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Hi Everyone, Dr. David Carroll is sponsoring a support group for LapBand patients at the River Oaks Hospital in Flowood, MS on the second Tuesday of each month. Second Tuesday each month 6:00 P.M. Private Dining Room River Oaks Hospital Also, he is sponsoring seminars at 6:00 P.M. on the other Tuesdays at River Oaks for those interested in Lap-Band surgery. Go to his website to get the specific details. Physicians, Doctors, David R. Carroll and David S. Miller, Jackson, MS I am one of his most devoted patients. Vivian

Hi Missgal, Write to me at tutuclever1@aol.com and I'll give you the scoop. Vivian

Hi Betty, I hope you can attend. I'd love to meet other lap band patients in Mississippi.

Sorry, I don't have info about your state but you can always go to Jackson Mississippi to Dr. David Carroll. He is my doctor and I was initially banded in Mexico. I know it is a 3.5 hour drive from Memphis but I guess it's closer than Atlanta and he is a bariatric surgeon who performs lapband surgery so he knows what he is doing. His website is: Physicians, Doctors, David R. Carroll and David S. Miller, Jackson, MS Hope this helps. Vivian

Hi Simmy, I have had a severe slippage (probably the worst on record). My surgeon said he had never seen a band slip that far. At any rate, it was have emergency surgery or die. I chose surgery and I am so glad that I did. It turns out my band was placed too low initially and it was one of the reasons for the slippage. Going into surgery, I didn't know whether he could save my band or not. I had a lot of damage all the way down my stomach and intestines and was in surgery for 3.5 hours. After repairing all of the adhesions, my surgeon was able to place the same band in the correct position. He put it between 2 or 3 arteries or veins or something that connects to the upper stomach so that it cannot slip. Then he wrapped it in plastic mesh. So I feel very confident that my band will not slip again because it is between the 2 veins or whatever. I am doing great now. No pain. It took 2-3 months recovery time before I could get a fill but I am losing weight so much easier and faster now than before the life-saving surgery. I can't believe the difference correct positioning can have on weight loss. It is wonderful!! My surgery was laproscopic and he used some of the same incisions from the first surgery. The cost was around $27K - $28K for the surgeon and hospital. This doesn't include all of the tests and lab-work prior to surgery. But remember I was in surgery for a long time (3.5 hours). Please hang in there and don't be discouraged. They may be able to save your band and position it correctly. All I can tell you is that I am so grateful my band was saved and I feel fantastic now. I am losing a steady 2-3 lbs a week. I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted.

I'll keep you in my prayers, LegallyBlonde. I know exactly how you feel. However, with my 3rd and final insurance appeal, my bills are being paid. I was told BCBS does not pay for gastric bypass or lapband due to a written exclusion but they do pay for complications. Praise God because He answered my prayers. I'm so sorry you don't have insurance. Please check into Medicaid. Like you, I was banded in Tijuana Mexico by a supposedly world renowned surgeon and mine was placed too low initially as well which resulted in slippage. At least I have learned from my mistakes. Never again will I seek medical advice outside the U.S. It would have been cheaper in the long run to have just paid for the surgery in the U.S. to begin with. Live and learn.... I'm wishing you the best and I hope they can save your band. Please keep us posted.

When my band slipped I had several symptoms. 1.) Severe, horrible reflux from anything I ate or drank 2.) Sour stomach from anything I ate or drank 3.) Vomiting that became more and more severe as the band slipped further 4.) Vomiting clear slime 5.) Vomiting black bile 6.) Severe chest pain that extended to the back between the shoulder blades 7.) Frequent and irritating hiccuping 8.) Unable to keep anything down including a drop of water after being completely UNFILLED. 9.) A severe tight feeling around the stomach - like someone has a belt wrapped around your stomach and keeps pulling it tighter and tighter. 10.) Severe stomach pain 11.) Vomiting regardless of whether or not anything liquid or solid had been consumed. 12.) Vomiting every few minutes without having anything in 24-48 hours 13.) Vomiting even with prescription anti-nausea medications (pills or suppositories) 14.) Dehydration 15.) Weakness (unable to do anything except lie down) 16.) Aspirating during the night (vomiting through your nose) while sleeping 17.) Waking up strangling during the middle of the night 18.) Having to sleep sitting up in a recliner for fear of aspirating 19.) Extreme thirst from dehydration If you start vomiting on a regular basis, go to your doctor immediately. Sometimes if a complete unfill is done, the band will go back into place if it is caught early enough. Do not ignore vomiting or severe reflux. See your doctor immediately upon experiencing any strange symptoms. It is easier to have an unfill for a few weeks than to risk losing your band. Having a slipped band is a miserable experience and one that nearly cost me my life. Listen to your body and heed its warnings. Think of the long-term weight loss, not immediate gratification of losing a few pounds. When your band is positioned properly and filled properly, you will lose weight and keep it off. Here's wishing all of you continued good health. Vivian

