My lapband story

Thanks Stephanie, I really hope that it gets better too :( I have gone through hell for the past 18 months and so need a break or a little something positive.

Like I said no one should ever say it cant happen to them cause it can and it does, but you know what everyone that I talked **** to still opened their arms to me and gave me support when my band turned on me.....they didn't turn me away even though I probably deserved it. I want everyone who is reading this to know that those people who you call "band bashers" really do care and when you fail they still will be there for you no matter how nasty you were.

Thank you for this. Seriously.

I'm sorry for your rotten experience and I am glad you shared your story.

I know what you mean about apologizing...I've had to eat a little crow myself. I truly believed that if I followed the rules, I would lose weight (I did) and avoid complications. In the last 9 months I've had many diagnostic procedures to rule out cardiac disease, celiac, H Pylori, Barrets, pancreatic cancer (my mom died of this in 1986 12 weeks following Dx), liver problems.
What I am dealing with is the band has aggravated my IBS which was the d type and is now the c type. It can become life threatening. My gastroenterologist was alarmed when I told him I was going as long as 10 days w/o bm. I'm still unable to eat much fiber and my GI doc has me on a low fiber diet.
I'm on the fence about removal, though both pumpkin and MM are of the mind, get it out now. I'm losing slowly and my fat % is going down, so I'm getting the protein in. I have a lot of restriction, still, even with no fluid in my band.
The acid reflux I deal with (due to constipation) is awful. I never realized the connection between regularity and ability to eat and that constipation can cause reflux, esophageal spasms. Having a band just makes it worse.
More than likely I will have my band removed this year. At 63, I'm concerned about undergoing VSG and the flip side, regain. With my back and knee problems I cannot go back to size 26. For my mental health, I cannot go back there. I need to get my left knee replaced, now that I qualify (BMI

Srephanie,

If You are having this many problems you should run, not walk, to your surgeons and see about removal and revision. You should have had improvement by now. Waiting means a risk of damage being done inside. I will be 63 next month and I didn't think twice about a revision because, like you, I just couldn't go back there. I also knew I could not do it without a tool. Check on it and let us know.

Good luck, Sue

I'm under the care of my gastroenterologist who works closely with a bariatric surgeon who deals with Lapband issues and revisions. My GI doc treats many people who have this situation even without Lapband. He feels that if he can get me "moving" my symptoms will improve tremendously. They have seen many cases like mine and wanted me to give it about 8 weeks to see if my situation resolves. I was sick (influenza and then a stomach virus) for 3 weeks, so was off the Meds for almost that entire time. I'm supposed to go back Feb 1, to determine if surgery is needed. After as many surgeries as I've had, and needing to get my knee replaced, I don't relish the thought of doing it all again.
I appreciate your concern, Sue. Thanks, will keep you posted.

So very sorry to hear what has happened to you. My most sincere best wishes for your future. Kate

Wow Fairy. I am so sorry to see all that you have been through. So glad you were able to get this godforsaken thing out. Thank you for sharing your story. My band comes out in 12 days....I can't wait.

I wasn’t told that if I had a family history of autoimmune diseases that I should not have the lapband surgery

That is unconscionable! 

That an individual with (or a family history of) autoimmune disease is clearly stated in the published Lap-Band safety info, as well in the info given to me by my surgeon in advance of my surgery. So you have to wonder why that information never got conveyed to you. I would want to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with your surgeon about that, but you probably don't want to see that guy ever again.

I'm praying for better health for you in the near future.

Jean

 

 

Wow, Fairy, you have been through hell. I am so sorry this has happened. I second Jean on having a stern meeting with your doc. I will be praying for you, too. We all had such high hopes. At least with me the band was not the problem, my body just tried to reject it. I was stunned when I learned it had to go. Such a disappointment. God bless,

Sue

Thank you so much for sharing your story. So many of us are in your same boat.....maybe not to the same extent, but most of the people I know who had this surgery done are having major problems. 

First of all, I want to give you a big hug. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you are better soon.

Second of all, I am a medical writer/editor and I have been following all of the journal articles on the lapband. I firmly believe that it will be phased out as an option soon - the complication rate is too high and the long-term success rate is too low. Many dr's are not even doing them anymore.

Again, thank you for the courage to voice your story. It just may save someone's life.