I hate my band.

I had my band placed in May of 2005.  It took me over 6 months to find that sweet spot, but when I was there, everything was easy.  I know the potential of the band and how it can work as a great tool...when it works.  My problems started in the early part of 2006.  I had two colds back to back that caused tightness, and ever since then it's been countless fills and defills trying to get to that sweet spot.  I'd pretty much given up around April of this year with my last defill of .4 cc.  I was having problems with liquids at that time, so a defill really was necessary.   Since then, I gained back about 30 of the 100 lbs that I'd lost.  I was depressed and scared, but got up the courage to go for another fill this past week.  Once the swelling went down, I was able to eat again....for a couple days.  Chicken and green beans were going down fine...in fact, they were sliding through my pouch.  How is it today that I'm suffering trying to drink water?  I'm taking baby sips and still sliming.   If I'm not looser in the morning, I"m going for a defill.....and telling them to take it ALL out.  I feel like such a failure.  I wanted to lose at least 200 lb, to be healthy, happy, get my self confidence back.  That hasn't happened for me at all.  I feel worse now because I have failed the band.  I feel like no one takes me seriously, no one will listen to me...I am sure something is not right with my band or my stomach.  I've had a fluoro that showed everything was in place, but I FEEL like something still isn't right.  But I'm just made to believe that it's all in my head, that I obviously don't really want to lose the weight.  Failing at this is the worst thing that could have happened. At this point, if someone offered me a free bypass, I dont' think I'd take it.  I'm afraid of having a more drastic surgery, I'm afraid of having worse complications and I'm afraid of failing that too.  What do I do?  Defill and diet my ass off?  Give up?   I'm so lost and confused and depressed.  I just wish I had an answer for all of this :( Kristin H. 

I also hate my band.  I AM MISERABLE WITH THIS THING.  In fact I am in the process of having it taken out.  At least you lost some weight, in a year I've lost 20 lbs.  I am sick of throwing up all the time.  Look into the Duodenal switch. 

There are times when the stomach is just too sensitive for the band and any fill will cause it to swell.  Just doesn't work for some.  If you still want to lose weight and have a surgery that is 'easy' i.e. not a lot done to your insides/a lot of removal, then try the VSG.  The stretchy part of the stomach is removed and what is left is shaped like a banana. No fills. No unfills. No being stuck No going to the doctor to be checked all of the time to be sure you are getting enough vitamins/minerals/etc.  like with the RnY and DS. Actually the VSG is the start of the DS and if you find that having the VSG isn't enough, then you can go back for the DS.  My personal opinion is that the DS is very extreme although sucessful but there are several side effects along with constant check ups to be sure you are absorbing enough of the vitamins/iron from your food.  Also many, if not all, have to take a lot of vitamins and iron.   My mother had a form of VSG years ago (this surgery was first performed as a 'cure' for ulcers and stomach cancer and other stomach problems), back in the early 70's.  As a side effect, if you want to call it that, she lost down to a weight of 135lbs and stayed there until her cancer treatments in 2003 where she's lost more weight but the cancer wasn't from her stomach surgery. She's all kinds of check ups, blood tests, scans, etc. because of the cancer and everything is NORMAL.  All blood work comes back great and the cancer hasn't reared it's ugly head either. Mom eats pretty much what she wants, when she wants and if, in the past, she saw that she was heading up to 140lbs, then she'd put down that pound size Hershey bar for a week or two until she was back to 135lbs.  YES, BIG, GIANT HERSHEY BAR IN HER PURSE ALL OF THE TIME. As you know, all you can do is haunt every board until you see the WLS type that you feel would meet your wants/needs along with research! 

I'm sorry to hear you're so miserable and uncomfortable.  You sound so depressed!  I don't know if the depression is caused by the problems with the band, or is it's own issue and just being made worse because of your struggles.  Either way, I hope you can speak with your regular doctor and get some help, maybe counseling or anti-depressant therapy??  Because if you're considering another surgery, you're going to need to be as mentally and physically strong as possible.  If I were you, I'd look into the duodenal switch, it seems to be a good option for folks who need a revision.  I don't know if someone does them in your area.  And failing to lose 200 lbs with the band is really not the worst thing that could have happened.  You're 70 lbs down from where you started, you still have choices, and you're still alive!  Please hang in there. 

I'm sorry you are struggling.  I really hope you can get through to your doctor and get them to answer some questions for you.  I did have a recent bout of tightness/reflux and really difficult eating and was pretty scared and wondered the worst. I found that diuretics (that I take for edema) really make a difference in the swelling in my stomach.  You might consider asking your doc for a prescription diuretic and then push, push, push fluids. Wishing you well. Kootenay

I'm sorry your having such a rough time. My only suggestion is to start back at the beginning. Once you start having a problem you can start this horrible ring of filling and unfilling and getting no where. It would take a lot of will power but you could have the doc reduce your fill by half and then do mushies for a week or two to calm your pouch down. Then start small fills again making sure to do a diet progress between each (liquids, mushies, normal food) to let your stomach adjust like it did the first time around. I know that it seems like a large daunting task and it will be harder than the first time - but I bet you could do it. The other thing I would suggest is looking into allergies. Do you have seasonal allergies? Do you take anything for them? I noticed for me and others at this time of year, seasonal allergies and general colds seem to give me an over load of mucus and post nasal drip - this actually makes my band feel tighter some days and loser others. A daily pill like claritin may be worth trying if you are noticing these symptoms. The other option is the band just wasn't the right choice for you - dont feel bad about that. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses and chose another path. If you have tried as hard as you possibly can and it isn't working then another option may be better.  Don't let yourself feel like a failure - that is the kind of self defeating thinking that got most of us here in the first place - you only fail when you don't try. Choosing another path isn't failure - its responsible recognition that the original plan had a fault and now its been fixed and I'm back on track. Good luck with whichever path turns out to be right for you!! Lynn

I hate my band too,,I was banded in 2004 and it's been fill,,unfill,,fill,unfill for three years,,I still have 80 lbs to lose and have been at the same weight for 3 year's..I see my doc monday and am gonna ask for a revision,,knowing what I do now,,it wasnt the right surgery for me :(

You may want to look into the Duodenal Switch.  I know those who have already had one WLS really don't like the idea for going in for Round 2 - BUT, there are lots of folks on the DS Forum who have had revisions, and there's a wealth of info if you need it.

Come on over to the DS Forum.  I know the idea of another surgery is yucky, but there are others in the forum who have had revision from LAP-band and RNY and are now doing GREAT!

I for one truely understand what you are going thru as a former Lap Bandster. Yes I did  Follow ALL of the Rules from the 1st day of my 1st (yes one of 6 hospitalizations and 4 surgeries in 18 months) initial Surgery. I went to the gym daily, wrote down everything that I ate and drank, testing, doctors, specialists, Protein, vitamins, Unfills and Fills. Yes I did lose approximately 75lbs in this time frame but I was the most miseable person besides feelings of sickness in that time frame. Working as a Healthcare Professional in a Operating Room setting on a daily basis as I do, my patients were not nearly as sick as I was and they were having surgery. When I eventually passed out and was transfered to the nearest hospital for emergency surgery due to a 2nd Severe Slippage that turned my stomach blue and was dying, sadness over come me to lose the Band that I had tried to keep. Yes statics report 2% of the worlds population fails with the Lap Band due to complications but even when patients as myself follow ALL the rules complications can accure. I have never felt better and would certainly  rethink my options for Surgical Preference................