Strongly Regret Lap-Band

hello vanessa ...im reading these posts rather late....sorry...i had open rny almost 10 weeks ago. i have done as i see it, rather well. but please consier a surgon that has done more that 200, mine has done over 1400. and has a great aftercare program. i am blessed to have someone with so much experience in my area. and even tho. so far im doing well, i still get that thought...what did i do to myself. do you have support groups in your area? no matter what type you have i believe support id very important....if you want to chatt or any info. i can help you with email me at [email protected] julie k

Leslie, Before you make an informed decision on which surgery to have, PLEASE make sure to investigate all procedures to include ALL of the complications that can occur for ALL surgeries. That being said, I'de like to answer some of your questions regarding the Lap-Band. I do believe you should hear from those who have had unfortunate experiences but also from those who are successful with the band as well. Also, upon doing your research make sure you visit the memory board and take note of how many of those are a result of RNY vs. other surgeries. If a patient is going to hear the good and the bad....they need to hear/read it all. First let me say that with any weight-loss surgery there are guidelines that have to be followed. I truly do believe upon hearing Vanessa's unfortunate story...while she has done nothing wrong, he surgeon most definately has. He apparently gave her fills, OBVIOUS even to other band patients that she was NOT ready for. HE scheduled her fills verses her calling to request appt's when she felt the need for one. That is a no, no. ONLY the patient knows when a fill is needed and we are ALL different as to when that time comes and how much of a fill is needed depending on how much we can consume and how it feels when it's going down to the stoma. The first fill usually isn't needed until AT LEAST six weeks out. When it's given, it needs to be a small one. (some surgeons are fill happy and have a desire to give a larger fill, and this is when it's VITAL that the patient let it be KNOWN that THEY are in charge of what they need.) While it is true that it often times takes anywhere from 3 to 6 fills for a patient to arrive at proper restriction....CONSTANT fills are not needed. Once a patient reaches the right restriction level for their personal satisfaction while being able to consume normal portions...only occasional visits to see the dr. are needed (every 3 to 6 months) Second stage foods are creamy soups such as tomato soup with milk, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom. Mushy stage consist of foods like cottage cheese, refried beans, ricotta cheese with sauce. These stages allow for post-op swelling to subside while you heal from surgery. Mushy stage foods should be mastered BEFORE a patient gets a fill and no sooner than six weeks post-op. As for pb'ing. That comes from either rushing for fills and getting too much at a time, not chewing your food well enough, taking too large of a bite OR eating quickly. If these things are avoided.....pb's will most likely not be part of a band patients life. (I'm nine months out, never pb'd and I've lost 62 pounds as of today while maintaining proper nutrition, because with a band the patient does NOT have malabsorbtion problems) ANY weight loss surgery can be cheated. RNY patients largest complaint assuming their surgery has no complications (leakages which can kill the patient, dehydration, malabsorbtion to a point of malnourishment) is that once they reach 18 months post op, the weight loss often times ceases and they begin to gain back their weight. The stomach may be cut to the size of a thumb but, it most definately can be stretched back out to the same size pre-op. I attended a local weight loss support group just last week where 95% of the patients were RNY and out of those, almost all of them have begun to have weight gain issues. While with the band, you CAN gain weight if your not properly restricted, with proper restriction along with EXERCISE, the weightloss is ALWAYS maintainable. With either surgery however it is also VITAL that the patient understand and take very seriously the fact that these surgeries are offered as TOOLS to aide us in getting our eating disorders under control. What they ARE NOT, is a fix-all. We have to do the actual work, meaning watching what we eat, exercising, and getting our emotional eating under control even if that means seeking therapy for the REAL, underlying issues. This is the one important factor that most weight loss patients refuse to acknowlege and accept. The band doesn't fail us......we fail the band by not acknowleging that there are certain things that MUST be addressed....to include a pushy surgeon or the need for therapy and following the band guidelines. And the same goes for RNY....... In closing I want to say, whatever surgery we chose, it must be a personal choice. But please understand that what works for one may not for another and no matter what you read, no matter how much you research.....there is NEGATIVE and POSITIVE regarding all of the surgeries Best wishes. Kay AKA: Miss Losin Lot's 62 pounds... gone forever.

Not only have I NOT gained ANY weight back but at 2.5 yrs out I STARTED to lose weight again. Not all RNY patients have that bounce back weight. And unless you are eating huge amounts of food ALL THE TIME (which is almost impossible because you'd throw up more than likely) the pouch will not stretch out like it was preop. There is not enough stomach left to do so. I really have issues when people post information and say that it is a fact...especially if they don't have that particular surgery. Jessica 290/160/134 (now)

Dear Vanessa, Hi, I'm pre-pre-op (meaning I haven't decided anything yet), but I'm considering Lap-Band surgery. I'm especially looking for stories like yours so I can see the cons as well as the pros and make a more informed decision. There's one thing that really confused me. How is it that you couldn't get passed stage 2 foods and have vomited so much, but have gained the weight back? Is it that you're hungry a lot and eat too much stage 2 foods? Or is it because they completely unfilled you? I'm not questioning you, I just want to understand your story better to help me make my decision. Thank you!