My surgeon feels for the port. He never misses and only sticks me once. I've had no problems with fills whatsoever.

When my band slipped I had several symptoms. 1.) Severe, horrible reflux from anything I ate or drank 2.) Sour stomach from anything I ate or drank 3.) Vomiting that became more and more severe as the band slipped further 4.) Vomiting clear slime 5.) Vomiting black bile 6.) Severe chest pain that extended to the back between the shoulder blades 7.) Frequent and irritating hiccuping 8.) Unable to keep anything down including a drop of Water after being completely UNFILLED. 9.) A severe tight feeling around the stomach - like someone has a belt wrapped around your stomach and keeps pulling it tighter and tighter. 10.) Severe stomach pain 11.) Vomiting regardless of whether or not anything liquid or solid had been consumed. 12.) Vomiting every few minutes without having anything in 24-48 hours 13.) Vomiting even with prescription anti-nausea medications (pills or suppositories) 14.) Dehydration 15.) Weakness (unable to do anything except lie down) 16.) Aspirating during the night (vomiting through your nose) while sleeping 17.) Waking up strangling during the middle of the night 18.) Having to sleep sitting up in a recliner for fear of aspirating 19.) Extreme thirst from dehydration If you start vomiting on a regular basis, go to your doctor immediately. Sometimes if a complete unfill is done, the band will go back into place if it is caught early enough. Do not ignore vomiting or severe reflux. See your doctor immediately upon experiencing any strange symptoms. It is easier to have an unfill for a few weeks than to risk losing your band. Having a slipped band is a miserable experience and one that nearly cost me my life. Listen to your body and heed its warnings. Think of the long-term weight loss, not immediate gratification of losing a few pounds. When your band is positioned properly and filled properly, you will lose weight and keep it off. Here's wishing all of you continued good health. Vivian

Hi, I was banded initially in May 2005. My band slipped all the way to my small intestines and I required emergency life-saving surgery in February 2006. Surgery was not an option, it was medically necessary to save my life. I am still fighting my insurance company to pay for the surgery and for the most part I am winning. My cardiologist who was formerly an attorney told me to tell the insurance company it was not weight loss surgery, it was surgery to save my life and it was medically necessary. I was a self pay patient for lap-band surgery in May 2005 because my insurance has a written exclusion for any type of weight loss procedure or medication. My first 2 appeals, I lost. Then I got angry and wrote to every legislator in my state and I also sent it to the federal legislators/senators. My biggest complaint was that Medicaid/Medicare approve lap-band surgery but my insurance doesn't provide me with the basic minimum insurance coverage of Medicaid patients? I was furious. The senator requested the state Insurance Commissioner investigate my claims immediately and I am now seeing some action and bills are being paid. They may not be paid completely, but a lot of them have already been paid in full. I am still waiting to see what they pay on the surgeon's bill and the hospital bill. I've received an Explanation of Benefits form showing where they paid the hospital some piddly fee and showing that I owe nothing. I'm waiting on the bill from the hospital to see if it is correct. Did I mention I am considering a class action law suit on the basis of failure to provide minimum coverage that Medicaid patients receive and also discrimination of the obese? At any rate, I am seeing action from my insurance company now. We'll see how it goes. Now to answer your questions about losing weight after the revision... I can honestly tell you that I am losing much faster now than I did initially. Correct positioning of the band has made all the difference. I am so excited about the weight loss and cannot believe the difference in the way I feel now vs. before. It is wonderful. My band is so sensitive now that I can feel the fills immediately and it only takes a very small amount of saline. I can't imagine living with a slipped band. When mine slipped, it was very painful and I was vomiting constantly. The more I vomited the further it slipped until I was completely obstructed and it was either die or have surgery. I'm wishing you the best. Fight your insurance company and go to your federal representatives if you have problems getting your surgery approved. Keep us posted.

