Lapband success after 7 years
Seven years and seven months. Below goal since August 2007. Few short lived weight gains, dealt with fairly easily. Only problem was a leak at around four years, successfully repaired. No other problems. Believe it or not (and many don 't ) there are quite a lot of us around. I live a totally normal life, can eat all foods.
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
When I was banded back in 2006 (like you, I think) we were led to believe banding was for life and works for almost everyone. I don't think we were being lied to! But the "experts" got it wrong. There are many more complications and many more serious problems than at first appeared. Some are, IMO , the fault of the bandster. Many aren't.
When I post this I get called a liar! But it is still true that of those bandsters I know in real life, the vast majority have not had serious problems. Some have not lost as much weight as they hoped but most are still banded and most have had only minor problems, if any.
Some of those I knew years ago are no longer in contact with me and so I have no idea how they are now. For example, I met seven bandsters when I was in the US in 2008. Of those, I am still in contact with three and they are still banded and still happy with their bands. One lady sadly died, NOT from band related issues, the others were happy three years ago but I have not heard from them since.
Of the UK bandsters I have met, only two have had their bands removed but, again, I am no longer in touch with all of them. But I still meet new vets. Last visit to my doctor, (annual, routine), I chatted to three women also waiting. Two of them had been banded longer than me (8 years), the other had been banded 5 years.
I am making no claims that the band is trouble free, safe etc.. But I am saying that in my personal experience it works for many people. My own surgeon works for the National Health Service and so is salaried not making any profit from surgery. He does the band, VSG and RNY. (Not VSG in2006, but now). He still does bands and when I asked him last year about long term outcomes his words were that my experience is not uncommon and that he still believes it to be a good option.
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
You won't find many. Most end up needing their band removed or replaced by that time.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
There aren't too many successful lapband patients around, unfortunately. I had the Lap Band done about 10 years ago, removed about 8 years ago. (Although the last two days I've sure had reminders that I HAD a band... left shoulder pain STILL, even this many years after removal ... darned nerve damage takes forever and a day to heal.)
Even most of the successful bandsters have had corrective surgeries... just part of the package, I guess.
Do you have a band? If so, how are you doing? Hope you're one of the more fortunate ones.
Batwingsman · 5 replies · 1812 views