hi everyone,
i had my band removed this month due to a slip.
i did not have the option of going on liquids/mushies and giving my band a rest.
this was my surgeon's first slip.
he said it was best to remove it.
i did see my upper pouch on fluro, before he took it out.
it was swollen and i could see the slip.
my history is:
i was banded last fall , with a 10.75(4cc) band.
i recieved a 1 cc fill at 4 weeks, even though i was not on solids yet.
my surgeon fills at 4 weeks, 1cc and then .5 cc's and then .25 and .25.
i was tight right away.
in jan. i went in for a complete unfill.
he said to wait 2 weeks and come back for a fill.
i waited for 5 weeks and then went back.
i asked for a .25 fill as i was afraid of anything more.
he gave me a .5 cc.
i wish i had been more insistent.
i was always tight, in that i really could not eat veggies, poultry, fish,beef and fruit.
i could eat moist canned chicken, with lots of fat free sour cream or fat free mayo.
i kept thinking that as soon as i lose a little of my fat pad, it will losen.
i did lose some weight, but not much and it never losened.
i was stuck often and vomited and pbed just too much, i thought.
finally in the last two months i lost more weight by working out hard everyday and drinking lots of protein shakes, (no way to live, long term).
then one night i had a little brocoli, and of course it got stuck.
i did vomit that night.
the next morning i had a little water and i started projectile vomiting and i knew my band had slipped as i could not even tolerate liquids.
you just know when it happens.
i have been doing research since then.
i had only lost about 25/30 pounds in 9 months and 10 pounds were in the last two months when i was exercising every day and primarily existing on protein shakes and a little very moistened canned (moist ) chicken.
the first doctor i spoke with after i had my band removed, said that with all removals , he can expect some pouch dialation, so the surgery is 2/3 hours long and he does a section to repair the dialation first and then rebands.
he did say that this is necessary in 99 % of slippages.
then i spoke to another doctor who disagreed.
my original doctor said he would prefer to place a VG band this time.
i got an infection from the hospital after the removal and went back in for 3 days for I.V's.
i am just now sure which procedure is best and would apply to me.
i will be self pay this time.
any input is greatly appreciated.
thanks,
lexi