Lapband failed considering sleeve

My lapband was done 4/26/2010 and I was thrilled. I had made a very positive step to work with my weight, hypertension and slow the progress of osteoarthritis. I was the model patient for the first four months and dumbly allowed my Bariatric Surgeon to take me to 7.5 ml at 4 months out when the only change was I was exercising less since swimming pool season was essentially over. I had cut down from 2 1/2 hours of exercise an evening to a half hour bike riding. For the next 4 months, I vomited frequently. In December, I had my gallbladder removed. The vomiting never resolved.

I quickly noticed the Bariatric Surgeon who did the initial surgery believed in tightening things at a faster than suggested rate stating that patients worked with their bands better when they saw quick results. His motto was after 2 bites I want you to be full. I was naively thinking satisfied, but 2 1/2 years later, I realize now he meant full in the pouch and if you took a 3rd bite that you would "vomit" what you ate. I had 11 fills and unfills over a year and half. He literally would tell me that my esophagus was dilating and not pushing food through. Everything I have found on esophageal dilation and the band indicates that too big of a fill too early leads to the problem. I did call the Realize Band company and go over the serial number on my band and confirmed that my first post op fill (4 weeks post) of 7 ml was higher than recommended for my band. It is easy to diagnose the problem and not recommend testing when the physician knows they created the problem.

After almost 2 years, I switched bariatric surgeons because after 11 accesses of fills and unfills, I was sick of rest not curing my esophagus. I returned to surgery with what was supposed to be another hiatal hernia repair. Although I am a nurse and know full well that hiatal hernias reoccur with weight loss, I do not believe mine was ever repaired the first time. I could finally lay flat without intense discomfort. Starting over and doing everything correctly, I find no matter what I eat now I have increasing pain in my upper chest and end up having to "vomit" solid food almost daily. There are many days that cold ice cream or yogurt is all the "solid" food that will go down. And yes, there are days even those foods are not an option so I get the taste my "rental" my food going and coming. I even have days where it is difficult to drink my protein shakes. My weight isn't moving and exercise is hard as I approach a hip replacement.

I have an appointment with my new bariatric surgeon mid January. I plan to have the band removed. Although RNY has been recommended, I cannot understand how the esophageal problem will not reoccur with a surgical created pouch versus the mechanically created pouch. Apparently, my insurance has had a change of heart and are allowing vertical sleeves in people less than a BMI of 50 with risk factors. My question is do you know of anyone who has had esophageal problems with a band that has had the sleeve? Did it work since there is not a pouch?

I appreciate any information you can share. I wish I had gone to my current bariatric surgeon first. He is very, very slow to fill his patients' bands and they just don't have problems.

Your story is similar to mine:/ but I have been vomiting since May 2007. I just wanted to post back to you to let you know you are not alone. I am so happy for that you are planning to get this God awful "tool" taken out before it does any more damage to your insides. I have not had my revision yet (1/24/13) but I am getting the DS done....first part of surgery is a sleeve....Ican keep you posted when I get there. There are a lot of bandsters who had the DS and it has worked for them. Good luck to you on your journey!

Please keep me posted!

what is the DS procedure I've seen mentioned on this site?

I am so sorry you are having so many problems since your WLS.

I have the sleeve and have had no problems so far. I was sleeved in April and have had no issues at all.

I exercise primarily in the water. It took a little while, but I found a pool that had a very robust schedule with many classes and free swim so i could swim whenever i had a moment. That has been the life-saver for me. I find as long as I exercise I will be ok.

Good luck.

Sharon

Hi.  I don't have personal experience with this, but have a friend who had her band removed and was sleeved in July.  Her issues with the band were similar, and she's had a great experience so far with her sleeve. 

I'd suggest posting your question on the main VSG message board.  There are a number of people with band to sleeve revisions who should be able to give you some information.  I don't think many people frequent this board.

Good luck.

Your problem is sadly common with the lap band.  There are lots of people here who have had lap bands and have since revised to sleeve, RNY and DS for similar reasons.  A lot of people have been successful with the sleeve after having esophageal dilation and other motility problems.  They usually have to have the band removed, let their esophagus heal for a while (varies according to your condition and your surgeon) then go do the sleeve when it has healed.  

I revised from lap band (placed 2007) to sleeve almost 2 weeks ago.  I didn't have the same unfill-fill-unfill problems, my band just stopped working after my baby was born in 2010.  Turns out the band had unbuckled and was providing no restriction (I guess sometime during my pregnancy), which wasn't detected by an upper GI.  I was just led to believe that I was a "band failure."  Which seemed wrong, because I had lost 70 lbs with the band in the first 18 months and kept it off until my pregnancy, and only gained 25 lbs during it.  I'm definitely glad I did the revision, and am doing well post op.  Already the restriction and hunger control is better than my best days with the band.

There are lots of band to sleeve revisions on the VSG board, check it out.  Good luck!

I was a band to sleeve revision in Dec 2008, all in one surgery. I developed strictures and was in and out of the hospital for two months. I have terrible reflux now although I've maintained a100lb weight loss. My only suggestion is to get an experienced surgeon with revisions. Best wishes to you. Xoxoxo

I was never told my esophagus was dilating, but I am sure something like that was going on with me. I went through the fill and unfill thing too many times to count. I would be fine with my fill for a little while, even months, and then all of a sudden something would get stuck. It would then swell up and get so bad that I could not even swallow my own saliva, or ANYTHING! I finally had my band removed in June of 2011 after 8 years of misery. I did lose a lot of weight but during the times of no fill, I would gain weight really easy. I had a plastic surgery prior to the band removal that left me with a horrible infection in my abdomen that had to be left open for almost 5 months so it could heal from the inside out. The whole time my band was someplace for the infection to hang out and kept reinfecting me. I did not get fully better until my lap band was removed. Of course during this process, I gained all of the weight back that I had lost. I was depressed, ate whatever I wanted, and couldn't exercise to help. 

Gladly, I can say I got the VSG surgery on 11/9/12 and have lost just shy of 50 pounds if I include the 2 weeks of the preop diet. I am so happy I did this and would not change it. I feel so much better and I know it is only going to get even better! If you are considering it, I would say go for it!!! It is a 1000 times better than the LAPBAND. I hope this helps!

I have three friends who went from lap band to DS, their weight is off, they are doing great.  Do a little research on it.