Slip/Removal

Has anyone experienced a slip that resulted in an emergency removal?  If so, have you been successful at maintaining your weight loss, or continuing to lose after the removal?  I have a friend that has had this happen and she doesn't want to have any other procedure performed.  She's been looking for cases of people being successful after a removal and isn't having a lot of luck.  I just thought I would check on here for her.  Thanks in advance!!

The odds are not in her favor.  I have never heard of anyone that had their band removed and didnt gain weight without due diligence and even then some gain was realized.  She should check into a sleeve revision if she can.  I know I would should it ever be needed.

Theresa

Yep I agree with Theresa it's very difficult. I belong to several failed band groups and I would say 99%  end up revising to one of the other surgeries either VSG (sleeve), RNY or DS. It takes more diligence than most people have to maintain much less lose once they don't have a "tool" anymore. However that said there is no rush about getting a second surgery so she could try it on her own. In fact quite often surgeons want to let you heal from the removal before they do a second surgery, so she could use that time to see how she does. I wish I could give you better news but this is the reality. I wish her the best and hope she can be the exception to the rule!

I still have my band, but had to have a complete unfill back in December.  I might as well have lost my band.  I gained 25 pounds almost immediately....my fault as I did not control my eating...it is HARD..hince me having the surgery in the first place. 

My doctor puts out a newsletter.  In the last newsletter he stated that they "Think" the fact of just having the lapband increases your metabolism.

I could possibly believe that but I need to question him more on it.   I have lost my weight but I feel it was a diet. 

I do feel the band helps to keep it off, so that is why it may be possible that it increases your Metabolism.

Just commenting,  I don't know if this is true or not just passing on information I read.

Has anyone else been told this?

The first time I had a total unfill, I gained 30 pounds.  Never got it all back off before the second unfill.  That said, I am again unfilled and have 20 back off.  But, I know long term without help I won't be able to keep it off for a lifetime. 

I am getting my band out and my biggest fear is the insurance co isn't going to let me get a tool to replace it.

You may want to join and ask here too;

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion /

I've gotten help and support here!

 That's the part that most (our friends/family) don't understand when we go in and have the surgery....okay I work and I get thinner....but as much as i would love to take sole credit for it....I NEED the band to help me to control my eating disorder...I am dealing with an empty band at the moment and my scale is up a few pounds.....part of it was dumb choices...."omg I can actually taste xyz again!" a big part of it is not having my band to help me limit those things that are okay to have in moderation.

Hopefully your friend learned all the rules and learned them well and that can be a big help for her, she will have to work double time at making good choices and learning to say that negative word even more...NO. :)   Have her log her food, that's a big help for me to see how much of what i eat is carbs and fat it helps me monitor what is going in.

I eat alot of nuts and such as my snacks but now with no fluid in the band one handful can quickly become 4! (I'm not proud of that...I am simply honest.)   So I am making better choices and my numbers going back where they should be....but it is definitely a wake up call....  the FAT GIRL in me...she is still there and she will still work against me if I give her enough lead way....on that note...she and I are headed to the gym soon. :)


....just keep swimming
Swoosh 

 I had a slip and had surgery to reposition it, two years out.  I found it very ifficult to get to a good place with my band after that.  I kept it loose, but it would still tighten up at awkward times.  I ended up getting a revision to the sleeve.  

There are a lot of members of the failed band group that have had theirs removed and not revised (either by choice, or b/c no ins. or funds for revision). I believe most have had regain if I'm not mistaken. Very sad! :-(

Thanks to everyone for your comments and responses.  I'm going to share this with her.  I think she's contemplating a revision to a sleeve.  Thanks again, I appreciate all the input!!