guess I'll update- I saw my doc- he actually told me that he's "surprised there aren't more people who come in with my same complaints"- (the shoulder pain & such) The way the band is placed, its pressing around 2 nerves and I guess in some people it will cause issues and in others it won't at all. Lucky me! He approved the surgery immediately because I had been in the office complaining about pain in the port area before......that pain has gotten worse, even in the week since I last saw him. So now I'm just waiting around to see if I'm going to have to pay anything up front or not. I was told by him and another girl in the office, if I'm considering having another surgery done, like the sleeve, I might as well get it done at the same time. I read a little about the sleeve and heard it takes awhile to recover. Hm....

There's no doubt in my mind, the shoulder pain is directly related to my band. I read in the forum I posted that it has to do with a nerve being aggravated or damaged when the band is placed. I don't know how, but it makes sense. Its felt like a pinched nerve. I also found out from my 2nd doc (who I was with until I moved) that the coil between my port and band is fairly long and its kind of messily placed. I don't think a chiropractor can do anything for me, only because if its nerve damage or something implanted that's touching or irritating the nerve, what can they really do? I don't know, I'm certainly not against seeing one and I was actually about to search for one when I stumbled across the forum! I do have a new doc in my current location. I just personally do not think the band has worked out for me. I've been dealing with a lot of random stomach pain, being able to eat something one day and not being able to tolerate it the next or having entire days where I have trouble eating anything at all. Its been so inconsistent and frustrating and no one has an answer for me except to play around with how much is in my band. Its to a point where I'd rather go without it. Finding out that the shoulder pain....which has been a huge, huge problem.. is a result of this surgery is kind of like the last straw for me. I'm just dreading if I have to make all the doctor's appointments again just to get it out because my wedding is in 5 months! I'm so uncomfortable now, I can't bear the thought of feeling this way during my honeymoon.

I found this thread last night and I just stared in disbelief: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/35169-left-shoulder-pain/ I have had horrible pain in my left shoulder since I woke up from surgery. I went on my doctor's office's forum and asked and asked and people always dismissed me. Some people said it was "gas" and I read that in a few posts on here as well..... my surgery was 2 years ago last month and I deal with this pain at least 5 days a week. I can't even tell you how many times its cut my day short and I've had to leave wherever I was.... most recently a friend's Memorial Day party... to go home and get a heating pad on my shoulder. The pain is unbearable. I've said from day 1 I must've been moved the wrong way on or from the operating table, or something got pinched, a nerve, or whatever.... because this has never been "gas" pain. My lap band experience has been awful. Finding out about this "common" shoulder pain and that I pretty much did it to myself when I got the band is just the last straw in a very difficult 2 years. I want to know, what is the process for getting your band out? Is it the same as getting it put in? Do I have to see a million doctors again to get approval?

You went down to Vegas from Alaska? Hm. I used to live in Alaska too lol, in 05-06. But thank you for the recommendation. I will def. call and see if they will take on a patient who's already had surgery.