So..my Lap Band surgeon is talking about the Sleeve and options for me...

Thanks for your support sweetie. I have the old school lap band. When surgeons were placing bands back in 2005 many were not repairing hernia's especially if they were not big. They learned over the years after several people had issues that hernia's were causing reflux and patients could not obtain optimal restriction without problems if they had a hernia.

In fact, hernia's are a contradiction of getting a lap band, it must be repaired prior to putting the band in otherwise it will not be effective because the hernia will get in the way and cover the diaphram area causing pain and reflux. This explains why I've always had issues with tight restriction, I lost most of my weight on moderate restriction and I am happy I did. When I got my band I had more motivation than I do now...lol...Now since I am older and not as active, I NEED my tool to be more effective than I did when I got my band over 7 years ago.

You are right we all have unique issues that may interfere with the band, outside of slippage or erosion.

I talked to husband this afternoon and he does not want me to get the Sleeve, he wants me to just get my hernia repaired and if possible leave the band in and give it another try with the hernia being fixed. But we will see next week, when we go over all my options, who knows my surgeon  may have some other new technology they want to offer me. At least with the band we will always have options.

Good deal. One of my coworkers has the sleeve and she has had so many problems. But again, that's her experience, not the norm.
You got my support my dear!

Nana we all know you are a huge band advocate, so I appreciate your honesty in coming forward with your band issues.

Maria, you are not as bad as I thought you were:). Yep I KNEW the wolves would come out of the wood works on my post. I just thought I would post about things that CAN happen LONG term with the band, I've always been honest with my journey, I've always SHARED the GOOD and the BAD.

I applaud you Naomi for coming forward and sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the LAGB.

If I can be of any assistance please let me know.

 Many bariatric surgeons are now listing hiatal hernia as a post op complication of banding.

Where oh where is the love button? Love you Steph!!!!!! Keep tellin' it like it is!!!

 

Yep, it's true Hiatal Hernia's CAN be a complication from banding, but I believe I've had my hernia for years –(undiagnosed), since I've had the exact same issues before I got my band placed when I learned I had GERD, esophagitis and gastritis about 13 years ago when I had two endoscopies done that was back in 2009.

 I remember traveling to Chicago with my girlfriend to the Oprah show in 1999 and I had this horrible inflammation from GERD and I could not enjoy my meals and I had those same horrible chest pains, it was HORRIBLE BEFORE I even thought about a lap band.

It took about 6 months before I totally healed, had to stay on Nexium and I had difficulty swallowing and the breathing problems from the esophagitis, with all this misery and I lost about 70 pounds during this time, but eventually gained it all back when I felt better, so in MY case, I cannot blame it on the band, it’s part of my medical history, it was probably was cause by eating too much and too much spicy food, since my band was loose for almost a year.

And yes there are complications for EVERY TYPE of weight loss surgery including the lap band below are complications that can happen with every type of surgery:

LATE COMPLICATIONS
COMPLICATIONS OF SPECIFIC BARIATRIC PROCEDURES
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Gastric remnant distension
- Stomal stenosis
- Marginal ulcers
- Cholelithiasis
- Ventral incisional hernia
- Internal hernias
- Short bowel syndrome
- Dumping syndrome
- Metabolic and nutritional derangements
- Renal failure
- Postoperative hypoglycemia
- Change in bowel habits
- Failure to lose weight and weight regain
Gastric banding
- Stomal obstruction
- Port infection
- Band erosion
- Band slippage and gastric prolapse
- Port malfunction
- Esophagitis
- Esophageal dilatation
- Hiatus hernia
Sleeve gastrectomy
- Bleeding
- Stenosis
- Gastric leaks
Vertical banded gastroplasty
- Staple line disruption
- Obstruction
- Erosion of mesh band
- Reflux
- Vomiting
Biliopancreatic diversion and duodenal switch
Jejunoileal bypass
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Renal failure
- Cirrhosis
 

 If you had the hiatal hernia at the time of your band surgery your band surgeon should have seen it.  Looking for stuff like that is part of what a good surgeon does.