The 7 year itch

[flyy 0]

I had my band placed about 7 years ago at a university hospital. A couple of years after it was placed my physician's nurse practitioner shared with me (off the record of course) that the physician had submitted my records as some interesting show of a failed lap band. My band was filled up capacity yet he could not understand how I was able to eat untoasted bread, large amounts of food, and everything else I shouldn't have been able to do. While I did not gain weight, I didn't lose any either since I was doing the exact same things I was doing prior to the surgery. What a disappointed which was compounded by the fact that I'd paid for the surgery myself after my insurance company repeatedly refused to pay. I "only" had 85-90 pounds to use and no horrible disease...yet. When the surgery failed to produce any results and my physician apologized, told me he'd never seen such a complete failure, assured me he'd placed the band perfectly (quite naturally!), and reminded me that he'd made me no promises, I decided that I needed to do what I knew I could do on my own. I buckled down and over the course of the past 6 years or so (2 years after the band was placed) I have slowly lost 85 lbs. I've never had a useful band and hate I wasted my money. Recently I've had a Tummy Tuck and Lipo of my thighs and back. What bothers me more than anything now is this port that sticks up out if my belly that u can see if I wear a fitted tee shirt. What can I do??? Is removing the band strictly for cosmetic reasons an option?

[ledavis13 33]

You can have the band removed at any time...or port repositioning. A lot of people deal with that after loosing all their tummy weight.

[B-52 7,113]

Did you get a 2nd opinion from a different Dr.?

When you said your band was "Filled to the Max" my antennae went up....

Also I am curious if he ever did any x-rays after he determined there was no solution..

[ledavis13 33]

Did you get a 2nd opinion from a different Dr.?

When you said your band was "Filled to the Max" my antennae went up....

Also I am curious if he ever did any x-rays after he determined there was no solution..

Yeah this makes me think it "unhinged" .... I have heard that on here before.

[destynee1 417]

while the band's purpose is not to really restrict, ( although it's nice when it does ) it's just suppose to make you feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food. From what I have read, and the way you said it didn't seem like you also didn't work with the band? Still eating the things you shouldn't have. I don't know how it was 7yrs ago, maybe that is what they sold is the restriction.. I can eat anything without anything getting stuck, soft bread, hard bread , whatever, I just know that I put myself through a lot to get this and I had to work with it. It's just a tool as you know.

Hope things get better for you. If you want the tool out, talk to your Dr?

[flyy 0]

Wow. Thank u all so much. What a wealth of knowledge! I had no idea the port could be repositioned. I intend to contact a physician first thing in the morning. My original surgeon moved and I've lost contact. I welcome another physician's opinion. I've also noticed the area across the port is a bit tender when I accidentally rub across it or something. I cannot thank u all enough. I'll let u know how it goes!!!

[KellyGram 36]

My band had been empty for 6 months and I've dropped 50#. 4 years post-op I've made the behavioral changes necessary to drop weight without the need for band restriction. I know that I can have the band removed at any time -- it is one of the reasons why I got it -- but I'll keep it just in case I slip and need a tune-up.

Good luck with getting your port repositioned. The tenderness is probably from your waistband rubbing against the port.