My story with the Lap band

[moosemama 0]

In November 2005 I weighed 250 pounds at 5 1/2 feet tall. I had four children and needed to be healthy to raise them. I looked into surgery but my husband didn't want me to get bypass as he felt it was not reversible. I researched lap band and really liked that it could be adjusted when needed and even removed if need be. On November 13th I flew to San Diego and took a shuttle to Mexico. I got the lap band and immediately starting to see results. A year later I had lost 104 pounds and my life was totally different.'t Then I started to have major chest pain and coulden't eat anything. I knew something was wrong but didn't want to lose my band so tried to ignore the problem. Finally the pain got so bad that I went in for a xray. I was informed that my band was in my stomach. Not good news at all. I tried to contact my surgeon and was given the run around. They weren't going to help me. I was in a panic because I knew this could be potenally fatal. I emailed around and finally found Dr. Valencia at obseityfreenow.com who specializes in revision surgery. He told me to fly down and get an endoscopie so he could see if he could even help me. I had the procedure and found out that is was pretty bad the band was only half way inside my stomach and the other half was being folded into the outside of my stomach. I was very upset because by then I weighed 135 for a total of 115 pounds lost. The next day I was in surgery getting it removed. Dr. Valencia told me it would be a 2 1/2 hour surgery but do to unforseen problems it took 4 1/2 hours. I had some complications afterwards and ended up in a hospital for 10 days total. Afterwards I was severely depressed and so ate. I could all the sudden eat bread, steak, french fries, etc and so I did and quickly gained 60 pounds back. I called Dr. Valencia who had been checking up with me all this time. I never had this with my old surgeon so it was nice to have the follow up care the Dr. Valencia gave to me. Dr. Valencia said it was obvious I needed help to keep weight off and because of all my previous problems he was going to do a bypass for me at no charge. I coulden't believe he would do that and so I flew down and got it done. I thought it would be like the band afterwards but it wasen't. With the band I was full quickly and if I ate more then I should it immediately came back up. Also anything I ate that I shoulden't such as bread and steak came up with the sticky slimely snot stuff. With the bypass I don't do this. I don't know is because I had the band and now it is three years later or what but I have not lost any weight with the bypass and I really miss my band. I would highly recommend the band and I would highly reccomend Dr. Valencia who does surgery in Mexico for 1/2 to 3/4 the cost of in America.

[gg2007BandSTAR 0]

Hey!

Sorry to read about the complications that you had with the band...but i was wondering how the band got into the stomach because it is fitted on the outside:huh2:. Did your doctor who removed it say how it might if been caused? eg being misplaced incorrectly by the orginal surgeon who fitted it? How did you find eating after gastric bypass?....hope there were no complications.

I think you still have a good attitude because alot of people with whom somthing has gone wrong with the band are the first to condem it, but as you said you found it a great tool and would still reccommend it. I wish you all the best on your journey and thanks for sharing your story xx>

In November 2005 I weighed 250 pounds at 5 1/2 feet tall. I had four children and needed to be healthy to raise them. I looked into surgery but my husband didn't want me to get bypass as he felt it was not reversible. I researched lap band and really liked that it could be adjusted when needed and even removed if need be. On November 13th I flew to San Diego and took a shuttle to Mexico. I got the lap band and immediately starting to see results. A year later I had lost 104 pounds and my life was totally different.'t Then I started to have major chest pain and coulden't eat anything. I knew something was wrong but didn't want to lose my band so tried to ignore the problem. Finally the pain got so bad that I went in for a xray. I was informed that my band was in my stomach. Not good news at all. I tried to contact my surgeon and was given the run around. They weren't going to help me. I was in a panic because I knew this could be potenally fatal. I emailed around and finally found Dr. Valencia at obseityfreenow.com who specializes in revision surgery. He told me to fly down and get an endoscopie so he could see if he could even help me. I had the procedure and found out that is was pretty bad the band was only half way inside my stomach and the other half was being folded into the outside of my stomach. I was very upset because by then I weighed 135 for a total of 115 pounds lost. The next day I was in surgery getting it removed. Dr. Valencia told me it would be a 2 1/2 hour surgery but do to unforseen problems it took 4 1/2 hours. I had some complications afterwards and ended up in a hospital for 10 days total. Afterwards I was severely depressed and so ate. I could all the sudden eat bread, steak, french fries, etc and so I did and quickly gained 60 pounds back. I called Dr. Valencia who had been checking up with me all this time. I never had this with my old surgeon so it was nice to have the follow up care the Dr. Valencia gave to me. Dr. Valencia said it was obvious I needed help to keep weight off and because of all my previous problems he was going to do a bypass for me at no charge. I coulden't believe he would do that and so I flew down and got it done. I thought it would be like the band afterwards but it wasen't. With the band I was full quickly and if I ate more then I should it immediately came back up. Also anything I ate that I shoulden't such as bread and steak came up with the sticky slimely snot stuff. With the bypass I don't do this. I don't know is because I had the band and now it is three years later or what but I have not lost any weight with the bypass and I really miss my band. I would highly recommend the band and I would highly reccomend Dr. Valencia who does surgery in Mexico for 1/2 to 3/4 the cost of in America.

[tonya66 13]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[moosemama 0]

Hi.

Dr. Valencia who removed it said that the band eroded into the stomach. Like my stomach ate the band. Very rare. I have a feeling since the orginal surgeon fixed my port and then put the same port back in instead of a new sterile one that the infection found on my port and tubing when removed probably also had something to do with it.

[gg2007BandSTAR 0]

gosh, you must of been in such pain. But the main thing is you are safe and well now.

Did you find it easier to loose weight with the band or bypass? x

[moosemama 0]

I haven't lost any weight with the bypass so I would have to say with the band. However at my bypass support group they told me that I should have some restriction which I don't. I did with the band and also could get it filled or unfilled as needed. Although my friend had bypass and can eat only small amounts like I did at first with the band and as lost 114 pounds. I guess it is what you do with your tool that makes you a sucess or not. Not what surgery you get.

[gg2007BandSTAR 0]

That is very true! ultimately its still up to you to loose the weight, there's two options.

1. Work with the band: loose weigh:thumbup:

2. work against it: put on even more weight:thumbdown:

i know what i will be choosing

Wish you all the best hun ((((hugz)))

I guess it is what you do with your tool that makes you a sucess or not. Not what surgery you get.

[mss 1]

Wow it sounds like you have had a really diffiicult time. I hope life with the bypass is a more positive experience for you.

[moosemama 0]

Thank you everyone for your support and words of encourgement.

[JJB 2]

Wow! I am so sorry for all that you have been through. I pray that I never have to lose my band. I have had really bad shoulder pain since day one. That was over 2 years ago. But I still do not want to go back to my original weight. I know that I would also go right back to eating like I did before. I wish you all the best and thanks for sharing.

[juliegeraci 7]

Sorry to hear you lost your band. I hope you can lose weight on your bypass.

[moosemama 0]

Don't forget to get your band checked once a year to make sure it is ok. I was told if I had kept waiting out the pain I would have been dead in two months. I wish I hadn't lost my band but my life is more important. I sure miss the band and the bypass is much harder. Good luck everyone on your journey and I really appreciate all your kind words.