I had my lap-band 10 years ago and have gained back almost 45 pounds. they are telling me they want to deflate and remove my band because it has failed and only after surgery will they decide if I am a candidate for another surgery post op. I weighed almost 500 pounds. There is NO way I am going back. There is no way I am letting them take anything out of my band. it is the only thing that is keeping me from gaining all my weight back.

I would greqtly appreciate any information/recommendations on lower cost lap band removal (even out of the country). Exact provider names. The lap band has not worked for me and I want Gastric Bypass which will be covered, but they will not perform the gastric bypass surgery until my lap band is removed and the removal is not covered by my insurance.

I caution you to be very careful with this. I myself experienced the same issues. 30 minutes after I would lay down I would wake up with acid in my mouth, even on an empty stomach. As time went on everything I ate including water started to come back up. I ignored this. Not wanting to get an unfill. On May 3rd 2017 I went to bed and woke up at 3 o'clock in the morning feeling as if I couldn't take a full breath. I coughed every time I tried to, this went on for an hour, I finally called 911 after it seemed to get worse. They thought I was having a panic attack because I was talking and I told them I could not breathe. I remember going to the ER in the ambulance and when I woke up two days later. I had been life flighted to a hospital two hours away. I had been on life-support in a coma from aspirated pneumonia. My family was there from outta town, they had been told I may not survive. My band was unfilled before I left the hospital, so I thought I found out later at an appointment the he had left 2cc in. I had that removed. I was diagnosed with acid reflux. My surgeon had the nerve to tell me to make an appointment to get a refill later. NO THANK YOU! I now sleep with a wedgy under my head. my band is completely unfilled and will be taken out in March of this year. By the grace of God and his mercy Im getting better each day. I caution you and anyone dealing with severe acid reflux and or a tight band not to ignore this.

Thank you, I appreciate hearing real stories, not the 'ideal' that is presented, I know most humans will avoid focus on the potential negatives, hoping it won't be them.

I was wondering, without an X-ray or catscan how the MD knows the band is even in the right place, especially in her case with feeling nothing at all??

Can they slip up and dangle around the opening to the stomach and do nothing, even if 'filled' correctly?

I am older than most all here, and I have seen many methods come and be popularized without years and years of study. People get angry with the FDA for not pushing some meds thru fast, and restricting food additives, devices, etc, but it seems there is reason for caution.

I am glad your removal did not complicate even having RNY, so you are young! and you persisted. I admire that.

I wish you both the best of luck.

Thanks very much, Steph. I'm interested in why you wanted the RNY rather than the sleeve.

I'm leaning toward the sleeve because it does not have dumping syndrome, which terrifies me. But I'm afraid I won't lose as much, and I really, really need to lose weight.

I don't have diabetes (yet), but I do have food get stuck and come back up. Yuck! How has it been for you since your revision? Thanks for your help.