Failed Lap Band

Hello.  Looking for someone that may understand what I am going thru.  I have had the lapband for 4 years.  A recent Uper GI showed that my Esophogus was enlarged and I had to have my band emptied IMMEDIATELY.  My surgeon is now recommending I have the bypass surgery, says lap band is now too risky for me.  He is also talking about the sleeve.  What do you think?

Do you still need to lose weight?

yes

My doctor told me the band had failed (when in fact it was probably too tight).  I think you have to assess how much weight you have lost and if the band is helping you not to eat.  But, having said that, I hate to be real cynical, but I got the same song and dance from my surgeon.  Since the band has issues lets "revise" the surgery to a sleeve or a bypass.  Understanding that surgeons are "just trying to help" those who are fat, this is my take. These surgeries are boutique type surgeries in an era where insurance money has dried up.  This is good money for these guys.  I hate to imply anything but good intentions and not knowing your facts, I just think surgeons don't make money monitoring and adjusting a band. They make money operating. 

Good luck, but whatever you do, be realistic. 

Did you read the written report on  your upper GI?  Your esophogus will become normal again with some time being unfilled.  Then you can have small fills, probably not to the level you were before, based on what happened.  If that really happened.

I went to a bariatric doctor after moving here that told me the same thing, he said he could tell under the fluorscope when he gave me a fill.  Didn't stop him from giving me more fill.....he starts talking before I've even had the upper GI that in most cases this does not clear up and I will probably need to lose the band and do RNY.

This doctor specializes in RNY, he hated the band and did very few.  He also never gave me the results of my upper GI, probably because I told him I would never do an RNY.  I tried to get the results of the upper GI for at least a month.....however during the test the technician told me I did not have an enlarged esophogus.  Another doctor got the results for me, and faxed them to me.  It was true, I didn't have any enlargement, but I did have a tiny hiatal hernia which led to some problems now a year and a half later. 

What I'm trying to say is, you may also have run into a surgeon that prefer's RNY, due to the higher cost of that surgery, and not necessarily that it is your only option.  You have one of the older bands, my doctor now is saying if we have to do a surgery to repair the hernia, he would replace the band I have with one of the newer ones that he thinks would work better for me.  So keep that in mind as well.

Bottom line, get another bariatric doctor's opinion....I know enough information to be dangerous!  But weigh all your options before you do anything as drastic as RNY.

Carole

 

Thank you for your reply.  My doctor actually printed me out a copy of the x-ray and emailed it to me as well.  It is definitely enlarged.  I have gone back for several upper GI's watching it go down slowly and hoping it returns to normal.  So, it's not that he is saying it won't go down, he is saying if it happened once, it may happen again and he is not comfortable taking that risk with my esophogus.  He stated "the band is suppose to be a low risk operation where the benefits outweigh the risk."  He is now afraid that the risk outweigh the benefits and why take that chance.  Your feedback is much appreciated.

I just happened across this forum because I am pre-op and wanted to see about some issues with the various WLS. I would like to suggest coming to the VSG forum and post there. There and quite a few people who have gone from band to sleeve. I am sure on the RNY board you will find people who have gone band to RNY as well. The revisions on the VSG board seem very pleased and I am sure they could offer you some valuable insight.

I hope that you are able to get the information you need to make a decision. You know you better than anyone what you are comfortable with. I hope you are able to get in contact with some people. Best wishes!

Hi there, the band is brilliant for many people but for the minority like you and me it caused more worry than I ever would have believed.  It had to be removed due to erosion and I had the sleeve last August and it has surpassed my expectations already.   The worst moment for me was when my surgeon told me on the morning of my revision that I would come out with either another band or the sleeve depending on how much damage there was.   I woke up ecstatic, knowing that with the sleeve I would never have to worry again - and it has been everything I could have wished for and more.   Good luck........Marion

I was banded (Realize) in June 2008 and have had nothing but problems.  Within weeks of my first fill I began vomiting, and progressed to the point where I couldn't even tolerate liquids.  In September, I had to undergo emergency surgery due to a complete obstruction caused by band slippage.  I allowed my surgeon to reposition the band because he said he'd never had one slip twice.  Guess what?  It slipped again. I am preparing to undergo surgery for a third time. I am getting this evil thing removed, and planning to convert to the VSG. I have not lost a single pound since September, despite all the vomiting.  I am terrified that I am doing permanent damage to my teeth and my esophagus (at one point, I was vomiting blood!), as well as my stomach.  I am also scared of aspirating my refluxed stomach acid in my sleep (have had many narrow escapes on this one, heard of some fatalities!) 

I cannot tell you how relieved I will be to get rid of this thing, not only because of all the misery it has inflicted, and the fact that I am not able to eat healthful food, but also because the port has never stopped hurting since it was originally implanted. I've felt like I had a knife sticking out of my gut for 9 months now. I can't even wear jeans or anything with a firm waistband, because it puts pressure on the port and it digs into my muscle wall.  I am very active & love to exercise hard, but the port has severely reduced what I am able to do without pain.  For a weight-loss procedure to actually REDUCE your ability to exercise is unacceptable.  For a band to slip TWICE in only 9 months is unacceptable.  I don't think I could ever recommend the band to anyone.  I regret my decision and hope that I make a better one next time around.

Your surgeon's first obligation is to do what is in your best interest.  If you don't trust that his advice is not financially motivated, get a second opinion.  But know that the risk of permanent damage to your esophagus is real.  These things have a way of escalating in a very short time.  Don't take the chance.

Thanks you for sharing.  We (my surgeon and I) have decided to take out the band and do the roux-en-y.  My surgery is June 30th.  I am both excited and scared and fustrated that I have to start ALL over again 4 years later (to the month).  Hope all goes well with your decision.  Take care.