Well, I guess the many folks on the OSSG-gone_wrong group on yahoogroups.com who are living with serious problems from the DS don't count. There is no one perfect surgery. And they can go bad even when the patient is 100% compliant with both diet, supplements and exercise. Personally, I'd hate having to take flagyl every day the rest of my life. Two side effects of prolonged flagyl use are seizures and peripheral neuropathy. No thank you. More common side effects include nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, epigastric distress, cramping and constipation. It can also cause a chronic metallic taste. Furry tongue, glossitis and stomatitis can be the causes (as a result of the medication) all related to Candida infection from chronic use of antibiotics. I didn't have surgery to have to take more pills to have a manageable life...someone on chronic medication isn't a truly healthy person as they are under constant treatment. Nancy 394/260/180

Glad to hear it! You must have patience with the band from what I hear. Give yourself a chance.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/wlsmemorial.php

While I don't regret having had the surgery (lap band on 8/10/2005) I do regret the center I chose. They sold me on their program and great aftercare and all this great mess of garbage...then the surgeon skips out of town never to be seen again and they close up shop and move to another location far, far away. It's all on my profile. I am not sure how I could have known this would happen. I just hope it doesn't happen to anyone else. I thought I'd done my homework and trusted the Center and the surgeon. I made a mistake. All the best, Suzanne

Darla, I got my LapBand two years ago in April. I do NOT regret it in any way. Yeah, I wish I was more than half way to goal but I knew the band was slower when I got it - and I took a year off from losing to try to get pregnant or I probably would be far closer to goal. Still, I am 100 times more healthy than I was - life was getting pretty scary up at 320# I was borderline diabetic, high blood pressure, insulin resistant, hypothyroid, etc. etc. etc. and now all of my bloodwork is smack dab in the middle of normal. My main goal was not some weight on an insurance chart somewhere, it was to get healthy and I have, even if I did not lose another pound from here (244) I am considering this banding to be a success. RNY was never an option for me. I looked into it years ago and decided right then and there that if they had to dice and reroute me I'd rather be fat, thank you very much! As soon as I found the band there was simply no doubt in my mind that it was the surgery for me. The other thing with the band is that if for whatever reason it isn't working out for you or you simply cannot handle it it is 100% reversible... It it's about 10x safer than RNY on top of that so it is hard to see how you can go wrong... JMHO. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Kiera Banded: 28 April 03 Started over 15 July @ 265: -21# (244) today, only 24# more to go for my milestone goal of 220.