Hi Eveyone -

I am writing on this forum to share my own story, not to disparage the Lap Band because I know many people are successful supporters. At the weight of 263 I had a Lapband placed in 2008, paying out of pocket. At that time GERD was my bigggest CM but I have a sister who was approaching 400 pounds so I was worried. At that time my weight was such that Bypass wasn't really considered and the band was new enough that there weren't too many horror stories and I had high hopes that it would be my answer.

Since that time my lowest weight was 150 (as a result of a huge bleeding fybroid) but has hovered at about 200 pounds - not great, but not terrilbe. I have had spells of success with the band but most of my experience has been unplesant. Pain around the port and on the side of the port (I've been checked for Gallstones multiple times), unable to lose weight then unable to swallow meat, back pain, etc. The port is placed in an area that I can ALWAYS feel when I bend or wear any type of waistband - it's BAD. Recently I have had consistant chest pain which has been ruled out as being cardiac and is likley more GERD.

So, after much thought and discussion with my surgeon I am having it removed and a RNY revision done (one surgery, again self pay, ugh). If I had it to do over again I WOULD NOT have a band placed and I would've had RNY in the first place. There is something about the foreign object nature of the band and port that never felt quite right to me, even when it was working.

If you're considering a band and have doubt please ask folks questions before you do so, make sure you've thought about everything, I wish I had.

Best of luck to everyone in their journeys!

I've been banded since 2009 and have been having problems having no restriction but a small fill causes me to not be able to swallow.... I've gained 35 lbs total but now all of a sudden my upper abdomen ..... Is huge. It's never been before. Has anyone ever heard of this happening in a band erosion or slip ?

Insurance wont even cover my trip to see my band dr and he's 4 hours away

You have to try to find an emergency room ( prefererbly one that performs bariatric surgery ) . Have you recently had any fills ? Do you currently still visit your dr that performed your band surgery ?

If this has happens suddenly, you could have irritated your stomach ... There are so many possibilities of what could be happening .

I hope that you get help soon.

Please update

Hi Norma,

I was just banded 4 months ago, and I'm struggling. But I want to comment on your reflux, since it seems that that is what is keeping you from getting adequate fills. I had terrible night time reflux, aspirated the fluid, and ended up in the hospital with aspiration pneumonia a few weeks ago. I have discovered, however, that I can prevent the reflux by not eating or drinking for 2 hours before bedtime, or before lying down. I make sure I'm sitting, even when I first fall asleep. I also take 2 pepcid before bedtime. I am not in the green zone, and I don't know if this will be adequate to prevent reflux when saline is added. But it has made a huge difference over the past couple of weeks.

Good luck,

Candy

Thank you for your response. It's definitely not due to a fill. I barely have any saline in my band because of how sick I use to get.

I havent seen my Surgeon in about 3 years. I think I will go to the ER today....I just want this thing out of me and to feel normal again. Thanks again.