how long can band stay in with no complications?

 I have had the Realize Band Since Aug. 31, 2009 and I have not had any complications. Like others I wasn't going the RNY or DS for anything due to the lifelong complications, weight gain, and vitamins. I am happy with my band. At first coming to this site, I began to panic and think I was feeling all types of things due to the horror stories posted here. I went to my doctor with each thing I read here. She laughed and then we had a very long discussion. Every time I go I am x-rayed to make sure everything is right inside. I have lost weight and have not gain any of it back so far. I did massive research prior to my surgery and did not come across this board until I on facebook a few months ago. I have had a friend die from the RNY complications. I have a friend that was in the hospital for a while after having the DS due ulcer bleeding and other complications only two months out from surgery. So they all have risk. The main thing I believed and trusted my doctor. When ppl from other cities were coming to see my doctor due to his success rate with all the surgeries I knew I was in good hands. 

Save yourelf the "bandtagonism" here, and come over to the Band Forum, where you'll be among friends. The last thing you need the day before your surgery is this crap.

Bette, I respectfully  disagree.  The day AFTER surgery is too late to know all the bad stuff that can happen.

No problem. Disagree all you like!

When will you change your story OR will you be telling the same one for the rest of your days on this earth?  Life is short, and you should be living!!! 

Look at your pasts posts - over and over and over and over and over, the same tragic song.  Sister, you've sang it too long.  It is old.  You deserve more than one whirl  . . . try, try again girl.

You too are being unfair to new people considering the Band, and new post-ops who do have good skilled surgeons with good aftercare.  You said your doc was crappy and placed the band wrong.  You therefore never had a true Band experience.

You are a beautiful woman who took a chance that had to be taken.  It was not your last chance.

I bet if you came to NYC and saw my doc, he'd offer you another chance.

Good Luck to you,
Leila

What's wrong with her post?  She's right, it IS indeed better to do your research before surgery vs. after.  She has every right to tell her story just as you have a right to tell yours.

Should we all jump on you for saying you've had a positive experience and to quit typing that?

I've written about my every experience.  When I was experiencing "nothing" with the band for over 2 years,  When pretty much right out the gate, my port was flipped, then shattered, had punctured hosing, was prepped for "re-banding" just in case it was more than my port hosing that leaked,  I've written when my original surgeon overfilled me and left town.  I've written when I was obstructed for 8 days and not a single surgeon would touch me - that was the early band days here.  I was a liability!  I've written when my esophagus dilated.  We personally communicated during those times!

The thing is that I was never bitter.  I was never angry about my band or the choices I had made - even in choosing my original surgeon.  I did the research for years.  I chose my original surgeon after looking at other options, after meeting him.  He was the guy I wanted to do the job.  He was the professional that I trusted.  Now he didn't do a bad surgery, he was a skilled surgeon.  He messed up on aftercare.  He made promises he couldn't keep.  He put my life in danger.  And so, I moved on. 

I moved on to a surgeon who is exceptionally skilled, consistant, caring.  I was willing to move on and not bash the band.  I would have gotten the Sleeve (though I couldn't understand if restriction alone would work for me as I never truly had it with the exception of post-op swelling - I thought is was "magic"), or the DS, and as a suggestion though it wouldn't have been my choice WLS, I would have had the RNY.

I wanted change so bad.  I didn't want to remain "the fat girl".  I was willing to take a chance.  I was willing to try again.  I burned for more, failure on any part was not going to be my ending - the completion to my story.  My story is still being written. I am forever writing and re-writing.  Life is about chances.  If you do not shake it up, you will always get what you got and if that is not enough, or if that is not satisfying,  well we are crazy to be still.

And I am so damned happy about my journey.  I am so happy where I am at!  I wouldn't discourage anyone who had the courage to step up and make a change no matter what their surgery choice.

Though always seem angry, I still love you Midwestern Girl .

 

~~Though always seem angry, I still love you Midwestern Girl .~~

No, just because I don't shove puppies and rainbows up someone's butt about any surgery type does not make me angry.  Blunt and anger are two very different things.

Were you self pay?

Did you have to pay for your original surgery and a revision?

Did you suffer permanent bodily damage from the band that will affect you for the rest of your days?

Do you think you compare to those of us that have?

Wow, I can't carry the weight of the world like you do.

I've been down in my life, but I decided that I won't let life's experiences take me down and drown me. 

No, I was no not "self-pay", but I  payed a lot.  Unfortunately, insurance is not a free ride. 

Last minute before my surgery, after I thoroughly checked  my insurance with the very disorganized surgeons office, they told me he was out-of-network  - real fruity right.  That office was a mess!

And did I know the surgical team was going to bill separate?  I hadn't even thought that?  Anesthesiologist was "out-of-network"

The hospital was "out-of-network"

Yeah, I could have flew with you to Mexico and self-paid like you.

All of this after I  had an accident in a dance class at school.  Long story, the school was in the wrong, I loved the school and they told me "don't worry, we will pay for anything your insurance does not cover".  I was a pretty naive person.  I raked in $17,000 in medical bills during the first knee reconstruction.  After that experience, I thought I had gotten everything in check prior to the Lap Band surgery.

STILL, I AM NOT BITTER.  I AM STILL EXPECTING GREAT THINGS.  I AM ALIVE AND I FEEL GREAT!

And for the record I am what they call "the working poor".  I feel like a jerk for saying that when I look at people who are hungry or don't even have clean water.  Just making the point though that I did not have this money, and I no help or gifts from relatives or strangers .  Life can be difficult, but I can't live in that pool of ****

Just because the band statistically sucks donkey dongs does not mean bitter.  I'm really not sure how to explain this to you more clearly.   Telling the truth about the band is not bitter, angry, carrying the world on ones shoulders.  It means I would hope others stop listening to the millions of dollars in advertising and start looking at the band realistically.

Honestly, I'm not sure what is so difficult about this for you to comprehend.

What do you want me to do?  Go skipping down the streets of Phoenix singing I loved my band I loved my band and stats show it is soooo effective and I enjoy the forever complications, I love it I love it I love it!  You should get one too!!!!

Zee, I think you are being a bit unrealistic.  Just because not all of us view the band as you do does not make any of us bitter.  Just honest.

I'm blunt.  I'll bet you didn't know that.  Deal with it?

Honesty is what it is.  Honesty is only fair to newbies.  Honesty is something required of any ethical human being.  I think so many people want to reinforce their band choice to themselves that they just can't tolerate anyone saying anything statistically accurate because it might lead them to question if this is a safer method of weight loss, a more effective method of weight loss, or simply... a better choice.

I think it's telling that those who are banded seem to come down the hardest on those that lost their bands.  You have done it to two people on this thread alone.

You made your choice, you have your band, you are doing well.  Fine!  We don't attempt to stop you from telling your truth, please try your best to refrain from stopping us telling our truth.  And the drama, com'on... I've seen you posting for years.  The drama is really not necessary.