looking to here from long term banders

 I just mean that with RNY you can lose 100 pounds in 12-18 months whether you eat properly or not.  It really requires no discipline at all until the honeymoon wears off.  I found it a lot better to be on a level playing field where I was at a normal weight.  None of my lapband friends ever achieved a BMI in the 24 range.

hi mary catherine,

you are right the band does require more discipline. i personally think anything worth having in life requires discipline. it looks like it co could either way. i will take your post into consideration and thanks for the reply and your time.

thepose

The first six months it worked just fine...that's one reason I tell people to ignore the RECENTLY banded people and to look over on the revisions board to see what causes people to be less happy later on.

The official diagnosis was "esophageal dysmotility secondary to adjustable gastric banding."  As I'm sure you know, the esophagus does more than just sit there while food "drops" throught on the way to the stomach.  It actually "massages" the food on down the line.  Because of the band, my esophagus stopped doing that and it was  miserable WAY TO LIVE.  (Elevn weeks after the band was removed, the esophagus started working again...but I wasn't sure it ever would.)

At first, it was once in a while, and then it became more frequent.  ONE reason I didn't do anything about it is something you can see on the the band boards even today.  Every person who checks in with problems is "cheered on" to try harder and do better.  In my case, it got to the point that I couldn't even trust tha****ER would go straight down.  Then I decided to DO something, but then I wasn't sure WHAT to do...and finally, I decided and went doctor shopping and got in line and that's how it all took a while.

One other thing you will only hear from the people who have already revised...and I'll see if I can dig some up for you...is about the bandster barf.  For MANY, MANY people, the body "interprets" the  restriction caused by the band as blockage.  So the brain says, "Oh,..here's some goo."  And the goo...thick, disgusting, globs of booger-y mucous, ALSO gets stuck in the path so the brain sends more.  If you know a bunch of banded people...make that HONEST banded people...you know several who--upon arriving at a restaurant--make sure they know WHERE the restrooms are and how many stalls there are...because they may just have to hurl up HUGE globs of what is essentially snot.  I've barfed into more hedges in restaurant parking lots and had my husband stop over and over again so I could barf on strangers' lawns on the way home.

I'm 64 years old and in those three years I had the band, I puked more than I did in all the years of my life before and after those three years together.  It was a HORRID time.

Weights don't matter, BMIs do.  My BMI as close to 50 when I got it...it got down to about 40 and then started up as I was able to eat less and less solid food and went for a mostly liquid diet.

My experience is NOT unique.  I am not "one problem case."  These problems are TYPICAL and you can see some of them discussed on the revisions board.  But I'll ask a couple of other previously banded people who might not have seen this to comment.

Do be sure to read the revisions board and to look up band complications. If you really want a restriction-only procedure, the VSG is a far better option.

I will thank you for the advice

thepose

The first couple of years of my band seemed okay.  This past year has been a real challenge.  I stay unfilled now and it seems that as each month goes by I am getting more and more restriction with nothing in the band. I go from periods of being able to eat slider type foods to having to resort to liquids or "super mushies" as I call them.

The last upper GI I had was a huge eye opener. They made the barium extra thin and it still stayed in my stoma for quite a while.  So much so that the Dr viewing the UGI sent me straight to my band doctor because he was afraid of the barium staying in my pouch.  I have times where I can eat something and then still "taste it" 12 to 14 hours later.  Mind you, this is while my band is OPEN.

Also, another scary thing, I was once on a business trip in Albany and has issues with liquids, this was when I was at 3cc in my 10cc band, and I needed an emergency unfill.  I went to the E.R. to get an unfill and none of the Doctors in the E.R. would do an unfill, I ended up having to call around and find a bariatric center in a university hospital to get my unfill.  I was shocked that they couldn't unfill the band in an E.R.  I told the E.R. doctor that it was pretty easy, you stick a needle in the port and just drain it.... they said they wouldn't touch it because they are not a bariatric surgeon.  I then explained to the E.R. doc that a P.A. usually does the unfill/fill at my doctors office so they should be able to, but they wouldn't touch it.

I now have trouble with acid, I have trouble with having to sometimes sleep sitting up, I have had my esophagus just "quit" on me and that left me choking in my sleep.  This band is frustrating.  I want it out, and I am working hard to get it out. 

I am glad that I lost 80lbs with it and I was able to keep it off, but it has come at a very frustrating price this last year.  The first two were great, but not it is just painful and maddening.

Now, do I think this is typical of the band?  I don't know.  I do know that I have a coworker down the hall who hasn't had the problems I have.  I also know there are people on this board who are fine with the band many years out.  Just know that you may have issues with the band.... and you may have those issues even if you follow the rules and even if you "work your tool".   Also understand that each surgery you have is going to have someone like me who is having a hard time of it with their surgery tool.

I'm not going to tell you which to chose, I'm only going to tell you listen to all the stories and make your own decision.  I know that when I made the choice for the band I thought I knew everything and since it was a done deal I had blinders on to any evidence to the contrary.  I was a fool.

thanks osogrande,

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, I will take your situation into consideration. i appreciate your honesty and advice. i hope all is well with you now. did you ever get it removed or do you still have it?

thepose

I still have it, I am working on getting the approval to have it removed and get the VSG.  The only problem is that there are so many tests to get insurance approval.  I feel like I am on a race against the clock because I keep getting shorter and shorter periods of time between the band "acting up".

Hello,

In March it will be 4 years since I had my band WLS. It gave me back my life! I'm 58 years old and now teach Zumba classes as well as 3 Aqua classes at the Y. I'm still a type 2 diabetic and still have sleep apnea, however the difference in how I feel is like night and day!

Click on my user name on my avatar to see the before and after pictures. It took me about 2 1/2 years to lose my 117-120 pounds. My band still keeps me on the straight and narrow. Personally I did NOT want to consider any other WLS and wanted to keep my body as close to what I was born with and not re-route what God gave me. That's my own personal preference.

Hope this helps. I would do it all again, including the 2 plastic surgeries I've had as a result of my weight loss.

Diana

Hi dwpersel

I've put you on the list with all the other successful people who wrote. God Bless you at 58. when i grow up i wanna be just like you

the pose