looking to here from long term banders

 
I honestly don't understand why ANYONE gets a band anymore.  So few are successful LONG term with it.  If you start a thread asking people if they would get banded again the answers are mostly like this:

Those that are 0-6 months post op are in love with their band and in love with their surgeon.

Those that are 6-12 months post op figured out they are doing the work, not their surgeon but they are still in love with their band.

Those that are 12-18 months post op are starting to have issues but the scale is moving so they'll deal with it.

Those that are 18-24 months post op are sick of the issues and considering revision.

Those that are 24+ months post op are revising.

You are wise to post this on not just the band board but others boards.  I'd venture a guess that 25% of sleeve people were previously banded.  There aren't many like me that still go to the band boards so you get an incorrect view of the band when you just post on the band board. Heck, I can show you posts where they try to banish people from the band board if someone is having problems or if they no longer have a band.  They have made it very clear, just as Kate has in this very thread that they only want positive posts there.  They shove those with problems to this board, the main board.  So do YOU really think you are going to get an accurate view of the band on the band board?  Some of those people are like used car salesman not telling you about the mega oil leak the car has.  But most of all the hundreds and hundreds of people posting that were previously banded and had to revise are on the boards for their current surgery type, sleeves, bypass, and DS.

I honestly don't understand why anyone gets a band anymore.  It provides the slowest weight loss, the least weight loss, the highest regain, and the most mechanical complications of all surgery types.  Many assume since the surgery is the least invasive that means it's the safest surgery type long term.  This is not true.  The band has as many complications as bypass, just different complications.  Why get a band when there are SAFER surgery types that are more effective long term?  Not to mention far easier to live with.

Did you know that even the band makers know their days are numbered?  Ask Dr. Pleatman about the conversation he had with a sister company to Allergan.  They are giving the band a few more short years before they believe it will be obsolete.

On Allergan's own website it shows a study done where 88% of people have complications with the band.  If they had something better to post, don't you think they would?  It's a website designed to sell bands!

There is no reason to fear the unknown.  We lived it, we are telling you what we experienced.  For us it is no longer an unknown, it's well known. ;o)  The majority of band people do not do well long term.  It's shown repeatedly in stats and studies and the higher your BMI the less effective the band.  I honestly think it should be medical malpractice to band someone with a higher BMI. Look at all the doctors that won't do bands anymore.  Heck... look at entire countries that decline to band anymore.  Chile stopped banding and they opted for sleeves.  Of course, they are using a 60F bougie so they aren't likely to have great results long term but time will tell.

Do you know there are some coordinators who actually push banding because they know full well they will be getting the person back for a revision surgery.  Two commissions instead of one!  Another reason I don't like coordinators.  Of course, not all are like that but if they are pushing banding only be very careful.

Heck, you can get a sleeve cheaper in Mexico than you can a band in the US.  Then there is the aftercare and that is very expensive.  Any mechanical problems can only be repaired via another self pay surgery.

Even the ASMBS is NOT singing praises of the band.  Check it out:

www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

Hi,

Thanks for the info, i read the info from the ASMBS and i see your point of view. It definitely adds fuel to my decision on whether or not this is for me. Some many people have reached out to me in my time of need, and a lot of these people have made major changes in their life. There is no way of really knowing whether or not this is for me. Thanks for your post and keeping it real. I will continue to use my higher power for the final answer. Thanks again 


thepose

My great uncle had a lap band and didn't tell anyone in the family except me that he ws getting it.  I saw him a year later after he'd had surgery and didn't notice a difference.  He's maybe lost 40lbs.  I have a co-worker who is still obese after her lab band.

My band is not adjustable.  It's a fixed vertical band.  I'm seeking a revision.  My story is in my profile.  My advice is check out the revision boards to see who's getting revised.

Thanks Jersey Girl,

I read your profile on your page. what is a fixed vertical band? does revisions mean your getting another surgery to correct the one you have? I don't mean to ask silly questions, but I'm a newbie and still need to learn the lingo.
thepose

no worries....not a silly question.  The silly questions are you ones you ask AFTER you've had surgery, LOL. 


This is a vertical band.
It's VERY rarely done anyone since the introduction of the Lap Band and the sleeve.  A pouch is created with staples and a non-adjustable band is inserted through the stomach. 

