I Wanna Hear Your Lapband Stories Good Or Bad. Lots Of Questions Xd

[ItsBritneyB 39]

Hello,

I'm not a fan of my band. I've had mine for 3 years now. In preperation for the band, I ended up loosing almost 80 pounds but I chose to continue with the procedure. I lost maybe 10 pounds with the band, moving up and down. the dissapointment hit me hard about a year ago and I sortof gave up. My horror story is as follows: I was so desperate for this to work. For a year I went in for fill adjustment after fill adjustment. After one fill, I woke up the next day without the ability to swallow my own saliva. It was Saturday and my only choice was to wait till I could make another appointment or go to the emergency room. By this point in time I'm broke. I wait. I didn't sleep for days, everytime I laid down, little bits of what I guess were stomach acid would come up but could go back down. I sit in bed with burning and I couldn't eat or drink Water. Obviously, after 2 days, I went to the hospital. I can't afford to adjust it and I don't have the money to go to the doctor as of this moment. I have horrible heartburn sometimes, I can't drink Water till later in the day and I'm thirsty all the time. As soon as I can, I'm going to get all the Fluid taken out. I wish I never put this foreign thing in my body. I've adopted a plant-based diet and I stay away from meat, dairy and anything processed. To be fully successful, I have to get rid of the band, I need my stomach to operate naturally (it's hard to over eat veggies!) . One poster talked about smoothies and let me tell you, they are awesome! I feel better and better everyday. The most successful part of my band experience was the therapy, the nutritionist and the regular doctors visits. I contribute my initial 80 pounds to that more than anything. The thing about the band is that you're still on a diet. Don't forget that. It doesn't take away your ability to eat junk. You still need discipline and control.

So it did work just not in the way intended? lol. Good job on losing that weight. I am very happy with my band now but I went throught years of hating it. I spent all my savings on it and I couldn't afford the adjustments either. I have switched doctors and they are very good about taking payments. I totally understand about being thirsty all the time. Good luck on the rest of your journey.

[electronicart 120]

I've been banded a year and a half and I must say it is one of the best things I have ever done! Of course, success is more than just getting banded. You still have to WANT it and work at it. I'm so blessed, I've had no complications. I can eat just about anything in small amounts. Of course, no soda what so ever and very little meat and bread. I exercise five days a week and feel great! BTW, I have been the turtle of lapband, I lost very slowly, but never gave up.

[Baba Wawa 543]

I wouldn't recommend the band after experiencing severe complications despite keeping my band loose and and being completely compliant. Here is my history with the band, copied and pasted from my blog.

May 2010 Realize Band implanted, hiatal hernia repair, uneventful recovery

Aug 2010 fill 3 cc

March 2011 fill .5 cc

Summer 2011 began to have epigastric pain at night.

Sept 2011 stomach virus

Sept 2011 pain upper right quadrant, duration 2-5 hours increasing, then subside quickly

Oct 2011 barium swallow, band fine, slow esophageal emptying

Oct 2011 upper abdominal ultrasound positive for gallstones

Oct 2011 gallbladder removal

Feb-May 2012 increasing GERD symptoms, nighttime epigastric pain radiating to shoulder, neck, jaw, back. Palpitations gradually increasing in frequency

May 2012 had cardiac work up, stress test, echocardiogram, negative for heart disease. BP was elevated, so new drug Rx, resolved palpitations/hypertension. Epigastric pain persisted.

June 2012 upper GI with barium shows stoma at band is nearly closed. Barium drips through, but no stream. Barium is backed up into esophagus. PA removes all saline (3.5 cc confirmed, clear, no sign of infection). Under flouro, barium is still in esophagus, emptying slowly. PA and Radiologist are concerned, but decide after I drink 8 oz Water to schedule me for follow up 5 @ weeks.

July 2012 follow up, lost 4 lb. still having problems eating anything fibrous, but able to eat, at least. Barium swallow shows smaller than expected stream thru band, but also shows slow esophogeal motility, but not so slow as to require follow up. PA states that since I'm tolerating food, losing and have a bit of a motility issue, she won't fill me, but cautions me to stay on the band diet and if I'm able to eat everything and quantity increases over 1 cup, to come in for another evaluation.

Oct-Dec 2012 In early October, became very intolerant to most foods and started having nighttime pain again, GERD symptoms. Symptoms subsided for two weeks, then returned. Taking PPIs for GERD, Probiotics and experiencing extreme Constipation. BMs only every 8-10 days. Bloated miserable, having pain, feeling like food is stuck. November, saw GI doctor and he ordered EGD, soft low Fiber diet. December EGD negative for Hpylori, celiac, erosion, Barrett's. Prescribed Amitiza for constipation. Antispasmodic for GI spasms.

Symptoms improved.

Feb symptoms (intolerance of meals, feeling stuck, etc) returned. Consult with GI doc, schedules GES. Results normal gastric emptying times, but abnormal esophageal retention. GI doctor follow up in 2 weeks.

March 2013: barium swallow:Dx achalasia, severe esophageal dilation due to LES failure to open in response to swallowing. Discussed options for removal/revision and further testing.

High weight 290 lb

Surgery weight 281.5

Band emptying weight 225

Current weight 202

Goal weight 170

At all times my PCP, Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist and Bariatric Surgeon were in communication. Procedures, records and test findings were shared.

Preexisting IBSd. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, GERD.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction/Spinal Stenosis

Left knee osteoarthritis-replacement recommended

Still taking all medications I was taking pre-band + amitiza, antispasmodic and additional hypertensive drug