Need advice!! Pros and Cons of Lap Band???

Thanks Jolena!  The problem is that they are so persistent in trying to intimidate anyone who disagrees...you can be as polite as possible and they will attack.  I just try to keep it polite and ignore all the BS...

Love this response! Excellent information for pre-ops.

Have had my band since Aug '09 and am very happy with it.

There is success and failure in every type of weight loss surgery.  I was afraid of having organs re-routed and I could get the band (in Canada - self pay) very quickly.  I had a wonderful highly qualified surgeon and I go to the clinic every month for check ups and support meetings, I exercise 4 - 5 times per week and I have had times when I have bee hungry and I have hit a sweet spot currently but it will only last so long then I will need a fill.  With the band you have to be prepared to do the follow up with the doctor - stick to the eating rules and exercise.  But as I said every surgery in the world has potential complications and not all WLS patients are successful.  Go with what you feel is right for you after you've done your homework.

For me personally it has been the best thing I have ever done for myself - I am no longer borderline diabetic and my cholesterol is no longer at stroke level.  I have lost 75 pounds in 7 months and I can walk 2 kilometers straight without stopping this time last year I couldn't get around the block without stopping 3 - 4 times because of severe back pain.

I wish you all the best!  Keep us posted no matter which way you decide to go

 I was asked to drop by here and give you my opinion.  I had lapband in 2008, the first three months I was very happy with it, then I got where I could not lose a pound, was gaining weight, after seven months of this and me saying I was going to have a revison to duodenal switch, the PA at the doctor's office decided maybe my port was leaking.  She set me up to have my port replaced, doctor was nasty to me and come to find out my port had 15 holes in it.  I changed doctors, and lost about 30 lbs total, then all of a sudden, I quit losing and started gaining.  I got very frusturated and decided to have the sleeve but you guessed it, Medicare does not pay for it and I certainly could not afford to self pay.  I talked to the doctor about RNY and he thought it was a good idea.  So on Jan 24th of this year I had RNY surgery.  I was worried about having it due to the fact that I took arthritis medication and also would have to take steroids often due to pneumonia.  My doctor told me they were getting where they are not as strict on the use of Nsaids with RNY and that if needed I could take steroids for brief periods.  I have not had any Nsaids nor steroids since I had surgery and sometimes I wish I could take Nsaids, and when I recently had penumonia I wished that steriods were easier to take now, and I opted not to take them.  

I am no longer a fan of the band, and I recommend that you get the surgery that you think will work best for you in the long run because I learned going through the process for my RNY that, in most cases, you do not lose as fast or as much if you are not a virgin surgery.  This was also told to me by others that had revisied here on OH.   I am losing, but not fast, but I feel so much better and honestly look better too, although I see wrinkles where I was hoping there wouldn't be any.  Also, if you happen to be one that the band works for it is a life time tool were as the RNY is not, sleeve I am not sure about.  With the RNY you have a window of 12-18 months to lose your weight then you start absorping the calories from your food again.  I also had complications with my surgery that I contribute to having had the band first, I bled and required 4 untis of blood was discharged from the hospital after the first two, started bleeding again and had to go back for two more units and an iron infusion.  Long story, short, none of the surgeries are perfect, sleeve people have a lot of reflux with, where as RNY does away with that almost completely.  My diabetes was cured with the RNY where as with sleeve and the band that does not happen, you may get your numbers down, which I did with the band but not like I have with the RNY.  I will be on supplements the rest of my life which with the band you don't have to and with the sleeve, they are not sure, they don't require them like with RNY but they have not studied it long term and not sure what will happen long term.  

Personally I would never have the band again, or right now I won't, I have learned to never say never because I was 100% against RNY 2 years ago, really even a year ago and I have one now.  I really do like it much more than the band and am losing much better with it.  

I have probably confused you more because I don't feel this post makes a lot of sense but I am taking care of my father who became compeltely bed fast last week and is dying.  If you have more questions just PM me and I will answer as honestly as I can.  

Jacqueline

Hi Jacqueline

It's no wonder you are no fan of the band after what you have been through.  Thank you for sharing your story. Preops really need to hear it all...and postops too so we can know what possibly can happen.  I think problems are minimized when you have a good surgeon and good aftercare, which you certainly did not receive.

      I really hope the Rny is succesful for you and wish you strength for what you are going through now with your dad.  Bless you for reaching out to others here while you are going through such a tough time.    I pray your dad is in no pain as he makes his transition.  (((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jacqueline))))))))))))))))))))))

 Thank you so much.  BTW, I was suppose to have had the best surgeons in KY but I have learned that they are great at selling themselves, although they had and still have excellent reviews here on OH.  I would not recommend the group to anyone and if someone happens to ask I tell them my experience with them.  

I am not a band basher, I think I can tell my experience and still not ba**** because for 25% of the people it does work great.  I am extremely happy for those it works for, wish I had been one of them.  

Good luck to all bandsters, and anyone that choses WLS as their option.  No matter which one it is you have there is a lot of work to it. 

 Thank you all so much for all your responses.   It is so helpful to hear both sides of each surgery.   The RNY will not work because of my medication so the choice has become the Band or wait for sleeve.   I have decided to take a "breath" and not worry about making this choice right away.  I am going to give myself a week or so and then get back to it (esp. after talking with my doc. once again).  I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea this past Wednesday, so I am in the process of getting used to this cpap thing.  So far it is ok.   I thought my "morning headaches" were part of my hayfever...turns out it wasn't.   SO I guess I am going to try to get the problems that I have on track with treatment and then go back to deciding on what is going to be my best choice.   

I thank all of you so very much for your information, advice, etc.  You are all so wonderful.  I think you all have truly helped me keep from pulling my hair out over all of this.

Bless you all!