Hi,
First, yes, I did have the banding twice, the first time was in the fall of 2020. Dr. Shen said I would need it again in a year.But I started experiencing pain and blockage issues again by summer. I finally contacted Dr. Shen, and was able to speak to a doctor who works for him who was very helpful and explained that sometimes you need banding sooner, like after 6 months...
I had never heard of the protein diet either, and frankly I was having a VERY difficult time with it (as mentioned above) I love my carbs and I was losing weight and just disgusted with the diet. In reference to his staff, I hear you, it can be very difficult to get answers from them. Other than the nice doctor I spoke to, Dr. Kapten. Sadly I have the same problem with my "main" GI who is at Weill Cornell, I think it's the nature of the beast. BUT, if you read on you'll see I had surgery, and that surgeon and her nurse have been very responsive. On of her bosses did my colectomy back in 2007....
Now, I'm not sure I mentioned this, but first, in early July (this was prior to the second banding which wasn't till Sept. 2021) I was having an unpleasant pain, and felt nausea, and was probably partially blocked. I called my GI at Weill Cornell and he said he didn't know what the matter was and that I ought to go the the ER, as it happened, by the time I went my problem had almost resolved. A CAT scan showed nothing. But I was stuck there for a few days so they could monitor my diet, and see how I tolerated food.
Fast forward, about two weeks after starting abysmal protein diet I started having pains similar to previous ER visit. (And this was POST second banding!) I contacted Dr. Shen this time and he too said I should go to the ER. It was a Saturday and I decided to wait till Sun. went on Sun. at noon, later that day I finally had a CAT scan, and lo and behold, they discovered an obstruction and I had to have surgery. I had a lovely surgeon at Weill Cornell, she said that I had a "string" (adhesion) in my intestines (NOT my pouch!!) which was removed. After the surgery I asked if it was diet related and she said no. So I took myself off the protein diet (not that it mattered in the hospital.) I also asked why the adhesion hadn't been seen in previous scans and the surgeon said because it moves... In other words that might have been at the root of my problems for a while? But that has yet to be determined, I'll probably need more tests. In any event, I am OFF the diet!
Hope this was helpful...