Tiff, this has been a great survey! I love the band stories, especially from people who had it for a long time and can attest to its great, "least invasive" properties. Next time, you may want to include its great success rates. That ought to help educate newbies on how great the band is for the long-term.

Note: in each place I used the word "great," insert the word "ridiculous."

Nicolle

 And, for those interested in SCIENCE instead of water cooler conversations, here are some more surveys:

Here's just one example of why those of us who know better get crazy when we see very heavy people considering the band.  This study explains that, for people with a BMI of 46 or higher, the expected weight loss at a year out is closer to 33%.  So a 300 pound woman who should weigh 150 will, after banding, end up weighing 250...and this isn't even about the bands that later have to be removed.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2009 May-Jun;5(3):310-6. Epub 2008 Oct 7.

Failure of adjustable gastric banding: starting BMI of 46 kg/m2 is a fulcrum of success and failure.

Snyder B, Scarborough T, Yu S, Wilson E.

Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.

BACKGROUND: To determine the body mass index (BMI) located at the fulcrum of success and failure in a prospective study conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. On average, our patients whose percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was >50% at 1 year had a significantly lower BMI than those with <30% EWL. METHODS: We prospectively collected the weight loss data for 430 patients who had had an adjustable gastric band placed. We stratified the %EWL within 1 year for patients with a BMI of 30-59 kg/m2. A line was generated for the %EWL over time for BMI groups of 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 kg/m(2) and compared with the average %EWL over time. The y-intercepts of the resulting four lines were graphed against the average BMI for each group. RESULTS: The generated y-intercept line had an R2 of .9237. Using the equation of this line and the known y-intercept for the average, we solved for x, resulting in a BMI of 46 kg/m2. Patients with a BMI <46 kg/m2 had a 50% EWL at 1 year, and those with a BMI >46 kg/m2 had only a 33% EWL at 1 year. The %EWL between the groups was significantly different at all measured intervals (P <.0001). CONCLUSION: A BMI of 46 kg/m2 identifies those at high risk of failure to lose a significant percentage of excess weight after adjustable gastric banding and *****quire closer follow-up. Furthermore, patients who have a BMI >46 kg/m2 should be advised that their weight loss might be suboptimal at 1 year.

PMID: 19136307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]





I'll post a few more in my own thread on the main board.

1. Are you a lap band patient? I was, but it almost ended my life.

2. Have you experienced any of the following: Vomiting, PB, Stuck Food, "Bringing food back", Regurgitation. Experienced all of those.

3. Have you experienced any of the following: Dehydration requiring IV fluids, Vomiting requiring hospital intervention. No

4. Have you experienced any band complications requiring a secondary surgery to repair the port, tubing or band. Yes, two slips, repair of the port, erosion through the stomach wall,removal and bypass performed.

5. Have you experienced any other complications related to the band requiring a second surgery IE. Gall bladder - Erosion of my esophagus, loss of teeth due to vomiting.

6. Have you had an elective surgery to replace your port to a lower profile version or new band version. I wouldn't put a band back in if they paid me $1M dollars.

7. How satisfied are you: 1 being VERY, 2 being Somewhat, 3 being Not really, 4 being NOT satisfied at all.. BOO! HORRIBLE - TERRIBLE. Wouldn't recommend a band to my dog.

8. Have you died as a complication of the band? No, but was told after revision, that I could have at any time.

9. If you could do it over, would you get the band versus another WLS option like RNY, VGS, DS... - I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THE BAND TO ANYONE. I'm very happy with my RNY. Lost all the weight. Healthy now.

10. Do you report fewer co-morbidity's as a result of your surgical weight loss?
I didn't have any before and don't now.

. Are you a lap band patient? Was for 5 years and revised to sleeve

2. Have you experienced any of the following: Vomiting, PB, Stuck Food, "Bringing food back", Regurgitation. Yes

3. Have you experienced any of the following: Dehydration requiring IV fluids, Vomiting requiring hospital intervention Yes and bleeding due to reflux

4. Have you experienced any band complications requiring a secondary surgery to repair the port, tubing or band. Yes, but I opted after a slip to revise

5. Have you experienced any other complications related to the band requiring a second surgery IE. Gall bladder NO

6. Have you had an elective surgery to replace your port to a lower profile version or new band version.
NO

7. How satisfied are you: 1 being VERY, 2 being Somewhat, 3 being Not really, 4 being NOT satisfied at all.. BOO! 3

8. Have you died as a complication of the band?

9. If you could do it over, would you get the band versus another WLS option like RNY, VGS, DS...Yes

10. Do you report fewer co-morbidity's as a result of your surgical weight loss? Yes

1) Yep
2) Yep
3) Nope
4) had a port replacement 1 1/2 yrs post op
5) Nope
6) Nope
7) Today I'd give my satisfaction a 2, somedays a 3, but as of late I'm losing again so I can't complain too much
8) Guess not, unless my ghost is typing my responses
9) If I were to do it again I'd probably opt for a VSG.  Its the surgery type I woulld chose without the mechanical prob
10) Didn't have any co morbidities pre op.

