band removed

[lexi85 0]

hi everyone,

i had my band removed this month due to a slip.

i did not have the option of going on liquids/mushies and giving my band a rest.

this was my surgeon's first slip.

he said it was best to remove it.

i did see my upper pouch on fluro, before he took it out.

it was swollen and i could see the slip.

my history is:

i was banded last fall , with a 10.75(4cc) band.

i recieved a 1 cc fill at 4 weeks, even though i was not on solids yet.

my surgeon fills at 4 weeks, 1cc and then .5 cc's and then .25 and .25.

i was tight right away.

in jan. i went in for a complete unfill.

he said to wait 2 weeks and come back for a fill.

i waited for 5 weeks and then went back.

i asked for a .25 fill as i was afraid of anything more.

he gave me a .5 cc.

i wish i had been more insistent.

i was always tight, in that i really could not eat veggies, poultry, fish,beef and fruit.< /p>

i could eat moist canned chicken, with lots of fat free sour cream or fat free mayo.< /p>

i kept thinking that as soon as i lose a little of my fat pad, it will losen.

i did lose some weight, but not much and it never losened.

i was stuck often and vomited and pbed just too much, i thought.

finally in the last two months i lost more weight by working out hard everyday and drinking lots of Protein Shakes, (no way to live, long term).

then one night i had a little brocoli, and of course it got stuck.

i did vomit that night.

the next morning i had a little Water and i started projectile vomiting and i knew my band had slipped as i could not even tolerate liquids.< /p>

you just know when it happens.

i have been doing research since then.

i had only lost about 25/30 pounds in 9 months and 10 pounds were in the last two months when i was exercising every day and primarily existing on Protein shakes and a little very moistened canned (moist ) chicken.

the first doctor i spoke with after i had my band removed, said that with all removals , he can expect some pouch dialation, so the surgery is 2/3 hours long and he does a section to repair the dialation first and then rebands.

he did say that this is necessary in 99 % of slippages.

then i spoke to another doctor who disagreed.

my original doctor said he would prefer to place a VG band this time.

i got an infection from the hospital after the removal and went back in for 3 days for I.V's.

i am just now sure which procedure is best and would apply to me.

i will be self pay this time.

any input is greatly appreciated.

thanks,

lexi

[Linda Lou 0]

Gosh! That's terrible. I'm just a band wannabe (my tentative date is 9/20), so I can't really offer you any advice from experience, but I just felt so bad for you. I don't really understand the whole fill process, but are docs supposed to wait until you're on solids before doing the fill? And if so, why didn't your doc?

Linda

[kellymoos 4]

Mine slipped after 30 months, after I ate broccoli:-)

[nightingale2u 42]

Wow Lexi... WHat a journey you have been on! I still have my band but I can tell you that if I had a slip... I would have mine removed and wouldn't even consider having it replaced. I think this will end up being a personal choice for you... but if you do pay privately... you may have to pay out of pocket for any testing or follow-up care that is related to your new band. I am very thankful that my insurance has picked up the tab for all of my follow-up care... the totals would have sent us to the poor house for sure! Again... so sorry that you had to go through all of that!

[ZooMama 0]

Lexi I'm so sorry to hear that you had your band removed. I may be facing a similar fate. Was the removal a similar surgical procedure to the placement? Did you have general anesthesia, laparascopy, etc.? Inquiring minds want to know... Thanks and get better soon.

[DonnaB 3]

I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. Unfortunately, we've all been trained from childhood to listen more to what the doctor says than what our bodies say. It's time we stand up for ourselves and demand healthcare which is appropriate to our symptoms and individualized to our needs.

I'll never understand why doctors think it's appropriate to follow ONE protocol for all INDIVIDUALS. It just makes no sense.

Best wishes to you on your decision.

[FunnyDuddies 6]

I can tell you that if you decide to have another ban placed, you might want to consider the VG band. It is larger and can accomodate a larger stomach. I am so sorry this happened to you, and it sounds like the cookie cutter model of doing fills did not work for you. I don't understand that way of thinking either.

IF you get a new band placed, try to get your fills done by flouro. this is suppose to help you and the doc determine the closest to perfect fill FOR YOU since they can see it as it is happening.

Again, I am so sorry this has happened, and I wish you lots of luck with your decision!!

[health1st 1]

Can't really offer any "long term" experiecne. I am only 17 weeks out from surgery. First surgery May 2 with 5cc band, rebanded due to slip on May 5 with VG band. Rebanding is the same surgery as banding. They went back in thru the same incisions.

Still no fill, scheduled for one next week. But I've NEVER pb'd or vomited or had anything get stuck. I don't know if it is the VG band or I pretty careful. Sometimes I eat too much but no vomiting.

Good luck and it makes sense to get several opinions.

[lexi85 0]

hi zoo mama,

yes the surgery seemed the same as far as the incision sites , anesthesia and laproscopic procedure.

i did not have gas, which i thought was strange, but welcoming.

the only difference is with thesurgical infection i developed now 31 days ago, i am still very tired and sleep alot.

i did get septicemia in hospitals twice before and it did take a long time to recover.

i was told cellulitis this time, in the hospital.

then a week ago, i almost fell and torqued and pulled my former port area muscle, trying to prevent the fall, and ended up having to sit and lay very still untill it healed enough to get around and was on prescription anti in flammatories.

yesterday i did go for a short walk. i just can not move my arms much as i walk.

so i am hoping when i have another banding that they do not put it back in the same muscle that has been assualted twice already.

good luck to you,

lexi

[lexi85 0]

hi funny,

yes i think i would prefer the VG.

i am 5'3" and weighed about 212 at the time of surgery( had lost about 13/14 pre-op).

i am now about 195, however most of my weight is in my tummy and i hear that a VG is better for that.

lexi

[seppi 0]

Oh Gosh, I am sorry you have lost your band, even sorrier for all that you had to go through. Scary. I would hate to lose the band but I would certainly have done exactly what you did ( and may be facing it in the near future). Good luck.

[Penni60 45]

Lexi: It sounds like you need to give yourself some time to heal and not do anything anytime soon. Give yourself a break. What happened to you was an aggressive doctor that should have known better. I am so sorry for your troubles.

I lost my band to ERosion and rebanding is something I am discussing with my doctor. I lost mine in Dec of 05 and he wouldn't even consider doing anything for 6 months so I could heal. Take that into consideration. You might want to wait longer since you did have an infection you had to get over.

Take this time to heal and make some decisions.

[patchoulli 0]

I went thru a similar experience in May with removal of my band. I thought I would never get another band again[vomiting or having blood sucked out by an ng tube does that to you], I do however miss the control the band placed on my eating. I was not losing tons of weight, about a pound a week, but I didn't gain and I wasn't starving all the time. I have checked into bypass[terrifying to me], and the only option I have is the band or stay fat forever[i hate that idea]. I was and still am a self pay and have just about finished paying for my removal. If I can swing it, I will be going for another band. If you need to vent[the anger may kick in after you are feeling better], email me......Marian

[leatha_g 4]

Maybe I missed something, but I guess I don't understand why they didn't replace the band at the time of removal?? Mine slipped, they went in to try to reposition and it broke, so they just replaced it with a new one. One surgery is much cheaper and easier on the body than two. Of course, what's done is done, so I'm just wondering why they're making you wait.

[lexi85 0]

hi,

my band surgeon said he wanted the band taken out and the stomach to rest before he installed another one....

lexi