Lap Band Leak And Replacement

[pippinje 0]

It has been a LONG time since I have been to this site and I am happy to see this is still the place to come and get others experiences and guidance to help with your own personal situations. I was banded in 2008. It's been a fun ride but looks like I will be starting from day one again and I am ok with that. I know the band works and wouldn't trade this experience for the world. After initially getting my band in 2008 I had tried for years to get pregnant with another child. I lost 70 lbs after getting my band and 7 months after being pregnant was banded. Things went well and even through the pregnancy I kept the weight off. It hasnt been until this past year that I knew something was wrong with my band. I started going back for fills and just couldn't get the restriction I wanted. I thought it was all in my head. I started being aggressive about going back and having another fill if things didn't feel right. My doctor and I started adding up the numbers vs the size of my band and we realized that I wasn't as crazy as I thought I was. After having dye injected into my band we discovered my band has a leak. This was last Wednesday. I could not ask for a better patient care if I tried. All the medical staff went out of their way to submit everything to insurance and with their's and my own persistance we got my insurance company to approve the procedure and I am scheduled for Friday. It is absolutely amazing how much they jumped through hoops to get this done in a weeks time. They knew how important it was for me since my deductible was already met and made it happen. I am excited and nervous about starting over but I am highly optomistic that this will continue to work for me! I have regained a little of the weight since being banded...about 15 lbs, and look to lose that plus more in the coming years. Thank you Lap Band Talk for always being here when I need you.

[Joyce Real 21]

I hope things go smoothly for you and good luck!!

[Jachut 487]

Best of luck! Im perhaps in the same boat, banded 2005, unfilled a year ago for a big cancer surgery and have been unable to find the same reastriction since, although all the Fluid appears to be all there. Frustrating isnt it?

Anyway Im sure that 15 will come off in no time, being newly banded and doing the whole routine again.

[pippinje 0]

I'm not really frustrated, atleast not with the need for revision. More frustrated with myself for not following my gut instincts and speaking up when all this started or we could have already fixed it by now. I am nervous as anyone going through surgery should be, but not so much with the surgery itself but the "what-ifs". Mostly what if the complication is more than just a leak and I lose the band and how would life be after that. Another huge reason why I love this site because it seems like there is always someone who has been there and posted about it and left their experiences for those behind them to get guidance. Thank you for the support! I know I am in good hands!

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

I don't understand. You band only lasted 3 years. Why would you want to have a repair rather than revision considering you could be in the same position in another 3 years???

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

Best of luck! Im perhaps in the same boat, banded 2005, unfilled a year ago for a big cancer surgery and have been unable to find the same reastriction since, although all the Fluid appears to be all there. Frustrating isnt it?

Anyway Im sure that 15 will come off in no time, being newly banded and doing the whole routine again.

That is very common for someone to lose restriction and not be able to get back to that point unfortunately. :-(

I hope things went well with your cancer surgery and that it is completely gone!!!

[pippinje 0]

My doctor and I discussed it and leaks aren't entirely common. Out of everyone he has banded he has had three. I would much rather band myself a million times and know that if I ever needed to I could remove it, than go with a more permanant method. To each their own. I can tell from all your posts that all you do is flame those who have had lap band complications, so I am not really concerned with your comment with it having to be done again in 3 years. I don't see that as the case.

For those who would like to focus on the positive, I am two days post op and everything went great. It was a small leak and he replaced the band with a newer, more updated version. I also went from a 5cc to a 10 cc band so I am wondering how big of an adjustment that would be. I can tell I have a lot more swelling this go around. After surgery, he had to remove some of the priming liquid because of how tight I was and changed my post surgery clear liquid diet from 2 to 4-5 days. All in all I am doing well. A lot of sleeping because of the pain meds but dont feel overly bad except for the dang gas pain in my right shoulder.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

My doctor and I discussed it and leaks aren't entirely common. Out of everyone he has banded he has had three. I would much rather band myself a million times and know that if I ever needed to I could remove it, than go with a more permanant method. To each their own. I can tell from all your posts that all you do is flame those who have had lap band complications, so I am not really concerned with your comment with it having to be done again in 3 years. I don't see that as the case. For those who would like to focus on the positive, I am two days post op and everything went great. It was a small leak and he replaced the band with a newer, more updated version. I also went from a 5cc to a 10 cc band so I am wondering how big of an adjustment that would be. I can tell I have a lot more swelling this go around. After surgery, he had to remove some of the priming liquid because of how tight I was and changed my post surgery clear liquid diet from 2 to 4-5 days. All in all I am doing well. A lot of sleeping because of the pain meds but dont feel overly bad except for the dang gas pain in my right shoulder.

