Problems with my Lap Band

I had the lap band surgery in August 2009 and have had nothing but problems.  Food no matter how much I chew keeps getting stuck, and I vomit a lot.  I did lose some weight but honestly to me it is not worth going through.  Second, I had experienced a lot of pain in my left shoulder for a long time before that went away.  I have trouble with the port causing pain and discomfort at time.  Then, last July my regular doctor ran yearly lab work and my iron was very anemic, even though I was taking iron.  I had to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy to make sure I was not bleeding anywhere, had a hysterectomy the year before so that was ruled out, the doctor performing the endoscopy could not get passed my lap band to inspect the stomach even though all the liquid had been removed.  In August, I was so anemic (5) that I had a choice of getting blood transfusions or iron infusions (by I.V.) I chose the infusions.  I ended up getting 5 during August just to get my levels of iron up enough.  The infusions are long, 2-3 hours for one, and I had very bad allergic reactions.  I have been having my iron tested monthly and it is dropping 1 pt a month even though taking iron.  The last straw was I have been throwing up for 2 weeks so I got in with my doctor yesterday and he removed what little fluid I had left in my lap band.  My doctor mentioned to me to really start thinking about possibly having it removed.  The more I think about it, I am ready to have it removed, however, I can't find any information on what it entails and how long the hospital stay is, and how long to recover.  I think due to all the health problems I am experiencing, I will need to have it removed.  My doctor ordered an upper GI and then we will discuss.  Does anyone have any information for me on what to expect if I do have it removed?  I actually have found a diet that is really working for me for the first time.  It is expensive, but very healthy, easy and it is the first diet to work for me so I am not concerned to have the lap band removed.  Also, does anyone know if my barbaric doctor will do the surgery or do I need a specialist?  I guess I should have most of these questions answered by my doctor, which I will after the Upper GI is completed he wants to see me, but I am curious if anyone else has had all these problems.  Thanks in advance for any info you might have.

A bariatric surgeon should be able to remove it.  I think it is often an outpatient surgery but you may need to stay overnight, especially if there are any complications.  Sometimes the band has eroded stomach tissue or stomach tissue has grown around the band and it can be difficult to remove it.

Bands are normally removed by a bariatric surgeon and the length and complexity of the op depends entirely on what s/he finds during surgery. It can be relatively straightforward, there can be scar tissue making it harder, in rare cases, and this is not to frighten you as this is much uncommon and does not fit your symptoms, the bnd can have eroded into the tissue of the stomach.

But with your list of problems, removal should be the obvious step. I am surprised your bariatric team have not already suggested this. Over four years is a very long time to live with a faulty surgery,

Best wishes. 

thanks for your ideas and comments.  Friday was the first day the doctor mentioned it and he doesn't even know about my anemia, as I seem to always be rushed out of there.  I saw a blood specialist for the anemia and he as well as my gastrointestinal specialist feel this is causing more harm than good.  I have been on a high protein diet that all the food is prepared and measured for you and I am doing quite well on it, so I am not scared to removed the band and gain a bunch of weight.  I think I was doing worse with the band due to not being able to eat salads/veggies always threw them up and would grab (I know not good) milkshakes just so I could get something down.  Thanks again, this forum is amazing, wish I would have found it years ago.

I had mine removed when I was already in the hospital for something else so I stayed several days after the initial surgery. As far as how I felt, I could have gone home the day of surgery or the day after, I felt much better once the band was gone tho. I still have problems swallowing and don't know if that is band related or something else but I siuspect the band started it. Waiting to get into the gastro to find out. The band can cause serious and life long damage so get it out as soon as possible is my motto! I tried to wait for insurance to cover it but alas insurance still won't cover it and I may have done more harm than good in waiting so don't wait just get it out however you have to.

Some of these forums may give you some assistance:

LAP-BAND Forum

Weight Loss Surgery Complications Forum

Weight Loss Surgery Regrets

Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forum

There used to be a forum dedicated to Lap Band Problems, but it's not part of the new format anymore.  You're definitely not the only one to have problems with the Lap Band, though.  

I wonder why they removed it? My knee-jerk reaction is that the lapband gets a bad enough wrap without an entire forum of problems LOL and that maybe the manufacturer bought them off lol. People KNOW very well the possible complications of RNY but everyone tries to act like lapband is so safe, hunky dory and with low long-term risks. The "safest" surgery. Right.

I had a lot of the same problems with my band that you are having.

I had it removed finally on May 2nd and revised to RNY.  On May 4th I noticed that my stomach, after major surgery felt better than it had in years.  That's kind of sad isn't it?  That after having myself cut open, stomach probably twisted and pulled, and then cut into quite a bit it felt better?

It's been just over 7 days now and my only regret is not doing this earlier.

I would start the removal investigation but you may also want to consider at least some research into revising to another surgery.  Many people go from Band to Sleeve, RNY and some even go to DS.  For me, I had GERD with significant reflux and my Dr said that the sleeve would not be a good option since I was already having GERD issues, and based on the look of the band's placement on my Upper GI results (it had slipped) he said he was concerned about scar tissue interfering with where the staples need to go for the sleeve. He said it wasn't out of the question but it was something he wouldn't feel confident deciding until he actually saw my stomach's condition in the OR.  I didn't like not knowing what surgery I'd wake up with.

I was pretty set on the RNY anyways since I knew my insurance wouldn't cover the sleeve and I had done research while I was waiting to get it fixed. So we went that route.

I was lucky though once in the OR there was no additional scar tissue or erosion at all.  Which was one of my concerns as if there's erosion most surgeons won't revise to anything, they prefer to let the stomach heal for a few months. So I could have had the sleeve if I wanted it but the risk of my GERD and reflux not being cured wasn't an option for me.

i am hearing insurance won't pay for it, but I would think with the health problems I am having they would approve it.  Did you have to stay in the hospital long?  Also, my surgeon sewed my band with my stomach around it so it would be less likely to move, so I am a little nervous about him having to cut my stomach to even get to the lap band. 

Mine was also sewed around my stomach, it's common to do this.

It really depends on your particular policy as each can vary.  For example, both my mother and father had weight loss surgery with Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Texas but they wouldn't cover my revision or even an initial surgery as my employer had a policy that included an exemption for weight loss surgery and weight loss surgery related surgeries.

I attempted to see if they would since I had documented medical needs for at least the removal but it was denied.