This is a bit of a lengthy post so please bare with me.

I was banded in 2012. Since 2012 the most weight I have lost is around 60 pounds. When I had my band I weighed 393. I got down to 334 and one time. I had regular appointments and was what I considered a good patient. Fast forward to 2016. I work in a ER. One night I was casually wiping my water when all of the sudden I had the urge to throw it up. For the next four hours I was in misery. I was unable to keep anything down. I checked in to the ER and was diagnosed with GERD and dehydration. The ER doc wanted me to see a doctor and do a EGD, I was skeptical because only my LAPBAND doctor had touched me. The next day I called my LAPBAND doctor, he said please come home and let me do a scope and we'll figure out the problem. I was scoped the next week. The EGD notes show that there were reflux. He also made me do a ultrasound just to be safe. I had gallstones. This meant I had to have my gallbladder removed. I felt fine after my gallbladder was out. He oresecribed me liquid Zantac that I take daily. A waited a bit to go back in for a fill after my surgery. They had deflated my band. When I went back to be filed I could not tolerate the fill. I was miserable. The nasty GERD has returned. Everything I would get a fill I would be back in the doctors office sick begging for a unfill. My band currently does have fluid in. I think I'm at 6cc. I can not tolerate anything over 6. I also have horrid port pain. If I bend over I am usually guarding my right side. My port was placed where my stomach hangs, so it pulls at it constantly. The last appointment I had with my doctor we discussed maybe me having the sleeve or bypass. He just asked if I had ever considered it. I told him I would consider it. This year I made the decision to go through with the process of a revision. I have completed my psych evaluation, EGD, and nutrition class. I was so hopeful for this. I got the phone call Tuesday that my pre determination had been denied and a peer to peer had been scheduled. I was still very hopeful. On Wednesday the peer to peer happened and they are standing behind the fact that my EGD showed no signs of slippage, erosion, pouch dialation, or reflux. I am beyond devastated. I reached out to Lindstorm Obesity Advocacy yesterday to help with my appeal. Has anyone used them with success?

Awwww i don't mind supporting.
I will add my original RNY doctor did not put

in my lap band, but that was mainly because he

doesn't currently take the health insurance I now

carry. I also had a hiatus hernia that needed repair

so I had both done at same time which helped insurance

approve much faster

HI ...

gastric banding has helped me take off more

weight.... and then i got the courage after 15 years

of keeping the original 100 lbs off i had a panniculectomy

(skin removal surgery below belly button/ my apron of skin)

and breast reduction surgery after the band took off 30 lbs from me

THIS winter i seemed to be gaining but i hurt my knee and can't excersise.

I do have to get my butt to doctor for a fill so i can loose the winter lbs.

but i am happy. I will also admit honestly my GERD has worsened since the band...... but oh well.

HI and hope I can help.

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens in 2013. I had a band for 5 years 2003 to 2008 , then the sleeve and now the RNY. My band prolapsed and then I was sleeved in 2008. Because of the undiagnosed Sjogrens, I threw up a lot from acid reflux, the dryness and esophageal issues including a hiatal hernia. The sleeve was not a good option but it helped me lose weight.

After consulting with bariatric surgeons and taking 3 PPI per day for reflux, I was told the only way to get rid of the reflux was to get the RNY. So far so good. No medications except occasional RANITIDINE.

Your wife is right. She should be worried about band slippage and scarring. She could easily develop Barretts esophagus from constant esophagus issues. She is DRY. Sjogrens is a very insidious disease and over time it gets worse. It affects the whole gastro tract. Also she is a very high risk of non Hodgkins lymphoma. That will cause weight loss as well. Sjogrens syndrome can be primary or secondary to another autoimmune disease. She could have Hashimotos, lupus, or one of 70 other automimmune disorders along with Sjogrens. In my case, I have an overlap disorder which is more lupus like. Since I have antibodies for both, I am carefully monitored by a rheumatologist, hematologist, gastroenterologist and my PCP.

If she has restriction and no saline, she might have a slipped band. I would be more concerned with the weight loss she has experienced with an empty band . She should not have a VSG. It is VERY common to have reflux with the sleeve. It puts LES pressure on the esophageal sphincter and can cause horrible horrible reflux for someone with a problem like Sjogrens.

That leaves band or RNY, DS or nothing at all. Yes, she is likely to gain weight with the band out.

Sorry to be so dark but this has been my experience.

I have had the band for 11 years now, I have had my set of issues (slip, port flip, unclip) but overall I have been able to keep the initial weight off. I will say I have heard of autoimmune disorders popping up in people who have and implants. I have heard stories from the band and breast implants. In my opinion after years on this board and other research I truly feel that some peoples' bodies reject implants and these types of issues happen. I am not a doctor but there has been some real serious permanent medical issues people have suffered.

I think some of it is from diet, and doctors not explaining how the band works correctly and how your body can be damaged if you dont follow the diet.

I guess the hardest part is how finicky my band can be, our stomachs as a muscle will tighten like all other muscles in our bodies which change the restriction of the band. Add in scar tissue build up and you can have issues. I have spend a lot of time being super mindful of the weather, time of day, my anxiety levels and how and what I eat to find this weird balance. I also have a hiatal hernia which happens cause I over eat at times, the food cannot go down my band and I stuff my pouch and it causes a hernia which causes reflux etc...

Good luck to you and your wife. If you have any questions please reach out.

Mell