kat2442

Hello,I had the lap band procedure done in summer 2007.  I was constantly going in and getting adjusted b/c I couldn't find the right balance, usually too tight and could barely get water down in morning and evenings.  After about a year i started having major acid reflux, my stomach/throat were making all kinds of weird noises and i was in a lot of pain.  I would get this from just drinking water.  I went in and they did the test where i swollow the barium and came to the conclusion i had severe acid reflux.  They took all the liquid out of the band and that seemed to help, but then i had no restriction.  I went about another year of going into the doctor to get filled and unfilled.  With more tests swolling barium.  After a year of being in a lot of pain on a constant basis (I threw up acid on a daily basis and would awake in the night choking on acid) I went in for an upper GI to see if i maybe had an ulcer. No Ulcer.  But that doctor could tell the band was really restricted.  I had no liquid in my band at the time so they figured my band had slipped.  I was told i could have surgery to recorrect the band placement or get it removed.  I opted for removal since they said if they recorrected it the likelyhood of it slipping again was higher.  After the surgery to remove the lap band the Acid Relux went away immediatly. However, on my post opt visit they discovered a piece of the band was still left inside of me - the piece that actually locks the device into place.  Doctor couldn't explain how or why this happened but said the device could have been faulty or that it wasn't locked into place on the initial surgery.  I had a different doctor take it out since my doctor that put it in went on medical leave about 6 months after i had the first surgery done.  So now I have a piece of this lap band inside of me and i can't decide whether or not i should get it removed.  No one can really tell me the complications if i just leave this piece inside of me.  Everyone keeps saying that the lap band was supposed to be in me for a life time so this piece should be fine if left in my body.  What happens 5 years from now and the piece erodes into my stomach or esphogus, or what if it detaches and is just floating around in my body, what happens when i get pregnant could this piece harm the baby? I have so many what if's that no one can really answer.  They can tell me the obvious know complications with going back in to try and remove the piece (another surgery and more scar tissue, possible cutting of the stomach, may be attached to scar tissue and difficult to remove).  So i would encourage anyone who is thinking about this procedure to really weigh the options and make sure you find a reputable facility and doctor.  And go over all the costs that can be associated with this.  My insurance did not cover this surgery so i had to pay for everything out of pocket.  I initially just thought i would be paying for the surgery to have the lap band, but instead i have had to pay for all the doctors visits, each barium test is about $400 (i have had 4 or 5), an upper GI cost about $1300, x-rays, anestesia for the lap band removal, hospital bill, and of course you have to pay about the same amount to get it taken out as you do to have it put in.    If anyone has heard of this happening before or has any advice please let me know as i am still trying to decide if i should get this piece removed or just keep it in and pray nothing bad comes of it.