Mommy2Ps

I'm just now finding out about this "long term complication" and it scares me too. I never had it pre-band, and I only had reflux when my band was overfilled. It was awful and no amount of tums or pepcid would curtail it. I needed an unfill. So now that I'm a few weeks from my sleeve revision, I'm realizing it could come back for good. Ugh. I had my class yesterday and was told I would be on prevacid for a while just to heal my tummy, but not because I would really need it for the rest of my life. I'm with you...but I don't think I will switch to a bypass. Just sucks. Why can't it all just be simple?! *hugs*

I'm a soon-to-be revisionista (2/19 to be exact) and I didn't need a sleep study or a pysch consult this time around. My advice is to just stay on them and get names of all that you speak with. It will help your case if you have issues down the road. I'm sorry it's proving to be a pain, just stay on them! Best of luck to you!! I'm VERY nervous about the finality of this procedure, but I know it's for the better, long term.

I understand what you're saying- and nothing anyone can say here is going to change the decision I've made to follow through with this. I KNOW I can't go back to where I was. I know this. It's just disheartening to hear from your surgeon that although you're removing half your stomach, you "might not lose a lot of weight". How is that even an option to NOT lose weight?! My fear is that since I'm a revision, I won't be successful as if I was a WLS virgin. I've gained weight. None of my clothes fit me. I'm back on BP meds. I KNOW what needs to be done, and I'm doing it on 2/19. I guess I'm just looking for those success stories from other successful banders who have gone on to be successful sleevers.

My revision date from band to sleeve is set for 2/19. Everyone around me is excited, if not a little jealous that my insurance covers it, but I'm still on the fence. Let me rephrase that, I KNOW it's happening, but I feel so apprehensive about it because I was told I "might not lose a lot of weight, but it will stop me from gaining." Losing half of my stomach can NOT be reversed...and to only stop from gaining weight back?! Ugh. I think that's my big road block. It's so final.

Hi everyone! A little history- Banded in June 2010. Starting weight:262.5 3 slips in less than 2 years- followed the rules, but told it needed to come out anyway as "it's just a piece of plastic that is no longer doing its job." :/ June of 2012, I was down to 166.7 lbs and had to have a complete unfill. Presently- I'm probably close to 200 again, but found out on 12-31-12 that I am approved for VSG. My doctor told me the sleeve will mostly likely stop me from gaining anymore, but that I probably wouldn't lose a whole lot more than I did with the band. WTH?!?!? Does that sound right to you??? How does removing 50% of my stomach (at least, according to my doctor) not lead to a successful weight loss?? I'm not sure of my surgery date at this point, but truthfully I'm apprehensive about this surgery as there is no going back once half of your stomach is sitting in a landfill somewhere. KWIM?! Thanks!

Right, we're all different, but our bands perform the same function. Really, I think the key is the X-ray. Other than having moderate reflux, I had no clue my band had slipped. I think of all the people who get huge fills at a time, and aren't losing, they must have serious stretching going on. Anyway, I hope your unfill helped. And btw, I'm not here to scare anyone, but I was VERY pro-band for two years, and now I'm learning more about the complications that are starting to occur with long-time usage. It's dis-heartening. I love my band. I was on the fast track to a heart attack and now I think I'm in much better shape than I was. -t

Wow- you poor thing. I can't even imagine being in that situation at a young 19. I am, however, going to be facing something similar at 30-something though. I was just told on Wednesday that after two years, my band needs to come out. Keep in mind, like you've I've done great. Lost 93lbs and would consider myself a LB success story (that is now becoming a less than successful BAND story. ) I've had three slips and this last one was pretty bad. So bad that they asked me if I was in pain and/or vomiting a lot. Nope, nothing. No complications. It's all on my blog if anyone cares to read it. I'm scared that so many people like us, successful weightloss stories, are now having complications with the band. Out of four people I know personally with the band, 3 of us have had slips and 2 of us need it to come out. We've all had it less than 2yrs. WTH?! We've all lost a good amount of weight, so it's not like we weren't following 'the rules'. My surgeon talked to me and he said he was recently at a convention (maybe the same one yours was at) and he said they are all appalled by the sheer number of patients having severe issues with the band. In fact, I really think he's discouraging new patients from getting the band in his office because of the fail rate with this little piece of plastic. It's heartbreaking because today is my two year anniversary of having the band and I should be celebrating my accomplishments instead of dreading what tomorrow might bring and TERRIFIED that it might all come back. That is scaring me!!! Anyway, enough of my story. I just wanted to say that I'm with you and I hope and pray that we found the strength within to keep up with the lifestyle that we've had for the last year or two, and not revert back to our old unhealthful ways. *hugs*

