Any Faulty Realize Bands Out There?

[thetig 1]

Hi There, I am trying really hard to get some information on problems with realize bands. I was banded 3-26-09 with no problems. Had the first two fills with no problems and also not much restriction which is normal. I went for the third fill at two months out and found that I had a to have my port revised. No problem, went and had that surgery done 6-19-09, I waited a few weeks then went for my fill and low and behold the Doctor was not able to get the saline to draw out meaning I must have a faulty band because it is not giving me any kind of restriction. Okay, now I will be having my entire band replaced this next Friday. This now will make three surgeries in not quite four months and the bills are getting up there. I would like to take action with the Johnson and Johnson company that make the Realize band in that I would like them to pick up my out of pocket extra costs. Has anyone ever had this happen to them and what course of action did you take. Thanks for any comments or help that you can give! I feel like I should have a zipper put in my tummy! :-) I am loosing weight! Yeah!

[missboo333 0]

The only problem I have had is that the metal hooks from the port were painful. In March, my surgeon decided to move my port, disconnect the hooks, and suture it in place. That solved the problem!

Sorry you are having problems!! Good luck in your search!

[jennibells 0]

I was re-banded on 3/17/09 because my band slipped and they put in the new realize band. I had 5 CC's in the band with no restriction, went back and had 2 CC's put in and couldn't swallow. They took out 1 CCC. I went back a month later because it was still too tight, the brought it down to 4 CC's which was OK, less restriction. I went back in 2 weeks later because I was having terrible idigestion, he tried to take all the Fluid out and could only get 2 CC's out. I went home and was back a week later because the indigestion did not go away and I developed acid reflux, did the swallow test and found my band had slipped again. I had it taken out last Friday. I told him not to put another one back in because I cannot keep having surgery over and over. The band slipped this time for no reason, I was not throwing up, not pbing, I did not push it. I do not know what went wrong.

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

Sorry you've had to go through that! I have the Lap Band AP and my doctor specifically told me that he stitches the bands in to anchor them to prevent slipping. Hopefully, I'll never experience any slippage! Could you have revised to a VSG? I don't know much about that, but I have read on here there people have done that and are happy with the choice.

[jennibells 0]

My doctor also stitches the bands in to anchor them to prevent slipping. The first band was an AP and I got very sick and threw up for several days and that is why it slipped. This second one was a Realize band, also stitched in place to prevent slipping and it slipped for no reason. Doctor does not know why it happened other than after re-banding you have a higher chance of slipping again.

My insurance does not cover a VSG and I dont know that I want to get hte gastric bypass as I really only have 40 lbs left to loose. I guess it depends on when and if I gain the weight back. Hopefully I will not.

[Mariposita78 1]

I got my realize band in dec 12th 08... I have dropped almost 50 lbs no problems ... at all. God bless you on your journey.

[ArmyWife 0]

I was banded on April 15th 2009 with no saline in the port b/c the doctor (and Allergan) said that when you first get the Realize band, they don't put saline in it. Well...this band has been an absolute NIGHTMARE for me. I haven't been able to eat any solid foods since the 5th week after my surgery and that was only for about 2 weeks. I did exactly as they told me to do, chewed slowly, ate small and no snacking, but still I was upchucking, dry heaving, had really bad stomach pains and developed acid reflux. I am telling you I was miserable, I was spitting up this thick muscousy substance, and sometimes liquids wouldn't even go down. My hair was falling out REALLY bad b/c a Protein shae was sometimes too thick for me to drink. I've been so weak sometimes I couldn't even stand up. I have been in and out of the doctor's office, he tried to take saline out, but then realized that there was none in there and finally after all of my symptoms and dramatic weight loss (About 20 pounds per month) the surgeon decided to take the band out which was really my ONLY option to stop this misery I've been living in. It's been hellacious, I am telling you. My surgery for the band removal was set for 9/16...I find out the day before that I am pregnant. So AT FIRST the surgeon says he will not do the surgery, b/c he doesn't want to hurt the embryo (I am 7 weeks), then he calls me back and says that b/c I am a "special case" he wants the opinion from the OB first and will decide then. So now I am still unable to eat food, with all the same symptoms listed above, and am pregnant and really worried about the health of my child (this is my 1st pregnancy). If I am not getting nourishment, how can it? So that's where I am now. I can only drink about 2-3oz of Water (or liquid) and it lasts me virtually all day. I don't really get hungry again until maybe late at night then I drink again. I am surviving off of Vitamins right now. It hurts for the liquid to move down and I am just always crying and now depressed b/c of this band. I have successfully lost over 100 pounds, but in about 6 months... you can tell it's due to starvation--not how I wanted to lose weight at all. So weight loss wise, it's been a success, but I wouldn't recommend this surgery to my worse enemy, truth be told. If I could go back again, I'd rather just be 300+ pounds again b/c this is ridiculous. I know that sounds crazy to some, but it's true for me, I felt a lot healthier at that weight than I do now...and I could eat! :smile2:

