Lap band removal

Hi All, please help! I was banded 6 years ago and have been having port pain for a while. I met my bariatric surgeon and he dismissed it. I was asking for removal. Now I am in severe pain and have been to ER and they said it's lapband erosion and will need to be removed asap. I understand how they remove the band but around my belly button to get to the port I have a huge absess and I am terrified and can't find any posts about anyone who has this. Has anyone heard of this? My belly button is red and sore and I am on so many antibiotics...

You have got to find a surgeon who is experienced in revisions and get that thing removed ASAP! I didn't have your experience, but I did have chronic GERD. As soon as I told my doctor what I was experiencing, he said I had to have my lap band removed. He told me he couldn't tell me until he got in there if he could revise me to RNY, but fortunately he was able to. Please do some research and find a doctor who is experienced in revisions. For your surgeon to dismiss your symptoms is almost criminal. I think a lot of these docs who got rich on lap bands don't want to admit how unsafe they are. I hope you find someone soon. Please let me know what you find out.

Thanks I am having it removed in two weeks

I have been in pain for 5 weeks already & on antibiotics daily and laying flat

belly button area is red with a huge lump above it

I'm not considering converting to any other surgery at present perhaps in the future. Yes it was a "get rich quick" scheme

I hope you feel much better, soon. I am sorry you have had to go through that pain. I'm curious why you don't want a revision at this time?

I revised to RNY after my band failed. I had a BMI of 34 at the time of revision, and Lord knows I was scared of another surgery that might hurt me or make things worse... But I am 27 months post-op from my revision and I have had ZERO issues with my new surgery. I got all thaw down to my low goal within 9 months and I have no pain, my GERD is almost gone, and I can finally eat the healthy foods (in the right amounts) that allow me to be truly healthy.

I'm sure you might have other good reasons for avoiding another surgery, but I just wanted to tell you that of you are avoiding it out of fear of the same pain and misery--you have nothing to worry about.

Hi, that's amazing news!

yes right now I just want this pain gone and am terrified thinking of how my insides may be affected by all of this. My surgeon who specialises in revisions won't do another surgery at the same time. He wants to wait for a minimum of three months before. I am not very large. I also want a acid reflux free life and would like to still be able to eat though smaller portions and losing weight too.

Most good surgeons won't do a VSG at the same time as the band removal because the pouch that gets made for the VSG uses the same part of the pouch that had the band stitched and it needs to heal. But there really shouldn't be any reason why they can't do the RNY at the same time. It doesn't use the same part of the damaged pouch and and it's more traumatic for your body to go through two major surgeries in a few months. I'd get clarification!

I have an appointment on Friday so I'll ask then

thank you!! Really do appreciate the responses

She has erosion...they can not do a revision to an eroded stomach. it must be left to heal. they can do it after the fact.

My revision surgeon told me erosion was the only complication that would prevent my same day revision from my lap band.

i was told the opposite. RNY was only possible if scar tissue was not too severe. with a build up of scar tissue the staples will not hold which is the risk of same day revision. an experienced revision surgeon can eyeball it and judge whether it is doable or not. with a sleeve they can cut a sleeve around the scar tissue and still form a sleeve. I was told if they couldn't do an RNY i would end up sleeved or I could choose to wait for healing and come back. Thankfully RNY was possible. but after 4 hours removing adhesions my roommate got a sleeve.

I just had my band removed and my surgeon won't do any revision for at least 6 months after band removal, he says it is to let the area where the band was placed to heal and get strong again. Right now I'm not sure if I am going to revise to another surgery or not. I am wanting to, but there are a few other factors (personal home issues ) I have to figure out first.