Band removal sooner better than later?

[Luna Koi 0]

I need your opinions please. My band is eroding and has to come out. I'm wondering if you think I could wait until late June, when I have child care and vacation time, or if I have to hurry and get it out now. I have no pain so far, and my doctor is very vague. All he says is it's not an emergency, but on the other hand the surgery will be more complicated the longer I wait. Did everyone who had a band out have to do it right away? Does erosion happen quickly, or very slowly? I know you aren't doctors, but maybe somebody has more understanding of this than I do.:confused:

[paula 4]

Gosh, I am so sorry to hear this.

I can understand why you want to wait - but for the sake of your health, Id have it removed as soon as possible.

How long have you been banded?

[Penni60 45]

Lena all the doctors I have spoken with about erosion say it isn't an emergency. Now my personal opinion is if something inside me has failed to to what it is supposed to do and is causing MORE harm to my insides then I want it out NOW. I was about 40% to 50% eroded and my doc took it out that same night. Several of us that have eroded had ours out within 24 to 72 hours of finding out.

Personally I would get it done pronto. You just don't know what will happen if you wait.

[Luna Koi 0]

Thanks for your responses. I've had my band 14.5 months and I'm very sad to be losing it. Possibly I can get another after six months or so, but it depends on the extent of scarring. I'll let you know what I decide to do.

[La_madam 20]

When I found out mine was eroded I did not wait. Iwanted it out. Just knowing it was eroding in my stomach made me sick to think about it. There is a woamn here who had a bad case of erosion and had a horrible horrible infection.. the had to cut her wide open to remove the band. I was fortunate I caught my erosion in the early stages. Personally I would get it done ASAP!

[paula 4]

Lena,

How much weight have you lost so far?

And, what (if any) symptoms did you have with erosion?

[NeenBand 7]

La Madam, who was that that had such bad erosion? Was it so bad because she waited?

[Luna Koi 0]

I've lost about 50 pounds. My symptoms were reflux every single night. I tried sleeping sitting up, I tried taking Pepcid AC, I tried everything I could think of. Finally I had an endoscopy and my doctor saw some erosion. He took out half my fill and I haven't had any more symptoms, but it's too late. The band has to come out.

I'm going to have it out ASAP, but it may take a few weeks because I'm a single parent and I have to arrange childcare, etc.

[dishdiva 5]

Lena Kay -- I'm a single mom too, so I understand the logistical challenges of arranging child care, time off etc. But when I had to get my band removed (3/10/06), I just had to force myself to ask for help from friends. (I'm not good at asking for help.) It's amazing how people will rally around you. I'm with others here: sooner, not later. Logistically, an emergency removal would be even harder for a single mom to manage...so you want to avoid that. Good luck to you.

[paula 4]

Lena (so many questions... sorry),

Are you still taking the pepcid daily?

[Luna Koi 0]

Nope, no more Pepcid. My doctor took out half the fill and I've had no reflux problems since. Too bad it's too late.