Want Band Removed, Too.....

Hello:
I am new here. I had the band put in in June 2003 in Michigan by Dr. Mark Pleatman......the fills were never that comfortable to me (my sister called the Lap Band "forced bulimia," as all I was ever doing was PBing after one-too-many (but really few) bites!). To make a long story, short, I lost about 50 pounds in that first year of about 90-100 that I wanted to lose, or roughly half. About 15 months after I had the procedure, I wanted to take a "break" from all of the golfball-feeling discomfort after eating anything other than soft foods, so I had a complete unfill. Around that same time, I also accepted a position doing home transcription in which I get NO EXERCISE in the course of my day....and I have now put on approximately 18 pounds from my all-time Lap Band low.

I am very tired of the Lap Band and did not understand when I had it done, as my doctor now tells me, that he has found that most people only lose about half the weight they wanted to after having the Lap Band. I am seriously considering having it removed, because....call me silly, I dream of being able to eat HEALTHILY again, if only given the chance.... of being able to eat a whole piece of healthy protein, be it steak, chicken, etc. and vegetables, without my food being doused with grease in order to go down through the band and not "fight" it, only to have me PB the food later, as is the case now. I want to try to lose this last 50 pounds by just being ABLE to eat right, which I am unable to at the moment, even with it being unfilled...there is still a restriction there that I can still definitely feel with certain foods. I am tired of sticking to all liquidy, greasy foods in the name of Lap Band compatibility, and I don't think that this is the healthiest way for me to go. I want the opportunity now to prove I can do the rest on my own.

Trouble is, I have switched insurance carriers since I had the procedure four years ago, and the new carrier won't cover anything related to morbid obesity procedures (but they'll cover sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, etc.....don't GET me started!). I have already talked it over with my Lap Band doctor in the past, and through an arrangement for self-pay patients with the hospital, it would cost approximately $5000 for everything to have it removed once and for all. Considering I initially had to pay a $2000 one -year "program fee" with my doctor for fills, nutritional support, etc. after I first had it put in and also $1000 or so for a plan deductible when I had my procedure, the 50 pounds I initially lost will end up having cost me more than $8000, with extra in gas to get to my doctor out of town for each visit. Ugh!

Although my doctor says it's not so, I also can't help but think that the longer the band stays around the stomach, the more the chance for problems or worse adhesions down the road. There is this little voice in the back of my mind saying, "Get it Out! Get it Out!"

Am I crazy for even thinking of paying this $5000 to have it taken out?

If you are that unhappy with your band, no, you are not crazy.

Good luck!

I am so sorry you are having so many problems. My experience has been the complete opposite of yours. I can eat anything I want, with the exception of soft bread. But any kind of meat is fine as long as I chew really well. It seems like there could be a problem with your band, because you should be able to eat real food without having so many problems. If I were eating out with friends, and they didn't know I was banded, they wouldn't be able to tell, other than the smaller portions. I can eat normally, and I have lost 70 pounds since the beginning of November. Have you had your band checked with a fluoroscope to make sure there are no problems? It just doesn't sound normal to me. I hope things work out for you whatever you decide.

Loreen,
I don't think you are crazy at all - the band does not work for everybody and I've felt the same way you have regarding eating - the restriction in the types of food, etc. I only told one friend and she said a similar thing - it just makes eating no fun (or something similar). i can't eat fruit at all unless it is blended in a smoothie and veges have to be cooked to mush - most bandsters don't care how/what they eat as long as they are losing weight. I myself have eaten under 600 calories a day in order to lose weight with the band and most will praise you for being able to do that. Everyone is different - but I am convinced the band is not right for everyone - in the end only you can decide but you've already spent a lot of money so what is really 5,000 more if it will give you peace of mind. If you can't eat the way you want with an unfill and if you are still pbing a lot - is that really any way to live? Yes, 5,000 is tough but it could be very much worth it. Think long and hard but in the end trust your inner voice.

Woah - hang on there! I care very much what I eat. I eat normal, healthy foods, but less of them.

The situation you are both in is not the norm. Some people just cannot tolerate the band, and that is no failing. Nothing is perfect for everyone.

A normal bandster should be able to eat a small meal of protein, veggies and carbs. This two bites and you are full crap people go on about, is just that, crap. It does nothing but produce bandsters that think they have failed, or that their surgery has failed.

