I don't know what to do...

I had lap-band surgery in 2004. I have had it for 8 years now with hardly any complications. The only problem I had was 2 years ago when I went on vacation and apparently the air plane pressure cause it to slightly slip so I had to get it unfilled for 3 Weeks. It repositiomned itself on its own and I had a fill done after. I lost 90lbs regained 60lbs after a few years (my fault for getting back to old eating habits) and I then started getting back on track and added a workout regimen 3 times a week and I lost the 60lbs gained plus 50lbs more a total of 140lb loss. As of 11 months ago I had a baby and during my pregnancy I gained 65lbs because of the baby weight and I stoped working out out of.fear of hurting the baby in some way since I was lifting weights and doing 2 1/2 of cardio. I slowed down till I finally stoped so now im carrying an extra 40lbs still. And I have yet to get back to the gym like before. But over all thru all the UPS and downs im still 100lbs lighter than I was previous to the band so I would still call.it a success for me

Cont.... I Hope it all goes well for you nana and I wouldnt give up just yet on the band. And I too heard about them removing it and not doing them anymore. I Hope its not true because gastric bypass is a very risky surgery.

Thanks SweetCheery! Good to see ole timers pop up on the board from time to time, I will not give up my 4cc band without a fight! All problems that I've had over the years with my 4cc band has been fixed or it fixed on its own without surgery. I honestly don't think there is no other weight loss surgery BETTER than the older bands, this is why I want to hold on to it as long as I can.

I love my band and I think they are just trying to get rid of it cause its a lower cost surgery than the sleeve and gastric bypass I love it because I have the option to remove if I want to (dont plan on it) but the option is there. I dont have the risk.of.my pouch streching and if I find myself eating more than I should I can get it adjusted. I mean you cant go wrong either way lol. But I say hang in there these things were made to hold up to 1,000 adjustments I have barely had 10 fills and unfills all together so I dont think it was made for short term 1,000 fills should last a person their lifetime and beyond lol. So personally I think it's BS they just want to go with the more expensive surgeries and the hell with complications later on. besides complications caused by patient carelessness is more money in their pocket because they cant be blamed for it but get paid if they have to go back.in and fix any t

Sorry cont... Complication due patient carelessness is more money for them because they have to go back in and fix the problem and they cant really get blamed if the patient cause the preoblem themselves. And 8 times outta 10 this is what happens With the gastic/sleeve patients they dont take care of themselves the way they should by drinking,smoking, over eating then throwing up those things cause ulcers,pouch streching an even for their stomachs to rupture (this happened tomy friend a month ago her pouch rupture and she is a year out) with lap band we do have have complications too but since the gastric is more invasive after care is more important for that reason. But dont let these docs convince you to do anything your not sure about because ur gonna live with that for the rest of your life. Again good luck my love. By the way where are you from? I used to live in Brooklyn n.y but I moved to Puerto Rico 2 years ago.

Sweet, I think you are right! When my new surgeon gave his presentation of shoving the Sleeve down my throat, I asked him what if I have more horrible burning than I experienced with my hernia and guess what he said...Oh if you have horrible uncontrollable GERD and burning with your Sleeve, then we can just revise you to the bypass...WTF? Oh yea, that's more money for them with repeated surgeries and complications.

I have come to realize these surgeons really don't give a rats butt if we are having problems with our weight loss surgeries...I am sure MANY that have problems with their Sleeves and Bypass get pushed to their PCP and internist to deal with their long term problems....the problem with the band is that if you have any issues...YOU MUST GO BACK TO YOUR BAND SURGEON, because it's more of a specialty and only the band surgeon can unfill, diagnose issues with slippage or esophagus issues, this is why I believe MORE BAND PROBLEMS ARE REPORTED MORE OFTEN....even if they are not serious.

And oh, I've had MANY fills/unfills with my band over the years due to my previous surgeon not filling my band properly, but after all of those bad fills, my port still is good with no leak. I think everyone that got their bands from 2003-2006 had the very best lap bands. I am sure some had to get their bands removed for various reasons, but MANY still have their bands, and they  lost more weight on average and less issues than the newer AP bands, this is why I am upset and confused about they they stopped making the older bands.

Also pouch dilations and such can be controlled and healed by simply eating less and going on liquids for a few days without surgery at least with the older bands, I am not sure about the new AP bands.

Also remember the economy was pretty bad in the last 4 years...and strangely it has been a whole lot of revision surgeries during this time, I think some surgeons were talking patients into revisions and purposely not helping them or filling their bands properly -- to make them believe their bands don't work. This is why I am NOT convinced my band needs to be removed, I KNOW MY BAND and I KNOW when I have a REAL problem with my band.