How many of us have had to/need to be revised from the "Band"?

Please, put your hand up!!!  Let those who are considering having their first WLS know that we believed in this procedure wholeheartedly. We did not have the advantage of seeing all the failure that is put before their very eyes today.

Let the pre-ops considering the Band know that we tried the Band with every fiber of our being and it DISAPPOINTED. Even while we embraced the band and denied ourselves the right of the device having failed us.  We blamed us for having failed once again.  What a horrific burden to carry.

My surgeon says the thing about the band is "it's easy to sell".  That makes me weep inside because everything I had in me believed the band  would change my life.  It did, then just like a rug pulled from underneath with no warning, you go crashing losing everything you thought you gained - landing on ground so broken and shattered that you may feel reluctant to trust that solidity exist again.

My surgeon also said now your quality of life will be so much better with the sleeve - the Band is a hard life.  Every single day as I heal and get stronger, I know this is true.  There is hope for us that go crashing and feel as if we lost it all. My hope for you is that you avoid the crashing by not being lured into what is easy to sell.

3/30/05 Banded

8/10/05 New port, the first one never worked

12/20/10 Band removed - Esophageal Dilation with no resolve -   NO, I didn't stuff my pouch, my esophagus stopped working effectively due to the high pressure the band creates.

6/6/11 Sleeved! 

With love,
Laylah

Like you I am in need of a revision. My band NEVER worked the way it's advertised!!! I put so much time, effort and MONEY into this band. I was devistated when it never worked!

I remember when I got the band. I was so excited and thought about where I would be on my "bandiversary". Well I cried and cried on my bandiversary. It is one of the saddest days I have ever had. To have had so much faith in the band and spent so much money on it.........Only to get 14 or 15 fills (at 1 yr.) and to NEVER reach restriction! (I had 16 fills and 4 partial unfills in 14 months)

One thing most Drs./band mills don't tell patients BEFORE surgery is that a lot of bandsters NEVER reach restriction! Kind of an important detail, don't you think?!

So yes, like Zee, I am in need of a revision to an EFFECTIVE WLS. However after wasting about $15,000 on the band there is no more money left for a revision. :-(

So please.............CHOOSE YOUR WLS WISELY!!!

Maria!!!  You look gorgeous!  Not that you weren't a fox before but OMG I saw your avatar this past week and I just didn't get that it was you.  You are rocking your diet hun!

Thanks so much Zee!!!

Count me in.

Banded March 2006

Band removed because of slip April 2008, VSG done.

Banding was no fun, the only time it was ever any fun was when I was anticipating having it thinking that it would be the answer to my WL dreams.   I understand the rose colored glasses because I had a huge pair,  but it really breaks my heart when people know the risks and the stats and do it anyway.

Yep, rose colored glasses!  It is the way we learn to survive though isn't it.  Sometimes it is not possible to be in a situation and acknowledge certain things so we in some way remove ourselves.  Dissociation is a very primitive but extremely effective tool.  Then all the other defensive mechanisms to keep our reality/fears distant.

My heart was broken last night when I read that thread from the Bandster with severe symptoms and such detachment.  A quick fix she thinks and I think that is the saddest thing I've ever heard.

I did.

Band in 2/2008. I lost about 65 lbs the first year and then had complications requiring numerous adjustments and spent the 2nd year gaining that weight back.

Sleeved 12/2010...revision was the best. decision. ever.

Lindsey

I had multiple corrective surgeries with the band, it nearly killed me. I had it removed. Couldn't revise because of the severe damage caused by the band.

6 years after removal, I still have damage to my diaphragm, stomach and esophagus. In addition, I have adhesions from the multiple surgeries. The lapband took years off my life, I'm sure.

Oh damned N..  I really ALWAYS wish for you that you can be okay even if you never revise.  What you went though really sucked and how sorry I am that you still have residual effects from the Band. 

I was so lucky to have Dr. Roslin rescue me (literally) and take immediate action along the way when needed.  I am sure that I sustained damages to my esophagus just by having the band around my stomach but it could have been worse as we are seeing.  Many Band to whatever revisions still have esophageal issues.  Some heal, some heal to a certain extent, and some will always have problems.  It was my worst fear when I revised or thought about revising "my poor esophagus".

Be well.

Thank you, Leila..  I'm working on being well and I appreciate the good thoughts! I really do.

I wish the same for you. I'm happy you were able to revise and I wish you all the success in the world.

Nicci