You have not failed, nor has your surgery. It is doing what it is intended to do, restrict the passage of food through to the lower part of the stomach. You cannot physically tolerate that restriction. That means (to me at least, I am not a doctor) that the band was not a good fit for you, or your lifestyle.

I would spend the money to have the band out in your situation. Life is too short to allow ourselves to be angry/hurt/upset/bitter forever.

Again, best of luck!

I completely agree, Loreen--if the band is making you unhappy, have it out! If you discover down the road that you still need some assistance, your body will be normal and you will still have all options available to you.

If you have the original small band you might want to discuss the availability and appropriateness of the newer, larger bands. But whatever you decide, you're absolutely right to be concerned about healthful nutrition and quality of life. Good luck!!

Thanks for your replies, everyone!

As of last night, I even e-mailed my Lap Band doctor (out of town) and asked him if he would go ahead and schedule me for the band removal, and I could then come to see him for a preop appointment just before the surgery and could maybe save a trip (with gas at $3.50 a gallon--ugh) that way. We'll see what he says. He, in the past, has usually tried to talk me into a conversion to a Roux-en-Y, but I just have never wanted to go that drastic of a route, plus my insurance doesn't cover the obesity procedures anymore. I just think those that have the Roux-en-Y, for the most part, look emaciated and pale, and I don't want to go there. I guess I'll battle the rest of my obesity myself....I have for the first 37 years of my life!

I just want it OUT.

Loreen: how unfortunate for you, I wish you could have experienced what I have but........if you think the band is not for you then you should have it removed...however, Alexandria had a great suggestion....maybe a different band would work.

CHICKIE I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY....I reached goal last week...93.5 lbs off in one year! I followed the rules, I stayed on top of my fills and I can tell everyone that I eat very healthy. I eat 5 - 6 small meals / day (don't have to puree anything) and they include choices from all the foods. I calculate that I eat approx 1000 - 1200 calories / day....less in the beginning because I was nervous and trying to get use to being banded....maybe that's why I dropped quickly in the beginning. I also exercise almost everyday...I'm not a fanatic but do at least 30 minutes if not more.

And I also agree that this "two bite and I'm full" is crap....if you can only consume two bites at one sitting then you need to get an unfill because your body is not receiving the nutrition it needs to survive....common sense needs to play a part in this.

Carol

Sorry the band didn't work for you. Good luck with the surgery!

Loreen,
Have you thought about a sleeve gastrectomy? Not as radical as a RNY but still provides you with significant portion control. Could be a good option.

Dr. Trace Curry Cincinnati, Ohio
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DISCLAIMER: If am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

That is what my surgeon, Dr. Pleatman, has suggested for me via e-mail. I have done some research on the Internet about it.....but again, my current insurance coverage doesn't cover procedures for obesity, so I am cautious about going further in debt over this remaining weight I carry. I am leaning toward just wanting the band OUT and forgetting any other invasive procedure, for pretty much financial reasons at the moment. If my insurance covered it, I might be more apt to give it a try. Unfortunately, as you in the business know, insurances RULE.

Thank you for your reply, though.

Go for what works for you.

I do think, though, that you might have too much restriction. You should be able to eat small healthy meals. You might want to consider starting over with tiny fills and trying it.

I don't know you, so this may not apply at all. A friend of mine owns a medical transcription company, and she says that even the stay at home folks who love what they do, doing medical transcription, often carry around a fair degree of depression...from the isolation and the sedentary lifestyle. If that applies to you, I trust you'll sort out if you want the band gone or if you're depressed and so too discouraged to have energy to try to do the band in a different way....

I already have my band unfilled, and I still feel a restriction there. I PB'd from a half a hamburger without a bun today at lunchtime--it gets old. I don't want to start over again with fills....even 0.5 cc when I tried it one time over a year ago made a ridiculous difference in how much LESS I could eat before having to PB. It's just not good to be social/in public and have to run to a bathroom with a "deer in the headlights" look on your face, ya know? :-)

what does PB mean?

You are not crazy at all. Each one of us has that decision to make. Just beware that the hunger pangs will come back full force. You will have to consume roughly 1k=1200 calories a day to continuet to lose 1-2 lbs a week. That is if you are suppose to consume 1600 to maintain like me. Good luck with your decision. I lost my band for 2 weeks while getting an unfill and gained 4.5 lbs in that time. I know now how much my band means to me. Good luck with your decision.