Lap Band Eroded - Possible Revision To Gastric Sleeve

[kuntrystrong 0]

I had a band sleeve revision on Dec. 30th. They did a scope back in November to see if there was erosion. They said they really didnt see any but would know more after they got in there. They had warned me that if there was too much scar tissue it might be a two phase surgery. One to remove the band, and the other to do the sleeve. My Dr. (Dr. David Kim) was able to do it all in one surgery. I found out a week later that I actually had a hernia on my stomach where the band was and one starting where my port was. (It had been replaced less than a year after my origional surgery). He repaired both and put a piece of mesh on my left side to prevent a hernia where that one was starting.

I spent two nights in the hospital- had 8 days off work and returned. I am a teacher and can do low activity when needed. I was not able to have it done during my two weeks off at Christmas, and had to take the following week off. I am doing fine. Sticking to my diet...trying to remember to get my Water in and excercising.

I don't know if I had erosion or not. They never did a swallow test on me at the hospital, just a scope. (prior to surgery)

[FXDF2008 14]

Well after many months and many ups and downs I finally have a date to have my eroded lap band removed. March 29th is the big day!!!!!!!!!!! I will have my surgery VERY early in the morning and will stay overnight to make sure there is no leaking from the repaired area of my stomach. Hopefully, if all goes well, in two months I will revise to either the sleeve or banded plication. There is much to consider with both of these procedures and the positives and negatives are pretty well balanced. I have read good and bad things about both procedures.

Right now though, I'm just going to focus on getting the band removed and see what kind of damage it's done. So far I have felt no effects other than an occasional pull or tug or momentary pain in the area just below my sternum. I still have some minimal restriction due to there being a plastic ring in the middle of my stomach but I can pretty much eat anything I want and have been. I figure that eventually I will have the tool necessary for me to succeed so I might as well enjoy myself while I can even though the weight gain is making me feel miserable physically. I can't wait to be thin again. Weird how the mind justifies things. If I couldn't eat another cheeseburger tomorrow it wouldn't bother me, but since I can I do! Ugh.

I'm definitely ready to get back on track. Let's get this party started!

[FXDF2008 14]

Had my lap band removed on Thursday, March 29th. My procedure seems to have gone pretty smoothly. I wasn't nervous at all. Didn't have any nausea. My surgeon said that everything looked the way he anticipated it would look. He placed a drain in my stomach which was a bit of a surprise. I wasn't expecting that. He said it was a last minute decision on his part. Now I have to figure out how to deal with that while at work.

They took me down on Friday morning for my leak tests. They said everything looked fine but it took until 7:00 for my surgeon to let me know it was okay for me to drink. Then I had to drink a certain amount within a couple of hours before he would let me go home. I drank what I was supposed to, was discharged around 11:00, then we had to run around getting perscriptions filled. I was really tired by the time I got home. My only real complaint is the dry mouth I get while I'm sleeping. I don't have a lot of pain, just soreness.

Oh, I gained 10 lbs in the hospital!!!!!! It's beginning to go down slowly but they really kept me hydrated! LOL So basically, the band removal seems to have been a lot easier than having it placed. Now I need to work towards getting my sleeve. My surgeon has said that if I had another band placed that I would more than likely erode again and I certain don't want to have to do this again.

Onward and upward!