A lot of you think I post about the band b/c I am a crabby ***** And while I am a crabby ***** at times..........that's not why I post.

There is a thread that was posted on the band forum today:

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4515951/today-is-the-day/

She is so excited and full of hope about the band! That was me. When I see posts like this I just want to cry for them, b/c I know that more than likely their band experience will NOT be what they were told it would be!

Am I disappointed in my band? YES! Am I angry about my band? YES! Do I wish I had done anything but the band? YES! But I don't post b/c I am miserable with my band and want to make everyone else miserable. I post b/c I want them to have a realistic account of what band life can REALLY be like, and have that knowledge BEFORE they get the band so they can research it further and see if the band really is what they want. If you only know the positives about they band.........well of course most would want it! But when you find out how high the incidence of complications are, or that the band may NEVER actually work for you.........well that can definitely be a deal breaker!

So if anyone is going into it with their eyes WIDE OPEN.........I wish them the best of luck. But if they haven't researched completely...........I want to make them aware that it is imperative that they do this PRIOR to surgery.

I post to them b/c I wish someone had said the very same things to ME! I don't want them to end up being ME..........or any of the thousands of bandsters out there with failed bands!

I post about the band because I'd feel like a damned rotten person if I didn't try to warn people about the horrible things that CAN and DO happen with frightening regularity. It's tiring talking about the same things over and over and there are times where my heart and soul hurt for all the folks who expect great things and end up hurt and disappointed. 

It's also hard when I'm posting out of concern, but get treated like I'm posting to ruin someone's day.

~Nicci

I agree. I feel those of us that have had the average, or less than average band experience owe it to prospective bandsters to give them this info so they can make an INFORMED decision! We should all be paying it forward. And yes it does hurt when we are criticized for doing this when we really have the best intentions. We have taken a lost of abuse form some bandsters, we have nothing to gain personally by telling the forum what band life can really be like, other than other than a clean conscious.

I realize that this is not what some of the bandsters consider to be "support", but it really is. We support those that have band complications, and we support prospective bandsters by trying to make sure they know the band side of the band.......not just the positives that band manufacturers/Drs. offices/band mills tell them.

I agree with Maria.  I wish I had done a more thorough research before I had my lapband.  My surgeon asked me if he had tried to talk to me out of band and into bypass in the first place.  I said no, he said he wish he had done that.  Same surgeon that revised from band to bypass. 

I wish I had reviewed the revisions board, etc., but of course that was in 2008 and there weren't many complications posts as now.

I do envy the ones that have had success with band. 

I started having complications after SEVEN, 7, months and quit losing weight.  I suffered for 1.5 years before revising (had to appeal and won), my diabetes returned, etc... gained 20 lbs back, etc. 

Now revised to bypass my diabetes are gone and I'm losing again, and am my lowest weight ever in over 30 years. 

I believe the band will be obselete very soon. 

So don't get upset when we post... because it's the TRUTH.  I see more complications than I do the success, which is pretty unfortunate.

So if you are considering band, please do more thorough research.

Band failures are rising at an alarming rate.  

So glad that your diabetes has been resolved! I get especially sad when I hear someone is getting a band with type 2 diabetes, since I know how much of a health hazard diabestes is, and that in most cases it is not resolved with the band.

One thing I love about this forum is that it has become more open minded in the last yr. Band complications have been going on since the beginning of the band, but those reporting their complications were being insulted and getting blamed for being the cause. Other bandsters would see those posts and then they were afraid to post b/c they didn't want the same responses. I remember Wasa telling me that when she first started having problems and mentioned it on the lap-band forum that they told her she was too stupid to know how to chew and that was her problem! So she ended up leaving for awhile. Many bandsters needed support in the past and were unable to receive it here.  It's a much better atmosphere here now. :-)

I am new to this website and maybe i am not seeing your previous posts but what failed? Were there complications? I will be going in 1 month and dont want any surprises.

BTW, I was one of those people *****ally thought my band wouldn't fail.

WRONG!!!  

 

 

If you saw a person that was just getting ready to eat a cookie that was just dropped in dog pooh, wouldn't you warn the person? Same difference.

On March 27, 2012 at 2:09 PM Pacific Time, boldnbariatric wrote: If you saw a person that was just getting ready to eat a cookie that was just dropped in dog pooh, wouldn't you warn the person? Same difference.



Sure it looks "safe" and "least invasive".............but is it REALLY???

And I too do it for the same reason, if I knew then what I know now, well we know the answer to that. So to all of us that have the guts to keep warning others !!!!!

