"Band bashers" just tell it like it is. Nothing wrong with speaking the truth, especially when it's in an effort to help others and prevent them from going through what most of us have been through with the band. You may see this forum as "negative", but remember............many of us put aside our differences with you to    try to SUPPORT YOU while you were having your latest series of band complications. I realize that you love your band(s), but most of us that have had band complications do not. We want nothing more than to voice our opinions, as the band cheerleaders have done. It doesn't have to be a "negative" forum. Stating facts should always be encouraged.

Hugs! I'm so sorry about that! I know of several that have lost their jobs b/c of it. And another that is losing or as lost her home as a result. And the sad thing is................for you and Michelle................who knows when it will end since both of you have permanent damage from your band?! I realize I am one of the lucky ones. There are so many of you that my heart goes out to!!!

Good to see another old timer on here! We see so few since most have either revised or just opted for band removal. Congrats.

Oh Yeah! is AWESOME! I love the vanilla and chocolate. It's not 32 oz. though. It's 32g of protein.

Slips are extremely common. Mine slipped as well. The complication**** eventually with the band. You were actually very lucky to have made it as long as you did before it happened. Most bandsters revise to VSG, but I think RNY and DS are excellent options as well. Good luck!

So glad you were able to revise to an effective WLS! You look great. :-)

I would strongly suggest that you further research the "success" rate of the band compared to the 3 other WLS's!

Good luck.

I agree with Paula!

Tonna tons of bandsters have revised. Most seem to revise to VSG. The band just does NOT work as advertised for most of us. And of those that did have it to work as advertised...........it's usually short term. :-(

I agree with you, it is definitely time to consider revision!

Good question! I can understand why those that have had good experiences with their bands would be confused.

Nana it's hard to explain. It just is. I know you have heard me refer to my band as a "psych band". That is b/c it can be so unpredictable! I have eaten dense protein like chicken/steak and have it do down just fine, then a few hrs. late yogurt gets stuck.. I  know. Makes NO sense at all, right?! In my experience the band level of "restriction" can change from day to day, moment to moment, and when I would sit down to eat a meal, I would never know till I took that first bite or 2 if it was going to be a "good food day" or a "bad food day".

Also when some (many) of us say we have "no restriction", we are referring to the "restriction" that was described to us in the Allergan and Realize adds and also by the Drs. and office staff. For instance: I knew prior to getting banded that the band is often tight in the morning. I always assumed that that meant that it was tight then, but adequate restriction the rest of the time. For me it was often tight in the morning, then the rest of the day could eat anything and everything.

Now I never experienced "getting food stuck and throw up all the time". I never threw up that much, and as far as food getting stuck...........well you just NEVER knew when it would occur.

~keep getting food stuck and throw up all the time with their band, and want to get a revision to the Sleeve...BUT.....they also say they have no restriction. But the Sleeve is restrictive too, so the same rule should apply of chewing the food properly right?~

Many that I have spoke with have a horrible time with stuck/throw up incidents! It's very sad.

Now as far as getting stuck with sleeve since it is restrictive, it appears to be totally different. I know tons of sleevers, and you just don't hear about that like you do with the band. Also one thing I hear consistantly from revisioners is: "the VSG works like the band was suppose to work!"

~Could it be that some people have problems with their esophagus and food gets stuck there? Even with no saline? How could a revision help that because you can get a stricture with the bypass and Sleeve if you have a problem with your esophagus.~

I have heard from many bandsters that continue to get stuck after having all the fluid removed. I believe that is generally caused by the scar tissue.

You can get a stricture with RNY or VSG, it's a relatively small % of those who do, as opposed to such a HUGE % of bandsters getting stuck.

I have explained it to you as best I can. I agree............it makes no sense. It just is. :-(

Hugs! That is one of the frustrating things about the band. I have heard numerous time about bandsters doing well with their band and then BAM! It just quits working as it previously did. Sometimes after a baby, sometimes after an unfill, sometimes for just NO apparent reason! There are many bandsters that got restriction and lost well with their bands then had a complication. Because it had worked so well for them in the past, as far as weight loss, they got a 2nd band. Almost all bandsters that I know of that got a 2nd band it didn't work as well as the first. Lap-Bands can be soooooo unpredictable!

It sounds like you are now in the position that many of us are in............no insurance and stuck with a broken "tool". :-(

The flavored creamers are awesome, aren't they?! Very high calorie though. Buy some DaVinci SF syrup. They have like 50 SF flavors! I have about 10-15 of them. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I use them in protein shakes, oatmeal, yogurt. They could be used in coffee also, and the fruity flavors some use in tea.

http://www.davincigourmet.com/products/sugar_free_flavored_s yrups/

Rhonda I have a friend right now that was in the process of getting WLS. He had checked into it a couple of yrs. ago and didn't do it. Then I talked to him about it last yr. and he started looking into it again but wasn't rushing. His sister had looked into it at the same time he did the yr. before. After that her health deteriorated and she ended up on dialysis. Well as I mentioned, he took his time when I tried to discuss it with him, then he finally decided on it. Well after that, the Dr. he decided to used retired, and his new Dr. had to wait till the local hospital was accredited..........so this added additional time. Anyway.......before he could get his surgery, his condition worstened just a few mos. ago and he is now on dialysis. I tell you this b/c it's human nature to want to "think about things". Or "wait and see"............but it's not always something that can be put off.

Now along the lines of "do as I say, and not as I do"............I realize that I am doing the same thing, and I need to get myself in gear and start my revision process!

So try to start your process also Rhonda. Your son would want you to go on and live a long and healthy life.