Hi Lynn, Happy New Year's and I'm relieved to know that you can keep liquids down. If your doctor suggests doing a complete unfill for a few weeks, please, please listen. It is much better to go "unfilled" for a few weeks than to risk losing your band altogether. I know because I've been there and I did not want to gain back any of my weight either. God was with me and my surgeon because he was able to reposition my band but the slippage caused a lot of damage all the way down my stomach and small intestines. I was in surgery for 3.5 hours to repair the damage and reposition the band. I feel blessed beyond belief because my band was saved and now that it is positioned correctly, I am losing weight faster than I did when I was initially banded. I still argue with my doctor about getting fills and most of the time he will not give me a fill if I have lost any weight during the month. Regardless, I know that he knows best and I trust him implicitly. I've also found through trial and error that he is always right much to my chagrin. At any rate, please be a good little patient and do exactly what your doctor recommends even if it means you'll gain a few pounds. It will be soooo worth it in the long run. Keep us posted and I'll continue to pray for you. Vivian

Hi Lynn, I'm praying that your band has not slipped. I can tell you my symptoms when my band slipped. I could not keep any food down whatsoever. Everything I ate soured on my stomach and I had very severe acid reflux constantly. I would wake up from a dead sleep vomiting through my mouth and nose. Within a couple of days, I could not keep anything down including liquids. I had severe chest pain and the pain went through to my back (between the shoulder blades). I had severe nausea and vomiting. I began vomiting black bile regardless of whether or not I had a sip of water. It was either black bile or clear slime and it was pretty much happening every 30 minutes or so. Anti-nausea medicine and suppositories did not relieve the vomiting. My doctor did a complete unfill thinking that the band would go back in place but my vomiting was so severe that it continued to slip until it had slipped down to my small intestines. Within 2 days, I was in an emergency situation where I had to have surgery to save my life. If you have problems keeping liquids down, I urge you to call your doctor immediately. Don't wait until Jan. 2nd. If you have a small slippage, it is possible that an unfill will allow the band to correct itself. Please take care of yourself and call your doctor if you have problems with liquids. I'm still banded and loving it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and I'm wishing you the best. Vivian

Hi Christel, I was banded initially in Mexico in May 2005. On 2/17/06 I had emergency surgery because the band had slipped all the way down to my small intestines. My wonderful U.S. surgeon was able to repair the stomach and reposition the band. Although I did not get a new band I am happy to say that my success after the revision has been phenomenal and I am experiencing a greater weight loss now than after the initial surgery. I am losing a steady 2-3 lbs a week with a 2.05 fill in a 4 cc band. At times I cannot believe the difference in the way I feel now vs. the way I felt after my first surgery. My experience after the first surgery is similar to what you describe happening now. Correct positioning of the band makes a huge difference. When I get a fill now, the results are immediate whereas before I couldn't even tell I had received a fill. My band is so sensitive now that the fill increments are tiny. I went from 2.0 to 2.05 because 2.1 was too much. I couldn't swallow water. At any rate, hang in there and know that you can be extremely successful after the second surgery. Good Luck.

Thanks, BabyJessica. I joined this group and posted in the hopes that I can spread the word to get medical treatment quickly for vomitting, nausea, coughing or sinus drainage. I was so anxious to lose weight that I did not want an unfill unless absolutely necessary. I know better now and urge all of you to seek medical attention, no matter how minor you think your symptoms are. I also still find myself asking my surgeon to give me a larger fill because I am losing only 1-2 lbs a week. He is adamant and does not budge, thank God!!! He says as long as I am losing weight, I do not need a fill. He is right, of course. Naturally, when I start to leave his office, I am irritated and then he does something nice like tells the cashier, not to charge me for the visit. What an Angel of a surgeon I have. I am blessed beyond belief!! Wishing you all continued good health.

