If you are considering Adjustable Gastric Banding
I got my Realize band 5/28/10 and have done as well as I expected. I lost about half my EW. My type 2 diabetes is managed without meds and all of my co-morbidities are improved with 71 lbs lost. Unfortunately about 11 months ago, I started having symptoms that I thought were unrelated to my band. Pain in the middle of the night that would start in my abdomen above my belly button, but below my stomach, radiating to my back, neck, jaw and even my teeth. It didn't happen often, but enough to cause me some concern. I went to my PCP and he sent me to my band doctor, but everything appeared to be fine at that point.
A couple of months later, in Sept '11 I began having right upper quadrant pain and a lot of burping, stuck episodes, etc. Went back to the band doc and had an abdominal ultrasound and esophogram. The ultrasound was positive for gallstones, the esophogram showed the band in the proper place, no obstructions, but a slower than normal, but still not a cause for concern, emptying of the esophagus. I had my gall bladder out mid October and expected my symptoms to resolve. In November, 3 weeks after surgery, my FIL passed away and we had to go to California, where we stayed (except for a week here and there****il mid-April dealing with the estate. My symptoms returned and I started having the pain awake, asleep, etc and they became more frequent and severe. I also started having palpitations, reflux and a lot of stuck episodes. I would go for days at a time with jus****er and some soup. Eating became something I dreaded. Since I couldn't eat veggies or salad, I was constantly constipated and miserable in general.
As soon as I returned home, I went to my PCP again who sent me to a Cardiologist. I had a slew of tests, including a stress Echocardiogram, which was negative. My heart is actually very healthy for my age, 62 and my weight history. I did have very high blood pressure, which is currently managed with additional meds. The Cardiologist sent me back to the bariatric surgeon, I had an esophogram, which showed my stoma to be narrowed to the extent that just a trickle of barium was going through. I swallowed an imaging pill that should have passed through easily, and it just sat on top of my stoma. I only had 3.5 cc in an 11 cc band, so I wasn't overfilled. I either have scar tissue that has formed under my band, creating its own band, or the stomach had a wrinkle inside the band, obstructing the stoma. Since I continue to have the same symptoms (slightly improved) and have restriction, I am guessing it is scar tissue. I go back to the doctor July 17 for another esophogram to determine the next steps...don't think I am ever going to be refilled.
Think long and hard about how to manage your obesity. Surgery of any kind has risks. Investigate thouroughly before you make a decision and make sure your surgeon is very experienced in the procedure you choose.
I appreciate the weight loss I have experienced with my band and don't regret it at all. Not sure today if I would make a different choice, since I am a medicare patient and medicare recently decided to cover the VSG, which is probably what I will choose if I revise.
Good luck!
Stephanie
A couple of months later, in Sept '11 I began having right upper quadrant pain and a lot of burping, stuck episodes, etc. Went back to the band doc and had an abdominal ultrasound and esophogram. The ultrasound was positive for gallstones, the esophogram showed the band in the proper place, no obstructions, but a slower than normal, but still not a cause for concern, emptying of the esophagus. I had my gall bladder out mid October and expected my symptoms to resolve. In November, 3 weeks after surgery, my FIL passed away and we had to go to California, where we stayed (except for a week here and there****il mid-April dealing with the estate. My symptoms returned and I started having the pain awake, asleep, etc and they became more frequent and severe. I also started having palpitations, reflux and a lot of stuck episodes. I would go for days at a time with jus****er and some soup. Eating became something I dreaded. Since I couldn't eat veggies or salad, I was constantly constipated and miserable in general.
As soon as I returned home, I went to my PCP again who sent me to a Cardiologist. I had a slew of tests, including a stress Echocardiogram, which was negative. My heart is actually very healthy for my age, 62 and my weight history. I did have very high blood pressure, which is currently managed with additional meds. The Cardiologist sent me back to the bariatric surgeon, I had an esophogram, which showed my stoma to be narrowed to the extent that just a trickle of barium was going through. I swallowed an imaging pill that should have passed through easily, and it just sat on top of my stoma. I only had 3.5 cc in an 11 cc band, so I wasn't overfilled. I either have scar tissue that has formed under my band, creating its own band, or the stomach had a wrinkle inside the band, obstructing the stoma. Since I continue to have the same symptoms (slightly improved) and have restriction, I am guessing it is scar tissue. I go back to the doctor July 17 for another esophogram to determine the next steps...don't think I am ever going to be refilled.
Think long and hard about how to manage your obesity. Surgery of any kind has risks. Investigate thouroughly before you make a decision and make sure your surgeon is very experienced in the procedure you choose.
I appreciate the weight loss I have experienced with my band and don't regret it at all. Not sure today if I would make a different choice, since I am a medicare patient and medicare recently decided to cover the VSG, which is probably what I will choose if I revise.
Good luck!
Stephanie
6-7-13 band removed. No revision. Facebook Failed Lapbands and Realize Bands group and WLS-Support for Regain and Revision Group
Stephanie this is so common! I'm sure that is why people's bands start tightening at the 2-3 year mark. I believe it takes that long for the scar tissue to build up to where it starts causing the tight feeling so many of us get. I had mine completely emptied for this very reason because I was just wasting money getting an unfill every few months. I will never have a fill again and hope to have the sleeve once I qualify for Medicare in a few years. Until then I'm just crossing my fingers nothing goes horribly wrong. You definately aren't alone and I hope may will read this and heed your warning!
I am 3.5 years out and what you say may be happening to me. I went in to day do get another 1cc out, 6.2 to.5.25. At one year out I had 9.25 cc in the band. I was still so tight after the unfill I burped the water and the nurse wanted to take more out. I would have but it hurt so bad having the 1st cc out I wouldn't let her. She said the fills/un-fills hurt so bad as scaring has developed at the port and it is tipped. The first fills I had didn't hurt a lick, now it feels like she is sticking a kniff in and twisting it.
BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.
WOW, Steph, good luck. I know medicare is claiming the sleeve will be covered, but now it's an individual state decision...so let the waiting games continue. I hope you can get this problem resolved quickly and safely.
I've been on prednisone and chemo for over 7.5 years. Gained over 160 pounds due to pred. Highest wt. 410. Surgery wt. 365. Current wt. 299
See ya,400s, 90s,80s,70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, 10s 300s!!!!
See ya,400s, 90s,80s,70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, 10s 300s!!!!
I don't have it, girly. This came from my surgeon. I did see an article on the band page someone linked stating medicare will cover it. Then when I went to my surgeon last week he said it's per state? So I'm confused now.
I've been on prednisone and chemo for over 7.5 years. Gained over 160 pounds due to pred. Highest wt. 410. Surgery wt. 365. Current wt. 299
See ya,400s, 90s,80s,70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, 10s 300s!!!!
See ya,400s, 90s,80s,70s, 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, 10s 300s!!!!
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