Re: 2nd Bands?

[Guest guest]

Hi Karin,

I can only speak from my own experience, but I'll try to answer some of your

questions.

> I am just a little concered about the amount of second bands. Is

> this a common scenario I will have to expect?

No, I wouldn't say it's common, but nor is it uncommon. I think the current

statistics are that something goes wrong with first bands in around 10-15%

of cases... that is, something that requires further surgery, be it to do

with the port or the band itself or infection, or whatever.

> What has gone wrong with the first bands?

In my case, it slipped. Or, more accurately, the stomach slipped up through

the band, resulting in the " S-bend " scenario described by Randall. It was

only after several months of severe reflux (which resulted in pretty bad

ulceration of my oesophagus) that the slippage was discovered. Since the

placement of the second band I have had no recurrence of the reflux, but

neither have I lost any more weight. For a start, it took several months to

find a good fill level.... my second band behaves quite differently in this

regard from the first..... but more to the point, I have not been making the

right food choices, so I lay the blame for my failure to continue to lose

squarely at my own feet. On the other hand, I do credit the band with my not

having gained weight.

> Obviously with the great success of the band in general no-one appears to

worry about having a second band

I certainly did not for a moment consider not having the second band. I have

not a doubt that without it I would quickly regain all my lost weight

(around 45 kg) plus more..... as had been my previous pattern.

> Has there been a new " model " come out or something that is any more

efficient?

No, not that I know of. There is definitely less incidence in general of

repeated slippage with second bands but that's due to the fact that the scar

tissue that's been built up by the first band holds the new one more

securely in place. I believe that there has also been work done on better

means of securing the band in the first place, and trial and error to find

the optimum level of placement.

> And how has the doctors approached it as far as cost or replacement for

faulty goods. Is there a warranty on this appliance?

In my case the replacement band cost me nothing at all. I have top private

hospital cover with Medibank Private so there were no out-of-pocket hospital

costs aside from a bit of pharmacy, and the surgeon only charged the rebate.

I have no idea whether or not this is common practice.

Hope some of this helps.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for all the info about 2nd bands. I'm sure there a

few newbies and pre-banders like me wanting to know about this sort

of thing. It is such a big investment in our lives and I would hate

to think that it had a high percentage rate of 2nd bandings. Low

percentages I can handle. Do you know what causes the slippage in

the first place? Is it overeating or wrong food choices or severe

coughing or vommiting? Is it painful when you have a slip? Can you

actually feel it if you have a slip? Sorry for all the questions.

Regards

Karin

pre-band

[Guest guest]

Karin,

I'm still on my first band (knock on wood) and I just wanted to pass on what

my doctor told me when I asked him about the chance of having to have

another one. He gave me a very stern talking to before having the band, he

said that if I eat more than a 1/4 of what I did pre band on a continual

basis that I would strech the stomach above the band and cause a slipage. He

said if I didn't feel I could stick to eating less that I should not go

ahead. Since having the band I have never had a real 'full' feeling that

people talk about but hunger was never a problem for me before. My problem

was that I comfort ate, if I'm stressed or upset I would gorge myself, if I

had a good day I could go all day without even remembering to eat. I have

had my band since Jan this year and have only had one fill of 1ml so far, I

am not feeling much restriction but am so fearful of streching my stomach

that I still manage to stick to small meals. I'm only loosing about 1/2 kg a

week now but that is more to do with bad food choices (I even had pizza

tonight shock horror, but only 1 peice, not my pre band 4 peices plus garlic

bread) and not much excersize, but as long as I'm still loosing and happy

I'll keep going the way I am.

He also said they have recently started 'back stiching' bands which wasn't

done previously and that the rate of slipage was decreasing but stressed

that it was still a slight possiblity even if I did everything right but a

huge risk if I overeat.

I'm not saying that anyone whose band has slipped over ate, I'm sure there

are many reasons why they slipped and probably most don't even know why, I

think there was one person saying theirs slipped even though they where only

able to get down fluids, I'm just repeating what my doctor told me and

sharing why I think I'm still loosing weight even with out feeling

restriction. From the first day I got the band my 'mental' restriction has

been much greater than the band restriction, I just hope this continues, and

if I keep hearing storys of people getting 2nd bands I'm sure it will (could

not handle having to go back to hospital! I HATE hospitals!)

