Has Anyone Found Lap Band Happiness?

Thanks Zee. I obviously wasn't paying complete attention when I read her post.

Btw..........will u be revising soon?

It puzzles me how anyone can think the band is a good option when every single day there are new threads about  revising, having the band removed, or being in pain from it. And it happens with startling regularity.


My band nearly killed me. I was lucky to remain living, so no, I can't say I've had a lot of happiness from the lapband.

I truly, from the bottom of my heart, would NOT recommend the band to anyone. I don't expect anyone to fully know how horrible it can be without having gone through it, though. I ignored all the bad stuff I heard and lived to regret it fully.

Nicci,
 I think people place too much value on their surgeons experience. Placing a band and living with the consequences of living with the band are two separate issues. I find it disingenuous at best when I hear about surgeons who are still recommending implanting a band.

With all the information that is out there on the Internet for anyone to google. I too am still overwhelmingly puzzled that there are still people out there who are willing to take their chances on being banded, or when the OP made this statement,
" If the future says I need some revisions...then so be it. "

I get that this is their choice, but come on....Based on the fact alone that the OP said,
" It seems like a lot of people are unhappy with their bands on these forum " doesn't that tell the average reader anything I earlier wished the OP well and I still do, but I'm still perplexed at how we are viewed by some on this forum when we share our experiences with our bands.

~" It seems like a lot of people are unhappy with their bands on these forum " doesn't that tell the average reader anything ~


I agree. Makes no sense at all to me why someone that acknowledges a large degree of unhappy bandsters would still want to get a band?! I think it's the "other people" mentality. U know.........that's what happens to other people!

I will admit, before I got my band, I did realize that the amount of weight lost with the band was suppose to be around 50%. And I though that was so low b/c of factoring in the ppl that didn't follow band rules or try to change their lifestyle. And that since I was willing to do that...........that I would be very successful with the band. I was told all I had to do is follow the "rules" and make lifestyle changes, and as long as you work with the band that it worked. Never was I told that for so many ppl that the band just does NOT work!!!! That is why whenever I hear that crap about how their Dr. told them they are an "excellent candidate" for the band.............I think it's a rediculous statement considering what a crap shoot the band really is! :-(

I think it's hard to imagine just how terribly wrong banding can go. I mean, it's just so abstract until you're going through it. I suppose it is a lot like smokers... they KNOW there's a really good chance they'll develop cancer at some point... but until it actually HAPPENS, it doesn't really seem real. (I was a smoker for many years and had that, "not gonna happen" mentality. Until one day, I was like, "Why wouldn't it happen to me?!" )


My heart hurts for all the people who will buy into the advertising... and the ones who think complications happen to "other people."  We're ALL 'other people.'

The band seems to have a "shelf life" of about 2-4 years on average.  The first year or so, everyone's happy and losing weight... and then the esophageal problems start up, maybe some reflux. You medicate and hope for the best. Then, maybe you get the stomach flu and throw up. Suddenly, the band is tight and you can't even swallow your own saliva. Your doctor tells you that there's nothing wrong... the tests show nothing. But, you can't sleep because you're choking on acid, you can't eat because you're gagging and throwing up, maybe you have the left shoulder pain that you can't ignore anymore... and then, suddenly you're faced with either band removal (if you're lucky, you won't have severe damage to your esophagus and stomach) or a revisional surgery.

It's happened over and over and over... and it baffles me how people don't SEE this. 

The band is very damaging for most people after a certain time. And whether people want to believe it or not is up to them. I don't have a need to be liked, but I do have a need to warn people who haven't had the surgery yet. I wish someone had warned me. Back in 2002, there was little to research. I put all my faith in the band... mistakenly, obviously.

 This is getting pretty intense from everyone and I appreciate all your opinions. I'm not looking for "just happy bandsters". I know there are horror stories out there about every one of the surgeries. And yes...I've been on the "Revision" forums, etc. 

I've been on OH long enough to see that there are a ton of folks out there that are unhappy with thier bands...had revisions....etc. In fact, that is the reason I started this thread was because all I could see was the unhappy ones...which does indeed scare me. I trully wanted to see if the "happy" ones were out there.....and I did indeed find some. 

Thanks!

You appear to be doing your research. That is very important before making your final decision. Any questions and concerns reguarding which surgery you should choose is best made between you and your surgeon.

No WLS is flawless and it is YOUR choice on which one that you decide to have. I was banded 3 years ago, I was 463 pounds and a size 32, I am now a size 12 and over 250 pounds are gone! I have had issues and a revision but I would not trade my band for a sleeve or anything else. People want you to be well informed and you seem to have done that. Best of luck on your journey and I wish you a wonderful success :)

Jordiesmama,

If you wouldn't trade your band for a sleeve or anything else, what did you revise to? I'm confused!