I wonder......

It is beginning to look to me like most of us "oldie bandsters" are having the same problems.  For years (about 3) I have thrown up most of what I have eaten.  unfill after unfill, new drug after new drug, many many missed days of work and trips to Moncton later, in December I had surgery to repair a hernia and reposition my band.  Now, I am not having any problems what so ever other than gaining weight since I have no restriction, but that it totally my fault. I do feel great, I have my energy back and am excited to start this journey again.

This being said, I don't want anyone to think I’m whining or complaining (well maybe a bit). I would not change my decision to have my surgery.  I am just wondering that if this seems to be as common as it is, could there be a better way/procedure of the lapband surgery? Could anything be done differently after surgery to help eliminate these problems? Could there be a drug we could be put on to help stop the progression of a hernia or to prevent it from happening at all.  Why are we getting hernias?  Is the vomiting causing the hernias? or does the hernia cause the vomiting?  The nurse thought that maybe my vomiting was caused by the food I ate going into the gap at the top of my stomach from the hernia instead of my stomach, since I threw up within seconds of eating.

My daughter has had lapband surgery.  She has lost over 80lbs now and seems to have only occasional trouble. Usually when she eats something she knows she is not supposed to eat.  I wonder what if anything Dr, Savoie did with her differed from what Dr. B has done.  OR if it is just the person.

Again..I hope you all don't think I’m whining; I am just seeing a quite common thread and hoping we can have a dialogue on your opinions :)

What are your views on this?

I didn't have a problem before the bubble in my band expanded on the f;light to Europe in Sept 2009. I was too tight for about 10 days. There was nothing I could do until I returned home. I think that is when a hernia developed.  I know what  good restriction feels like & this is not it.
BTW after what we have been through, whining is mandatory!

I feel so bad when I read about you ladies going through so much. I don't know if there is a high percentage or not as we really don't know how many patients he has had that post here with us. But you're right when you comment that there are certainly a fair number. I've been one of the lucky ones  - I'm not trying to be "in your face" about that - I'm blessed to not have many problems.  I admire you all for your strength facing them to be honest.

I can't comment on the questions other than to say they are very good ones and I wish there were definitive answers to them.

Krista, your success is an inspiration to me. It reasures me that I can reach the promised land.

I am wondering if there are any statistics on complications per age or length of time from surgery. It does seem to be us veterans who are having the most trouble. I just hope that people waiting for surgery don't get discouraged by our problems. The people most likely to still be posting here after a couple of years out, are those of us having problems.