Serious Problems

tphilipslaw, MWG and I can't see each others posts as she has me blocked so I am not sure what she said. But it sounds like we may possibly be agreeing! Perhaps not! We don't usually!

The very earliest bands were much more prone to slips because they were less flexible but the major change was about 4 or 5 years ago when the method of implantation changed. I am not a doc and am not sure of the exact details. But according to my doc, the newer methods are far superior to the older ones. Superior does not mean perfect! But much better.

One problem however is that because of this change, stats are hard to come by as any longitudinal study includes the older as well as the newer bands and methods. For some odd reason, statistics from outside the US (Europe and Australia) appear to be better than in the US. For example Stroh and Monger quote a 2.6% slip rate (Germany). My own UK hospital group has never had a patient with a slip!

The following link may be of interest to you as well.

http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/statsub.html

wow, hillbilly?  really?  you're THAT person that says that about somone?

you hold no credibility when you personally call someone something like that.  wow

I had nothing BUT problems with my band. It was singularly the worst decision I ever made in my entire life... and I've made some dumbassed decisions!  

I came out of surgery in the worst pain I've ever experienced and it never let up... the referred left shoulder pain from a damaged diaphragm and the pain in my left side under my rib cage was from my stomach twisting into a Figure 8 and my intestines kinking. I don't remember the first couple of weeks after my surgery because I was in such extreme pain.

I had numerous ER visits, a repositioning surgery which didn't help, injections into my shoulder bone (in an attempt to alleviate the left shoulder pain, in spite of my insistence that it wasn't orthopedic in nature) ; was put on Fentanyl patches and morphine (which did nothing to alleviate the pain whatsoever); I suffered from chronic pain, constipation, and to top it off, was unable to eat solid foods at all. Sometimes even water wouldn't go down. I had to have fluids by IV several times. All the while, my doctor was telling me that this was all in my head and I was "fine." I finally saw a different doctor, one who was a specialist, and he determined that I was about to croak off and he had to do emergency surgery to untwist my stomch.  He tried valiantly to help me in any way he could-- repositioning, helping me with chronic pain specialists, etc.
 
I assumed that having the band removed wouldn't actually help my situation since the damage was already done. I contacted an RN about assisted suicide, the pain was so incredibly bad. I really thought that my life was done. My family begged me to have the band removed and I just didn't have any strength left to fight, so I contacted  the specialist and he agreed that I really needed the band removed.  As it turned out, the day after having the band removed, I did feel much better. Not having the band putting constant pressure on my diaphragm was such a relief that I bawled like a baby when I realized I could actually breathe without having stabbing pain through my shoulder. I had the band removed five years ago and I still do get occasional left shoulder pain. The diaphragm takes a ridiculously slow time healing, so I won't be surprised if it takes another five years before it's gone totally.

I found out the hard way that there are much worse things than being fat. Having a lapband is one of them. I still have damage to my diaphragm, but at least I'm alive.  I never feel full now, ever, since my nerves are deadened. And I get horrible acid reflux due to my esophagus having been dilated so often, but like I said, I'm alive, at least.

The lapband isn't reversible. It's removable, but I guarantee that if you develop issues that require band removal, you're not simply going to go back to the physical state you were before banding. It's true for RnY, DS or sleeve, too. But I'd much rather choose a surgery that would have a better rate of success, personally.

I had my surgery in 2003 and I really don't believe that any great strides have been made in regard to how 'improved' the bands are now. You still have a band wreaking havoc on the soft tissues of your stomach, irritating your diaphragm and at worst, eroding into said tissue. The cost of fill after fill is just the cherry on top of the money making venture. You can easily spend thousands of dollars just in an attempt to get your tool working for you. No one can convince me that it's not the best money making weight loss surgery there is on the market and that's why it's still being done... in spite of the many, many people who have had such troubles with it.  It's not a good long term option.  I know a lot of people here disagree, but having a band for a couple of years isn't "long term" when you compare it against the rest of your life!

I wish you the best in whatever you do.

Wow - I knew you had problems with the band, but I never knew the whole story.  Makes my living hell look like a cake walk. You mentioned that at one point your Dr. told you everything was in your head.   I forgot to put in my post how horrible you feel when a Dr. doesn't believe you.  It is so devistating to have someone tell you "it's all in your head" when you are in such physical pain.  You start to question yourself so much that you are no longer yourself!

I'm glad you are still with us  =)

Thanks, Jewels. I'm sorry you had a hard time, too. I skipped over telling the truly awful stuff. It's still really painful to talk about. I hate to hear of anyone else experiencing it.
xoxo

NM, your problems were truly horrendous. I am so glad that they are at least partly resolved, even if not entirely.

Am I wrong in thinking that you once posted that the band was placed incorrectly by the surgeon? Or did he damage the diaphragm during surgery?

Kate

Thank you, and yes, the band being placed incorrectly caused diaphragmatic damage. My surgeon was a malicious, ignorant piece of work.  He is still head of his thriving practice, however, because he fools people into believing he's something he's not.

Im sorry to add more fuel to the fire, but I think it all depends on your surgeon and how your body responds.

I was banded on May 4th and have had no problems at all so far. I had an issue with my first fill (my surgeon does the fills) and I went back the next day and he did a slight unfill and it was painful but other than that, I do not regret my decision for a minute.

Some people's bodies reject surgery or reject foreign objects or develop scar tissue that helps flips a port. Its all an unknown and to bash the band or warn people not to get it for those reasons is mean.

I NEVER would have been able to loose what I have any other way. For me, the band was the best choice. If something happens, and I have to revise it to another surgery, I will do what I have to but this was the best choice for me.

My body didn't reject anything, I had very common, standard issue, typical band complications.

You have been banded for 1.5 months...almost.  Sometimes it takes time to actually live with the band before you gain full knowledge of the good vs. the bad.  When I was 6 weeks post op I was singing praises of the band, too.  I thought my issues were rare and unusual.  I had no idea...

Gigi,

You are less than 2 months out.  You are still in the honeymoon - I love my band stage.  I was in that place at 2 months out also.  Little did I know at 4 months out I wouldn't be able to swallow my own spit - even being completely unfilled.

Your body is still adjusting.  I hope you don't have any complications - however - don't overlook the possibility that complications may arise during your journey.