You Rock HL! :-)

I too am disappointed with the band!!!  but I am stuck with my choice and hope and pray I can lose all the weight some day!  xo

p.s I just want all to know the band made me feel very disapointed in me!!  Yes ti is a tool!!  but  I need a little more than a tool!

Yes it's a "tool" (for some!).

That thread makes me so sad; that was me too.  I haven't been too active in posting but I just may start because I really don't know anyone who has had both success AND no complications.  

I too fell for the BS that it's less invasive, reversible and adjustable - and let's not forget the horror of having your intestines rearranged, because let's face it, that is just too grisly to think about (like you have to look at it every day - I can't feel a thing that my intestines have been rearranged).  

Less invasive?  Really??  This less invasive procedure led to two more surgeries.  I am not sure how less invasive that is. 

My band did nothing but cause issues, from being able to feel the port (which felt like a pop up timer on a thanksgiving turkey in my belly), to the constant burn in my throat which then gave way to the vomiting several times a day, which led to an unfill, then a small refill, which led to more of the same trouble, which led to another emergency unfill, which led to band removal, then another surgery for RNY.

Back in June 2008, the complications that I was told about and researched were no more than a slipped band (which was trivialized) and a flipped port.  That was about it.

Now, in 2012, the amount of complications (serious ones too I might add) are staggering.  

People really need to research ALL of the available options.  I am not bitter, I wish people were better informed about the potential band issues and really think about their choice.

I wish someone had told me too, but at the time, there weren't that many long term bandsters and there weren't that many reported complications.  Now that we know, I feel almost obligated to share my story too.

~ Now that we know, I feel almost obligated to share my story too.~

Please do! It will benefit so many people! If we could all start paying it forward we could help a lot of potential bandsters avoid our pain. And if they choose the band anyway...........well at least we know we did what we should to let them know how most band outcomes end up long term (and MANY even short term!).

Hope you're enjoying your RNY! :-)

I think I just might, I really feel the need to speak about it lately.  Maybe because I am approaching 3 years out from my RNY and I am doing well, I don't know.  Maybe the FB group too.

Thanks Maria, and yes, I am enjoying my RNY 

I'm crabby too. I'm crabby because I am in pain and because I have been puking for 5 years. And because I am heading into a revision in two days that should have been the surgery I chose first.

I feel so badly that people don't know how awful this thing can be. Yes, CAN BE, so save your flames. Some people do ok. But the number of folks that I meet and speak with who are having issues is staggering. It breaks my heart.

So if yours is working, I'm truly happy for you and I sincerely hope that it continues to work really well for you. But you have to know that you are not the "norm".

I just saw a post on another board from a woman who was in the Realize Band trial in 2005. She was told she is the last person to retain the band from that trial. THE LAST ONE. And she is now looking at revision options.

So if you are considering the band, maybe it's right for you - I can't answer that. But do yourself a favor and research this band and the other options. If you are thinking this is "less invasive", PLEASE know it is not. There are so many people with esophageal damage (dysmotility, diverticula, etc) and damage to their stomachs.

Research, study, read, ask, learn. Then, at least you will know what you're getting into, good and bad.

And forgive us crabby people. We have just "been there, done that" and we don't want people to make the same mistake we did. If I saw you walking into traffic, I'd stop you. That's what I'm doing here too.

~I just saw a post on another board from a woman who was in the Realize Band trial in 2005. She was told she is the last person to retain the band from that trial. THE LAST ONE. And she is now looking at revision options~

That's very interesting. I didn't realize she  was the last one left from that trial! Wow!

It's sad that so many (most) are having to have multiple surgeries. I don't have insurance and paid cash for my band. Prior to that I asked the "lap-band advocate" about post-op complications. I knew that there was seldom any complications during the surgery and that most complications occur later. I specifically told her: "I can only afford ONE surgery! This has to be a ONE SHOT DEAL!" Well the woman lied straight to my face and told me with the "new bands" that they had worked out all the kinks, and that you almost never saw complications with the "new bands".

I wish you the best of luck with your revision! I know you'll be much happier with a different WLS. Now give me a great big crabby group hug! Lol.

 I don't think anyone would  object to the pro's and cons of the band being said, but I do think sometimes it is the way it is said or wrote that matters. Information is always good. But just state the facts and leave out your opinions. We then can make the decision whether the band is good for us or not. I am new here and I notice the harsh words being said back and forth. It doesn't need to be a bashing one way or the other. Both sides get offended and want to prove their point. So just gives us the facts and no opinions.

Thanks for everyone's support