Hi Vanessa, I had nothing but complications and vomiting with my Lap Band and after 20 months had to have it removed. I know how you feel, and I hope you're able to get it removed. The surgeon *****moved my band really wanted me to have RNY when he took out my band, but I just couldn't face any more complications; I just felt too beaten down emotionally. But now, 7 months after it was removed and weighing more than ever and feeling worse than ever, I am considering RNY. I would really rather have DS, but my insurer has an exclusion for it. I just wanted to let you know that I feel your pain and I want to encourage you to hang in there. I am certainly not "downing" the Lap Band because I know many people who have had very successful weight loss and are very happy with their band; it just wasn't for me. Take care and best wishes, Dana B in Houston TX

I am pre-op and will be getting my band in May. I was just reading about Vanessa's problem with the band and it doesn't make sense to me, medically. I can't imagine why she had those complications, but I don't doubt that she was miserible. I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me, so I can understand how your band worked and how/when it was cared for. Any info specific to your "aftercare" and anatomy of the band would be really helpful. Thanks! Was your band filled? Did they fill it like Vanessa's, on a doctor's schedule, even though she wasn't ready? If it wasn't, did you still throw up? What size band did you have? Where was it done (in the US)? When was it done? What foods were you able to tolerate? Did they sew part of the stomach over the band to prevent slippage? Did they use a single tube for the port, instead of two, which could lead to leakage? If you don't want to answer these questions, that's fine, they are kind of personal. I just want to understand WHY your band didn't work, so that way I can hopefully make mine work! Thanks, Alyssa

So sorry that you had such A difficult time with the band. Please don't get an RNY if you really want a DS. You know that these surgeries cannot be reversed. I read your profile and you admitted to having difficulty with not being able to eat emotionally when you had restriction. Dana please work on these issues prior to any additional WLS. Much Love, Peace, & Harmony, Leila

OK, after reading all the post I am afraid that I have to agree with SouthernBandGirl and I don't think she was out to be rude or cruel to you at all and neither am I. Don't take this the wrong way, but I am wondering if you are looking for a quicker weight loss method and have not really give the band a fair shot? With proper restriction and doctor care there should be no reason that this won't work for you but it does take effort on our part (unlike the RNY etc.) which is hard for us to do, I realize. There must have been a reason that you chose this type of surgery to begin with. The weight loss is much, much slower, but so much more healthier. I would really do some deep sole searching before having another procedure done, especially one that reroutes your insides and IS NOT reversible. I am sure that people are going to say I was 'harsh' on you but when you post and seek advice you have to be able to take the stuff you want to hear as well as the stuff you don't want to hear. Taks Care and best of luck in whatever you decide to do!

Tammy, I completely agree with you. I am pre-op for the band end of May. My extensive resear*****luding medical journals, many doctors, my dad's doctor friends, lawyer friends, the list goes on... that Vanessa did not receive proper care. She may want to deny it, I would too if I felt so sick all the time. But if she was getting a fill before she could eat solid foods, that is A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE DOCTOR. I didn't want to post because hearing that doesn't seem to be accepted, but I just wanted to speak on this topic. Vanessa, please, for your health, at least talk with another surgeon. Where are you located? There is a doctor located in Tampa, FL named Dr. Grosbard. He had the surgery himself and actually performed them in Mexico before the US allowed trials to be performed in 1995. Other countries have been doing band surgeries longer, with better rates of weight loss, maintenance, and less complication and mortality rates. Since the FDA approved it, they have made extraordinary improvements and is much safer than RNY. I know many, MANY people with problems from RNY that need corrective surgery, numerous ones at that! It is very risky. Just try to speak with experienced surgeons before you rearrange your plumbing. I hope you, Vanessa, didn't take this at an attack. I am not rude or criticizing you. I feel bad that your experience was so bad, but I think you need to speak with an expert to diagnose the problem. Band slippage is a very common problem (before they sewed the stomach over it). You owe it to yourself to fully understand what went wrong, whether your surgeon was at fault or not. It seems like he filled you before you could eat solids, right? My surgeon said that it is imperative that you can eat solids before filling more. If you were throwing up without any fills, then it is a band malfunction. I hope this helps. Please don't take it the wrong way. We're only here to help you and give you constructive feedback! ~Alyssa

Wow, the controversial discussions and arguments you've had on this forum alone is enough to turn me off from the lap band. My surgeon has convinced me to have the r-n-y anyway, but I wanted to see what other people's experiences have been. I'm so sorry you had such a terrible time with your band. Good luck and thanks for sharing! *~*Lisa*~* preop - lap.rny