I am experienced with a slipped band. It slipped down to my small intestines and my surgeon said it was the worst slippage he had ever seen. My first symptom was not being able to keep anything down. Then I began to vomit black bile. They performed a complete unfill Christmas Eve 2005 thinking that it would reposition itself. I was hospitalized with the flu on New Year's Eve with a temp of 105 and vomitting, coughing, etc. My local hopsital released me too soon and Jan 6th I was hospitalized again with severe bronchitis and respiratory failure. By the end of January I believed I was better and went back to my surgeon for a small fill. The first thing I noticed was that everything soured on my stomach and I had severe reflux. I could only eat a few sips of soup. Then I began vomitting again. Within 2 weeks my band had slipped to the point of emergency life-saving surgery. I went to my surgeon on a Thursday afternoon. He did a complete unfill and suspected a slippage and ordered an upper GI for the first available appointment which was the following Monday. I left his office and began vomitting clear slime. I called his office for anti-nausea medication and he was hesitant to prescribe it but did so after my insistance. He told me to go the ER if I continued to vomit but I laid on the bathroom floor all night (trying to save money) and vomitted and had dry heaves and major stomach pain radiating through to my back and shoulder blades. Friday morning at 8:00 A.M. I called his office and told them I could not keep down 1 drop of water and was continuously vomitting slime, black bile or having dry heaves. They performed an emergency upper GI which confirmed the slippage and I was rushed into surgery. He told my family in the best case scenario I would be out of surgery in 30-45 minutes. In the worst case scenario I would be out of surgery in 1 to 1.5 hours. I was in surgery 3.5 hours. Apparently it created lesions all along my stomach down to my intestines and the lesions had to be repaired as well. He saved my band and repositioned it. My first lapband surgery was performed in Mexico and I'm not knocking Mexico or its surgeons. I had a wonderful experience in Mexico and was treated like a queen. I have no regrets but I have ended up paying for surgery twice (self-pay) and no, I cannot afford it. My US surgeon thinks that it was mounted too low to begin with and the illnesses with vomitting and coughing herniated my stomach above the band which caused the band to slip. The US surgeon positioned the band between 2 or 3 arteries, veins or something and wrapped it with mesh to prevent slippage in the future. I'm not a medical person so I don't really know what is located near or around the stomach. It is also stitched in several places including something near the diaphram (?? spelling) so I hiccup quite frequently after eating. He does this with all of his surgeries, not just mine. He took special care to try and prevent any future slippage and I am grateful. Hiccupping is a small price to pay for peace of mind. So even though the surgery in the US costs approximately $16K - $19K I would have come out cheaper having it done here to begin with. But again I have no regrets or anything negative to say about Mexico. We all do what we have to do. Everything is going great now but I've learned not to ignore any type of sinus drainage or nausea and to have the symptoms treated immediately. My M.D. is learning with me and knows to treat any minor illness of mine agressively and quickly... Antibiotics, anti-nausea, antihistamines all prescription strength. No questions asked. It is my fervent wish that none of you go through the experience of a slipped band.

My band slipped due to excessive vomitting, dry heaves and severe coughing. All of this was caused by upper respiratory infections and reactions to pain medications from 2 shoulder surgeries within 5 months. My best advice to all of you is to go to your M.D. as quickly as possible if you have an upper respiratory infection or nausea and have it treated immediately. After the year I've been through my M.D. knows how very important it is to treat any illness agressively and quickly. He doesn't hesitate to prescribe whatever is needed to take care of the most minor sinus drainage or nausea. Since my slippage, my lapband surgeon advises this as well and he says that the band does not like mucous and it can clog the opening. So I take extra precautions with even the slightest sniffle, drainage or nausea. My band was repositioned and finally everything is going great. Yea!!!!! Good luck.

