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Maybe take a look on the Revisions forum. A lot of people have revised from Lap Band to other forms of WLS. Maybe they will have some info for you?
Good luck to you. I hope all goes well.
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
UPDATE: I just spoke with my surgeon I was told that due to the problems I'm having with the band he can submit my lap band info to my insurance co and could possibly get the sleeve at the same time they remove my band. Is this possible? Has anyone heard of anything like this and how do the insurance co make their decision? Any info will help and is truly appreciated!!! THX!!
EB
That's good news. I'm glad things went well.
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
Actually, the last fill I had was in August of 2013.... longer than I thought and my band had all the fluid in it! I was excited. She did give me a slight feel and I can already feel the restriction!
On the road again....so glad to be on the road again.... 
Did your doctor answer this for you? How'd your appointment go?
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
I have had my lap and for 6 years and just the past few months it feels like I can eat everything. I have not seen my DR in 1.5 years. I am going in today but I wonder if it does/could evaporate and I just need it filled up again?
On the road again....so glad to be on the road again....
Thanks you so much for taking the time to respond. I'm just lost for words and I think your right because I really felt I had a great relationship with my surgeon and he couldn't even look me in the eye and all he kept saying was how sorry he was. It's funny you should say but it does feel like I was a guinea pig. I was told that this will last for life and I had nothing to worry about. After sleeping on it I know I have to get it removed and that's heart breaking because I don't know if I can maintain my weight. I just cant go back to 300 pounds and I see I'm on my way at 250. I will PM because I have a lot of questions about removal and moving forward. Thanks again for your response and I look forward to hearing from you!! THX EB
I'm sorry you're going through this. It's a common experience. Consider reading the Revisions forum to find more information, EB2009. You'll find many posters who have the same or similar issues.
Best of luck to you.
Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI
This is really very common and I would advise not even trying to keep the band because I too have issues with heartburn still, even tho my band was removed 2 yrs ago. Once it starts damaging the esophagus it just keeps irritating it and can cause Barretts esophagus a pre cancerous condition. If you look on FB there are several failed band groups that have lots of information. Basically we were lied to and used as guinea pigs in the US to test the bands Allergan made deals with the FDA but that info doesn't help you. What you need to do is read about the other 3 weight loss surgeries DS or duodenal switch, RNY or gastric bypass and the VSG or sleeve surgery. If the band worked for you the sleeve should be good for you as long as you can get rid of the GERD with removing the band. The sleeve removes 80% of your stomach so it is like the band in that it makes you a smaller stomach, The RNY and DS involve malabsorbtion and involves re-routing the intestines.
Once the esophagus muscles weaken they won't repair and will just continue to weaken as long as the band is in there. If you have any specific questions I can help you with I'll be happy to try to answer them. Just be assured you are far from the only one that has had his issue there are thousands of us out here that have had what you have and some that are in even worse shape I even know a few people who have completely lost their stomachs because of the damage done by their lap bands. There are many who have come close to death from their bands eroding into their stomachs. It is a horrible device and has caused damage and continued pain for many people! PM me if you have any questions I can help you with.
OMG!!!!!!!! I just came back from my doctor for a band fill and was told I have to have my band removed. A little history, I'm 6 year post op lapbander. I love the lap band it has been everything I thought it would be. I was 335 pre op lost 60 in 7mths 82 in 9 more and loved it. I went from fat ex-college athlete to working out 2 times a day and a complete low carb diet lifestyle change. I was the perfect lapband patient. I ate small meals took small amounts putting my spoon down after every bite and I got used to living this way. I felt GREAT no more high bp or joint pain not to mention I loved what I saw in the mirrors so did my wife!! My guns looked good traps out I felt GOOOOOD . I was able to keep up with my kids I coached in basketball and football. Like I side lapband gave me my life back! I only had my initial fill of 5cc and never had another fill seen my surgeon twice 30 days and 60 days after that just calls from his RN and his office until I called 4 weeks ago for a ban fill for feeling hungry and gaining 53 pounds back. I did go over my goal of 200 and reached 193 and I maintained 5yrs fluxing from 200 to 215 but never going over 220.
At the end of 2014 I stated to notice I was getting a lot of acid reflux after eating I so I contacted my primary physician who gave me medication that worked sometimes but I was able to change some things in my diet so it wasn't that bad. In the summer of 2015 I had a kidney infection and was told by my doctor I needed to stop working out for 3 months while taking medication (dehydration was a big concern). Same low carb diet but was so hungry all the time I just knew I needed a band fill. Nov 2015 while not working out and eating a little more than normal I went to 238 and was having massive heart burn and acid reflux and chest pain. I made it past the holidays but the heart burn was so bad I went back to my primary physician who told me that the Nexium wasn't working and I need to make an app with my lapband surgeon because it may be a lap band problem. I laughed and thought it had to be something else the lap band saved my life IT'S THE BEST!! When I saw my surgeon he said yes the band was to tight and he had to take all the fluid out. He said if everything is good and the heart burn and chest pain stop he would re-fill and possibly add. I waited the 4 weeks and the heart burn and acid reflux went away but I gained another 13 pounds so here I am going back in today ready to get a fill when after drinking that nasty white milky stuff he told me I had something called a dilation esophagus and it was so bad that I needed to have my lap band removed!!! It was like some one ripped my heart out. I then asked some question like why after all this time has this happened. He then said from time to time this happens to some long term patients. I said well how many? He said about 70 to 75% in some form!!!! WHAT!!! Why wasn't I told about this? I got online and just ran across this website.
I read a lot of the topics and responses and it appears that I'm not alone. I feel I've been left in the dark!!! What options do I have? I don't know if I can maintain without the lapband just with my current weight at 253 I feel miserable and after reading the post on this site I have a lot of other concerns. The last 5 weeks I've been sitting with a empty lapband. I'm really kind of out of it because his office said they're sending me the info to go on a liquid diet for 5 weeks to see if the esophagus can heal itself. Then what? Do I want a refill? Now I'm reading about scar tissue and other health concerns. Can someone please tell me if they have this happen to them and can this liquid diet work? What other options do I have? I'm just blown away right now.. How could this happened? How could this be?
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