Question:
I want to have my Lap Band removed.
I am 14 mths post-op and at my clinical weight goal. I can maintain my weight on my own. I want to have my Lap Band removed. Have any of you had yours removed? Any thoughts...... — Miss_K_07 (posted on March 25, 2008)
March 25, 2008
Are you having problems? They say that we can lose the weight, the problem
is keeping it off. I don't have a band, but I would never want to give up
what made me lose weight. I might be able to maintain the weight loss for a
while, I know eventually it would come back. How do you know you can
maintain it on your own? Can you just get it unfilled, that way you wont
have to go through another surgery, and it's there if you need it. Good
luck!
— Teresa V.
March 25, 2008
I need to have my port replaced because it has moved up uder my rib and my
port has turned down. I was thinking that instead of having it replaced,
I'd have it removed. So, you are saying if my band is completely open, it
would be like not having one?
— Miss_K_07
March 25, 2008
maintaining your goal weight without the assistance of your WLS can be a
problem. I'd recommend waiting a few more months to have "more
practice" at your newly designed eating habits. It would be a real
shame to have the band removed, gain the weight, and then have your
insurance company refuse to do the operation again.
— Dave Chambers
March 25, 2008
I happened to be going to see my doctor today,and I asked him about you
question. He said that if you remove the band, you would most likely gain
at some of the weight back. The difference between RNY and lap band is
that with the band you are not removing the stomach, only making a small
upper pouch. Once you remove the band, you are back to basically the size
of stomach you started out with, maybe just a little smaller. Have you
talked YOUR surgeon about this?
Good luck
— Jeanne Aldrich
March 25, 2008
I just found out that I am scheduled for my wls on 4/29/08. I have been
struggling with my weight for over 10 years. I would not advise you to
remove the band, if you are not having any problems with it inside your
body. I agree with the person who said to have the saline removed. I know
you feel confident about your success in losing weight as you should be.
But do not make a decision you will regret. I think the only reason you
are contemplating removing the band is for the simple fact you have lost
the weight. Remember, the only reason you were able to lose the weight was
due to the band. So why would you want to remove the device that helped
you lose weight? Think about it long and hard before you make a decision
you cannot take back. Good luck!!
— savoy7658
March 25, 2008
I had lapband almost 3 years ago, i lost 70-80 lbs. Well in August of 07 i
was not loosing, i was gainign a few lbs a month(over the last few months).
SO i went to my doctor to get another fill. .5 cc had my choking on my
spit, .3 removed, still choking, everything removed i was ok but gagging on
many foods. So since AUgust, i have no fill, continue to gain weight and
puke with many things i normally can eat. My band has slipped. The moral of
my story is i fought to not gain weight, it happened. I fought to loose
weight before surgery, but i didn't. This is why i was fat and had surgery
in the first place. To me if you needed the tool in the beginning, why
remove it now? What if you fall into old habits? By keeping it you can have
a small fill and get back on track. A fill in the band will put your head
back into the right direction. Noone likes for food to get stuck and heave
for hours!!! This is just my opinion, but to me you got this tool for a
reason, just unfill and keep this valuable tool that put you in the pants
you are in!!! Good luck in whatever you decided to do:)
— Terri C.
March 26, 2008
Knowing how many Bandsters find it difficult to find that "sweet
spot" fill, I would advise against even having it unfilled, let alone
removed. If you are at a good maintenance-level fill, it ain't broke, so
why fix it?
Congrats on your wonderful success. WRT your original request for
thoughts, though .. it's your body and your Band, but I advise against this
as strongly as I know how.
— Jeanie
March 26, 2008
Karla - Looks like most posted before seeing that you ARE having an issue
with your band. Admittedly, I do not know ANYTHING about how the band and
ports work -- I did RNY. I don't know what would be involved with taking
care of your issue, but if it is like having surgery again, you may want to
remove the band -- because now you know that this could happen again in the
future! But that is my own thought. I wouldn't want to find myself having
surgery every couple of years because of moving ports or slippage or
whatever else that peice of plastic might do over time in my body.
But that's just me.
Good luck.
Dani
— zandeldm
March 26, 2008
MY DR. TOLD ME IF I LOST MY WEIGHT AND THEN HAD MY BAND REMOVER IT WOOD
OPEN MY BIG STOMAC BACK UP SO I WOOD HAVE TO EAT MORE TO FILL FULL AGAIN
EAT MOER ADD MORE POUNDS.
— otella6066
March 26, 2008
Hi Carla, I would certainly be hesitant to remove the band. One of my
docs patients insisted on having the band removed feeling, as you do, that
she could maintain the weight loss on her own. It didn't happen! She was
gaining within a few weeks of the band being removed. You have been so
successful in getting your weight off. Don't sabotage yourself now! Enjoy
your new life and forget about the band would be my advice!
— funnyandsweet
March 26, 2008
Well hon it looks like you've certainly got alot of opinions on this. I
hope you feel supported ;o) I've got just one more hat to throw in the
ring. Since you are having problems with the band. Would your insurance
cover a revision to the RNY since you've had band problems? Just an idea.
Good luck to you, I wish you continued health and peace with your decision.
Take care ;o)
— Tomi D.
March 27, 2008
What a horrible idea. Why did you get it in the first place if you can
maintain your weight. I would suggest first that you have them deflate it
and see how fast you start gaining. If you have it removed then gain
weight you will never get another insurance company to pay for it again. I
have a friend and she did well had it removed due to problems and over 8
years the weight slipped back on and she can't get the insurance to cover
any kind of revision. So think twice or have it deflated then see.
— Nurse343
March 30, 2008
I would check out the DS forum. Many people on that site have had the band
only to get revised to a duodenal switch. There is no foreign body in your
system to cause problems. That is one of the pitfalls of the band, so
everyone beware, there is chance of band slippage.
— KRWaters
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