If you've been banded for a year+ and having complications...Please share!

 Lately, veteran bandsters are coming forward in increasing numbers to report problems, complications, band removal and revisions.  Since I cannot name names, lest I risk moderation, I will ask all of my fellow bandsters who have lost your bands, anticipate losing your bands, had to be unfilled, experienced complications, had your band tighten for no apparent reason, to please post on this thread, sharing your experience.
Hi, I'm Steph M.  I've been banded just over 2 years, just had a complete unfill due to my band tightening (3.5cc in 11cc Realize C Band).  My last fill, of 2 was March 1, 2011, .5cc.  I was fine until last summer, when I began being awakened by pain during the night.  I started having PBs frequently, despite cutting my food into pea sized pieces, chewing 20 times, eating slowly, not drinking with meals, eating between half cup- 1 cup food per meal, etc...I followed the RULES pretty consistently.  I had to be on liquids 2-3 days per week, thus developed maladaptive eating.  While I didn't gain, I also didn't lose...Tuesday I weighed exactly what I did on March 1, 2011, and on Oct 5, 2011 when I went in for my gallbladder.  My PA was very happy I maintained, despite having problems.  The EGD showed just a trickle of barium going through my band, even though the opening should have been 3/8" wide.  Water sat on top of the barium for about 7 minutes.  I then swallowed the pill that should pass easily through the stoma and it just sat there.  My stoma was less than 1/8 inch with my band only 30% filled.
I go back 7/17 to do another EGD...

Lisa here.

Got the band in August 2008, worked pretty well, some fills, some unfills, a stuck incident with clam chowder.

Had plastics in November and December 2009.  And then I started having issues.

Finally found out in May 2012 that is was because my band slipped.  And, even empty, it has not self-adjusted.  I can't tolerate any fill on it.

I have had upper GIs as well as upper GI endoscopies and a ****load of other medical tests.

Two denials for revision from insurance because I don't meet weight requirements, neither of which mentioned the slip because my previous surgeon (who has never actually done surgery on me) doesn't think I have a slip despite almost textbook symptons.  My current surgeon will be resubmitting when the GI and Hematology records are on in, on the basis of the slip, which my insurance bariatric coordinator has indicated is an acceptable reason for revision and said that the insurance will pay for the revision on that basis.  If they don't pay for the revision, they have already agreed to pay for the removal and my surgeon will charge an acceptable cash price for the revision.

This revision should have happended by Christmas last year.  Realistically, at this point, I think it will happen in September timeframe, as long as I don't have a band emergency.

~.I followed the RULES pretty consistently.~

That is an important statement! Previously on this forum when bandsters would complain about complications/band failure, they were often told, or at least it was insinuated, that THEY did something wrong. This is usually NOT the case! Although there are some bandsters that are noncompliant, the vast majority of them are compliant most of the time (100% of the time is just unrealistic).

The band is a crap shoot. It works for some, does NOT work for most long term. Of course anyone getting the band needs to do THEIR part to work with the band. However the band does not always do IT'S part to work with us.

So let's try to be caring when we see bandsters with complications and failed bands on here and not assume it to be caused by them "keeping a tight band/abusing their band/etc.". If we want this to be a support forum.........then lets support those with failed bands as well and not accuse! :-)

 You have to read my old post resurrected by someone wanting to rub my nose in it, re crapshoot...you should get a laugh out of it...

It's all a matter of perspective. The odds I saw stated when I was researching were not bad at all. Unfortunately they weren't accurate...........but they weren't bad! lol. Even if it honestly was a small % of band failures though, when it happens to YOU, it hits home. Suddenly things are completely different.

That being said, I wish the band had worked out for you. I wi**** had worked out for all of us, but I can understand how someone that had the band and had it work well for them initially would think that if one complied that that would be the case for everyone. Like my can opener. I bought a Black n Decker electric can opener. B n D can openers work well for most that buy them. I got a lemon apparently. NEVER have I used an electric can opener that is so freaking tempermental! You have to put the can in the exact spot. And I think it has to allign with the solar system in some way to get the right "vibes" to decide to work, lol. Seriously. It's a POS! Lol. I know this thing works for most, but this particular one is horrible. It would be kind of like me posting that and being told I was too stupid to know how to use a can opener. Not the case......but kind of the reaction I got when I initially told my band story.

Anyway, enough about my POS can opener! Lol. You now know first hand my Black n Decker band experience. As I said. Wish your outcome had been better, but like most of us long term........it was not to be. Just keep doing what you are doing and share your expereince. You will have many thank you for it! If you can open the eyes of just one pre-op and cause them to do further research then all this will be worthwhile.

Though I may sound mean at times..........my posting comes out of concern. I just don't want others to go through what I have. And I can see by how you have opened up the last week or so that you want to pay it forward also.