1. Are you a lap band patient? I was before my revision

2. Have you experienced any of the following:  Vomiting, PB, Stuck Food, "Bringing food back", Regurgitation. - All of these

3. Have you experienced any of the following:  Dehydration requiring IV fluids, Vomiting requiring hospital intervention - yes and my band was removed

4. Have you experienced any band complications requiring a secondary surgery to repair the port, tubing or band.- no

5. Have you experienced any other complications related to the band requiring a second surgery IE. Gall bladder  - Yes I had to have my gall bladder out

6. Have you had an elective surgery to replace your port to a lower profile version or new band version.- no

7. How satisfied are you: 1 being VERY, 2 being Somewhat, 3 being Not really, 4 being NOT satisfied at all.. BOO! 4 not satisfied at all.  I began having constant reflux needing a complete unfill which did nothing for the reflux.  I ended up throwing up all food and eventually liquids to.  My doctor put me in the hospital as an emergency and removed my band.  He found a sever slip behind my stomach which didn't show up on tests.

8. Have you died as a complication of the band? no but I could have

9. If you could do it over, would you get the band versus another WLS option like RNY, VGS, DS... - I had a revision to RNY and I should have done that from the beginning.

10. Do you report fewer co-morbidity's as a result of your surgical weight loss? yes

1.  Had the lapband for two years
2.  Yes, to everything
3.  Yes, three trips to the ER to remove stuck meat
4.  No
5.  4
6.  No
7.  4
8.  I'm still kicking
9.  Had a revision to RNY last year at surgeon's suggestion
10.  All co-morbids but sleep apnea are gone

Edited to add:  I developed bad reflux last year with the band.

I felt the need to respond to this!!


1. Are you a lap band patient?....I was from 8/05 till 9/09

2. Have you experienced any of the following:  Vomiting, PB, Stuck Food, "Bringing food back", Regurgitation.  All of the above and sooooo much more..

3. Have you experienced any of the following:  Dehydration requiring IV fluids, Vomiting requiring hospital intervention....too many times to count...and so many times that I am a hard IV access so I ended up letting this help my decision to get a Vital Port IV access permantly placed in my chest!!

4. Have you experienced any band complications requiring a secondary surgery to repair the port, tubing or band....yep had to have my band removed

5. Have you experienced any other complications related to the band requiring a second surgery IE. Gall bladder ......My band caused serious and non repairable damage to my esophagus (sp?)

6. Have you had an elective surgery to replace your port to a lower profile version or new band version.
no....I just had removal
7. How satisfied are you: 1 being VERY, 2 being Somewhat, 3 being Not really, 4 being NOT satisfied at all.. BOO! BOOOOOOOO

8. Have you died as a complication of the band?...In all seriousness ya I was close to having my esophagus rupture due to the band...and I never knew that it was an issue until it was almost too late

9. If you could do it over, would you get the band versus another WLS option like RNY, VGS, DS...Never would I be banded again...I would rather weigh 1000lbs....than go thru the 4 years of torture

10. Do you report fewer co-morbidity's as a result of your surgical weight loss?....sad to say but no I now have more heath problems caused by my years of being banded.....

I will tell you until I found out all the problems my band caused me I loved it.....I loved it so much it almost took my life and still being 2 months out of removal I have been hospitalized 3 times for complications...I feel everyday like I wish I was 393lbs again....I know my band helped me lose alot of weight..but it was not worth it for all the issues it has caused me......My docs are saying it may be a year before I will feel like a normal person again

good luck in your investigation!!

WOW, Jan. That sounds like a really rough road. I wish you happy healthy and recovery in the year ahead.

1. Are you a lap band patient? Yes, was banded 10/18/04

2. Have you experienced any of the following:  Vomiting, PB, Stuck Food, "Bringing food back", Regurgitation.  All of it

3. Have you experienced any of the following:  Dehydration requiring IV fluids, Vomiting requiring hospital intervention? Ive needed IV fluids when I have been sick. I don't know if having the band contributed to it.

4. Have you experienced any band complications requiring a secondary surgery to repair the port, tubing or band? Ive had complications and I am starting the process to switch to the RNY. My insurance wouldn't pay to remove my band because we couldnt find exactly what was causing my complications (pinched nerve) but I was told they will pay to switch to the RNY.

5. Have you experienced any other complications related to the band requiring a second surgery IE. Gall bladder ? No

6. Have you had an elective surgery to replace your port to a lower profile version or new band version? No

7. How satisfied are you: 1 being VERY, 2 being Some what, 3 being Not really, 4 being NOT satisfied at all.. 4- Boooo!

8. Have you died as a complication of the band? No but at times I wish I had, its been a miserable journey with this band. I will NOT miss it when its gone!

9. If you could do it over, would you get the band versus another WLS option like RNY, VGS, DS? Absolutely not!

10. Do you report fewer co-morbidity's as a result of your surgical weight loss? I still have all of them.


** I can't have any fluid in my band because it puts pressure on a nerve that causes excruciating pain in my left shoulder and collar bone. I lived with it for the first year then had all the fluid removed and it has not been a problem since then. My doctor does not do surgery anymore and closed his office. I was given my chart and told to find a new doctor. That was a challange! I have lost 70 lbs but gained 30 lbs back over the last few years. I'm ready for the surgery and I wished I had known then what I know now. I would NEVER recommend the lap band to anyone!