Monday surgery to remove band
After 3 months of desperate struggling with esophageal spasms, numerous meds, 2 upper GI's and one endoscopy, I am having the band removed. My surgeon, who is really a good guy, was a little abrupt with me and said, "You know after the band is removed, you will regain ALL of your weight (50 lbs. lost) in one month." I know I will regain some - even eating one Lean Cuisine a day will be more than I am able to eat now. I hope some of you can reassure me that, with effort, I will be able to hang on to most of my weight loss and get on track to keep losing. I know I cannot keep living like I have for the past 3 months! By the way, I've never had a fill!
Dear GoulaGal
I did not experience all the difficulties that you have encountered with your band, but with that being said...please finish reading this post. I had my band placed in 2007 and this last September I had to have it removed due to erosion. I thought I was having an appendicitus attack.
I did very well with the band...lost 85 pounds and felt wonderful. Nothing we can find caused my erosion...I just happened to fall into the 2% that this happens to. So once the band was removed, I already had begun talking about a revision. It was already told to me that I would not have another band, because the odds of it happening again were greater. I had to wait for 6 months so that my stomach would heal. I teach school and decided that I would wait until summer and do surgery then.
I followed the plan right after surgery. Even in doing so it seemed that 20-25 pounds came on without blinking an eye. Then I became discouraged and stopped following any plan ( I have been on diets my whole life)...which in turn put on another 20 pounds. So I have not gained all my weight, but enough that I feel miserable.
I went to my doctor at the end of May and he wants me to lose (gee can you guess?) 40-50 pounds before we do any surgery. I want to try and have the VSG, but I won't know until I wake up if I had it or the gastric bypass. The procedure will not be laproscopic...but open and I can't even begin to think about the procedure until August. Since that is the beginning of school and I will have a new principal....I may wait until November...but we will see.
With all of that said. I feel for you...I know your anticipation...I know you are wanting to keep off the weight you have lost. I will keep you in thought and prayer...and my advice...find someone to help you. I loved my band, and went through a LONG grieving time...so I needed someone professional to talk to, which I did not do.
To keep my weight off, I needed to have gone and had a physician monitor my progress and help me to have at least maintain my weight loss or keep in within reason.
This is all hindsight now, but if you are planning a revision...seek help. Research what options you have and keep us posted. Again, I will keep you in thought and prayer...just don't be like me and decide you don't need any support once the band is removed. Don't wait for the doctor's office to get in touch with you...YOU REACH OUT TO THEM.
I apologize this is so long...PM me if you would like to talk more. Debbie
I did not experience all the difficulties that you have encountered with your band, but with that being said...please finish reading this post. I had my band placed in 2007 and this last September I had to have it removed due to erosion. I thought I was having an appendicitus attack.
I did very well with the band...lost 85 pounds and felt wonderful. Nothing we can find caused my erosion...I just happened to fall into the 2% that this happens to. So once the band was removed, I already had begun talking about a revision. It was already told to me that I would not have another band, because the odds of it happening again were greater. I had to wait for 6 months so that my stomach would heal. I teach school and decided that I would wait until summer and do surgery then.
I followed the plan right after surgery. Even in doing so it seemed that 20-25 pounds came on without blinking an eye. Then I became discouraged and stopped following any plan ( I have been on diets my whole life)...which in turn put on another 20 pounds. So I have not gained all my weight, but enough that I feel miserable.
I went to my doctor at the end of May and he wants me to lose (gee can you guess?) 40-50 pounds before we do any surgery. I want to try and have the VSG, but I won't know until I wake up if I had it or the gastric bypass. The procedure will not be laproscopic...but open and I can't even begin to think about the procedure until August. Since that is the beginning of school and I will have a new principal....I may wait until November...but we will see.
With all of that said. I feel for you...I know your anticipation...I know you are wanting to keep off the weight you have lost. I will keep you in thought and prayer...and my advice...find someone to help you. I loved my band, and went through a LONG grieving time...so I needed someone professional to talk to, which I did not do.
To keep my weight off, I needed to have gone and had a physician monitor my progress and help me to have at least maintain my weight loss or keep in within reason.
This is all hindsight now, but if you are planning a revision...seek help. Research what options you have and keep us posted. Again, I will keep you in thought and prayer...just don't be like me and decide you don't need any support once the band is removed. Don't wait for the doctor's office to get in touch with you...YOU REACH OUT TO THEM.