 I'm still hopeful that my band will be ok.  I might have my head in the clouds, but having had so little fill, I'm hoping that the damage is minimal.  If I were to revise, VSG is my only option and it isn't Medicare approved yet.  This thread is intended to be informative, so please share your experience, symptoms, complications so that people know what vague and confusing signs may point o a complication.

Let me also say I was a band cheerleader initially. Yes me! Lol. I got the band and did my part and believed the advertising that it would do it's part (full sooner, full longer). So there are some that could rub my nose it it as well.

Banded 3 years ago this past weekend. Been completely empty for 10 months now. Started off great, 4 months after banding found myself too tight after an adjustment even though it was done under scope. Went back and had a slight unfill, lost health insurance with my job 9 days later. Called a couple months later about getting a fill again, and was informed of the price. STICKER SHOCK@@!!!
Said ok, I will be here for a while had 7cc's in my band, and able to eat not and not get stuck, but not really feeling restriction either.
Lowest weight post band was 2/14/10 at 199. I was in a comfortable size 12, and happy except for the fact that then I started getting tight, stuck on everything. Again adjustments were out of reach. When you are out of work, and have nothing, it is very hard to get a doctor to convince the hospital to waive the $850 fee's they charge.
Fast forward to August 2011, still getting stuck all the time, weight is increased back to 225. I am miserable and I am again stuck, even on water.. off to the er I go, and under scope they withdraw all my fluid.
Now, 10 months later, I am still empty, still stuck but not as often, still unemployed and have the opportunity for insurance finally, that will cover revision. I just have to get a job to be able to pay the premiums. Have a job prospect that actually contacted me yesterday and will find out soon if that will pan out. As soon as I can this will be removed. I am just trying to figure out which procedure I want. Had originally thought the sleeve, although I was informed the long run the RNY or DS may be a better option for me. I am researching and will figure it out.

I'm always glad to tell my story! I was banded 4+ years ago in Oct. of 2007, pre op I had a 30 day skim milk diet to follow which I did except one day towards the end I did have a piece of swiss cheese, so yes I can follow difficult diets! After my surgery we had a several week full liquid diet and then the usual move to mushies and then soft food and then on to regular food. I'd say I followed the rules 99% of the time because I so wanted this to work. I ate tiny bites the size of a pencil eraser, chewed and chewed them, ate protein first and then veggies, very rarely ate any even healthy carbs. I exercised as much as I could with other health issues but it wasn't as much as most of you do. I lost only 20 lbs after the band and I'd lost 20 before with the 6 mo. diet.

My psych exam showed no food issues just my inability to exercise was to blame (along with a lung disease). So even the psych doc said I should do great (altho at the time I was planning RNY). Then my surgeon said because I have a clotting disorder I could only get the band and since he said it was just as effective as the RNY it should work fine.

Well not so much! After 2 years my band began to tighten for no reason, hadn't had any fills for months. So I had 1 cc removed and was ok for a few months then it happened again so I had another cc taken out. Again I was ok for a few months and then it tightened again so at this point I just had it emptied since every fill and unfill was $225 it was just getting too expensive to justify continuing. Originally I had insurance that covered all this but it was changed without us having a choice so now everything is self pay so revision is out. We are retired so there is no money for revision or to even have my band removed so here I sit with a potential time bomb in me that I can't afford to have removed. I still have issues with heartburn sometimes and get stuck once in awhile even tho I still eat the tiny bites. So while I'm thankful I don't have the serious problems many have had I still feel the band failed me. I followed the rules and it didn't make a bit of difference. Even the surgeon who emptid me said they are finding 1/5 or more of their patients can not tolerate the band for one reason or another thru not fault of their own it just isn't accepted by their bodies. So you CAN follow all the rules and regs and still not be successful with the band.
If the band has worked for you, awesome, I don't begrudge anyone who has had success I just resent when we are all brushed with the same paint brush of failure and noncompliance. Some fail because they don't or can't follow the rules, but some of us fail because we didn't get the tool we were promised. I'm friends with Betty and Kate both successful bandsters and I'm thrilled for them but it didn't work for many of us thru no fault of our follow thru. Nothing works for everyone!

 My journey with the lapband began on fat Tuesday in 2008. That was the beginning of a nightmare 6 months later. From surgery till6 months out I lost 88 pounds. I however got a chunk of pork chop stuck in my band and all fill was removed. I had a herniation at the time which resolved with no fill and liquid diet.  Months later I was back on my journey. For several months in 2010 then 2011 my weightless stopped and my reflux, n,v began. In may 2011 I was dx with band slip and my stomach was herniated up in the band,  I underwent emergency revision surgery.  Gained back some weight in recovery went through filling, nausea, reflux. The burning reflux started again a few months ago. I had a barium swallow Tuesday. July 12 the band will be removed.