LapBand Regrets?????

Hi Rachel. I'm glad you're doing so much research before getting the band. I had my surgery on May 19th, and was one of the rare people who got an infection and had to have the band removed. You can check out my profile. If I could turn back time I would have never had surgery. I did not (do not) have any co-morbitities, any health problems other than needing to lose about 100 lbs. I wish I would have stuck with the diet and exercise instead. The last few weeks have been the worst of my life. I had to have a second surgery to have the band removed and that was after a week of feeling like I had the worst flu ever, and the doctor had no idea what was going on until I had a ct scan. I know there are a lot of people who have great success with the band. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just keep in mind when they say there are chances of complications, they do happen to someone!

After much research, I chose the lap-band. I was prepared for the possibility of erosion, slippage, BP, vomitting, etc, and even death. What I was not prepared for was not being able to banded. I wish they had REALLY made me aware of the possibility of waking up from surgery WITHOUT the lap-band (according to my DR due to abnormality in my anatomy for which they do not test pre-op) and that the scar tissue from the first aborted attempt at placing the lap-band would make the second attempt at surgery to place band unsuccessful. 2) I also was not prepared for the adverse reaction I had to the derma-bond (the surgical glue my surgeon uses to close wounds). All things considered if I had the opition of trying to have a band palced a 3rd time, with a VIABLE possibilty of it being successfully placed, I would do it again.

Hi ya.... I had my band in for 3.5 years and after one issue after another I now had the RNY done. The band is great if you have 60 or less Lbs to lose but anything more....not a great pick! I did everything I was supposed to with my lap band and still only lost 30 lbs in that time. Once my band was opened ( fluid removed ) the 30 lbs was right back.....I was one of the 1st 200 in mich to have the band placed....the kicker part was the 30 LBS I lost....was doing Weigh****chers on line. it's a tool........If you would like to know anything else...please let me know...I have a long post on the issues I had. If you choose the band....know what your getting into.....I never liked the Idea of getting my insides all cut up..that's why I got the band in the first place.... but I know now I can control my weight loss a bit better! good luck! Hugs Maria

I also had my band removed after 3 years and revised to the DS. Best thing I've done in a LONG time. I love my DS!

Banded 2 1/2 years ago, down 156 pounds, which is about 73% of my excess weight. No complications. No, the band isn't for everyone...as with any type of WLS out there, stuff can just happen. But you can tip the balance to your side going with a VERY experienced surgeon who doesn't try short cuts (if the post-op eating plan (that you discuss while you're consulting with/interviewing the surgeon) sounds extreme, find another surgeon. It should sound sensible and healthy. Not a starvation diet, not a protein fast, not teeeeeny tiny 2-3 bite portions...sensible. Use all that experience you've gotten from dieting to tell the difference. Very experienced GOOD banding surgeons have significantly lower rates of all types of complications and overall better weight loss results. Does that guarantee anything? No...it just puts the statistics in your favor. For me, I didn't want the risks of what could happen with a malabsorptive procedure down the road. I don't care about this year or next year or even 5 years from now...I care about 20 years from now...I just don't like what I see regarding long-term issues with malabsorption. The elderly don't absorb as well as when they were younger to begin with...wonder why they don't do more studies, especially with the RNY which has been around 40+ years... I finally feel normal around food. That was one of my primary goals...the weight loss hasn't sucked either Nancy

Hi- Wow! I just read the responses you got. I am having lapband tomorrow (6-28) after I did extensive research. I feel this is the best choice for me. Am I worried? Heck yeah. The nurses at the doctor's office warned me of the pitfalls of the lapband and were encouraging RNY. The doctor told me 1 in 10 bands get removed. I have less than 100 pounds to lose now ( the pre-diet brought me down 25 pounds). You have to make a logical choice for you. Best of luck

Add me to the list of lap band regrets. $15,000 self-pay and 2 1/2 years later and I have gained back all of the weight I lost except 15 lbs. I checked in with my surgeon about a year ago and was told that I must have stretched my pouch....WRONG...the flouroscope showed it was the size it was supposed to be. Fill me? No, Dr. won't fill me anymore and I rarely, and I mean rarely, have restriction. In terms of feeling full, when I do feel full, it lasts maybe an hour. Did the office offer me any tips, insight help...not at all. Sent me on my way and told me to try harder. I think once they realized I wouldn't help their success statistics and since I wasn't going to put any more money in their pockets, they weren't interested in me anymore. I am considering RNY or DS, but convincing my father (a colon surgeon) will be the hardest part of all. If you're a grazer the band is probably not for you. If you eat only a few very large meals a day and never graze, you'll probably have better luck. I'm happy for the successful bandsters...and I will admit, jealous of them too

Joyce, It sounds like the band still has the potential to work for you. I think you just need a new Dr and a good fill. If your current Dr isn't performing up to par, switch and get the care you need. There is still hope for your band to work but you need the right support team at your side.

Rachel - you are so right to do this research. I am a very happy lapband patient, just 7 weeks out, losing well and with excellent restriction. For the first time in my life, food has ceased to be at the centre of my life. I eat when I am genuinely hungry, not just because I see food! And a very small amount fills me. I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I had an easy surgery, quick recovery, early restriction, excellent post-op care from the medical team. I think one of your other posters gave the right message when she said that she felt unsupported by her doctors and therefore was not a successful bandster. You need a doctor that understands and supports you. I am sure you will have done all your research and mine is a biased view anyway, but for what it is worth - I never considered any other form of WLS (I did do research into bypass and other surgeries) because i was not prepared to take the higher risk of complication. You will see that some older studies do not find much difference in the complication rate but from my reading, it seemed that the difference was that the band complications were very rarely as serious. Having said that, many RNY patients are more overweight and may have poorer health BEFORE surgery so be more likely to have complciations anyway. I wanted to be a "normal" person as far as food is concerned. I eat out with friends and eat WHAT they eat, just less of it. Unless someone peers at my plate all evening and counts my calories, no-one who does not know i am banded would realise there was anything different about me! Whatever you decide - good luck, Kate

I have recently had the lapband surgery (5-31). I have lost about 30 pounds. Once I was allowed to eat solid foods again, I could feel the restriction. But since I have had my first fill, I very rarely fill much. My friends says that it sometimes takes a few weeks to feel restriction after a fill. I don't know why. I have changed up my eating habits, not all the way, but for the most part. All in all, I feel I made the best decision for me. I will continue to work with what I have in order to be around for my son.