Unfortunately I have not made the triip to my doctor for an a half hours away in Clarksville my insurance does not pay and I already owe them over $200 that they told me to be prepared to pay before I could be seen again. So it's kind of been on the back burner

I understand this. The band did so much damage to my nerves that I never feel full. I have gastritis which mimics hunger, too. Have you been diagnosed with gastritis, by any chance?

Mine is also the realize band placed in 2009. Would LOVE to convert to sleeve but would have to self pay and there's just no way that's possible

Hi Eveyone -

I am writing on this forum to share my own story, not to disparage the Lap Band because I know many people are successful supporters. At the weight of 263 I had a Lapband placed in 2008, paying out of pocket. At that time GERD was my bigggest CM but I have a sister who was approaching 400 pounds so I was worried. At that time my weight was such that Bypass wasn't really considered and the band was new enough that there weren't too many horror stories and I had high hopes that it would be my answer.

Since that time my lowest weight was 150 (as a result of a huge bleeding fybroid) but has hovered at about 200 pounds - not great, but not terrilbe. I have had spells of success with the band but most of my experience has been unplesant. Pain around the port and on the side of the port (I've been checked for Gallstones multiple times), unable to lose weight then unable to swallow meat, back pain, etc. The port is placed in an area that I can ALWAYS feel when I bend or wear any type of waistband - it's BAD. Recently I have had consistant chest pain which has been ruled out as being cardiac and is likley more GERD.

So, after much thought and discussion with my surgeon I am having it removed and a RNY revision done (one surgery, again self pay, ugh). If I had it to do over again I WOULD NOT have a band placed and I would've had RNY in the first place. There is something about the foreign object nature of the band and port that never felt quite right to me, even when it was working.

If you're considering a band and have doubt please ask folks questions before you do so, make sure you've thought about everything, I wish I had.

Best of luck to everyone in their journeys!

I've been banded since 2009 and have been having problems having no restriction but a small fill causes me to not be able to swallow.... I've gained 35 lbs total but now all of a sudden my upper abdomen ..... Is huge. It's never been before. Has anyone ever heard of this happening in a band erosion or slip ?

Insurance wont even cover my trip to see my band dr and he's 4 hours away