Band users--would you do it again?

In one word NEVER! It has done little to nothing for weight loss, tightens on it's own without a fill and is just all round pain in the rear. Check out the Failed Lap Band Forum for many more stories. My surgeons office is urging people to get the sleeve because the band has proven to be so unreliable. Myself if I could I'd get a sleeve in a heart beat!

The band doesn't work for me... I WORK the band.

Sweets I can take or leave.. carbs as in crackers, bread, etc. are more my thing.  Do I still eat them, yes, a little.  But not nearly as much as I did before banding.  I used to eat 6 slices or more of buttered toast at a time.  One tasted so good, I'd have another and b4 I knew it, I'd eaten 6.  Now, I can stop at 1 slice.. if I even want that much.  I generally don't want processed carbs these days.. unless it's saltines.. LOL.

Would I have the band again.. yes.  I like the adjustability of it.  Would I do the RNY.. doubtful, I don't like the idea of cutting my intestines if not necessary and malabsorption and the possible side affects (dumping, RH [reactive hypoglcemia]) are scary to me.  Would I have a sleeve.. now that's a possibility.  

I didn't know about the sleeve when I was considering WLS and my surgeon didn't do them at the time.  I'm a little worried that a few years from now that they will discover that the section of the stomach that is removed with the sleeve will prove to be necessary for some obscure function in the body.  That being said.. if my band should stop being an effective tool for me, or if I should have to have it removed for some reason and I couldn't maintain my loss on my own.. the sleeve would be a strong consideration before RNY or DS.  

The above statements are my opinion only and are not meant to disparage anyone else's choices.  I mean no disrespect.

Just to address the potential for anyone else to have this fear of the needing the part of the stomach that's removed for some obscure bodily function... if that were the case, it would have been discovered by now.  

Partial gastrectomies have been performed to treat peptic ulcers and cancer since the 1800s.  The only thing new about the VSG is the idea of using it as a single-stage, stand-alone weight loss method (as opposed to a first stage approach to the Duodenal Switch). 

I'm aware that the surgery has been done for many many many years for other reasons than weight loss.  That doesn't mean that science doesn't discover (or rediscover) new functions of hormones ( in particular Ghrelin).

Like I said, this was my opinion and thoughts.  I'm not trying to discourage or encourage any choice. 

For sure I am the same. I can say no easier and you have to have the band help you. There is no magic cure..It is hard work very hard. I went through withdrawal bad. I loved fast food. Thank god i can hardly eat it now and I feel the grease on my lips if i try. I am not hungry my god that is awesome. I was always hungry or eating because i was happy, sad or any reason.Is is easy heck no..I lost 60 in one year never gained that is great for me..going for another 60 this year then goal met. I know though that i have to start working out more now..I still have to fight to do that. I am off all meds. Got a appointment for sleep study to see about getting off cpap machine. It saved my life. I would do it again for sure.
My friend lost 100 in 2 years looks amazing.
Annette

No.

The severity of my obesity truly required a more severe approach with WLS, but I originally chose the lap band out of fear of something more invasive.

Well, three surgeries later, I finally got the right surgery.  My point?  Choose wisely.  Think twice, cut once.  Keep the severity of your obesity in mind at all times.  I recommend the lap band to people who have under 80 pounds to go.  Over 80, I recommend something more severe (Sleeve, RNY, DS)

I would do the band in a heartbeat again its the only surgery I will have done.  I know a few folks that had the gastric done and they have gained all their weight back plus some, and my aunt had the gastric done and she looks so sickly and takes a butt load of pills a day sorry I would rather be over weight then live like that . she is just has unhealthy now as to when she was over weight !!!!

I was never much a sweets eater even before the band, but I do still eat my sweets especially that TOM . I eat my carbs also but I watch how much a day I eat .

There isn't a food I cant eat to be honest.  I eat the same things as I did before the band but I have learned portion control, moderation, and how often to eat them foods .

I eat out pizza, McDonald's, Taco Bell, but its not every week, its not every day but I still go out and enjoy them treats . I m just alot picky now on what I eat .

The one thing I like about the band it does not cut out any of your insides that was a big factor for me also , its adjustable, and its teaching me how to eat , how to much to eat.  If something ever happens to my band hopefully I have learned something from having the band because if I havent then it would be pretty sad to be honest.

This is my one and only surgery I will not have any others if something happens . I'm pleased with my results.  I have lost over 50 pounds, over 30 inches, and I have quit smoking for 8 months now that alone not smoking was well worth it to me .  I would have never quit if I hadn't gotten the band .

I had my procedure August 2010 and in 1 very simple word YES I would do it all over again.
Nothing regarding weight loss is easy and my procedure isn't an exception.  I've had my issues to work through, but I am also 100% committed to this process.  Everyone is different and everyone's experience with the band is different.  I have had many discussions with other bandsters and we all have a different list of foods we can and can't eat; what works and what doesn't.

But I wouldm't change a darn thing!

I too would do it again in a heartbeat. Granted, I'm only 7 months out but I've lost 53# and I have 22 or so to go. Just had my 1st fill last week and that was a breeze as well.
Everyone has to do their own thing of course but my "thing" was definately the band

YES... I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  Like someone had mentioned, the sleeve was not available in NJ at the time of my surgery.  Had I had a choice back then, I would still have chosen the band.  For ME (and this is totally my opinion) I needed something that was not so drastic.  I thought long and hard about going between the gastric bypass and the band.  I am a bariatric nurse on the bariatric unit of the hospital I work at and I saw great results with both and bad results as well.  I was 25 at the start of my journey and it was a tough pill to swallowing knowing that my guts were going to be rewired and that I would be malabsorbing all my nutrients and I wanted to have a baby pretty soon after I got married.  So after talking long and hard with my surgeons, they told me the lap band was the best option for me and IF it did not work, they would gladly switch me to the gastric bypass.  Thank goodness I didn't have to go there.  Thank goodness the band has given me the TOOL I needed to give me that lifestyle change that my body so desperately needed.  The band has given me the tool to eat right, eat less, and work hard to exercise!  I was given a life that I never knew that I can have with the band.  I'm very happy with myself and with my life now.  I feel like I'm 15 again, with more energy than most people 10 years younger than me.... I run, me RUN! now... from a couch potato to a runner... something that I would have laughed in your face about had you told me 4 years ago that I would run for fun!  But yes, I would give myself the band again, no question about it.  I work with my band and it works with me. 

Take care and good luck on whatever you choose!
Jan