Naomi - a question for you

When I had my HH, my surgeon just went in and sewed it shut. It was a really simple, the procedure being just a couple of hours and he even went in through the old scars so I wouldn't have to have any new ones

I DID have my band replaced with the newer one at that time, but that was optional. Has your surgeon insisted on removal and sleeving, or was he just suggesting it? 

My first choice is to keep the band and repair the hernia. I am not sure if actually replacing my lap band with a new AP type lap band will be offered, but as the nurse mentioned they will go over several surgical weight loss options including a revision to the Sleeve and/or RNY which is out of the question for me.

I am sure they will also discuss pros and cons of keeping the band and revising, perhaps maybe they’ve seen something that I don’t know about after reviewing my endoscopy report in-depth and will let me know what my options are. Right NOW I don't know if I will be FORCED to get my band removed, but based on my conversation with the nurse last week, keeping my band was still an option and fixing the hernia, but we will see.

My surgeon only does bands, but they have an expert in their practice that does the Sleeve, RNY and the DS and I am sure if I want to convert to the Sleeve he would probably do that.
My greatest fear with the Sleeve is that I will have less restriction than what the band can offer and have dumping syndrome and worse reflux and GERD than what I have now with the band.

My family has a history of ulcers and if I ever NEED my stomach again getting my stomach removed now would not be a good idea. If I was positive that neither of those would occur I would revise to the Sleeve in a heartbeat, but I have a lot of unknowns now and I need to hear what my surgical group has to say and offer.

I would love to hear of others who’ve had a hernia repaired successfully after they’ve had their bands. I am thinking they would have to remove the band in order to repair the hernia? I am confused about how they will go about doing this.

Since your hernia repair and new band, do you have any reflux and heartburn problems now? Also do you find your new band better or worse than the older band?

I will update next week once I meet with my surgical team on my options and which option is in my best interest based on my medical condition.

I don't know if they HAVE TO remove the band to fix i. I don't remember my surgeon going over that part,  but then again, it was a few years ago.

I have to tell you, though, I'm not as happy with the "new and improved" band as I was with my old one. I have had a much harder time finding my sweet spot . . .

Ok, thanks for the clarification, I think that is what the nurse was saying that they could go in and fix the hernia with the band still in place. But I have the old 4cc band that does not unbuckle like the new bands do. I am sorry to hear your new band is not as good as the old one.

I thought it was a lot better for you. I've heard others mentioned with the new AP band, it takes a LOT of fills to get to the sweet spot. I honestly LIKE my current band, I've only needed to get to about 2.6cc and I have good restriction EVEN WITH MY HERNIA. So if I CAN KEEP my current band I would like too.

I will update you once I hear what they have to say.....also the thing is revising may not be the answer because I will still have the SAME hernia even if I revised to the Sleeve and it could be worse after they remove most of my stomach and many complain about GERD more with the Sleeve than with the band. I guess I am just rambling now....It would be great if they had a brand new surgical option availble that helped with great weight loss with little to no side effects and safer.

I was waiting for those who had the banded pilification, but I don't believe that surgery is too popular right now...oh well....now it's the waiting game. 

 .It would be great if they had a brand new surgical option availble that helped with great weight loss with little to no side effects and safer.

That will be about the time that we finally have world peace.

Bette One of the Surgeons in Atlanta did say the old style was better(seened to cause less problems) than the new one.  Might be why some oldtimers still have their bands without issue.  Might want to think about it Nan if they don't HAVE to replace the old one.

Hey Bette,

Pineview mentioned that one of the Drs. at the Atl. conference said that the old 4cc bands worked better. My interpretation of that was they worked better and reaching restircion. Since you've had both, just wondered if your origional band worked better in that sense? I have seen posted on the revision forum numerous times about bandsters that reached restriction and lost witll with their first band so after complications got a 2nd band...........then they said the 2nd one didn't work like the 1st band did.

 The 4cc one was most definitely a better fit for me.

I got a hiatial hernia at 4 years post op and my band surgeon said he could repair it without removing the band.  Since I had the old VG band, he offered to put in the new and improved AP band at no cost. I was reluctant to remove the one I had as I had done very well with it for 4 years and knew it well.  He talked me into getting the AP and let me tell you, I hate it.  I have had nothing but problems with the AP.  I begged him to find me a VG to put back in me.  I have had 3 bands now.  The original VG, the AP-Small and the AP-Large.  The best one for me was the VG  The old saying of don't fix what isn't broken sure applys to me.  If I could turn back the clock 3 years, I would have had him repair the hernia and leave my VG inside me.

3 Lap Bands is mind blowing - really!!!  Hopefully the 3rd will be a lifer.  But I am curious, would you get a 4th?  Say a REALIZE band or a new generation Lap Band if one comes out?

All Best!