Slipped Lap Band

Sorry -- I am confused.

Have you been diagnosed with a slipped band?  or have you just stopped losing weight?

A slippage means that the stomach has migrated up above the band --- does not usually mean that they have to reposition the band ---- they need to allow the stomach to migrate back down (as others have said, by removing the fluid in your band and letting your stomach rest).

If your doctor will not unfill you, and will not re-position your band, what exactly does your doctor plan to do?

Are you sick from this?

Thanks for your interest and comments. I do have a slipped band, 3 yrs post op. confirmed with tests. He prefers not to remove the fluid, and he refuses to reposition it. Therefore, I have started gaining weight again. He stated that because I lost 80lbs. and did so well, that I can maintain my weight on my own,,,,,but it's been very difficult. I loved my restrictive band!!! That was the point of having the surgery. I never had any  side effects whatsoever. He said it is or was a great tool, which I totally agree about, but I still need that tool! He said other surgeons would do revisions but he refuses. I really do like my first surgeon who did the Lap Band, and I do have respect for his comments,.... But, I have aging parent issues that have been overwhelming and that leads me to what I am: a stress eater!!  With difficulty watching portion control. Portion control was the very best part of my Lap Band....,I ate well and proper foods,,,, it was wonderful. I am sad now esp. since the weight gain. I want some sort of revision, a.k.a. second opinion.  I am being referred to Dr. Fisher in Cinci.  Would appreciate any add'l comments or feedback!!!! Thanking all of you in advance.

Well, personally I would go and see the other doctor.

I would ask that he unfill the band for a set period of time (4 - 6 weeks or so) and perhaps prescribe you a steroid that will reduce swelling and see if the slippage will resolve itself.  Then, set a protocol for re-filling the band -- slowly and steadily over a period of time.

If that does not work, you can go forward from there -- perhaps a revision is in order, but I would not automatically jump to surgery until I had some something that is non-invasive.

Best of luck to you --- I think that your original surgeon is being unreasonable (and a total jerk) and clearly does not understand the obese and formerly obese population.

If we could do it alone, they would un-fill everyone's bands when we get to goal and let us fend for ourselves.   I don't think it is that simple.

We have a nurse-practitioner here in town who believes that --- that we should have learned during our weight loss phase how to eat -- and when you get to goal, you should have your band unfilled ----- personally, I think that he is nuts -- and you could not get the fluid out of my band voluntarily unless you had a gun to my head!

So sorry you are going through this. I find this very frightening. What causes the band to slip after 2 or 3 years???? What causes erosion???

Hi,

My band slipped according to the gastoentrologist but the surgeon admitted he placed the band to low, but not enough to repostion it. Instead they repostioned the port because I was in excruciating pain. My band has not worked as well as I would have liked. It has only been 7 months and have only lost 20-21 pounds.

Definutley get a second opinion!

I had my lap band surgery 7/9/9.  lost most of  my weight prior to surgery.  found out in november 2010 that my band had slipped.  Unfortunately, my doctor said that my band was in a position that made it impossible for him to rep-position it without damaging the tool itself.  unfilling the band and having the band "reposition itself" was not going to happen in my case.  my only option was removal of the band.  i had the bad removed on 2/11/11.
my insurance is "one surgery per lifetime."  so I am on my own from here on out.

good luck to you!

i had mine out 12/10 and have been doing really well with weight loss/maintenance.  private message me if you want to know what i am doing.  i am loving life without the band...and i was really happy with the band (i am not a band basher, i just want people to know that there is life post band).

Dee I am so sorry !  amd in the same spot execpt my insurance did not pay the first time  my husband had different insurance that paid .  in 2006 In 2010 my insurance did not have the exclusion for bariatric .  In Dec they did pay for my emegency surger to have band removed and I thought there might be a slim chance I could have it replaced but I got my denial letter this weekend.  I have gained 30 lbs in 2 months.  The doctors say it was because I was so malnurshied and dehydrated when I came in that my body is just recouping.  Hope I stop gaining soon I just hit the 200 lb mark It's very Sad for me.  Hang in there !!!