Care to share your BAND CATASTROPHE story?

You know, you might also have had a "dynamic" slip. Prior to my slip diagnosis, I would have similar issues. I would be fine, then it would slam shut (although rather than every few days, mine was more like every few weeks or so). Then I would be fine, etc... It took months of this before we did a flouro at exactly the right moment and caught it in the act. Every other flouro before that always looked normal! The surgeon that did my repositioning does things a little differently than my original surgeon, and so far her work has held up well!

Thanks for the info, Dev.  I trust my surgeon wholeheartedly, and if he says there wasn't any sign of a slip, I believe him.  He had fixed my bad slip two years, prior, and I know his work was good.  He always takes care to take as much of the fat pad off that he can and then sew the band in place for better stability.  He is a great surgeon, and I am thankful to have him!

Folks,

I want to sincerely thank you all for sharing your story, and enlightening me. I hope, and pray, this post not only helps folks thinking about this procedure, and newbies, but also enlightens folks who “doubt" band can fail. As I’ve always stated, these devices are mechanical and failure is a possibility.

Now to my fellow BANDERS out there a personal plea … While we may be having success with our bands, we never know what can happen tomorrow. Calling someone a BASHER or calling their experiences “HORROR STORIES", is hurtful to them. Stop and try to put yourself in their shoes.

FOR ME, a BAND BASHER is someone who NEVER EXPERIENCED having a band but says  terrible things about it, without knowing the facts or living it. I’ve met these people, both IN the bariatric field, and, ESPECIALLY, those NOT.

These folks on this board HAD the BAND and it failed. They are explaining their story. As passionate as we are how SUCCESSFUL the band is, they are just as passionate how UNSUCCESSFUL the band was for them. Hell, if something almost killed me, I doubt I would treat it with kid gloves. But I would try to be tolerant and respectful is someone had a positive experience.

Final request: Let’s try to make this board more tolerant of one another. Let’s not forget we were once the FAT FOLKS who were BELITTLED; RIDICULED; TEASED; LEFT OUT; LAST CHOICE; NOT CHOSEN because we were “different" compared to “others". Hell, how many folks told us “Just stop eating and exercise more", or “You’re having an operation and taking the easy way out"? NO ONE UNDERSTOOD US, not even our own loved ones. Now, there are folks who WALKED IN OUR SHOES; ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND what we went through – and yet we continue to alienate because we don’t agree with what they have to say. The Bottom line, we all want to be healthy. Does it really matter if it’s with a Band; Bypass; Sleeve; DS; BIB; BOB; or any other method? My feeling, while I may not agree with you, I will defend you as long as your true goal is to HELP someone.

OK I’m done. I promise next time to drink decaf before I send a reply

How long did you have the band before the complication began? Physical complications... Prob 2.5 years. That's when it slipped.

 

What symptom(s) did you experience? Horrible acid reflux, foam, couldn't eat, couldn't drink, vomitting all the time, choking while sleeping

 

What was the Doctor’s initial reaction / cause of action? They scheduled me for surgery as soon as my upper GI results came in. I could barely get the barium in. A slipped band can cause you to suffocate while you sleep. They didn't want to take any chancs.

What was the official diagnosis issue? Band slip
 

How long between diagnosis and new operation? A week maybe.

 

Which operation did you choose, and why? I chose to have it fixed, I wanted to give the band a second chance. And I was scared of the RNY. Never lost another lb!

 

Did you use the same Doctor? Yes, it wasn't her fault.

 

How long between new operation and “recovery" from band issue? When I had my slip fixed, I was back to work in 5 days.

 

Any long term (irreversible) complication(s)? I got the damn thing removed a month ago. I hated it! The only thing it's good for is if you want to be bulemic.
 

Okie dokie. I will share, but I object to the use of "catastrophe", at least in my case.

How long did you have the band before the complication began?
A little under 4 years (surgery 12/03, issues began 8/07), and after 200 pound weight loss. Long story short: problem was brought on by a hiatal hernia (a huge one, according to my surgeon) which was caused by the unexpectedly fast and substantial weight loss.

 

What symptom(s) did you experience?
Frequent vomiting which progressed to constant vomiting.

 

What was the Doctor’s initial reaction / cause of action? (Sadly it seems some Doctors ignored patients complaints)
He suspected a slip and wanted to do a GI to find out if that was the problem. I refused for a number of months because I was afraid that I would have to lose my band. When it got so bad that I was sick every time I swallowed anything, even fluids most times, I told him okay.

 

What was the official diagnosis issue (band erosion; slippage; port displacement; tubing leakage/separation; leakage, etc).
Diagnosis was, as mentioned above, a large HH which was causing the vomiting which, because I refused to deal with the problem, caused my band to slip.

