Have you had problems with the band?

With all due respect, learn to communicate in proper English.  You have the audacity to crucify the OP for her approach and how things are worded, yet it appears you did not take the time to check your reply before actually posting it.

No problem with my band.

I have had 1 'user error' scenario where I ate something and drank too soon afterward and got a piece of the food severely stuck.  I had to be seen for an emergency unfill.
Fortunately, we were able to un-fill --- wash down the offending piece of food -- and refill my band all at the same time.

I had a very easy surgery (by a very skilled surgeon), fast recovery and consistent weight loss for 19 months.  In that time, i attended Weigh****chers meetings and had 1 week where I had a 2 pound gain ---- 4 pound loss the following week.
Other than that 1 time, I had a weight loss or maintain every single week for 19 months.

I love my band.

Now THAT's the kind of post I like to read.  Congrats. 

Wow...I think I remember you from a few years ago, I am so sorry that you have experienced this complication with your band, this is the first time that I've heard of a TUBING coming through the skin . 

It seems like you and your sister have had really bad experiences with your surgeon. If it were me, I would get a second opinion and maybe a lawyer. I try to warn newbies when deciding on the band try to find a surgeon that specializes in the Lap Band and ideally surgeon that ONLY does bands.  I would not let that surgeon touch me again, I would find a new doctor and an attorney, I am going on 6 years post op and I have my original band and no band complications so far. Good luck.

My NEW surgeon hadn't even seen or heard of the tubing coming thru either.  Nor had the doctor who did my endiscope to make sure I had no errosion. 

And my sister and the other person did have the same surgeon and all 3 of us did change surgeons.  And both of those surgeons do only the band. 

I was delighted to hear that you were still living with your original band and doing well.  I so wanted to be able to say that.  But God had other plans.

And if you'll read my other reply to a post here, you'll see that I really haven't had time to even think lawyer....no, I'm sorry.  That's a lie.  I have thought lawyer but for my mother. That famous hospital here in Jacksonville, FL almost killed my mother during a simple surgery and I swore I would hire an attorney and have them just rattle their cage a bit.  I don't want their money but want them to be worried about their records being reviewed.  But I never thought about an attorney for myself.  Mother's life is far more important to me than my life has ever been.  Yeah, I know, I need to be taking care of myself but I've done okay thru all the stress and will focus more on me when I know my mother's health is stable once again.

Thanks for the well wishes.  I will be fine.  I just have to find something that works for me.

Jeez Louse, LaWanda!

All the surgeons in your stories sound like quacks. I hope you go to those surgeons' OH profiles (if they have any) and post these stories so other patients will know to stay away from those docs.

I had a band slip (probably due to my untreated hiatal hernia) that was cured with a complete unfill. Then my port flipped and I eventually had surgery to reposition it. Otherwise, my only problems have been due to user error. I've had 2 bariatric surgeons (the original one lost his KY medical license and left the area) and apparently I've been really fortunate with their surgical skill and aftercare.

It seems to me like a lot of general surgeons are jumping on the adjustable gastric band as a way to increase their income without a full understanding of everything involved in bariatric surgery and patient care and success.
 
Here's hoping for no more complications for you...

Take care,
Jean

Jean, thanks for the post.  I researched wls for 2 years before I made any decisions.  I went to every seminar every doctor in town gave.....twice.  I wanted to make sure the first time I met them they weren't having an exceptionally bad day or even an exceptionally good day.  I went to support group meetings before I was banded to hear everybody's story.  What else could I have done.  I've always said you have to be happy with your choice of procedures and your choice of surgeons because you have to live with both of them for a long, long time. 

But you know what......God brought me to it and God will bring me thru it.  WLS just wasn't for me.  I have to find a sensible food plan I can stick with, have my knees replaced so I can exercise, and get on with life.

Thanks again for the post. 

LaWanda

Hi LaWanda,

I'm really sorry that you and your sister both had these problems! And, yes, I also had major problems with my band.

It was an absolute nightmare from the moment I came out of surgery. If you go through my latest posts, I'm sure you'll find my saga. I complain about it quite often!  I'm still working through the "issues!" 

I had the band removed in 2005 and had too much damage to revise at the time. I'm now looking into a revision since I've regained all the weight I lost. Unfortunately, my insurance isn't as good as the company I had when I got the band, so I think I'll probably have to be self-pay.

I had diaphragmatic damage from the lapband and multiple corrective surgeries. I had a bad surgeon who did my lapband surgery. I resorted to another surgeon to try to undo the damage done by the first.

Nicci

Nicci.....I, too, am sorry for what you've gone thru.  I thank you for sharing your story with me.  It somehow makes me feel more "normal" to know that other people have problems too. 

I  wish you the best and hope it all works out for you.  Thanks so much for this post.

LaWanda

Yes LaWanda I was failed by 2 bands. See the summary in my signature line. When I regained I was given diet advice by the nurses in the clinic felt so guilty but realised finally it was the band that failed and just had duodenal switch done lap by Dr Gagner. 1 week postop and home and feeling great.
Joan