Anyway, just thought I would share my story,

Kell

Banded Jan 2001 'the hills private' Dr Brancatisano

start weight 103kg

now 87kg

height 5'3 (on a good day)

from - Sydney

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[Guest guest]

Karin,

> Do you know what causes the slippage in the first place? Is it overeating

or wrong food choices or severe coughing or vommiting?

I think it can be any or all of these things, and others as well. In truth,

most of the time I don't think they know why it happens..... at least,

that's what my doctor told me. Certainly there's an increased risk if you're

vomiting frequently, so that is obviously to be avoided as far as

possible.... which you'd want to do anyway, 'cos it's not exactly fun. In my

case it was a bit of a chicken-and-egg thing...... the reflux probably

contributed to the slippage, and the slippage contributed to the reflux. I

was told that it probably happened quite early on.... possibly as much as a

year before it was discovered..... but took a while to really become

symptomatic.

> Is it painful when you have a slip? Can you actually feel it if you have a

slip?

I don't think you can feel a slippage..... at least, I couldn't. Painful....

hmmmm.... this varies with the individual and the nature of the slippage, I

think. I have heard stories of people who have been in absolute agony (in

which case it's attended to very quickly), and then there are others like me

who were completely unaware of it aside from other symptoms. The reflux was

painful sometimes, but it was more severe discomfort than pain, and one of

the worst aspects was that it played havoc with my sleep.

Try not to focus too much on the possibility of something going wrong. The

odds are heavily in your favour that everything will be fine, and though

there are always the individuals for whom it just doesn't work, for the vast

majority it's a wonderful tool and a literal life-saver.

Regards,

.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all these great replies about second bands. I'm feeling

positive but just very curious thats all. I'm full of hope that this

is the right thing for me to control portion size at meal times. If

I'm stressed I volume eat. hate to think how many calories I

actually eat at the moment, too scared to add them up!

I'm getting ready for the measuring cup for food amounts post band

and I've been chewing, chewing and chewing my foods to try and get

the feeling of texture. Not drinking at the same time is very

difficult for me but I'm practising anyway. I'm a routine type

person so once I get into the swing of things I'm sure I'll work it

all out.

Thanks again

Karin (94kg)

pre-band

23 days to go

[Guest guest]

Well 2nd Bands

I have just had a 2nd bandthru no fault of mine

it seems I had a small hole in the bit around the stomach & I could not keep

any fluid in the band because it leaked out.

It had to be done half lapro & half open because it was so well adheared to

me that it wasnt slipping anywhere.

The band has gone back to BioEnterics for testing & we are waiting for

results.

they say the doctotr nicked it during the first sugury & he says I had a

fault in the band we will wait & see

However I have morerestriction with no fluid in the band than I ever did

before & I have lost about 7 kgs In 4 weeks

I brought jeans last week in the K Mart sale

proper ones

LOL

LOL

well I a sorry that I dont post much but if you have any questions please

just ask

Suzanne

Dr Gallagher

127ksg Feb 2000

Today 94 kgs

I have also gone from a size 24 to a 16/18

I seem to have lost more cms than kgs

My next stop is the tummy tuck because the doctor says internally my organs

are fat free & I have alot of skin

I guess thats what we all want to become healther on the inside !

[Guest guest]

Karin,

I too drink with meals and haven't been able to kick the habit, I'm sure its

also contributing to me not getting that 'full' feeling, I hope you have

better luck in stopping. A word of warning though, if you drink with meals

and something gets stuck, drinking to get it to move makes it 10 times

worse, or thats what I've found, it seems to build pressure behind the food

thats stuck. I find if I just put up with the pain for a little while it

goes threw eventualy but if I drink something I end up having to throw up

which should be avoided as its another thing they believe causes slippage.

Don't worry about what your eating now, I put on 3kgs in the week before my

op and lost it just as quickly.

Best wishes for 23days time

Kell

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[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanne,

long time no see, hope to see you at the next meeting and its good to hear

your 2nd band is working well.

Kell

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