New Member with a Band

[anndac824]

Hi Everyone. I've been lurking around for a few weeks and finally decided to join to help me through this. I have a lap band which is not working. I see that many have had similar problems. I've been living with it not wanting it taken out because i thought there were no other options. although i didn't lose much weight, i thought it was better than nothing. I have no fill in it because my reflux is so bad. i had pneumonia last year for over four months and didn't realize it was the reflux from the band that caused it. i am taking two nexium and one prescription strength xantac per day and i am still foaming throughout the day. i want a revision so i am going to start looking around. i have a lot of research to do but i am tired of all the throwing up, foaming, reflux, etc. and still being fat. ugh, it feels good just to write it out. i haven't told a lot of people that i even had the lap band because i knew i would get a lot of slack and thankfully i didn't cause without the weight loss to back it up, i really wouldn't hear the end of it. i have an HMO right now and the doctor who did my band is in that group. i did it intentionally so back i go to my pcp this friday. at least it's a start.

[MsVee]

Having weight loss surgery is a big decision. Discovering that the decision you made was not the best decision is even harder.

I had RNY surgery in 2005 and lost weight. Unfortunately in 2009 I started to gain weight. I made the tough decision that the weight loss surgery I had was not the right one for me. I was embarassed at my failure to achieve my goal weight and even more embarassed that I was unable to sustain the weight loss I did achieve.

I returned to on-line weight loss surgery forums looking for answers and discovered I was not the only person struggling with regain. I read about people revising their RNY surgeries to the Duodenal Switch (DS). This gave me the hope and the courage to try again.

Do not be discouraged if you feel you chose the wrong surgery. Do your research and try again. We learn from our mistakes and keep moving forward.

Welcome!


MsVee

[bboop]

Welcome to the borad. Do as the other two posters suggested...READ, READ and ask questions. This is a life long journey and I will say right out front, I read about the band, nope not for me, read about the RNY, nope not for me. I remember crying one night thinking there is no hope and somehow someway I found out about the DS...I was hooked.

This surgery has the highest weight loss and weight retention record of any of the surgeries. I believe it is the malabsorption, although many have small tummies that seem to remain small. Just read everything so you can ask informed questions and don't worry, we will answer any and all questions...we talk throw up, poop and everything in between.

[bugirll]

I am sorry you have to go through this. Keep reading here and asking questions. There are several band revisioners on this forum.

[joanlaptods]

I have been revised from lapband after having reflux like you have. It was discovered accidentally that I had a dilated esophagus caused by the band of course. I have been really happy with the DS with ease of maintenance and no problems eating. I still am on acid reducers for heartburn but reflux is gone.
Joan

[pumpkin]

You need to get that damn band out before you end up with esophageal cancer from all that reflux.

[mizdel]

Jan 3, 2013 18:47:26 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

You need to get that damn band out before you end up with esophageal cancer from all that reflux.

You are so subtle P......could you just be a little more forceful please?

[hislady]

I totally agree with Pumpkin's oh so subtle message get it out now! All that acid is eating away at your esophagus and probably damaging your teeth too. Get it out and then worry about revising. The longer it is in there the more damage it is doing!

[honeybadger11]

Im a band to DS revision. I love my DS! I suffered with the band for 5 yrs. I was similar to you with not realy know my options. Were i live the band is big money. I thought my only other option was the RNY and id had a few ppl around me get it and either have nothing but trouble with vomitting, etc and many gain almost all their wt back.

I HATED the idea of the pouch stomach you get with the RNY so i struggled with the band. Finally i happened onto the DS. Best decision i ever made:) Ive lost half myself. I eat low carb most of the time but i do have treats. I feel so normal now!

I second what everyone else has said...READ READ READ and get a good surgeon. Revisions are not easy and should be handled only by experts:)

[Darma]

Absolutely agree w/ those that "suggest" you get it out ASAP. I had a band and struggled w/ problems for 4 years- ultimately deforming my esophagus due to dialation and adding to my problems w/ reflux. The problems you are having are enough to "qualify" you for revision- depending on your ins. situation. Just don't settle for an inferior surgery. The revision from band to DS is relatively straight forward unlike w/ revision from RNY to DS. Make certain you know the surgeon does the DS and go for it after doing your research. Keep posting and good luck, we are here for you.

[newanatomy]

I found this interesting, maybe you will too.


Display Settings:
Abstract

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007 Sep-Oct;3(5):521-5.

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or gastric bypass for failed gastric banding: retrospective study from two institutions with preliminary results.

Topart P, Becouarn G, Ritz P.


Source

Société de Chirurgie Viscérale, Clinique de l'Anjou, Angers, France. [e-mail]


Abstract


BACKGROUND:

Of patients who have undergone gastric banding, 11-25% will require a major reoperation with band removal and conversion to another bariatric procedure after they have failed to lose sufficient weight or have developed dysphagia or reflux. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective benefits of Roux-en-Y gastric band (RYGB) or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) after failed gastric banding and whether 1 of the 2 procedures might be a better procedure for such cases.

METHODS:

RYGB or BPD-DS was performed according to the institutional protocols with synchronous band removal, irrespective of the reason for failure.

RESULTS:

Of the 53 patients, 32 underwent laparoscopic RYGB for a body mass index (BMI) of 43.1 +/- 6.4 kg/m(2) (BMI 45.8 +/- 6.4 kg/m(2) before laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) and 21 underwent BPD-DS for a BMI of 46.0 +/- 5.5 kg/m(2) (BMI 49.6 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2) before laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding). BPD-DS required significantly longer operative times (239.7 +/- 55.8 versus 135 +/- 26.7 minutes) and resulted in more complications (62% versus 12.5%; P <.002). No patients died postoperatively. The 2 groups of patients had a similar BMI at 12 and 18 months after revision (BMI 33.4 +/- 5.6 kg/m(2) and 31.4 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2)). The weight loss was greater after BPD-DS than after RYGB compared with the prerevision weight loss (66.2% versus 58.8% excess weight loss) or initial weight (73% versus 61.8%), although this was not significant.

CONCLUSION:

Despite an excessive rate of complications that were, in part, related to the learning curve in this series, BPD-DS resulted in greater weight loss compared with RYGB. However, both procedures were successful after failed gastric banding. A more accurate definition of failure could help to determine the respective indications for revisional surgery.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903771

Knowing that this study took place in 2007, the "learning curve" has greatly improved with vetted surgeons performing revisions.

[PrettyGirlBounce]

This is a great study. Thanks for posting NA!

[johndean]

the thing is in most cases the person suffering need bariatric surgery .. as I know