I had mine out a couple of years after I had it placed. It got to the point where I could barely lift my head off the bed, I was so weak, so it was an emergency removal. Then the weird post-surgical stuff started- sneezing to the point of passing out every few days, chronic hiccups... but the left shoulder pain was lessened immensely and the sneezing and hiccuping lasted about a year or so. My diaphragm was damaged as was my Vagus nerve, so that's what caused those odd symptoms. The band does a lot of damage. It's the biggest mistake I ever made. I hope you can get yours out very soon and feel better! Even if you have to fight, do it. It's important. You deserve to feel good. 

Get that thing removed.  Very few people can tolerate it long term.  It does cause vagus nerve damage, reflux, esophageal damage, the list is endless.  If it is causing damage then the longer it is in the worse it will get.  The damage is forever.  :o(

Premier protein is very good and less than most. 

I have. 

Also had the band in 2003. Nothing but severe, chronic pain from it. Also, I didn't have anxiety before, but I sure did develop it while banded. I think the Vagus nerve really does get affected more than ever divulged. It regulates so much in a body and the band's presence just screws it all up. I have gastritis, too. 

Get it removed as soon as possible. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel after the band is out. We get used to being miserable and start to think it's "normal." You WILL feel better when it's out. 

Best of luck to you, melbc. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. 

In may of 2003 I had the lapband put in. I have had 4 or 5 incidences of inflamation (that is what the doctor said) and chest pain here and there. I became pregnant in 2005 and had all fluid removed...about a year later, I had a small amount of fluid put back in but had no real success with true weightloss. I became pregnant in 2010 and had fluid removed again. I became pregnant again in late 2013. ALL 3 deliveries were csections. My daughter was born in august 2014 and about 5-6 weeks later, I began having major issues with acid reflux and abdominal pain. I have severe anxiety and began to think I was dying. I had an EGD and CT scan done and I was told it was just gastritis and put on PPI for a long time. I took myself off because they just kept increasing the doses and nothing was helping. Diet changes helped. I have had intermittent abdominal pain since then. I had a pretty bad flare up of abdominal and side and back pain in September of 2015 and had several tests run again to just be told it is IBS. I am not in the middle of another (the worst yet) case of abdominal and back pain and again, chest pain. My anxiety is through the roof. I went for cardiology appointments again and everything tested fine. The cardiologist is convinced it is my lapband and wants me to see a different bariatric surgeon for help. I am scared. I want this thing out. I am afraid it has caused permanent damage. Any one out there have similar experience? HELP!