http://www.lapbandtalk.com/ A place to discuss life after the removal of your lap-band. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:02:50 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/styles/lapband/misc/rss.jpg http://www.lapbandtalk.com/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/out-pocket-removal-cost-105736-new/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:01:57 GMT Have any of the unbanded here had to pay for their removal surgeries themselves? I desperately want mine out, but I'm pretty sure I have no complications that would get insurance to cover it. I was wondering how much a removal could potentially cost out-of pocket.

Thanks ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal Jeketus http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/out-pocket-removal-cost-105736/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/lost-my-band-monday-105728-new/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:43:43 GMT I went in to have my band replaced on Monday and instead they ended up just taking the old one out. The doctors said they ran into complications that meant life or death so they chose not to continue. They want to try again a few months from now or send me to a specialist.

I don't know what to do now? The pain following the procedure was so unbearable that I don't know if I can go through with it again. How did you cope? ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal mrlddst http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/lost-my-band-monday-105728/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/infection-105308-new/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:24:28 GMT So yeah... I *KNEW* from the get go that something wasn't quite right with one of my incisions... After the first day or so I noticed a big lump under it... both my surgeon and a different doctor said its normal, especially on that one as that's the biggest hole in the muscle as the band goes through there....

But still.... it feels like the size of a golf ball... and you're telling me that's normal?

Woke up yesty morning.. it's red as and weeping hardcore... I think I used about 20 tissues... It was only weeping in one little section, little little... but it was just constant... it's not really pus either, it's more a yellowy coloured clear kind of discharge... (isn't discharge just the worst word in the dictionary? Sounds so rank... discharge lol)

I booked an appointment with a doctor for the afternoon at my local to get some antibiotics... but a few hours later the incision opened up about half a centimetre. and there was (is) a big hole... I can see the whole 'incision line' because it's yellow, so I'm guessing the skin is VERY thin and its infected and yukky in there ...sososo gross.

I called my surgeons rooms and they gave me the surgeons mobile number because she wasn't in and she said to go straight there and get the surgeon thats on duty to take a look.

"It's serious".

When a doctor says it's serious, then it's pretty serious... right? :\

"We want to try and avoid the infection either moving to the band or to the port".

Right... :(

"I'll take a swap and send it away for testing so we can find out what kind of bug got in there"

To which he pushed the swab thing in so far it hurt like a b***h. At the same time he opened the hole more so it could drain better.

Drain better it did.

By the time I got home from the hospital (20min), I had to change it.

By the time I left for work this morning I had used 5 dressings and had to go buy another 6 from the chemist (at $14.95 for a 5 pack WHAT?) to get me through the day.

I also got "the strongest prescription antibiotics" they had until they can figure out what exactly it is causing the infection.

The tablets are like fricken horse pills... but they are going down, so that's ok.

I'm in a hell of a lot more pain today... pressure pain mostly... I can feel the lump has gone upwards though, about half way to the port, so I hope that's not the actual infection moving up.. :(

If I start running a fever or get really bad pain or start bleeding, I need to call them straight away.

Wicked... and the bad luck continues... *roll eyes*

No wonder it's been sore for weeks and still can't bend over without it hurting or sleep on my side without it hurting... I just KNEW it. :( ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal shmack http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/infection-105308/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/band-removed-did-did-not-work-me-105120-new/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:14:53 GMT Confusing title I know but – to make this long story short - the fact that I self-paid all that money to GET the band, and it didn’t work, plus I knew had to pay all that money to get it REMOVED made me so disgusted at myself that I lost the weight… The story begins in May of 2008. I was a... Confusing title I know but – to make this long story short - the fact that I self-paid all that money to GET the band, and it didn’t work, plus I knew had to pay all that money to get it REMOVED made me so disgusted at myself that I lost the weight…


The story begins in May of 2008. I was a borderline BMI person (BMI ~35) and was stagnant at about 35 -50 lbs over my target weight. Prior to having the surgery, I already had doubts about its effectiveness in my particular instance. I already felt I had been eating small portions and hadn't been losing any weight so I figured I must have been cheating more than I thought since I'm a male, 5'11", and weighed 255 lbs. I figured, with the band, I wouldn't be able to cheat and I'd lose all that weight and get back to my perfect size of 215-220 lbs. It didn't work out that way for me.

I initially lost a few pounds due to the surgery and being on a liquid diet but I promptly proceeded to go right back to 255 and slowly, over the next few months, crept up to almost 270.

I had my band filled as much as I could stand it and was periodically throwing up because I could literally feel when one of the openings in my stomach would get stopped up. Either because I wasn't chewing well enough or I was eating the wrong fibrous foods or I was just eating too fast - what ever the reason - I found myself in awkward positions where I would have to run off and "expectorate" (hurl) so that I could clear the opening to remove the pressure and feel better. I did this for a year.

