Didn't think it would happen to me...

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm trying to keep an open mind. I figure from the looks of my erosion the band hasn't worked in a heck of a long time. I figure if I've been trying to battle keeping the weight off this whole time by myself I still can. It's a struggle but I have to do it. Otherwise I just threw $18000 out the door....that's the hardest part of this whole thing.

Not sure when you had your band but the stats on poor outcomes, band failure, very high complications have been out since 2008.  Do you see why it is so frustrating when we post stats, facts, and studies and we are accused of band bashing?  They are facts.... it's not our fault what the studies show.  We don't write them, we don't even participate in them.  We just report them.

To me band bashing would be walking up to a band and telling the band it's ugly and it's Momma wears combat boots.  That is band bashing.  Posting studies isn't band bashing.  :o(

I keep wishing this was like Facebook! I'm searching for the "like" button! Lol

If you PM me I am happy to give you a link to a f/b page that is just for wls vets with regain and/or revision problems.  There are a TON of failed band folks there.

My band was placed in 2007, and although I didnt have as many issues as Kerry, I have pain with my band every day, I feel the port and the tube to my stomach and it is really annoying.  I have felt it every minute of every day but my surgeon said, no way, there is no way you can feel it.  I only lost a total of 67 pounds, I needed to lose 130, so I feel like a failure.  I keep telling myself I didnt work the band enough, but the reality is, I could not find the right level of restriction, the good stuff got stuck, the bad stuff slipped right through.  When you get tired of slimming and sticking all the time on the good stuff, you start eating to much bad stuff.  I do feel like I have been on a diet every day of my banded life.  It has to come out, the question is, sleeve (another restrictive surgery-my first restrictive surgery didnt really work for me), or RNY (restrictive plus malabsorption). 

I can definitely relate Kerry.  I am heading down the path of revision but I dont think my insurance will pay for it because my BMI is to low and my diabetes is almost completely resolved.  I should know by January which means I have to make the decision on which surgery and worry about whether it will be two surgeries or one.  Let us know how things progress for you.

Sorry this happened to you, and excuse me for my ignorance, but based on what my friends told me that have a lap band, once the port heals after about 6-8 weeks post op, there is no chance of getting a port infection? How can this happen when the incision has healed up?

I thought as long as you keep that area clean and dry and the incision is closed shortly after post it can't break open again? I am so confused about this lap band, but based on my friends that have bands, once it healed it was neatly closed.

My port area incision looked healed after surgery, like your friends said.  Then 5 months later, it became red, inflamed, starting leaking serous fluid and became like an abscess. Not sure what caused it and neither did my surgeon. He put me on several rounds of antibiotics ending with Levoquin and at 6 months decided to replace it. From what I read it could've started from a fill or it could have been going on all along and finally made it to the surface. I have no idea. I remember not being able to lay on my stomach though from the discomfort even before the infection. 

How this happens is when there is erosion, subsequent infection and it travels along the tubing and presents as a port infection.