 

How long between diagnosis and new operation?
From initial problem, through refusal, through upper GI through surgery, about 9 months (surgery 6/08)

 

Which operation did you choose, and why?

Surgery to fix HH. Additionally, my surgeon asked me if, while he was in there, I wanted him to change the 2003-vintage band for the new, larger 2008 version. Since I wasn't paying for it, I said okay.

Did you use the same Doctor?
Yes. Never had a problem with my doc or his care.

 

How long between new operation and “recovery" from band issue?
Pretty much immediately. Overnight stay in hospital.

 

Any long term (irreversible) complication(s)?
Not really a "complication", per se, and not irreversible. The only problem is that I have had trouble finding my "sweet spot" with this larger band. With the 4-cc one, it was easy.  The only other problem is that when I had the constant vomiting, I WAS GAINING WEIGHT! STILL can't figure out how that is possible, but it happened. When I had the band emptied prior to the surgery and while it was empty post-op, I went back to all those old habits, ate like a horse and gained weight back, which is much, MUCH harder to lose at a lower weight than it was when I was almost 400 pounds.

NOTE WELL: my gaining some weight back is NOT a band issue; it is a psychological/emotional issue. Food was, is, and always will be my "go-to guy" when stres****s. It wouldn't make any difference WHAT surgery I had, since not one of them will fix my head.
 

Wow. When I went into surgery I never thought I would be posting about issues with my band.  But here I am.

How long did you have the band before the complication began?  Just about 2 years. Prior to that I LOVED having the band. Now, eh.  

What symptom(s) did you experience?  Band repeatedly tightening up on it's own, severe coughing after eating,  acid reflux  

What was the Doctor’s initial reaction / cause of action? (Sadly it seems some Doctors ignored patients complaints) The doctor wanted to take more fluid out which initially helped some. But has continued to need to do this and it is not helping and I have only a smidgeon of fill left. The doctor thinks I may be aspirating food into my lungs.  

What was the official diagnosis issue (band erosion; slippage; port displacement; tubing leakage/separation; leakage, etc). Nothing yet. I had an upper GI yesterday and am awaiting the results. It doesn't sound very good -- The radiologist that took that pictures said he can't personally tell me what the issue is but he said he was going to rush the results to my surgeon the same day and urged me to call today if they don't contact me. 

  How long between diagnosis and new operation? NA  

Which operation did you choose, and why? I am in the process of researching a revision and am leaning towards a DS because of the malabsorptive component. My first choice would be just the sleeve, but I have to be real honest with myself. I have not lost any additional weight in several months even though I'm on the lowest calorie diet  the nutritionist and exersize people at my surgeon's practice recommend for me.  The doctor does not believe I would do well with the sleeve long term. 

  Did you use the same Doctor? No, I will likely be using a different surgeon in the same group. The group my surgeon(s) is in is awesome -- they have fabulous aftercare and a very well run office.   How long between new operation and “recovery" from band issue? NA at this point   Any long term (irreversible) complication(s)?   ?

 
How long did you have the band before the complication began?  About a month.  

What symptom(s) did you experience?  Port pain, reflux, malnutrition, limited esophageal motility, nausea non stop, inability to maintain a fill - I could either eat anything and everything or most often, I was on liquids.  I also have Barretts esophagus.  I had esophageal spasms, stoma spasms, pretty much everything except left shoulder pain, slip, or erosion.  

What was the Doctor’s initial reaction / cause of action? (Sadly it seems some Doctors ignored patients complaints)  He blamed me, he told me I wasn't following the rules.  I did see him about every two weeks and he did everything, fills, unfills (quit doing fills after a month or two, it just wasn't worth it) so many barium swallows I probably glow in the dark now.  He gave me meds to speed up gastric emptying, meds to slow it down, antidepressants, anti emetics, nothing worked.  He does not blame me anymore, he fully admits he was wrong but he did at the time.  I'm still angry with him, he refused to allow his own family members to have a band, only a sleeve.  But he still bands his patients.  

What was the official diagnosis issue (band erosion; slippage; port displacement; tubing leakage/separation; leakage, etc).  No true diagnosis, just the standard issue band complications that are not rare in the least but instead, quite common.  However I guess malnutrition and esophageal damage fit the bill.  

How long between diagnosis and new operation?  Never a true diagnosis, just common band complications.  

Which operation did you choose, and why?  Sleeve, it is safer long term.  

Did you use the same Doctor?  Yes.  

How long between new operation and “recovery" from band issue?  At least six months.  I had to recover from malnutrition but the esophageal dismotility, reflux, and Barretts Esophagus will never go away.  I get to keep those for life.  

Any long term (irreversible) complication(s)?  See above.

***FINALLY, for those who went through this, my I am heartbroken to see you did, but elated to see you're now healthy.***

Who said those of us with failed bands are all healthy?