Information & Support

 My Dear SD!
I so feel your pain, disappointment & fear!
I too have been there. My kids still dont want to hear the word "Lap Band"
I've had all those symptoms. I wonder if your surgeon should have removed the band when you had the hernia, as mine did.
I wish you all the best!

Wow, I'm sorry this happened to you.

I'm going to be revising SOMETIME this summer from the band to the sleeve.  Nothing I did CAUSED the band to slip, it just did.  After multiple Upper GI's, I found out less than two weeks ago, that the Upper GI's should not have been done NPO because it's difficult to see many slips when there is nothing in the pouch.

I was offered a revision while I was in Kuwait because of the problems but the insurance would not have paid after the fact and I didn't have $25K to pay out of pocket.  Here, the surgeon I  just left filed the pre-authorization incorrectly on so many counts that I lost count.  After talking to my insurance and my new surgeon, I'm confident that my insurance is going to pay for the revision but, if it doesn't, I've negotiated a satisfactory price.

Bands just don't work for many of us.  The last I heard, about 30% of us develop complications requiring an additional surgery of some sort. 

It's great that so many don't develop complications that require surgery but the band can cause devastating things to happen.  Anyone who tells who it is reverseable isn't telling you the complete truth, as you have experienced.

Best wishes.

Lisa

SD some of the bandstes here are not familiar with your whole story. Please share with them how much your Lap-Band has cost you so far.

Maria....
At this time, since I was insured when I had the band placed, it only cost me the $1000 deductible at that time.  I was insured when I had the hernia, however, the doctor would not take the band out then.  Since that time, I no longer have insurance, therefore, my recent hospital stay and removal of the band is right now around 90K dollars.  It is hard to get an attorney to take your case almost 4 years out so there is no hope in getting my original surgeon to pay for the damages incurred.  I have asked for help from the hospitals, however, have no way to prove my income because I have recently opened my own resale shop (which is still in the red since I just recently opened it).
I will be on vitamins for quite some time to try to get my health back to somewhat normality so they tend to get expensive...
So, right at this time, we are around 90K plus

 I have to say, I've been here since 2006, and I certainly did not experience that everyone here was pro band all the time, even then there were people experiencing complications. Certainly even back when I first got my band I, and plenty of others here, always encouraged people to make an informed decision after doing research before deciding what surgery was best for them. 

My view is quite different. It has just been over the last yr. that this forum is now more neutral, and those with failed bands don't get attacked as much, or accused of causing their band problems as much.

 My experience was totally different, I actually came here to start when I was having issues and complications and I got very helpful suggestions (way more helpful than my doctor's office) and certainly never felt blamed or attacked. 

That's awesome! That's the way it should be. I have seen some very positive changes on the forum. There is negative on both sides (yes even mine), but things are getting better I think.

I totally agree Dev, when I had problems I came on here and felt like I had a lot of support and got some great advice from a lot of different people. I have seen a couple post by two different people that could be "interpreted"  as blaming some one for their band failing I am  not saying it said "you failed your band". I did not feel it was blaming anyone (but I am probably considered a Band Cheerleader),  I guess its all in how the one reading it absorbs  what is said.

Maria, I can't find our previous string so I am commenting to you. In my previous response about bashing, I was not referring to band bashing, I was talking about how the conversations were going back and forth bashing each other.

I am one of those who is a sponge and want to hear what everyone's experiences are good or bad. Just get tired of what seems to be more attacking each other and not just putting the experience out there. Not aimed at anyone specifically. I thing many people get carried away on issues that are close to them or when they have had pain and suffering. That is human nature.

I really feel for those that have had problems and hope the rest of us who have chosen to be banded can learn from them.

Thanks!