having band removed

I have lost 90 lbs since my lapband 5/05; I had hiatal hernia repair prior to surgery for reflux; after band surgery,lung collapsed and in ICU 9days! Terrible ordeal; great results with band and no other problems until about 6mos ago; severe GE reflux returned; scoped and all looked okay; cant eat but small amts of liquid at a time and very little solids; dr thinks it's just severe reflux-nothing wrong with the band (no slip or erosion); only choice is to take off the band and perform a fundal plication (nissen) procedure to wrap stomach around esophagus to tighten the area where the valve is that joins esophagus with stomach; if he can safely do it,will put on another band; I dont see how he can if the top part of my stomach is wrapped around the esophagus; I'm so miserable with the reflux -sleep sitting upright in recliner, eat like a bird, etc. that I'm ready to do this. I am so scared I'll get rid of reflux,feel better than ever, and start eating more than ever!!! I hope I have changed my eating habits and wont revert to my "old ways". I'm so scared! I want to feel better though! I'm also facing a surgery right afterwards for torn rotator cuff-PT will be grueling and be a year before I can have full function of my arm. I'm really getting depressed about all of this! Thanks for listening!

KB, I wish you well with the surgeries. Sorry the band has to be taken off but hopefully the doctor will be able to do the procedure to fix the reflux and reband you. If you look at the diagram of the fundoplication... you can see the bulk of the stomach is "normal" and could certain have room for a band, no? Check out this diagram. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissen_fundoplication Good luck with yur shoulder. Sorry to hear about the rotator cuff. I know that can be a tough recovery. Believe me, I know how hard it is to have surgeries back to back to back to back. I've had 9 in just over 2 years (only one was WLS/related). It does take a toll on you. But hopefully once your stomach is repaired and your shoulder is repaired you'll have smooth sailing from thereout. Best wishes, K

I also had the same problem,however I didn't have my band removed my doctor empty it for 6 weeks and problem went away. He is slowly refilling it.No new problem as of yet. My surgery date was 5/20/05 Maybe that would be a option for you Lisa