2nd lapband

I had a lap band put in October 2009. It was never successful for me. I pretty much gave up. NOW my husband went to the dr. with me and the dr. says it has become "unbuckled" and will re-do the surgery.

My questions are:

1. Should I stay with this dr. or find another one

2. How do I know the next band won't unbuckle

3. Should I get a different surgery - I can't get bypass. Are there any other surgeries that aren't malabsorbtive that might work for me.

4. My family thinks I should bring a malpractice suit because the band has traveled so far. It was in place when he performed the surgery.

Please help determine what I should do. I very much need some outside help. Thank You.

Wolfy

Have you done any research on the VSG? Check out the forum here. It's restrictive and much more effective than the band, from the evidence I've seen.

I would not get another band, personally. I had two... and am now on my own. Emergency removal 6 years ago and it left me unable to revise because there was too much damage done.

Personally, I'd find a different doctor, choose a different surgery and look into a malpractice suit. Although, I have to tell you, it isn't easy. I had a doctor who treated me horribly and it would have been very, very costly to sue him. It's not as easy as people think it is. The doctors usually have malpractice insurance and the cards stacked in their favor.

Good lutk to you, Wolfy. I hope everything goes well for you.

~Nicci

Thank You Nicci. My dr. has been absolutely horrible to me, but I didn't want that to cloud my questions.

I have a call into a malpractice surgeon, and I'm not sure I have a suit, although I think I do. I was hoping to get an atty who wouldn't get paid unless we won, but I haven't thought about what if I lose.

I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience.

I had been thinking of the VSG, but I really don't know enough about it. Is It malapsortive? Is it the same thing as the sleeve?

Thanks.

VSG is the same as the sleeve, yes. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Check out the forum here... lots and lots of info! 

My doc was atrocious. It isn't as rare, apparently, as I once thought! I added you to the Failed Band Group... I have a thread there called, "The Truth" and it chronicles my experience. Maybe you'll relate to it.

The Sleeve is restrictive, like the band is supposed to be. I know a lot of people who have had stellar results with it.

Nicci

PS. this is from Wikipedia, but it's a good place to start research.

Sleeve gastrectomy Main article: Sleeve gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve, is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 15% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach, following the major curve. The open edges are then attached together (typically with surgical staples, sutures, or both) to leave the stomach shaped more like a tube, or a sleeve, with a banana shape. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach. The procedure is performed laparoscopically and is not reversible.

This combined approach has tremendously decreased the risk of weight loss surgery for specific groups of patients, even when the risk of the two surgeries is added. Most patients can expect to lose 30 to 50% of their excess body weight over a 6 - 12 month period with the sleeve gastrectomy alone. The timing of the second procedure will vary according to the degree of weight loss, typically 6 – 18 months.

• Stomach volume is reduced, but it tends to function normally so most food items can be consumed in small amounts.
• Removes the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulates hunger (Ghrelin), although the durability of this removal has yet to be confirmed.^[14]
• Dumping syndrome is less likely due to the preservation of the pylorus (although dumping can occur anytime stomach surgery takes place).
• Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring.
• By avoiding the intestinal bypass, the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency are significantly reduced.
• Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI >55 kg/m²).
• Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 35–45 kg/m²).
• Appealing option for people with existing anemia, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures.

I agree, in my opinion if a band fails once it's bound to fail again. The VSG is so much better than the band. It is more invasive but it actually works! Unlike the band which is iffy at best. If this doc won't do it then find one who will.

Thanks for the link. I have already visited your site. I do want to do some research into the VSG. Sounds like it might work!

If you bought a Yugo that never worked would you want to buy another Yugo???

1. Should I stay with this dr. or find another one

I would find another one. It could be that the problem was caused entirely by the faulty band........but why take chances, right?

2. How do I know the next band won't unbuckle

That's exactly it. You don't know. And even if it didn't..........port problems, esophageal dysmotility, etc. Too many complications occur with the Lap-Band!

3. Should I get a different surgery - I can't get bypass. Are there any other surgeries that aren't malabsorbtive that might work for me.

VSG is not malabsorptive. But in my opinion, if you don't know the different surgeries available and what they entail you should not revise. RESEARCH THIS TIME!!!

4. My family thinks I should bring a malpractice suit because the band has traveled so far. It was in place when he performed the surgery.

I would think a law suit would be in order. Not sure if the Dr. is responsible though. So many problems occur with the band. I don't understand why we are not seeing tons of law suites against the ALLERGAN AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON (EES)!

You might want to look on the revision forum and see what most bandsters are revising to.........and why!

Good luck!

Thanks! You made me laugh about the Yugo. 

OMG Maria, my ex-husband had a Yugo!! LOLOL  It was like a sardine can, OMG, you brought back such funny memories!

Here's to a better husband and a better car next time! :-)