Lap-band Erosion

I'm curious to find out what other lap-banders have experienced regarding erosion.  My lap-band was placed in 2007 and I dropped 70 pounds in the first 6 months, but not an ounce more.  A couple of years later I moved back to my home state of Illinois.  In 2012 I sought out the sole bariatric surgeon in town to get a fill (hadn't had one since 2009, and had a total of 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band).  The doc said he was able to put in 7.5 cc's when he only should have had room for 2.5.  He ended up removing all the fluid and sent me for a barium x-ray.  He said that I had a slip and then refused to treat me further because he did not do my original surgery (pretty common response). 

Fast forward 3 years to 2015 (after moving to a bigger city) when I sought another bariatric surgeon to remove my band -- after all, it hadn't had any fluid (i.e., no restriction) for 3 years.  After 2 more barium x-rays, 3 endoscopies, and a swallow study, he determined that my band was eroded into my stomach and needed to come out.  The removal was done in October 2015.  After surgery, my doc said that the band was 80% inside my stomach and that massive scar tissue had formed over the outside of my stomach encasing the band.  On August 9, 2016 I had RNY surgery (essentially a revision) - he wouldn't do the revision when he removed the band in order to let my stomach heal. 

Prior to - and after having lap-band surgery, I don't recall being aware that erosion was possible - but I have a lousy memory.  I'm curious how common this happens and to find out what others have experienced.  I appreciate the input. 

Band errosion is one of the major side effects/ complication of the band. Check the revision forum or failed band forum-group. 

At a support group mtg i met a woman whoes lapband was so embedded that she needed 2 surgeries to get it out.  THen she had to wait 6 months to get the RNY.  My surgeon feel that within 5 years most LB patients are back to get it out and get RNY

As HALA suggests, check the other site.

A good friend of mine had her band slip, erode her stomach and also her liver grew to it so they had to remove part of her liver during removal! She did eventually revise to RNY. I have about 4 other friends that currently have bands and regret getting them.

Sounds like we had similar experiences - my Ban was so erroded into my stomach that it wasn't visible during the endo!  This is quite common I fear and there are many of us on this board who tell this tale of woe. 

I am three years out from my upgrade to RNY and none of the issues I had with or due to the Band have come back to haunt me.  Upwards and onwards!

It sad that it was sold to so many as the "least invasive" procedure for weight loss.  I'm sorry you had to suffer through all of that.  Another place to find people would be out in the Forums link above, then the boards for WLS Revisions, WLS Regrets, and WLS Complications

Mine slipped, no knowledge of erosion. I didn't get the RNY right away, I had been so sick with the band that I was unwilling to consider further bariatric surgeries at all. Fast forward 2 years and I got RNY.

Do y'all know if it was placed using the pars flaccida technique?  From my research that is suppose to help eliminate the erosion.  That was not the original way it was put in. 

I have not had surgery yet. I go for my consult on the 12th. Been researching for 2 years! I'm so torn between sleeve and band. 

I want to lose about 60 pounds.  Doctor will probably say 80 but I think that is too skinny for me.

Sorry -- I don't know what the placement technique was for mine.

Both of these surgeries will be potentially disastrous for someone with a 10+ year history of gerd.  Any doctor who tells you otherwise is a quack and you should run far far away from them.