Considering LAP BAND OR VSG maybe gastric bypass

So far I've only had little twinges of it, not nearly as bad as when I had the band. I sure hope it stays that way!

Very sorry to hear that you're still having issues from it :( And people wonder why we try to warn pre-ops...

The pain I have isn't even a fraction of what it was while banded, but it still catches me off guard on occasion.

I'm glad yours is better, too. It is VERY painful, isn't it? It's a hard pain to describe.

I remember when I was first banded... and there were so few others. I asked about why I would be having such tremendous left shoulder pain and was stared at blankly. One doctor even said, "Why would your shoulder have anything to do with a lapband?"  

I took it upon myself to actually learn more about anatomy. You'd think any doctor would know that the Vagus nerve system is kinda... important, to say the least! And the band being in such close proximity to that system is a recipe for disaster in a lot of people.

But I remember feeling so lost and helpless.
I'm really happy for you that you're doing better!

I had CONSTANT left shoulder pain dumb ass doc tried to tell me it was gas from surgery...oh really that lasted 7 years ???
Switched docs several years into the band and tried to work with it for 3 additional years  gained almost all my weight back....so glad to have it out , it worked great at first , but frankly I was doing all the work till about 1 year , then band kicked in and I lost 30 lbs more , then started gaining.
NO SHOULDER PAIN NOW !!!!!!!!

I was told the same thing... 'it's just gas'... for a long, long time.

I'm hoping that by this point in time more doctors are realizing that it's more than just "gas."
Really happy to hear that you no longer have shoulder pain.

I've regained a lot of weight since band removal. I am happier, however, to be able to breathe and not have chronic pain. I'll take being fat over that.

There's a fourth option you should research as well---the Duodenal Switch, called the DS for short. It's the form of WLS with the VERY BEST long-term, maintained weight-loss stats.

You can lose enormous amounts of weight with any form of WLS. The trick is keeping it off, long-term, and there's where it's really important to choose the right procedure FOR YOU. No form of WLS is truly reversible---even if they put your anatomy back exactly like it was before you started, your body will always have to deal with the physiological effects of having had WLS, so choose something that you're prepared to live with FOREVER.

Women can and do have successful pregnancies with each form of WLS. There's even a Pregnancy After WLS forum here.

 I had a band placed in 2008. I lost 45-50 #, pre & post band. Reflux started at a year out & continued untill I had the $&?$@ thing revised to a RnY in May of this year.  I really hated my lap band & have no regrets except that I didn't do the RnY first. I actually gained all my weight back due to eating the wrong foods, because I wasn't able to eat god protien unless it was liquid.  Do your research and listen to what your dr recommends.  I work with several post band and post RnY pts. The RnYers are ALL successful, only 1 of the banders is successful. 4banders & 3 RnYers. 

It will be 6 year this week (July 6th) that I was banded.

I have not regret at all.  It was the best think I ever did.It's changed my life.

If you have any  questonsI and would like to chat on the phone I have free long distance and would be happy to call you.

Please feel free to email me.

Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss:  156 lbs
[email protected]

I hope you make the decision that works for you.
Apparently, some people on forum have had some issues. I can almost bet there
are people who are successful and don't post on here.

I am 3.5 years banded.  I was called the perfect band patient by the nurses and doctor.  I am in the process of trying to get approval for VSG and to get my fickel band out.  My main reason for removal is all the pain I have from the band.  I guess my body doesn't like it.  I know my band doesn't like me anymore.

The good thing of the VSG over the bypass is they don't mess with our natural valves.  I have had enough of a artificial opening.

I would now strongly advise you to not have WLS.  Try to lose the wait again on your own first.  I had a lapband installed 3 years ago.  After having it installed I felt like I was choking or having a heart attack at first. 

After a while that feeling stopped and I lived fine for over a year plus. 

Well today it's been 3 years and 9 months and I am scheduled to have it removed on Monday. 

My 2nd fill was a year ago May and afterward, when I got home I felt like I was having a heart attack and layed down all day until the feeling passed.  I got through to my next fill this May. 

After my fill this May I really started feeling like I was going to have a heart attack.  I had left shoulder pain and heavy pain under my left breast where my port is.  After my internal medicine doctor attributed it to "just stress" I pushed and he did a bunch of tests with contrast....no findings of abnormalities. 

I then went to my lapband surgeon (whom I love and one of the finest in the industry)  who emptied my port of all fluid.  It was like someone took a ton of bricks off a nerve for me.  He had me lay still until I was up to moving.  Then...since later that day I still hurt my internal medicine Dr. suggested an endoscopy STAT.  I had one the next day (Saturday) and sure enough, I have Barrett's (stomach acids have eroded my esophogus) and my lapband has eroded into my stomach.  Hence the pain. 

It apparently has been happening for some time.  I don't regret having gotten the lapband because I lost over 70 pounds but right now am a bit afraid for my health while I wait to get the removal surgery.  My surgeon (Dr. Watson) put me at ease and will take care of me on Monday.  I just love him and Maryann, his nurse.  I trust them with my life.

For those of you that "feel" something isn't right you know your body better than any physician.  If you hurt you have to let them know you hurt and insist something is wrong even if you are worried they'll think you're a hypochondriac.  Doctors look for horses, not Zebras, sometimes our afflictions are Zebras and are harder to find but your body does not lie to you.  If your pain is real push until they trace it to the cause.  I'm glad I did, I just might have helped save my own life before my lapband wore clean through my stomach instead of just a hole in it.