Lap Band Removed, Now Praying For Revision To Sleeve

[littlebit 2]

Greetings All,

It's been a very long time since I was last posting here.

The lap band was removed after 16 months of my health worsening overall. At first I felt great! About 6 weeks post op I was really disappointed in no weight loss. At 8 weeks I had a fill and again @ 12 weeks, I lost about 12 lbs but was so ill with acid re-flux, diarrhea, and general malaise that I couldn't enjoy life. The short version is that my PCP gave me the choice of unfilling the band or removal. I chose un-fill. Ten months later it was removed. I suffered with adhesion and scar tissue, my asthma went off the chart hard to control.

The whole process was scary and I am now about to regain my health (6 mo post op band removal)

I have had shingles 3 times in the last year and am dragged down from that, I believe that I was allergic to the band material. My surgeon also thinks that but no test to confirm.

My current weight is still less than when I started the pre-op diet.

Now I am hoping that my health plan will approve my sleeve. I paid cash for the lap band in Mexico. My surgeon was Gonzales in Tijuana. The staff there were great. No Dr. who has seen me or treated me for band complications feels that the surgeon made a mistake. Many test were run to determine the problem, basically the band slipped and then caused erosion. While this may be linked to patient non-compliance (ie over eating) that didn't appear to be the case here. I believe that I may have over drank. Which I did not feel would cause a problem as long as I sipped over a time period. I now think that this may not be true or my restriction was too much.

Bla, bla, bla...very bad deal for me!

I don't recommend the band. I don't know yet if I will get the sleeve. Sorry, to be a bummer, but it's the plain truth as clearly as I can state.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. As with all WLS, none of them work for everyone. I've met many people on here that absolutely love their bands and a couple that it simply didn't work for. Likewise, I've known people to love other WLS and some who've gained back literally hundreds after a radical procedure like Gastric Bypass.

I hope the Sleeve works for you. It definitely seems like the next logical step to me- I'd do the same in your shoes.

[Cocoabean 430]

I am sorry to hear your story. I doubt you or your surgeon caused your troubles. The fact is complications happen. Slips happen. Troubles can happen with any surgery.

I hope you are feeling better, and that you get the sleeve if that is what you wish.

Thank you for sharing your story.