I apologize this is so long...PM me if you would like to talk more. Debbie
Banded 12/26/07
1st fill- 3cc on 2/20/08---2nd fill- 2cc on 5/28/08---3rd fill-1.5cc on 7/9/08---unfill -2.0 on 8/13/08--4th fill- 0.5 on 9/25/08--5th fill- on 12/29/08---6th fill- 2/09--7th fill on 6/18/09 Band removed due to erosion on 9-11-09. Planning revision.
Dr. George Merriman.......Shreveport, LA
http://freedomfromobesity.net/
Debbie, given your starting BMI, the Band was never a very good option for you. I sincerely hope youo're looked into being revised to the DS---it's been shown to have the very BEST long-term, maintained weight loss, especially for those of us with a starting BMI greater than 50. (The Band has the very WORST, especially for those with a starting BMI greater than 45.)
Your surgeon does NOT do the DS, so it's possible he's never discussed it with you, or, sadly, may have even given you incorrect info about the DS. (Many medical professionals don't fully understand the DS.)
PLEASE, rresearch this wondeful option before you go under the knife again!
Your surgeon does NOT do the DS, so it's possible he's never discussed it with you, or, sadly, may have even given you incorrect info about the DS. (Many medical professionals don't fully understand the DS.)
PLEASE, rresearch this wondeful option before you go under the knife again!
Hi GoulaGal,
Like you, I had nothing but pain and complications after banding. I kept most of the weight off for quite some time. Then I had a hysterectomy and had to have a CT scan after. I had an allergic reaction to the contrast dye and almost Bit It, so I had to take steroids for an extended period of time. I gained 50 pounds back in no time. BUT, if I could have avoided the steroid treatment, I'm pretty sure I'd have been able to keep at a decent weight. I did exercise every single day for at least 2 hours, however. I had to just to not regain.
It's going to be hard. I won't lie to you. But, I really think that you can do anything you put your mind to. Just be mindful of your caloric intake, your exercise and try not to eat between meals. Good luck to you. I'm very sorry you're going through this. I can understand!
Nicci
Like you, I had nothing but pain and complications after banding. I kept most of the weight off for quite some time. Then I had a hysterectomy and had to have a CT scan after. I had an allergic reaction to the contrast dye and almost Bit It, so I had to take steroids for an extended period of time. I gained 50 pounds back in no time. BUT, if I could have avoided the steroid treatment, I'm pretty sure I'd have been able to keep at a decent weight. I did exercise every single day for at least 2 hours, however. I had to just to not regain.
It's going to be hard. I won't lie to you. But, I really think that you can do anything you put your mind to. Just be mindful of your caloric intake, your exercise and try not to eat between meals. Good luck to you. I'm very sorry you're going through this. I can understand!
Nicci
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
Thank you for your support. I feel good about my decision but I am apprehensive about managing my weight. I have a good friend who had gastric bypass and she attends Weigh****chers so we have agreed to be support for each other. My mindset has changed since I had the band so I feel like I wll have the willpower to stay on top of this. I cannot live like I've lived the last 3 months - even if I do have to adjust my idea of what I should weigh.
I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 so I should be home by noon.
Peg
I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 so I should be home by noon.
Peg
I had the band removal surgery and everything went well. I'm very sore, but I rested yesterday and all day today. I know it's too early but I think I already feel better.
As far as having a revision to a sleeve, I am just not ready to even think about that. If it just becomes impossible to lose weight, I might consider it - but much later. This has been a bad experience for me.
To all of you out there considering the band, it might pay you to have a barium upper GI before. I think those of us with reflux or esophageal spasm will have a very hard time with the band. I would never tell anyone not to get the band because I know too many people who have wonderful success stories. Just make sure you know your personal health history and weigh all of that against the benefits.
Peg
As far as having a revision to a sleeve, I am just not ready to even think about that. If it just becomes impossible to lose weight, I might consider it - but much later. This has been a bad experience for me.
To all of you out there considering the band, it might pay you to have a barium upper GI before. I think those of us with reflux or esophageal spasm will have a very hard time with the band. I would never tell anyone not to get the band because I know too many people who have wonderful success stories. Just make sure you know your personal health history and weigh all of that against the benefits.
Peg
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