ObesityHelp

Sorry you are having trouble...Can't they just loosen it up a little so that you can eat? Hang in there.

Vanessa- If you've had 3 fills, have never gotten past mushies, and spend your day vomiting then you are too tight, period. Go to your surgeon and ask for an unfill. Have you expressed your dissatisfaction with him? Is he being any help? If not, I would suggest finding a more knowledgable doctor! Aftercare is a HUGE part of being a LapBand success. Please e-mail me if you'd like to talk, I'm always here for a fellow Bandster! Take care! And seriously consider having an unfill! Grace

Sorry for your terrible experience. Can you not have the band removed ?

Hey there sorry to hear that this has been a shocking experience. After care by a 'Professional' is so important. If you have never gotten of mushy foods and are vomiting all the time then your band is TOO TIGHT!! Have the fill fluid removed ASAP and if your specialist is that incompetant that he/she can't see that you have too much restriction find another doctor that is on the ball. I was banded 4 months ago and have found the experience liberating to say the very least. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need to talk. Jan

I need your advice because I'm "going for" the lap band. I live in Nevada and am seriously thinking of going to California to get the surgery. What about aftercare? What do you think?

That's rough. Have they done a barium swallow and determined if your placement is correct? Finding correct restriction can be difficult .. and being too tight can be miserable. Best of luck with this.

Vanessa, Sorry to hear you have been struggling with your band; however, I do feel your situation isn't the norm. I'd suggest you doing ALOT of research on RNY before you jump right into it. You stated that your body builds up scar tissue easily and quickly. Well, with the RNY your intestines/stomach are cut and keep in mind wherever you are cut scar tissue does form i/e intestinal blockage (big red flag!!). In your case, I'd seriously think about this and take this into serious consideration. Because once they cut your digestive tract...there's no turning back. I wish you well and maybe get a second opinion on your band. Kind of sounds like your band/port isn't placed correct or your port has flipped. Who knows but seriously...think about your scaring..it's nothing to be taken lightly. Best wishes, Lili

Dear Michelle, I am a SELF-PAY patient. My fills and unfills are $300.00 a piece. I am a single mother with two boys at home. These fills/unfills are expensive to me. Furthermore, I was NEVER able to consume 1 cup of anything (even creamed potatoes) at one sitting. That would have been quite an accomplishment. And lastly after researching WLS since 1999, the last thing I need is for you to have the nerve to insult me by accusing me of not gaining the proper pre-op information. If the information is not there to obtain, such as the fact that some people cannot get past 2nd stage foods, then how are you suppose to take that information into consideration? I think you are very rude. Vanessa

Hi southerband girl, I don't mean to get in between you and Vanessa's squirl, BUT, I think that you are a little bit to harsh. I know exactly what you mean when you say... "i dont think insulted you. i spoke frankly and anyone who knows me knows thats just the way i am". I can relate to you when you say that because I am the same way...BUT... you have to take into consideration that every human soul is different, and not everybody has the ability to do the same or as much research as you did or anyone esle. Vanessa may not have had the time or even the proper resources to find out long term effects. Back in "2003" the procedure WAS relatively new to the USA, and there really wasn't real life testimonials (actual) facts that the band COULD have some side effects. You can do all the research in the world, and STILL not know your outcome. We as human beings take risks and chances, that's what makes us who we are, and just like you took that risk of being banded, you NEVER know what can happend to you. As for you saying..... "if you can self pay for a $20,000 lapband but cant afford $300 for fills that are ESSENTIAL to make the band work THEN YOU SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN BANDED IN THE FIRST PLACE! mainly because what if you had had a complication...how could you have paid for that"?... I don't think it's your place to say that to someone who is seeking help and support from other people who have shared similar experiences. You don't know her financial situation, things change. It would be just like if you bought a brand new car, and yes you did all the research in the world about it and you determined that was the car for you and you wanted that car so bad and you saved up for it. THEN all of a sudden the car that got so many good reviews BY the makers not the actual owners, starts to give you real problems, and what you origionally budgeted yourself for, know it's gettign out of control with sudden bills, and expenses.... SO ... my point is never be quick to insult someone else's desicion because it can come back and bite you in the A@#!!! And then when you want that emotional support someone turns it around on you, and says you shouldv'e NEVER did that, when in FACT at the time you thought for sure that what was what you wanted. I don't mean to offend you either by saying this to you either, I'm just tryn to get you to be more open minded and sensitive to other people's feelings and choices. Well, let me say congratulations on your weightloss !! Lez

i was banded in 2003 and researched starting early 2001 and there was tons out there - new to US however not new elsewhere. no one should get wls as self-_ays [darn key_oard] if they can't afford aftercare that all wls need. the band needs good aftercare to work and that has been the case since it was invented. if so_eone gets it thinking they don't need to do aftercare they are not well researched. Nancy 394/275/180