Any advice about what to say to my doctor

Sorry, I was replying to a different post about  removal & gain.  My tablet does weird stuff !  A note on to your to your reply. I think that since you are having issues even almost unfilled that if you removed you may not gain because you may still have some residual issues while your body heals itself.

With me I was exactly like pre-op "wide open" with an almost complete unfill 6 months before removal.  When I removed eating was still as easy.  I stayed unbanded for another 6 months as I decided to do it on my own and I was terrified of revising. I found out I was more freaked out by what seemed like the inability to lose or even stop gaining no matter how I tried or what I did.  My body likes being fat - it's my normal, I was born round . I have to be very low calorie and Carb to lose even now.  I too was hungry constantly.  I also lost to a very unatural size for Me - a 5.

Ugh this thing sucks to type on!

I promise though you will feel so relieved instantly with removal. My doc said that to me when I was going in and he was so right.  I was sick from the band and didn't really know it. My Skin issues resolved as my immune system returned to full function.

Remove your band, give your body a rest, then if you want later consider a revision.  I think it is best to heal before revising.  No matter, get that thing out of you!

Feel better and may God bless you.

HUGS,

Layla

I did get to the point your are at.  I did just get the band out not knowing if I would be able to get a revision.  I couldn't take the pain.  I went thru hell the last two unfills.  The second to last was so bad the were going to leave the rest of the fluid in and just take the band.  I closed down again and they had to get the rest of the fluid out any way.

A month out with the sleeve and I can say the surgery hurt less, the recovery was faster and I feel so good now.

I HAD the Lap Band put in back in 2004, it did work for me for many years, then gradually I had constant pain from my shoulder to my stomach. That I learned was from the Vagus Nerve. I also couldn't keep anything down and was not losing weight. I went to my Dr. and he shrugged it off as he said there is nothing wrong. Last May, I had all the fluid taken out of my band, but I continued to have restriction.

The restriction I found out was caused from scar tissue under the band. I don't want to scare you, but the band is sooo damaging to our bodies. If your not going to get a revision, I'd say have it taken out of you.

I had a revision in December 2012, I went from band to RNY. What was supposed to be a 3 day stay in the hospital, turned into a week long stay, first of all, I had the revision done laparoscopic, then had a leak test, sure enough I had a leak, Not typical, but the Doc said it was caused from all the scar tissue...too much to work around and seal up the new pouch.

So back into surgery I went to fix the leak, this time they opened me up. I have a nice, 12" long incision. I spent 4 days in CCU and a day in the ICU. I am just now trying to lead a normal life.

I blame the band. I had it for almost 9 yrs. If I would have had a revision done years ago when I started having problems, then I probably wouldn't have gone through all that I had.

Like I said, I don't want to scare you, but talk to your Doc and see what you should do. You didn't fail the band, it failed YOU!

  I'm SO sorry that you had such an awful time, Phrazzledmom.  My experience was very similar. I had my surgery in 2003 and had the left shoulder pain immediately and it was relentless and chronic. I also couldn't eat solid foods and even liquids would give me trouble at times... all with an empty band.

You're very right about how damaging the band is. I don't think the medical community even fully realizes it quite yet. In another decade we're going to have some really horribly damaged people if they continue banding. I also wish I had trusted my own instincts and revised early on... instead of listening to my rotten surgeon who told me "nothing was wrong." If there's pain, there's something wrong.

I'm glad you shared your experience. Maybe it will help someone else avoid the same.