Larger Band Or Remove All Together

[tammy49 2]

I have been having issues with my band since the beginning. I had it placed in June of this year and have lost 35 pounds but have had reflux, burning, and pain starting about a month after surgery. I had no fill at all for the first 3 months, then because of pain the doctor removed what appeared to be air. After the air was removed I felt better and had a very small fill .5cc's about a week before Thanksgiving. I felt tight right away and got stuck on everything that wasn't a slider. I thought it would get better but it did not. Because I was out of sick time at work I went way too long to go back in to see the doctor and I suffered a lot of burning and pain. I have not lost any weight since November. I went and had the tiny bit of Fluid removed and what air was in there last Monday. The doctor now thinks I need the large band put in the one I have now is 10cc which I guess is standard. I am so discouraged I just want it removed, all I eat is pudding, ice cream, and mashed potatoes everything else gets stuck or hurts. I need advice should I try the large band or say screw it?

[Caribear 184]

I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time. I hate to say it, but I think this is something that only you can answer. Maybe you should sit down and write a list of pros and cons regarding both being re-banded and just having it removed. I would think that a larger band would relieve some of your discomfort, but there is still the possibility that it may not.

If you have it removed, will you revise to a different WLS? If you have it replaced, do you have a backup plan if your issues don't go away? If you don't revise or re-band, are you going to do it on your own?

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.

[MCOBandita 0]

I was having tons of complications and had my lap band removed at the end of last years at the end of 2011 and revised to the gastric sleeve. Even though the recovery from surgery was tough I am very happy with my decision. No more PBing for me and I am actually able to eat fruits and vegetables - something that was virtually impossible with my band. My gastic surgeon said that current research indicates that 8% of people's bodies reject the lap band, but that he estimates there are probably much more that just put up with the complications. I am very lucky that this time my insurance paid for the removal and revision.

One of the hardest things for me is that I felt like I was a failure and I was embarrassed that I did not have more success with the band. However, after reading countless other people's negative accounts about life with the band, which I found on gastic sleeve forums, I realized that I was not the only one and wept with relief. So to anyone who might read this in the future - you are not the only one - just look at some gastic sleeve or gastric bypass sites and you will find many former banders' tales of woe.

The rest of my story is on an old post here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/88303-would-i-do-it-again/