Would you do it again? Everyone please answer

Absolutely without a doubt. I would recommend this to my friends, my family and I actually have recommended it to my grandma and mother.

I have had a few problems along the way with my port and my band. The 54 lbs that I've lost to date have already given me back my life. I have a long way to go and I'm now healthy enough that I can get there. For the first time in my adult life I'm exercising on a regular basis and that is thanks to the band.

DO IT!!!!

Edited to say, I still eat ground beef. I love tacos!!!  I have also had a few hamburger helpers since surgery. They are few and far between because they aren't terribly healthy . I have also had more than a few cheese burgers, I just don't eat the bun.   Also...I was/am a cash pay patient.

Congratulations on going to find out about lapband surgery!  That's the first step.  Yesterday I celebrated my one year bandiversary of my surgery.  No I never had acid reflux.  I am 65 so I have a bit more mileage on me than most of you all.  I think one of things you need to look at before going any further with this surgery is are you sick and tired of being fat and are you willing to give up temporarily or permanently whatever is asked of you?

If the answer is yes, then perhaps this is the surgery for you.  If not, then perhaps you need to go back and think on it some more.  There are many other finer points to surgery and after which can be discussed ad nauseum, but if you are not ready to follow the rules, then now is not your time.

Yes I would do it again in a heart beat!

Marti in San Jose 

Sorry i personally Would not have it again....  My first 2 years were GREAT! I was doing everything that i was to do and was loosing my weight and then Everything with #@$$ I started getting sick all the time NOBODY could figure it out !!! After all kinds of test i gave up and thought it was in my head.... after getting sick for almost a year it was Finally found that i had Gall Stones... over 1000 of them...So i had my gall bladder removed and thought it would get better.... well it's been a year since then and it has gotten a Little bit better ...I am now seeing Another GI dr and scheduled for my 3rd scope since i have been banded.....So as greatful as i am with my weightloss ...has it been worth it to me ... No ... I feel like crap all the time ......BUT that is my story.....

Yes, i would. It has been 3 years for me, and I would probably have been disabled by now if I had not lost the weight.

I drink soda and eat hamburger just fine. Not a lot of either. And I don't eat the hamburger on bread, because I have a problem with soft starches getting sort of gummed up.

My goal with this surgery was to be able to eat anything I wanted, just in small small portions. And that is pretty much the way it worked out. The few things I can't eat, like soft bread, I can have variations. So I can eat toast, crackers, crusty bread with butter, etc.

The PBs are annoying, but nothing like reflux. There is no stomach acid or bad smells or tastes involved. The key to avoiding them is to eat small bites, chew your food, and not gulp.  Just like Mom told us too, huh? ;D

Good luck with your decision. I just wish I had done it sooner.

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wish I had done it sooner! 

NEVER! Not saying the band is bad but for me it has been pretty much useless. If I'm tight enough to not want to eat then I have reflux all the time. Last year I had 7ccs in my band and this year I've had to have 2 ccs taken out because of reflux. So I'm done screwing around with this nonsense. I have to pay for fills so I don't plan on getting anymore. I'll just have to accept being fat and reasonably happy. I think if you are a volume eater it probably works great and if you can exercise it'll work even better. It was just the wrong surgery for me and I regret it every single day! So read about ALL the available surguries and make an informed decision. Best of luck to you.

I'll just have to accept being fat and reasonably happy.

Hey buddy? You wouldn't consider revising to another surgery? It breaks my heart that this effing band didn't work for  you :(

Yes i'm getting some info and looking at the sleeve.... I love the start of weight loss but i just cant deal with all my issues any more i lost a job about a year ago due to getting sick so much and i just got laid off from another ...so before i find a new one i either want this fix removed or maybe the sleeve...

Hey Kristsa! Thanks for asking. I'd gladly go for another type surgery if I had insurance to cover it. I'm hoping medicare still covers WLS in a few years when I get that age. I also would have to find a surgeon that would do the surgery because I have a genetic clotting disorder so surgeons are leary of a more serious surgery. Fortunately I've never had self esteem issues with my weight so if I do have to stay this way, well I'll still be my same wonderful self, nobody can take that away from me. I also have a great hubby who loves me no matter what my weight and I have lost 50 lbs. between the preop diet and the band so I'm a couple of sizes smaller than I was. If it's meant to be I'm sure it'll happen. Maybe God's just having me wait till a better surgery comes along for me.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I was a self pay.  I am over 2 years out down 95 lbs, I'm a slow loser, but that is fine with me, I'm also 50 yrs young, I have 18 lbs to get to my goal, if I make it, that is just icing on the cake (nope, don't eat that anymore either, just doesn't taste good anymore), if I don't I'm very, very happy with my progress.  Could I have done this without the band, very doubtful.  Do I miss stuffing my face, no, do I miss soda, no.  I was on multiple meds before surgery, reflux, high cholorestarl (sp?), high blood pressure, diuretics...  now I'm down to just the high blood pressure med, and I'm not very good about taking it every day because I think it is still too strong and get dizzy if I take it every day.  I've PB'ed, I've slimed, that is because "I" have not followed the band rules.  If let myself get too hungry before I eat, then I eat to fast and have a PB episode.  With every surgery, you have to make a commitment to work your chosen tool, it doesn't matter which one you choose, there is no magic with any of them.  YOU have to learn how that tool works, and work it to your advantage.  It is a personal decision that you have to make, no one can make it for you, I wish you success with what ever "tool" you choose!

Blessings,
Avis