Perth Girl with second failed lapband looking at Sleeve.

First topic message reminder :

Hi Everyone,

I just want to let you know this site has been very informative so far and has given me a ray of hope about the future.

My story goes like this;

I was banded in 2006 and had amazing success in the first year went from 130kg down to 66kg but my band became very restrictive towards the end there and I couldnt keep anything down despite having fill removed with subsequent Doctor visits. I began fainting every other minute was rushed into emergency and found my band had slipped. The Doctor removed the band in late 2007 and replaced it with a different band, apparently newer bigger better version (could take slighly more saline). Anyway the second band has been a disaster. I have never had the same saitey or fullness as the first. In fact with every fill nothing made a difference, I could eat pretty much anything. My weight started to pile back on. I started to complain to my doctor after 7 months of this no weight loss only gain he told me not to come back until I've lost some weight.

I felt like a failure, started to blame myself that I had no self control but the fact was I had a previous band and I knew the difference, even so I tried to lose weight on my own accord but I'd do ok for a few weeks then give up for a day or two as I'd get down about the whole thing, get on the scales and I'd have gained liked 3/4 kgs. The weight came on rapidly even though I wasnt exactly pigging out or always eating poorly. I gave up on the whole band weightloss dream.

Last year a friend convinced me I should get a second opinion which I finally did and found out I had a massive esophagal dialation which was being used as a second stomach. It explained why I had no restriction and it may have been the problem all along, but cant say when it happened as I had no xrays for like 18 months. So then I had all fluids removed and in Jan after another barium it looks like everything has gone back to normal.

This new doctor decided to retry the band with fills again and Im up at like 7.5 mls and again no restriction yet. Ive had moments of restriction usually some mornings or with eating meat sometimes but not enough to make a difference and I'm fed up with this yoyo'ing. Im now over 100kgs depressed and felt like I wasted 4 years.

My new doctor does both lap bands and sleeves but he hasn't done revisions according to him and when I told him I want the band out and get the sleeve if his theory doesnt work (ie esophagus goes down after fill removal and band becomes perfect scenario) he did everything in his power to turn me off. Basically telling me he doesnt want me to be his first fatality as banders to sleeve conversion rate for complications is double. But then scratched his head and said when the time comes he'll have to think about it, whether he will or wont!!!!

The other day I rang my original lap band doctor who apparantly did a BPD last year, after reading these forums. I came clean with why I never returned and provided my xrays of barium showing him what went wrong, he said he couldnt help me and recommeded I go see Dr Leon Cohen if I wanted to do a sleeve with the excuse he doesnt do anything but bands these days.

I now have a fear of Sleeve's even though its what I want and I dont know what information to trust.

I want to find out who are the best surgeons in this field for revision surgery and whether the claims of "Dr such and such has never had a leak or probs" is really true. In other words does anyone know where do these stats come from?

I also want to know who I should steer clear from! Its seems to be a very expensive surgery by most surgeons from what Ive read so far, the one I have would do it without extra costs but personally I dont care I want to feel safe and know Ive got someone who is excellent with a fantastic success rate.

I have sent you a private message.....

You poor luv! Bloody bands shoud be banded.

I had 1 too but only for 8 months. I got seriously worried about all the bad side effects. My oesophagus was starting to dilate too. So decided- out with the beast! The Dr who did the band did only band surgery so I went to another surgeon who does all 3 types of WLS. He took it out and bulk billed so no charge to me. He is doing the sleeve in 2 weeks. I cant wait, tho after the band fiasco I do worry I will still be able to eat too much.

I'm not over your way but there are others here who will be able to offer suggestions. Also check out 'The Surgeons' thread. It might give you helpful info.

Best of luck finding an empathetic Dr who will treat you as you deserve.

Hi Everyone,

I just want to let you know this site has been very informative so far and has given me a ray of hope about the future.

My story goes like this;

I was banded in 2006 and had amazing success in the first year went from 130kg down to 66kg but my band became very restrictive towards the end there and I couldnt keep anything down despite having fill removed with subsequent Doctor visits. I began fainting every other minute was rushed into emergency and found my band had slipped. The Doctor removed the band in late 2007 and replaced it with a different band, apparently newer bigger better version (could take slighly more saline). Anyway the second band has been a disaster. I have never had the same saitey or fullness as the first. In fact with every fill nothing made a difference, I could eat pretty much anything. My weight started to pile back on. I started to complain to my doctor after 7 months of this no weight loss only gain he told me not to come back until I've lost some weight.

I felt like a failure, started to blame myself that I had no self control but the fact was I had a previous band and I knew the difference, even so I tried to lose weight on my own accord but I'd do ok for a few weeks then give up for a day or two as I'd get down about the whole thing, get on the scales and I'd have gained liked 3/4 kgs. The weight came on rapidly even though I wasnt exactly pigging out or always eating poorly. I gave up on the whole band weightloss dream.

Last year a friend convinced me I should get a second opinion which I finally did and found out I had a massive esophagal dialation which was being used as a second stomach. It explained why I had no restriction and it may have been the problem all along, but cant say when it happened as I had no xrays for like 18 months. So then I had all fluids removed and in Jan after another barium it looks like everything has gone back to normal.

This new doctor decided to retry the band with fills again and Im up at like 7.5 mls and again no restriction yet. Ive had moments of restriction usually some mornings or with eating meat sometimes but not enough to make a difference and I'm fed up with this yoyo'ing. Im now over 100kgs depressed and felt like I wasted 4 years.

My new doctor does both lap bands and sleeves but he hasn't done revisions according to him and when I told him I want the band out and get the sleeve if his theory doesnt work (ie esophagus goes down after fill removal and band becomes perfect scenario) he did everything in his power to turn me off. Basically telling me he doesnt want me to be his first fatality as banders to sleeve conversion rate for complications is double. But then scratched his head and said when the time comes he'll have to think about it, whether he will or wont!!!!

The other day I rang my original lap band doctor who apparantly did a BPD last year, after reading these forums. I came clean with why I never returned and provided my xrays of barium showing him what went wrong, he said he couldnt help me and recommeded I go see Dr Leon Cohen if I wanted to do a sleeve with the excuse he doesnt do anything but bands these days.

I now have a fear of Sleeve's even though its what I want and I dont know what information to trust.

I want to find out who are the best surgeons in this field for revision surgery and whether the claims of "Dr such and such has never had a leak or probs" is really true. In other words does anyone know where do these stats come from?

I also want to know who I should steer clear from! Its seems to be a very expensive surgery by most surgeons from what Ive read so far, the one I have would do it without extra costs but personally I dont care I want to feel safe and know Ive got someone who is excellent with a fantastic success rate.