No, it doesn't hurt at all. After a year with my band, I would get stuck occassionaly, but that's if I ate something like bread or rice, or didn't chew well enough. After a time, I found if I waited about 5-10 minutes, I could just keep eating and it would feel fine. I wouldn't gorge myself, but I felt in my mind that I was probably eating more than I should. My meals were roughly 1.5c worth. However, I lost weight. 93lbs to be exact!!! BUT..... Little did I know that I was stretching my pouch and eventually my esophagus. Here I am, two years to the day that I had my surgery, and I've been told my band has to be removed and that it's causing a potentially life-threatening condition to me. The doctor stresses to me that it's not my fault (I have the success of the weight loss to back me up that I did do what I was supposed to), but that the band isn't proving to be what it originally was thought for a long-term solution to weight loss. I'm devastated. Completely and utterly devastated that my band is failing me. If your clinic/dr. doesn't use a fluoroscope when performing a fill, you will have no idea what it's doing to your body. I can't stress enough that you WILL NOT FEEL pain and you will NOT be stuck when you are stretching your pouch & your esophagus. Eventually you will probably come to have the gurgling toilet drain sound followed by the nightly reflux. That is when there is trouble. Anyway, I just thought I would put my two cents in. Good luck, everyone!

For all intents and purposes, I've had great success with my band. In almost two years, I've lost 92.5lbs. To say I am a new person is an understatement. Now, I wasn't the perfect band patient 100% of the time, but I did follow the rules for the most part. In two years, I've had three slips. The first starting Nov 2011, and I attributed it to portion size and eating too fast. The second slip, earlier this year was caused by vomitting when I was physically sick. Instantly I felt like a pop and then it was followed by nights of reflux. Again, they took out the Fluid 100%. Now this last time, happened yesterday. I went in to see my Dr on 6/13 and was told I had a marginal dialation that looked like it could be corrected with a two week plan of liquids, mushies, and .5c meals twice a day. So that is EXACTLY what I did. (Ok, I had one day when I went to the amusement park and had some popcorn and a few bites of funnel cake. I'm not gonna lie! But, I knew my limits and stayed within them.). In that time til my next appt, yesterday, they were pleased with my 4lb loss in thirteen days. The reflux was non-existent and I was thrilled that I seemed to have corrected the band issues I was having. WRONG. Imagine my shock when I saw on the Xray that my stomach had totally muffin-topped over my band. Something happened in those thirteen days that I can't explain. It was so bad, they even asked me if I was in pain because it looked pretty bad on the monitor. NOTHING. ZERO. ZILCH. No pain, no reflux, no NOTHING. SHOCK. Pure shock that that could have happened in 13 days of being on a strict liquid/mushy diet and only eating a cup of food a day. Now, almost two years to the day I had my surgery, I'm told my band needs to come out and I'm SCARED TO DEATH. The doctor (one of the best in the country) is saying the band is failing many people and its promise for long-term use were incorrect. The slips are re-occuring at an alarming rate and it's proving to not be a long-term solution like it was originally intended. My question is, and I do have one, do you REALLY think it needs to come out...or do you think it will hurt anything if my stomach slides back down to where it needs to be? Now, I'm not looking for fills anytime soon, I'm just scared to death of losing what I've worked so hard for and being left with nothing. He seems to think it could turn into a life threatening situation and it does need to come out. I'm scheduled for an EGD on 7-26, and then I will meet with the surgeon again to decide when it's going to come out. Oh, and I forgot to mention, he's strongly advising me to get the Sleeve. Which would be fine and dandy if my insurance would cover it. Granted, I have great insurance and they covered my band two years ago, but now I'm with another company and since my BMI is only 32 with no co-morbitities, I'm dead in the Water. Anyway, thanks for getting through that if you've read it all. I'm just so disappointed, so upset, so frustrated and my world has completely been turned upside down following this new revelation. -T

That wasn't even mentioned as an option to me, but I will look into it. Thank you. My band is only 2yrs old and it's an Allergan 10cc. The most i've ever had in it was a 6, I think. I'd have to check my blog to remember.

He said that it's possible that it could go back into place, because it has in the past (but granted it wasn't this bad before), but he said it will probably keep happening over and over again. He said the band itself is malfunctioning and it wasn't my fault. I don't blame the band entirely, but from the number of personal friends I've known who have had the same thing happen, it can't be just US. KWIM? I go in on 8/1 for the results of the EGD and I think that is when they will schedule the removal. I'm going to INSIST on another fluoroscope so they can see it and determine if it really does need to come out. I know, he said it does right now, but I'm praying it corrects itself. Even then, for some reason I get the impression that he's going to start limiting the amount of new bands he does, and strictly focus on Sleeves and Bypasses. He made a good point in saying that people who have had weight issues all their lives really do need a PERMANENT solution, and although LB was supposed to be permanent, it's proving not to be. He said he just got back from a conference and the general consensus of all the doctors were they are appalled by the complication rate with the bands that have been in 2+ years. I haven't researched a lot on the net, but my little circle of people I know who are going on 2+ years with the band, out of 4 of us, 3 have had slips and 2 need it to come out. Thanks for all the comments, everyone. I bawled my eyes out all the way home yesterday, and then drowned my sorrows in a bacon cheeseburger and fries last night (emotional eater much?!). I know, it wasn't the best choice. OK, it was absolutely the worst thing to do (and my body is reminding me all day what eating crap feels like), but I was sticking it to the man!! Won't be doing that again. LOL

Oh dear gawd- I haven't even researched that aspect of it. I know when I've been without fluids, the most I gained was 9lbs in a 3mo period. Who knows what it will be like when I'm free range. Ugh...just makes this struggle suck even more.

