repair or removal?

[MorrieKins 4]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, but looking for some help now!

Brief history: Lap Band surgery in 2006

Lost 100 lbs and have been struggling to maintain it.

Have had complications (leaking band, infection, etc) and am on my 3rd band.

Now another complication, my tube has disconnected from the band.

My options are: complete removal of the band, OR reconnection of the tubing.

After the last surgery in July 2010, I went into a deep depression and did not get my band refilled.

I just couldn't face the deprivation and the daily struggles any more (this was MY experience living with the band).

My lapband surgeon and clinic are of no help and neither is my family dr.

I want the band out but fear of weight regain makes me want to keep it for insurance i.e. if my weight starts climbing up I can always revert back to using the band to lower it back down again. I seem to continuously put on 10-15 lbs, and then work like mad to get it back off again, and this seems to be getting more and more challenging. Currently, I weigh 210 lbs, 100 less than my starting weight.

Anyone have any thoughts, advice, experience, ideas?

I would be very grateful if you shared them with me.

Marg.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Did the tube disconnect at the band, the port or is it in between? Any idea why this happened? If you can have it revised I'd go for that? Seems like a small incision and scope to reconnect the tube would be easy?

[terrydumont46 1,954]

i don't think you would have started this topic unless you wanted to start over. 210 pounds is still over weight. my vote. get the band replaced and start the program all over again. start getting fills, and correct your diet. and come back here and let us know how you are doing. good luck as you make this decision for yourself. but i think you already know what you want to do.

[Jim1967 3,569]

I have no personal experience to go of off here but if it were me and I had the insurance coverage I would find a new Doctor one with a deep support staff and I would discuss possibly revising the the Sleeve. I understand the Sleeve can have its own group of complications but after 3 bands I would consider other options. Again, if it were me.

Good Luck!

[JACKIEO85 308]

sorry double post can't remove this mess

Edited January 30, 2014 by JACKIEO85

[JACKIEO85 308]

I'd have to agree with Jim1967 that odds aren't in your favor in regards to band replacement as you fully aware and the studies aren't great either:( Have you researched other WLS' ? vertical gastric sleeve, RNY, DS? Get somone like jim said that is a True Revision Surgeon that you can discuss the options. PLEASE decide what YOU think is BESY FOR YOU!! NOT the surgery that your Surgeon does. I hear too often that ppl allow their surgeon to decide their surgery. Problem is YOU live with it NOT them.

Best OF Luck!!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17593435

Edited January 30, 2014 by JACKIEO85

[lisacaron 5,075]

Perhaps discussing with your surgeon, different surgery types that might be available for revision if you are really not happy with the band and think that you won't be compliant with a replacement.

Either way just leaving it there especially if it is not working or disconnected can't be a good thing, so follow up with your surgeon or find one that has more extensive support and see what options are out there. Don't just let it sit.

[MorrieKins 4]

It disconnected from the port. I have been having pain, mostly along my right rib, for weeks. I am considering the replacement just because it will be a less serious surgery. I have heard of complications of band removal because of scar tissue and that's scary.

Did the tube disconnect at the band, the port or is it in between? Any idea why this happened? If you can have it revised I'd go for that? Seems like a small incision and scope to reconnect the tube would be easy?

[Toddy 758]

First thing I'd do is find a new surgeon. There is no reason to stick with a surgeon that is not supportive. Second thing I'd do is look into revising to the sleeve.

[MorrieKins 4]

I have considered it but I'm in Canada and the procedure is not available in my area at all. I would need to self pay and I would need to go to the states. I would have to have the band removed here (free) first. I haven't researched much about the sleeve yet.

I have no personal experience to go of off here but if it were me and I had the insurance coverage I would find a new Doctor one with a deep support staff and I would discuss possibly revising the the Sleeve. I understand the Sleeve can have its own group of complications but after 3 bands I would consider other options. Again, if it were me.

Good Luck!

[2muchfun 8,927]

I'd have to agree with Jim1967 that odds aren't in your favor in regards to band replacement as you fully aware and the studies aren't great either:( Have you researched other WLS' ? vertical gastric sleeve, RNY, DS? Get somone like jim said that is a True Revision Surgeon that you can discuss the options. PLEASE decide what YOU think is BESY FOR YOU!! NOT the surgery that your Surgeon does. I hear too often that ppl allow their surgeon to decide their surgery. Problem is YOU live with it NOT them.

Best OF Luck!!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17593435

Why do you continue to post this old study of 74 patients operated on 15 years ago using flawed bands and evolving surgical techniques? You know very well that the product and surgical techniques have changed and newer studies show a 12% re-op rate compared to 9% for the sleeve. The slightly higher rate(3%) can easily be attributed to the fact that band patients can have their bands revised and it is so much harder or impossible if you're sleeved.

I urge you to discontinue using misleading studies. You're harming your own credibility and scaring patients who are researching WLS options with these unreliable studies.

tmf

[MorrieKins 4]

Yes, I agree. The odds have not been in my favor for the band! My surgeon agrees that none of the complications were my fault but it's very tiring going through this so often. I do think I would consider the sleeve if it were more available to me. Unfortunately it would be self pay, and my original band surgery was self pay too. I wonder if I should have it removed and then if my weight starts to climb I may have the money for the sleeve.

I cannot find any information on what happens if you just leave the band/port etc in there without getting fills? Does anyone know if it can cause problems or complications like that?

I'd have to agree with Jim1967 that odds aren't in your favor in regards to band replacement as you fully aware and the studies aren't great either:( Have you researched other WLS' ? vertical gastric sleeve, RNY, DS? Get somone like jim said that is a True Revision Surgeon that you can discuss the options. PLEASE decide what YOU think is BESY FOR YOU!! NOT the surgery that your Surgeon does. I hear too often that ppl allow their surgeon to decide their surgery. Problem is YOU live with it NOT them.

Best OF Luck!!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17593435

[MorrieKins 4]

That's exactly what I was wondering...if it would be a problem to have it repaired but not use it? Could it still cause erosion? Would it build more scar tissue to make removal even more difficult down the road? I can't seem to find information on this.

Perhaps discussing with your surgeon, different surgery types that might be available for revision if you are really not happy with the band and think that you won't be compliant with a replacement.

Either way just leaving it there especially if it is not working or disconnected can't be a good thing, so follow up with your surgeon or find one that has more extensive support and see what options are out there. Don't just let it sit.

[mrsto 2,925]

Whatever direction you choose, it all boils down to compliance. It doesn't matter which surgery.

I understand how miserable you feel, and the fear of me going against my surgery & gaining back weight, is a quiet fear that sits in the back of my mind. When I go off on a mindless eating spree, that fear comes right to the front and freaks me out. None of these surgeries are a magic wand. But (as you already know), if we're compliant 85% of the time, we're successful.

I wish you all the best with whatever decision you make. This disease we all share, is relentless.

Edited January 30, 2014 by mrsto

[mrsto 2,925]

Here is another thought..... I don't know if they do this in Canada, but have you considered gastric plication? I had it done with my band, and it's supposed to dramatically reduce many band (alone) complications. I have not had any issues, but it's still early for me. At least with plication, they do not remove and staple 75% of your stomach. They fold it in on itself, and suture with two rows of non-disolving stitches. Basically, the size and shape of the stomach is that of the sleeve, without the permanence of removal.