Lapband to RNY

I had the Lapband put in in October of 2003 and now having problems with it.. ie soreness, vomitting, blockage.. With the progression of a leaky heart valve and the risk of erosion of the band possibly causing infection, my new doctors feel it might be in my best interest to remove the band and go with the RNY. Has anyone ever had to have the band removed for whatever reason and gone with the RNY? Don

hello, I had complications with my band and they started the day i got the band in. I got it on oct 21st 2004 and it was removed on december 16th 2004. I was having similar problems as you. I am now going to have an rny but I am in the process. I wanted to wait until I was sure that I wanted the rny and that I could handle it. Please do your research.... I wish you well and hope that you are feeling better soon....Julie

Dear Don, I, too, have had complications similar to yours. I wish I NEVER had this darned thing put in. What a waste of money and misery for me. I am glad it works for some people but it does not work well for all. I have had the soreness, and nausea and vomiting just like you. I hope to see you get a solution soon. I am hoping for Duodenal Switch. I went to see my PCP and weighed 292 lbs. this morning. That is the absolute most I have ever weighed in my life. Hope to hear from you. Vanessa in TN

So sorry to hear of your problems, Don. I love my band and have been very lucky so far but appreciate the difficulty of having to face another WLS. I don't recall who it was but know that someone posted recently on the lap band board about having just converted from the band to RNY. If you check back through the last week's worth of posts you should be able to find her. Best of luck, Caeli

Hi Don....I had my lapband "installed" in December 2001...3+ years later I've lost 15 lbs with it, even with 2 fills (or about $700 a pound, since I self-payed everything). Is it the band's fault? Probably not - I've just not been able to use it as an effective tool. Now, in the last 9 months or so, I'm having a lot of problems with vomiting and reflux, as well as chest twinges, which my PCP is convinced are muscular coming from my port (which is right on top of my breast bone). I got to the decision point - do I have another fill to try to help with the weight loss, or do I give up on it and go with an RNY? I've decided to go the RNY route. I had a consultation with a surgeon near me who has no problem "uninstalling" the band and then doing the bypass....only thing I have to have first is a upper GI and possibly a "scope" to make sure that he knows if there is any degradation of the band or other issue going on. I've had my psych consult, my PCP has done their recommedation - I'm waiting on the nutrition meeting 5/20 and then I'll have the surgeon meeting, insurance stuff (I'm praying they'll agree to cover it since I paid the band myself). I'll be happy to let you know how the process goes, and if/when I have my surgery. I wish you the very best of luck with your decision and future success. Take care. Alison

By the way - I had my lapband done laproscopically and the surgeon for the RNY told me that there is no reason why he can't remove the band and do the RNY lap also....that was good news for me! Alison

Alison, PLEASE don't take this as me trying to talk you out of anything that you feel is right for you. However, if you are having reflux and throw up everything...this would strongly indicate a need for a slight UNFILL, not a fill. -Paula- 233/153/130

Hello there. I had the lap band in 2001, and it was removed in 2005. I lost 100 lbs with it, but I became pregnant and gained most of the weight back. My band then slipped and I had to have it taken out. May 2006, I had open RNY gastric bypass. I have lost 73lbs so far and things are going good. Let me know if you need anymore help. Good luck