Yes, you probably are. Something that I didn't know until it was too late is that your esphogus will stretch to accomodate the excess amount of food you're taking in. If you don't have your fills done under fluoroscope, you don't really know what your pouch looks like. I'm about to lose my band after almost two years of living with it, and I can't urge you enough to lower your portion size. Really try to work with your band, instead of against it. Good luck. I don't mean to scare you. -T

Hi everyone. I'm a little over 6mo post op and my last fill was a few months ago. I've been doing great in losing, but the last 3 weeks have been plagued with sudden reflux!!! I don't know what has changed, but something is going on and it's NOT fun. I've been waking up with acid in my throat, with burps etc all night. No amount of tums is helping. Any suggestions?? I go in next week and I'm terrified to have an un-fill for fear of gaining. Thank you all in advance!!!!!

You sound like I did back in the beginning. Hang in there, it does get better!!! You're in bandster hell! The limbo period of time when you're banded, but not at your sweet spot yet. Don't worry, you will get there! First off, you NEED to eat. Skipping meals and slacking on Protein will not help you lose weight. When you don't eat, your body is holding on to every ounce it can get and you go into starvation mode. By eating, you will increase your metabolism and make the food start working for you. Get some Protein shakes, Protein Bars, etc... they will help. If you're getting stuck on meat and vomiting, it could be one of three things, or a combo of all. 1) You're taking too big of bites and not chewing enough. or 2) you're eating too fast. or 3) you're band is too tight. I think you said you've only had one fill, so I doubt you're too tight. I'm willing to bet you're eating too fast and taking too big of bites. We're all guilty of it, and by vomiting, it's your band telling you you're doing something wrong. Throwing up is the last thing you want to do, as you could slip your band. Meaning, your stomach, while contracting to push food out, will come up through the band and that will cause the band to slip down. That is NO GOOD. Try cutting your food up in peices you would feed a toddler (or no bigger than the eraser on the tip of a pencil). Sure, it's a pain, but it will help. Great job at drinking the Water. Still practice small sips. Trust me, when you're tighter, big gulps will be a thing of the past unless you enjoy pain! Hmmmm, what else can I offer from my journey?!?! I don't claim to know all the answers, and Lord knows I've cussed this band on more than one occasion, but at the end of the day I'm almost 55lbs lighter and it's all because of the band and from what I've learned here and other blogs!! Good luck!!! You CAN do this and you WILL!

Totally normal and it's to be expected. Most people, myself included, didn't start noticing restriction until my 4th & 5th fills. Especially if your doctor is conservative with your fills like mine was/is. A weight gain is common too. Try not to get discouraged. Start making good habits and choices now. You're REALLY early in the game and I PROMISE the weight will start falling off before you know it!!! I was where you were back in August, September, October. I thought for sure the band wasn't going to work...but everyone told me to hang in there and be patient!! They were right!!!!!!!! Best of luck!!!!!!

Glad we could help! Sometimes just to get it out there makes a big difference!

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I've tried that before and it doesn't seem to help. In fact, last night we ate around 6pm and I didn't go to bed until 11pm and it was the worse it's ever been!! Uggghhh. It was awful, and I even vomited while brushing my teeth this morning. The kicker?! It was left over tums!! Eeeeewwwwwww Today I had Soup for lunch with a few crackers. Tonight for dinner I think I'll have a shake and see if that helps. I need some relief!! It's so strange because I've gone months being totally reflux-free and suddenly I'm now having this problem. I wish I knew what changed!

First of all, congrats on your weightloss! That's incredible!! I also think it's funny that I was banded on 6/29/10, a year to the date that you were! As for your sister, that's a tough one. I think the best thing to do would be to drop it entirely. Don't share with her about the losses unless she asks. Watching you shrink is probably painful to watch in and of itself. Having to hear about it too, just adds salt to the wound. KWIM?! She probably hears from other family members how great you look etc, so she probably imagines that the spotlight is now focused on her too, for comparisons sake. For example someone says "Molly looks great! and what she hears is "Molly is looking great, why aren't you losing weight too?!?!" Make sense? All you can do is carry on with your own life, be there for support and guidance IF and WHEN she asks for it, and just love her as you always have.

Awwww {hugs} to you, my friend!!! When I was going, I would just hang out in the back and do my thing. I KNOW there were people staring, but really, who REALLY needs to be there??? That's right, US!!!!!!!!!!!! So, shake what your mama gave you, have fun and who cares what the Iddy-biddy-boobie-Barbies think!!!!!!!!! Just focus on the big picture!!!!!!