[crystalglass_33 0]

I feel ya. I would rather be big then deal w/ this crap one more day. I haven't felt "normal" in about 5 months. I constantly feel like I'm going to throw up or that I have to go to the bathroom. My nerves are shot and now I've developed panic attacks due to the stomach problems this has caused. I want it out, like yesterday.... It has been a horrible year.... and I'm just done.

[WorkingMom 0]

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear the many stories of 'faulty' banding, realize or otherwise. It definately sounds miserable for you all who have had these issues.

I am one of the fortunate ones, and have had only good experiences so far. I was banded in Jan 09 and have lost just about 70 lbs . I eat and drink almost anything, but just not a lot.

If I experienced what the others have, I would want it out too.

[DEANNKUSKE 0]

I am worried I just got the realize band Sept 16th 2009. I have lost 17 pounds including pre-op in 4 weeks. I notice it seems like everyone mainly has the lapband. The Dr asked me to chose but I left it up to him because he said there was not much difference between the 2 I hope I didn't make a mistake.

[pennreporter 12]

Don't worry, Deann...if you read enough on here, both bands can have some negatives. I was banded 6/1/09 ...no problems so far. My daughter was banded 2/08 with Lap-Band...I really can't see any difference between the two of us...we both can PB just about as much...lol.

The Realize band is larger of course than the smaller Lap-Band, so where my daughter is pretty tight at 6cc, mine is at 7cc.

So don't let yourself get crazy over which one you should have done. In the end, they both do the same thing. And if you have confidence in your surgeon, and he didn't discourage either one, then that's all you can go on. There are people that are just going to be prone to problems, no matter which band they get. And truly you can make yourself crazy reading everything on this site.

Hang in there, life will be great when you get to the right level of fill.

Trisha

[CASSIEME1 1]

I got my realize band in dec 12th 08... I have dropped almost 50 lbs no problems ... at all. God bless you on your journey.

i got my band 12/23/08 and have lost 49 lbs.a slow wt loser i have 50lbs to go:wub:

[JillyPoo 0]

I have the realize band and haven't had any problems with it. I was banded over a year ago and have lost 70lbs. I chose the realize band because it's port was a little wider and lower. I had less than 100lbs to lose and my doctor thought I would be happier with the lower port. For the most part I believe they are the same. Good luck in your journey :thumbup:

[Preciousjewel 0]

I was banded 10/1/08 and was sick from the moment I woke up from surgery. I was never able to burp and the gas pains were awful. I was hospitalized 10 days and 10 lbs. later suffering from dehydration, malnutrition and I could barely walk. I was lucky if I could get an Ensure down within 24 hours. I was never able to eat food and liquids took forever to digest. I was hospitalized 4 times before December 17, 2008 and I had lost 42 lbs. I went into the hospital to get the band repositioned but when the surgeon clipped stitch pus was everywhere which changed the direction of the operation and the band was removed. When I woke up I had tubes everywhere and stayed in the hospital for 5 days. I don't know what went wrong but I was very unhappy that after all of the wait and preparations the band made me sick. I am still suffering from the effects of the band and of course my weight has come back. If my insurance will approve I am considering re-banding with another surgeon performing the operation.:smile2:

[JillyPoo 0]

Precious~

Oh my that is scary!!! I am so sorry that you had to experience that and it definitely sounds like the surgeon more than the band itself.

I think that there are a lot more Realize bandsters out there than you think... We all just generalize it into the "LapBand". I LOVE my band!:smile2: Good luck to you in which ever one you choose.