Please post your Adjustable Gastric Banding experience here

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4304076/PLEASE-RESPON D-Explain-your-Lap-Band-AGB-Experience/

My sister Ana struggled with loosing weight.  She opted for the lap-band surgery.  Her surgery was done on February 4, 2010.  She had complications associated with the surgery and passed away on February 14, 2010.  Its hard for me to understand why so many people opt for these procedures when positive results are like rolling dice.  Its a big gamble on your life.
~Noemi

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister :( I've never heard of anyone passing away from the lapband...OMG!!! Thats scary!!! I had it on Nov 10, 2010. May I ask what caused her horrible death? Joyce

Mortality for banded folks is 1 in 2000 people.  Sleeves, 1 in 1000.  That is for the surgical procedure itself.  It's higher with malabsorptive procedures but stats vary so much I don't post them anymore.

Bands are not safe long term, the safest surgery LONG TERM is the sleeve with far superior weight loss to banding.  But the banding surgery is safer by not much.

I wanted safe surgery and safety long term, that just wasn't the band.

It's been a long time since my lap band was placed - I think it was in 2002. And since then I had only lost 20lbs and that was right after the surgery. I had done everything I was told to do post op, etc. But never lost any weight since and gained the only 20lbs I lost back. I had fills, everthing... Unfortunately I chose to have the surgery in Mexico - since then my surgeon died! I did go back to see him a couple of years after the surgery to find out if something was wrong with my band since I wasn't losing, but the test they ran came out fine and they didn't understand why I wasn't losing. My sister had the same surgery - same day as me and also experienced the same - no weight loss. I also know of 3 other women (2 are friends and one is an acquaintance) who never lost weight with the band either. So now, I'm trying to decide what to do next. I have approximately 80-90lbs to lose - I'm 5'3 (BMI 36.3). I'm so overwhelmed and confused as to what surgery I should consider: DS, RNY, there's so many now. I'm also concerned that a doctor in the states will not want to take out my band (which by the way has been hurting - or at least the area it's in hurts - I STILL vomit if I eat dry foods - especially chicken and bread, so there is still fluid in my band. Some mornings I can't eat b/c it will come up... but not losing weight! At any rate, that's my story about the lap band. God, I wish I didn't get it done - so much money wasted (self-pay)... and my sister feels the same way. Maybe they're better now (made???).... I dunno.
Karen

I thought I was the only one who had this problem. It has been two years and I have barely lost anything. I have really followed the rules but like you I constantly have issues with keeing food down. I had my surgery in NY but live in NH and my fills are monthly but still it does not seem to be happening for me. I feel more depressed now than when I had the surgery. I hate the fact that all I think about is food and if I can eat it w/out having issues. I also tried to find a doctor where I live who would take me on, but the doctor does not really do anything but perform the adjustments and I want more than that. I want to know why the band is not working. Why sometimes I can eat something and then the next day throw it up. It is so frusterating.

Karen,

I can relate to much of your story.  I had the lapband in 2002(self pay) and after an initial loss of 40 pounds, nothing.  I never could get the right restriction.  Either I was throwing up on water or so open I could eat anything.  I finally gave up on it about 2 years ago until I started hearing about the gastric sleeve.  It sounded like everything I thought the lapband was going to do for me.  Fast forward to December '10, I finally got my revision surgery.  It's like night and day for me.  I don't feel that gnawing hunger anymore, eat about 1/2 cup per meal, and feel totally content.  I have already lost 47 pounds and honestly feel I can make goal.  It's not easy and you do have to eat within your nutrition guidelines, but very doable with the absence of physical  hunger.  Send me a message if you have any questions.

Hugs and best wishes,
Beth

Thanks Beth for your reply.  I was also self pay (don't I wish I had that money now that I spent!!)  WOW 47lbs in a matter of a few months! That's awesome!! I know it must feel good...I want to get to that point - of being so excited about losing!

My biggest fear is not getting rid of the "being hungry all the time" feeling.  Sometimes I feel like I can eat all day and others nothing at all.  The band has never worked! (Well...it either overworks or under works).

Thanks again Beth!
Karen

I too have had a lapband since 2-27-2009. It has been horrible experience for me. It's either to tight or not tight enough. I lost 20lbs pre-op and 10lbs post-op and have since gained it all back.The bad thing about the band is that its hard to eat lean meat because it gets stuck, even if you eat very slow. And so if your hungery your tend to chose slidder foods so your not starving.

 I'm going in for a revision 3-11-11. I'm having the sleeve done. Hope this answers your question.

I'm hearing more and more stories like your own.  I have decided to get the Deudonal Switch (DS).  Not sure when though, I meet with the doctor (who is vetted in DS and all WLS's) on March 10 and will go from there.  I chose a doctor in Dallas not only because of the distance to me (8 hour drive) but he has so many good reviews - I can't find anything bad about him and I've done a lot of research - I only hear good things.  His name is Daryl Stewart.  I did so much research on all the surgeries and feel best with the DS.  But who knows, that may change once I meet with the doctor, but he feels the DS is most successful in the long run. So we'll see.  I just hope and pray that my insurance covers this b/c if they decide not to then I will rethink this all...but I can't keep this weight on - and I'll be 50 at the end of the year (EGADS!!!) so I really hope to be at last half goal by then! Would be an awesome birthday and Christmas present to myself to have lost at least 40-50lbs by then!! 

I would love to follow your progress - I hear the sleeve is very successful too. 

Best of luck!!

Karen