How do you know if you have technical failure with your band?

Are there signs of when your band has slipped or if there is erosion?  Could that be the cause of not losing weight?  I have had this lap band since April 08.  I  lost only 3 lbs.  I want to get a revision however BCBS Federal said they would only pay for another surgery if there were significant complications or technical failure with the band. 

Please respond.

Thanks.

Have you had the "fills" that come after the surgery?  And, what does the doctor say?  I understand that slipped or eroded bands are very noticable.  The stories I heard range from throwing up constantly (sometimes with blood) to pain.  But, I have no first hand knowledge. 

Yes, I had 3 fills after the surgery.  The doc never mentioned anything wrong.  I have thrown up twice with no blood or pain.  Thanks for replying.      

One last question:  Did the band ever take hold?  By that I mean, when you ate did you ever get full quickly and to me it almost was like if I ate too much or too quickly, it would feel like a big hand was just grabbing the top of my stomach and squeezing? 

Reason I ask is that at lower fill levels, I do not get that feeling and I am thinking maybe the band is not filled enough. 

Anyway, just a thought. 

I thought I had technical failure too, but I was wrong. It took 4 fills before I felt any tightness at all. Before that I was eating as much if not more than before surgery. If you have only thrown up twice since 2008 more than likely you need a fill. Be more insistent with your surgeon/doctor and demand xrays!

In my case - I was filled to the max and had hardly any restriction - lost around 40 lbs and could lose no more and just thought I was a band failure.   Had a fill in July 07 which turned into a big abscess above my port and that was the clue that my band may have eroded.   Gastroscopy showed that that my band had eroded - and was also unlocked - see my profile for more info.  

Now 3 fills may not be enough - if you have been filled to the max and can hardly swallow your own spit, you still have restriction - but if the restriction disappears quicklly you may have a leak in your port or in your band even.   A friend of mine went in for a port replacement and found that her band had split - she ended up with a long surgery and a new band.   Try getting more fills, I had more than I could count but kept trying to get that magical restriction all the time, because friends who were banded after me were losing so well, and it made me mad that I never had what they did.

I eventually revised to a sleeve in Aug last year and am now free of the worry and am getting what I always wanted - a good weight loss!

Good luck...........Marion

Hard to believe you've gone all this time with only a 3 lb loss.  Erosion or a slip causes pain, and it doesn't go away! 

Did you let your doctor know you didn't have any restriction?  Maybe your fills were so small you never got to the correct level.  That's not the band failing, you need to talk to your band doctor and get on with the program.  If you can eat like you always have, that's a clue the band isn't filled enough.

Carole

As someone who has personally experienced 2 band slippages within 10 months, I can tell you that they are impossible to ignore.  Profuse vomiting, extreme discomfort and/or pain when eating ANYTHING you have to chew, and refluxing/choking in your sleep are just a few of the lovely symptoms you can expect to enjoy with a band slippage.

PS-despite being unable to eat solid food of any kind, I have not lost a single pound since September.  That is because I am existing on protein shakes, pudding, and cheese.  Those are the only things that will pass without getting stuck.  

Converting to a Sleeve next week!

Good luck to you
Natalie