~I would much rather band myself a million times and know that if I ever needed to I could remove it, than go with a more permanant method.~

Personally I don't see the sense in anyone having band surgery over and over instead of having a "permanent method"..............but to each their own! :-)

[BRathman 0]

I have to agree with pipp. For an example,if my leg broke and then 3 years later I broke it in the same spot would I go have it repaired??? Sounds like a dumb question doesn't it? Things happen but that doesn't mean it is gonna happen to everyone. Being over weight is a health issue or can become one so if something is broke I say go ahead and fix it! lots of luck to you pipp and I am proud of you for not giving up on the lap band!

[Aldesa 0]

Wow pip sounds like you and I have the same issue . I've had my band for 7 years with no issue however after going for a fill with a doctor who is not my regular doctor I seem to not be able to keep the restriction. Ive put on weight and feel awful, have an appt on jan 23 for a dye test.

Thx for sharing as it helps to know others are in the same boat!

A new up to date band would be good and I'm not worried about the surgery but the cost is going to be an issue......

Def wld reband rather than permanent options .

Good luck with your recovery

:-)

[pippinje 0]

I have to agree with pipp. For an example,if my leg broke and then 3 years later I broke it in the same spot would I go have it repaired??? Sounds like a dumb question doesn't it? Things happen but that doesn't mean it is gonna happen to everyone. Being over weight is a health issue or can become one so if something is broke I say go ahead and fix it! lots of luck to you pipp and I am proud of you for not giving up on the lap band!

Thanks. I look at it pretty much like you would any other man made surgical implant- ie my husband's shoulder replacement. They tell you up front what the expected life of the replacement is and the possibility of having another surgery. I went into this knowing what my expectations were and my view has not changed. I wouldn't down someone else for their personal choices and hate when people use these forums to make themselves feel better by pushing their negative views on others.

[pippinje 0]

Wow pip sounds like you and I have the same issue . I've had my band for 7 years with no issue however after going for a fill with a doctor who is not my regular doctor I seem to not be able to keep the restriction. Ive put on weight and feel awful, have an appt on jan 23 for a dye test.

Thx for sharing as it helps to know others are in the same boat!

A new up to date band would be good and I'm not worried about the surgery but the cost is going to be an issue......

Def wld reband rather than permanent options .

Good luck with your recovery

:-)

Thanks so much for posting and I hope everything goes well with your next appointment. I am doing great a little over a week post op. Had some definate issues a few days after surgery. I guess I had a LOT of swelling this second time around. Had a little reflux and dehydration issue since I had so much swelling and was unable to get a lot down throughout the day. It finally eased and I feel almost 100% now. Anxiously awaiting my post op appt next week. I know I have lost already but want to see the comparision on their scale.

Keep me posted on how you do. Just know someone has been there already and it's not anything that you can't handle.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

Thanks. I look at it pretty much like you would any other man made surgical implant- ie my husband's shoulder replacement. They tell you up front what the expected life of the replacement is and the possibility of having another surgery. I went into this knowing what my expectations were and my view has not changed. I wouldn't down someone else for their personal choices and hate when people use these forums to make themselves feel better by pushing their negative views on others.

What you call "negative views" are my lap-band experiences! Believe me, I would have preferred NOT to have had the negative experiences!. And why would you ASSume that it makes me feel better to tell my side of things. And why is it when you tell your experiences it is just that, but when I do it, I'm "pushing my negative views on others"???

[Humming Bird 275]

If my band sprung a leak I would get another band in a heartbeat. There is no question about it.

Some people will work against the band and any other WLS. It's part of the disease. Success will be hard to find for those people no matter which surgery they choose.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

If my band sprung a leak I would get another band in a heartbeat. There is no question about it.

Some people will work against the band and any other WLS. It's part of the disease. Success will be hard to find for those people no matter which surgery they choose.

That blame the bandster mentality is extremely tacky! She had a leak! That is NOT her fault! You are deflecting from the issue. It is a BAND FAILEURE NOT A BANDSTER FAILURE!!!

Your blaming the bandsters reminds me off those ppl that blame rape victims for getting raped!