A revision will entail removing the band and converting my VBG to a DS.  Personally, if I only needed restriction, I'd go for the sleeve.  However, I started with a BMI over 70 so I need malabsorption to be successful long term.

 

I had the band done in 2/98. I actually was a forerunner as the band wasn't fda approved at that time in the US. I travelled to Sweden and paid out of pocket. It was not a great fit for my situation. I was 73.3 BMI. It was less expensive than getting an RNY and at the time I did have a fear of 'rerouting' my system. Little did I know what I was getting into. I lost very well the first 6-8 months of having the band. I lost 170lbs, bringing me down to about 270lbs - still quite a lot overweight. The problem began with trying to get the fills to the right place.... additionally, every time I went for a fill I was charged about $150 bucks. The fills without enough in them didn't constrict enough, but then if it was too much of a fill I couldn't even swallow. At 6 or so months out, I stopped losing and it stopped feeling like there was restriction. We kept on trying fills and my stomach was more and more irritated. Finally we figured out I had had a mechanical band leakage failure... No problem, if  I could get back to Sweden and pay the costs, the band would be replaced. That wasn't going to happen as I could not afford another trip and the fill costs were getting out of hand. Additionally, as others mentioned, the vomiting was extremely annoying. Everytime I ate the 'right' kind of food, like chicken or other fiber filled veggies or anything of that nature, it would get stuck and come back up. The easy slider foods did NOT stick. Additionally, I was continually hungry because my whole stomach was still there.

Long story short, over the next 7 years, I slowly gained back all the weight I had lost...plus multi weekly vomiting, plus frustration with the band and genuine hunger. The band was not meant for someone as I with a high bmi. The longer out the band research goes, I believe the worse the final outcomes in keeping the excess weight off. Maybe there are some that the band has suited, it was certainly not me. I strongly feel the VSG has a better result for those who are looking for a non-malabsorptive surgery since the stomach is still removed which equals reduced ghrelin production.

The best day in my life was the day March 10th, 2005, that I had the band removed and my surgery revised to the duodenal switch. I stopped feeling the constant hunger and was actually satisfied with very small amounts of food. No more vomiting for eating chicken or other good for me foods. I have relost the 170lbs and an additional 123 for a total of 293 pounds. I have kept it off going on 6 years. I can eat things I like and have my body not fight me. Is the DS free rein for eating crap? no. It takes constant vigilance like any WLS with labs and vitamins and protein. But... I have the hope that the band did not give me. I feel like the band was a bum rap for me. I should not have had it suggested as a viable alternative to get me to where I wanted to be - with a bmi of under 25.

Best of luck on your decision.

thank you for your post and honesty. I'm sorry you didn't get the outcome you wanted, but i guess the DS was better for you than the band. In the end it doesn't matter how you got there as long as you got there---------------right? thepose

I had the band for 6 years and lost about 70% of my excess weight. However, after the honeymoon wore off, I had trouble eating more than a couple of bites and was miserable. I had NO fill for 4 of those 6 years and still had problems. I kept telling myself that things would get better but then it seemed like the only things I could eat were things that went down very easily like ice cream and other foods that were not conducive to weight loss. I gained 15 pounds back, but my esophagus got so irritated and dilated from barfing that the only thing I could do was have it removed. They would not even let me do a revision until they were sure things settled down. Now, after a lot of research, I am getting revised to a DS on April 5th. I would never recommend the band to anyone based on my own experience and many of the others who were banded at the same time I was which I knew from support groups. Yes, the band works for some, but studies and statistics show those are a minority.

Sorry for your experience gloryg i appreciate your time and honesty. i keep hearing about slider foods what are they? are they the food that don't require chewing? i 'm glad the DS worked better for you and you were able to achieve the results you wanted


thepose

 Slider foods-food that go down easy with little chewing or easily chewed to pulp. Of course this includes, ice cream, anything creamy, chips were easy for me. It may vary by individual, but foods that go down easy, don't hurt, and usually are not healthy!! I could rarely eat raw veggies or salad unless I chewed them a thousand times. 

I have not had the DS yet, it is coming up 6 weeks from today!

Good luck with whatever decision you make!