Finally, in May of 2009 (one year with the band), I had had enough. By increasing my exercise, I had worked my weight back down from 270 to 253 and I figured I could lose the rest without the band and periodic stoppages (which was more of a nuisance than anything to me at this point) so I had the band zero-filled.

I wanted to have just the port removed (which is a much lower cost than full removal) and just leave the rest of the apparatus in place since it wasn't causing me any issues but my doctor talked me out of it. He didn’t recommend leaving the tubing inside for any length of time as it has the potential to work it’s way around and cause other types of issues such as punctures. I think that initially he was skeptical that I was losing weight despite – not because of – the band and he suggested that I go zero-filled for a few months and see how it went. Somehow his skepticism motivated me more!

Now that I could eat normally again, my only issue still with the band was the protruding port. I would always find myself rubbing on it and looking at that “bump” in a mirror (it was even visible to me with certain shirts). To me, it looked like my stomach had a bulbous growth on the left side but it wasn’t too noticeable when I was 255 lbs.

After I left my doctors, I decided I needed to really get with the program and I did what I call my 3-phased weight loss effort. 1. I increased my weight-lifting to improve muscle mass, 2. I bought a new expensive road bike and started riding long distances for cardio, and 3. I got an application for my iPhone that allowed me to track every single calorie I ate throughout the day to ensure I ended up with a calorie deficit and on track to lose 2-3 lbs every week. This combination of actions had quick results. I dropped 30 lbs and a whole lot of bellyfat over 5 months. Now my port was REALLY starting stick out and look like I had something wrong with my stomach. I was too self-conscious to go shirtless at the beach or when I sat at the pool on a recent cruise I took. Now I felt I had to get the whole thing removed.

I just had my band removed 7 days ago and so far, my stomach has TWO lumps on it that look like they’re bigger than the port lump was. I’m hoping that after all the swelling goes down my stomach will look normal again (except for the scarring). I’d have to say the whole experience hasn’t been worth it for me.

By the way, I should also caveat that my doctor did a good job and the band worked as designed but that it didn’t correct my problem. My problem wasn’t the “quantities” of food I was eating – it was “what” I was eating. I’ve made a major switch to eat a less beef, and less junk and eat a whole lot more salads and other veggies.

Mines was a unique situation and after reading through this forum, I think the band appears to be a very good thing for most people. BUT…for a few folks, I’d think long and hard about going through this ordeal. It worked for me indirectly but it didn’t have anything to do with the physical device. This whole ordeal helped me to get mentally fired up and finally lose the weight I was supposed to.

So banding worked for me (but not really). ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal BigBoned http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/band-removed-did-did-not-work-me-105120/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/my-story-105113-new/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:51:59 GMT So i was banded 9.15.08 all was well and I did get to goal in 10 months. which is so wonderful. In Aug out of nowhere couldnt eat or drink, Went to ER and had slip where stomach came up through the band. I got complete unfill and waited a month and then started the fill process. Finally got back to... So i was banded 9.15.08 all was well and I did get to goal in 10 months. which is so wonderful. In Aug out of nowhere couldnt eat or drink, Went to ER and had slip where stomach came up through the band. I got complete unfill and waited a month and then started the fill process. Finally got back to where I was and out of nowhere same thing happened, reflux pain, cannot drink or eat. Went to Er, got complete unfill and they say my band is sitting too horizontal so it slipped again or never really fixed itself the first time. My options as self pay are ( from surgeon) if removal of fluid thereafter, there are no complications can leave the band in deflated since I cant cough up the money to remove it. Or if i have major complications I will get band removed as an emergency surgery which could cost me an arm and a leg I dont have. So for now the band will remain unfilled forever, and Im hoping I can get money someday to go to Mexico and get a revision and removal for less than half of the cost here. After a year, my band is rendered useless. Thank Goodness I was at goal when all this started to happen and im so scared of gaining the weight back but I got to be strong and know I can maintain right? ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal chicamam1 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/my-story-105113/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/struggling-help-104322-new/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:16:51 GMT Hi all
havn't posted for a long time. I had my band removed due to slippage. It was all vey traumatic, I lost part of my stomach, nearly died.
Anyhow after removal I gained around 14 lbs and have maintained that for over a year give or take a lb. However I am constantly struggling and find I only have to cheat a little to gain weight.
Can anybody offer advice, really feeling down today.
Thanks
Gaynor ]]> Life After Lap-Band Removal g curtis http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f79/struggling-help-104322/