every person I know who had a silp has ended up revising to another procedure. one of them learned the hard way. she had 6...yes 6 slip surgeries before she figured it out and got the band out. keep in mind, the longer it is in, the more opportunity it has to do permanent damage.

I revised to RNY...

her issues are likely caused by the band and they are vastly more common than not (there is a reason bands now make up less than 3% of bariatric surgeries). I ended up revising to bypass and wish i'd just done that to begin with.

Follow up six years later because I'm realizing how bad I am about that:

My band continued to do this off and on for years. I had a barium swallow done when I was asymptomatic and it looked fine. The issue apparently was that my band was slipping and then moving back in place off and on so I would go months and months even years without issue and then I'd start experiencing these problems again. Three weeks ago, after suffering with this worse than ever (extreme chest pain from the reflux and shortness of breath as well) I finally had my band removed. I am now almost totally better, with no more need for twice daily dosing of zantac. Now, if I feel indigestion that seems like it may turn into heartburn, I drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in warm water and it instantly clears up (this is a problem from underproduction of stomach acid, which is often the problem, not an overproduction, as it turns out).

I had gained back about 25 pounds of my total weight loss after my plastic surgery and unfill in 2012. It's a struggle still, but I feel that this is probably my natural weight. That said, I've lost about 5 pounds since my band's been removed and I feel like it's been less work than before. I'd lost over 115 pounds total and at this point I'm still down by 100. I'd attribute about 60 pounds to the lap band and the rest to veganism and regular exercise- the key being exercise I love, like hiking. I don't regret my band, it had its share of complications and surgeons don't really advocate for them anymore, but it still changed my life for the better and I'm so glad I went that route twelve years ago!

Hi I'm new to the forum. I was wondering if anybody else is having or has this problem. I've been having over the last few years really bad reflux. I've been on different medicine for the same. I underwent a scope last December and was told that I had erosion of my esophagus and to take medication for the same. I just underwent another scope last week of the esophagus and was told yesterday that I have inflammation of my esophagus and also Barrett's. I was instructed to stay on my medication for my reflux indefinitely and recheck in 3 yrs, so I guess he must not be too concerned about it. The doctor who performed the scope indicated that if I don't keep on my medication that I'm at a greater risk of esophagus cancer. I'm really freaked out about this as my father had a friend pass away last year with throat cancer due to his reflux. However he didn't get it check out in time and was in 4th stage by the time the doctors found it. I do have an appointment with my lap band doctor in May which I will definitely mention this to him. I was wondering if I should be really freaked out or just wait until I see my doctor in May before freaking out. Thanks.

Hi ya'll! I am new to the group and I am having my 10 year old Lap band removed in 2 weeks with a conversion to gastric bypass. Excited and nervous all at the same time! Any advice ya'll can offer is greatly appreciated. I'm really interested to hear about your first few weeks post-op. And if anyone travelled within a week after their surgery??? Thx! :)