So, I went for my second fill today and found out that there is a leak in my band! Seriously!?! I've had this thing for less than 3 month and I already have a leak. I am so dissapointed with this whole thing. It has really been one problem after another, it's just sad that this didnt work out. There is no way I am going to go through this again, they will NOT be putting another band in me. I don't know if I'm going to have another wls or just throw my hands up at the whole thing. sighhhh, I have a lot to think about :

Is it the band or the port/line? I hope it is easily fixed for you.

 She isn't sure where its at. I have to go for an xray with the dye injection to find out exactly where.

Thanks :), me too

Wow -- that really stinks.

I am sorry this is happening to you.

 that totally sucks and you have every right to be angry :(

 yeah, it's pretty crappy. This will be the 3rd surgery in 3 months (all band related) since having the band placed. I'll get over it of course, I'm just having a little pitty/pissed off party for myself. I know it could be worse, but it's a pretty sucky situation.

Hi there,

I'll probably get jumped on, but what the heck....I've got my big girl zebra panties on today.  In all honesty if I were you I'd jump at the chance to have the band replaced, especially with problems this early on.

I had the band for 5 years until it slipped and was removed via emergency surgery.  Fighting insurance for a RnY was a brutal but worth every minute.  I'm so much happier with the bypass....healthier, more active, more confident...you name it.  I truly wish that I had never bothered with the band and the problems that came along with it.  At the time it seemed like the logical decision because it was the "least invasive."  WRONG....it took me two surgeries related to the band to figure that out.

Please consider replacement and discuss with your doctor.  Best of luck (and health) with your chosen path!!

 Thank you for sharing your experiance. My insurance does cover bypass as well. I am eeriously considering doing that. I to pick the band because it was "less invasive". Boy was I wrong!

How long have you had your RnY?

l had the surgery on Sept 17, 2012 and don't regret it for a minute.  My labs are perfect and my cholesterol is down from 199 to 144. I take alot of vitamins but then I took them with the band too.  Find them on sale at Walgreens and they aren't expensive.

I was out of work for 2 weeks and recovery was easier than the lap band.  Immediate post op eating schedule was about the same. 

I don't dump and find that I eat healthier than I did with the finicky band.  Breakfast is greek yogurt or egg whites...something I could not tolerate with the band. Many times I couldn't eat until noon.  I've gone to many business functions without worrying about p'bing or looking for a bathroom.

3 surgeries in 3 months is not a good indicator of a happy band life.  Sorry you've had so many problems! Here's to a healthy future!!

 

I agree! Don't give up! How long have you waited to be able to have wls at all? Although I would go with the RNY too.

I have the RNY 2 months and 10 days ago and have lost 50lbs! In addition to that my diabetes was gone immediately. I took my last diabetic pill the day before the surgery...big change for me. I was also recently taken off of my high blood pressure medicine too and all of my labs are looking great!

Come join us on the bypass wagon

 wow, that is incredible! Good for you :)
I wish I would have listened to my surgeon when he said  not to get the band. Oh well, live and learn right :-)
Thanks for the encouragement

LIKE

I to picked the band because I felt it was less invasive. I had it in for 4 years, OMG what a mistake and painful I had it removed Feb. of this year. Medicare does not cover the sleeve but their last meeting on June 27th we will find out if Medicare start approving it, I will have the sleeve other wise onto RNY.... I just wasted 4 years of my life..

 awww I'm sorry for that, that's terrible. I wonder if ther surgeries have as many complications as the band? I'm glad you were able to get the band removed though, it just sucks that you were stuck with it for 4 years :(

Keep me posted on your up coming surgery.

~ I wonder if ther surgeries have as many complications as the band?`

What I would suggest is to post on the OH RNY, DS and VSG forum what you have posted here. You fill find plenty of FORMER bandsters on those forums, and they can give you an honest, accurate comparison of the band complications to complications with those WLS's. I will say this though............I have NEVER heard a former bandster that revised say they wish they had their band back, lol!

Good luck!

OMG! 3 band surgeries in 3 months! You have the worst luck ever! :-( Are you going to have it fixed, or cut your losses and revise???

 I am definitely done with the band. My surgeon wants to fix or replace the band (depending on where the leak is). But there is no way I'm going to give it another chance, this has been a horrible experiance, and I don't want to risk having more surgery in the future. I really want the sleeve but I don't know if my insurance covers it yet, so I'll have to look into it.

 

One word of caution.  Check to see if your insurance has the one surgery per lifetime clause.  Check very careful.  I assumed that I'd be able to be revised at any time after having the band removed.  Wrong! 

There would not have been a problem if I got the bypass at the same time of the band removal.  I was not mentally or physically ready for it after the band ordeal.

Because of 1 surgery clause I had to fight with United Healthcare for 5 months for approval.  Luckily my husband's company overrode UHC's decision for me.

 Yea, I was a bit worried about that to. I'm going to look into it next week. I think what I'll do is wait until I am ready for surgery again and just do it all at once. I figure I can give myself a little time since the band is not causing any major pain, so it's not an emergency.

That is crazy that you had to fight for your surgery the second time. I'm glad it worked out in the end for you :-)