I had lapband surgery 17 months ago. I have experienced NO hair loss whatsoever. I have been recently diagnosed with many vitamin deficiences and find it amazing that I have had no hair loss but I've always had really thick hair. So now I chew 4 Flinstones chewable vitamins and take 2 prenatal vitamins per day. I found some wonderful prenatal vitamins at Wal-Mart that are small enough to fit through the band. The name is One-Source Prenatal and it is on the aisle with all of the other vitamins. A 60 day supply of 120 caplets costs around $8. I'm also on presciption Foltic vitamins (folic acid and B12). Of course, I am taking all of these vitamins by doctors orders and was told to stay on them indefinitely. Discuss your hair loss with your doctor and perhaps he will do a blood test to rule out a vitamin deficiency. By the way, I am a computer network engineer. I have nothing to gain by promoting the vitamin. Just thought it would be helpful to all of you who need a good vitamin. Good luck.

Hi Carol, You are not alone. I have 2.0cc fill with a 4cc band. Everyone at work knows me as the soup queen because I only eat soup for lunch and then only a few sips of that. Homemade soup of course with lots of nutrients. When I go to restaurants I explain to the wait person up front with the following explanation, "I have a medical condition which prevents me from swallowing like a normal person and it takes a long time for me to eat a meal. Sometimes I am in discomfort and sometimes it makes me ill. If you notice unusual expressions or that I am not eating or that I leave the table, there is nothing to worry about because it is normal for me. I am telling you this so that you won't have to continuously ask me if something is wrong with the meal or if I am okay. If you would kindly bring a to go box when you deliver my my meal, I would really appreciate it." I say this loud enough so that the diners around me can hear my conversation. It has never failed to work. Every waitperson has been not only compassionate but thankful that I informed him/her. The to go box is delivered with my meal and I immediately put most of it in the to go box and play around with the rest of it until I get a few bites down. If I have to leave the table, the waiters and other diners smile and nod their heads. If I hiccup afterwards and excuse myself, they all smile and go back to their activities. America is full of wonderful, compassionate people!! Hope this helps you.

Corrine, You definitely need to SEE your doctor immediately. My band slipped in Feb. 2006 and it was an emergency life-saving operation. My second surgeon suspected a small slippage on Dec. 24 2005 and did a complete unfill and said that sometimes the band will go back in place if the slippage isn't severe. I thought I was better and had a small fill at the end of Jan 2006. It was no better and within 2 weeks it had slipped down to my small intestines. Like you, I was unable to keep down anything. Not one single drop of water. I had severe reflux and everything I tried to eat or drink soured on my stomach. I vomitted black bile, clear slime, you name it. Please, I urge you to go to your doctor now. Please don't wait. I was taking prescription anti-nausea medicine (phenergan??) and nothing helped. I still vomitted and had dry heaves many times when there was nothing (liquid or food) in my system. My surgery lasted 3.5 hours and he saved my band and repositioned it. I was lucky and I am very thankful that my band was saved. If you've reached the point where nothing will stay down, it is time to pack your bags and go to the emergency room. I'm lucky to be alive and I wouldn't want anyone to go through the agony I've been through. Please don't hesitate. Contact your doctor immediately. Wishing you well. Keep us informed.

I'm glad you are feeling better. My band slipped down to my small intestines and my surgeon said it was the worst slippage he had ever seen. I was rushed into emergency life-saving surgery which lasted 3.5 hours. My band was repositioned and I have started anew from the very beginning. Please, Please, Please.... All of you, if you experience vomitting, dry heaves or severe coughing, please go to a doctor immediately and have the symptoms treated. It's better to be safe than sorry. My slippage was caused from severe chronic coughing due to upper respiratory infections and vomitting due to reactions to pain medications from 2 shoulder surgeries within 5 months. Basically it herniated my stomach and when my band slipped my stomach looked like a mushroom on the X-Ray's. It was bad and I nearly died. I had dry heaves and I also vomitted everything from clear slime to black bile and everything in between. To answer your questions, yes, even though you are banded you can vomit normally and with a wretched severity. Wishing you all a healthy banded life.

I am a patient of Dr. Carroll's and have been since July 2005. I see him once a month. I absolutely love him even though he won't give you a fill unless HE thinks you need one. I have to keep reminding myself that he has saved me on more than one occasion and he really does know what is best for your health. Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade him for all the tea in China.