Lap band "open"

 I have been banded since July 2011. I have at this time 10.5cc in my band .mi have never felt restriction whatsoever in the 14mo of being banded. So my doctor decided to do a fluoroscopy guided fill to see what's going on and he tells me my lap band is "open" and he has no idea how it happened. ??? He said now I need another surgery to have it repaired. I'm not so sure I want this thing in me any more

Has this happened to anyone here??

I didn't have this happen and that is one that I never heard before.  It has
to be a defect or a bad surgeon.  I personally would ask if he had to do another surgery to do a different surgery.  I just had a surgery to get mine out.  My body rejected the port.

What exactly does he mean that it is OPEN?  I've never heard of this before.

The question in my mind is the a defective lap band or was it defective surgery?  If it was a defective band, then I would expect the manufacturer to pay.  If it was the surgeon, shame it didn't happen during the global care period.

I hope your insurance will cover this. 

I think what your surgeon meant was that your band became "unbuckled", the newer bands can be unbuckled and "opened" if there is band slippage, the surgeon can just unbuckled the band and fix the dilated pouch instead of totally removing the band.

The older bands like I have 4cc 10ml band can't be unbuckled, but I honestly wonder if the newer bands are better -- I've seen more "issues" reported since 2007 when the newer bands came out than the older bands, I've been too tight, ate too much, many many stuck episodes, reflux, mild pouch dilation six years ago, and my band is still working perfectly at 7 years, but of course I still visit my surgeon when needed.

And yes, your surgeon will have to go back in surgically to fix it, I would personally ask for a new band, I would not trust that one.

 But can the band unbuckle even if there is no slippage? He didn't say it was slipped he said oh how did that happen???? I'm so confused! And I'm still waiting for a call from him since yest. Am that I left a message! Uhhh!  Is he avoiding me?? Hmmmm...

There are just soooooooooo many things that can and DO go wrong with bands. You have already wasted a year on it. I would strongly advise that you revise to a different WLS.

I do agree with Nana on one point though. The new bands don't seem to be any better. Actually from what I've read, it was easier/quicker to reach restriction with the old 4cc bands.

Imthinkmthats what I want to do revise to sleeve or gastric but not sure if he is willing to do that. I called his office yesterday and I'm still waiting for a call back....

Sorry you're experiencing this.

Here's some info that may help:


https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/d etail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=1518243

Taper ii. Visual examination of the returned device determined the access port tubing connector to be a taper ii. The lab found the device functional, with only surgical damage. The band tubing (this is the portion of tubing located between the stainless steel connector and the band, not the stainless steel connector and the port) was broken with striations consistent with surgical damage and may have been made to facilitate removal of the device. Device labeling addresses the possible outcome of an unbuckled band as follows: "failure to secure the band properly may result in it subsequent displacement and necessitate re-operation. The lap-band ap system is not a lifetime product and it may break of fail in whole or in part at any time after implantation and notwithstanding the absence of any defect. ".

 

So according to this info it's a surgeon error?? Is that what it means? That's what I got from that...

Could be. Or it could just be "one of those things"...   "It's not a lifetime device" says Allergan in an attempt to cover their collective butts. They know the band is a rotten device, but it's making them lots of money. So, they say the band coming undone, thereby rendering it useless, is one of the things that can happen after gastric banding.  

My band nearly killed me, so my advice would be to get the sucker taken out. But I'm jaded by my experience.