Bye-Bye Band

[DrPleatman 3]

Dr. Pleatman,

Would someone who had virtually lost all they wanted to lose with the band, and needs to have it removed be the kind of candidate for an RNY or VSG you're talking about, or would that be for someone with still a ways to go?

If you'd still do an RNY or VSG on someone at, say, 150lbs, who should ideally be 130 lbs, how would they be prevented from losing too much?

This is a common question. Bariatric operations don't cause you to lose weight; they make you EAT LESS food. If you are at a normal weight and already eat a "normal" amount of food, you won't lose weight. I commonly removed bands for reasons such as slippage or frequent vomiting/band intolerance, and convert to either RNY or VSG. These patients lose a little weight and then just maintain.

Of course I would never do a PRIMARY bariatric operation on someone who only had 20 pounds to lose.

Mark Pleatman MD

Index

[Guest Debbie1956]

Dr Pleatman:

With all this talk of slippage and over-fills do you recommend the bad over RNY or other procedures? I have a BMI of 38 with High Blood pressure and sleep apnea. I am meeting with my Dr on the 11th and haven't decided what type of surgery to request.

Debbie

[*susan* 1,709]

I am finding this all to be very interesting. I haven't posted here in a while because I am feeling so negative about my band. I started having problems in January, had a complete unfill, got refilled in March, had problems again and a complete unfill in April. In May I had a fill done under flouro and everything looked fine. That was my last official appointment that was covered under my one year of everything being covered and I haven't been back since, even though my problems from January continue.

I cannot eat any food in the morning. I can't even drink liquids before 11:00 a.m. For some reason, I have learned my only hope of being able to swallow food is if I literally drink something that is scalding hot first. I don't like coffee, so before I eat, I have to have a scalding hot cup of hot chocolate. If I don't, I take one bite of food and it immediately gets stuck and I can't eat anything else. I can sometimes eat lunch. Usually, I am able to eat dinner as long as I have the hot drink first. Under no circumstances have I been able to eat if I skip the drink. And, during the week of my period, forget it, I live on liquids because not even the hot drink will loosen me up enough to get food down.

You would think with all these problems, I would be losing a ton of weight. Nope, I have been playing with losing and gaining the same 5 pounds for 3 months now. I want the band out in the worst way, but I don't want to gain back the 60 pounds I have lost, but I still have so far to go! I am so disenheartened with this whole situation. I should probably see my doctor, but my finances right now won't allow it.

Ugh, what have I done to myself?

[WildCat Mom 1]

Jules,

IS this a common problem? I sure hope not as I just got banded a week ago. Scary. Glad you are better.

[WildCat Mom 1]

Bill,

I just had my band surgery in Pasadena TX at Bayshore medical center. Did you have any complications? Do you have any regrets? My husband had his operation in June and has lost a total of 30 lbs.

[WildCat Mom 1]

I'll be honest and the stories here, especially being on life support, scares me and I wish I never had this put in.

? Have you been on life support due to this surgery? Now I am scared.

[WildCat Mom 1]

Dr Pleatman-

My original band slipped and my surgeon went in and replaced it with a new band and re-positioned it on my stomach and I am doing much better this time around.

Shleb,

How did you know your band had slipped that soon? What were your symptoms?

[Cindy140Smith 0]

Hello. My name is Cindy. I was banded by Dr. Rodriguez in Mexico in 2003. I had to have my band removed (infection) in 2005. I was re-banded 6 months later. That was 2 yrs ago. Now, I seem to have erosion. I am going to have to have my second band removed this month. I am going back to Mexico. I have chosen to have the vertical sleeve gastrectomy done. I cannot imagine ever being fat again. I gained 30 pounds in the 6 months that I was without my band and I worked out 4 days a week to try NOT to gain weight!!! I have researched the vertical sleeve and I believe that is the way I will go.

[juliegeraci 7]

Cindy, good luck with your sleeve. Sorry to hear about your current erosion.

[Cindy140Smith 0]

By the way, Even though I had my band removed, was re-banded and will have it removed a second time.....I am still glad I had it done! I lost all of my weight and I am a different person now and I love who I am now. Yes, it was a lot of trouble and expense, but I would not have lost it otherwise. That is why I will have the vertical sleeve done. I don't want to be fat ever again!

The problems were not the fault of my doctor or me. It was just not meant to be.

[Cindy140Smith 0]

Thanks Julie!! It'll be okay! It's all good!! I'm thin and it's only money!!! LOL!

[Cindy140Smith 0]

Has anyone here had vertical sleeve gastrectomy? Anyone want to share their experience with me? It would be greatly appreciated!

[Terryminator 0]

My band was removed Saturday as an emergency. Problem is that I am having problems eating anything more than Soup.

I am getting a lot of pain in my stomach. Did you have that problem?

Terry In Florida:help:

[Terryminator 0]

Be so careful, because I had the same problems and my band had slipped! I started vomiting blood and that was how they found out.

Terry in Florida

[catzintj 1]

what happens to your stomach when you get erosion. does it heal and the erosion goes away. or is erosion permenant??? i would think that scare tissue would form and it would heal after a while. what do the docs tell you about that? sorry you had to suffer and all the money you had to spend........