Made myself really worry

I have been looking at the band on and off for a few years. Finally about a month ago I went to the seminar and decided yes this is the right choice for me. I know the risks and made my choice. Although  I am worried about the risks because  have a great husband and 3 children. I made peace with the decision that took me two years to make. Now I am visiting different boards reading about peoples experiences and so that I am really prepared. Today in my search I found a site that was just all bad tragic stories. There were so many people on the board saying they knew someone who died from lap band within a few days of the surgery. It just seemed like so many people. I know there is a risk but reading story after story now has me really worried. Do you think I just came across a site that was for people that suffered a loss from wls or is death really more common then we are told? My doc said he hadn't lost any Of his Lap band patients and only 1  bybass patient that had major heart problems.

Hi - I don't know what site you were on, but you must accept that all weight loss surgery has risks and complications (in fact, any surgery!!). I am of mother of 2 wonderful boys and have a more-than-wonderful husband. I knew that I wasn't being the best wife and mother at the weight I was at. I had to do something. My first order of business was to research the surgeries. Second, I found a surgeon that I had the utmost confidence in. Lastly, I concentrated on the positive.

I have had my band since mid-November and have lost more than 40 pounds. I love my band, love my surgeon and his team and feel better than I have felt in years.

Do your research. Weigh the risks and benefits and make an informed decision. We are here for you. Best of luck!!

Thanks for posting, OzzieGirl!!  I really relate and agree with your position. I knew *for me* the benefits outweighed the risks.  Congrats on your success thus far!

There is always bad things that's  that are going .  I read a note about bad stuff before my surgery.  That's uncommon for things to happen.  I didn't want my insides messed around with so I went for the band.  I've done very well with it.  I would do it all over again.  I used to work in surgery.  There is always chance of summing going wrong.  That's the same as getting in the car and having a accident.  You must be comfortable with what you want not what everyone else says.  I hope this helps  Good  luck  RERE

I was scared too.  I talked with my primary doctor on which WLS to do. He said lap band.  I am 1 year out and love it!  I learned that it is a tool.  As with all WLS you have to work with it!  I have lost almost 50lbs.  Feel great!  Have learned to eat healthy and slow.  With lap band you have to chew, chew, chew your food.  That is a big part of it.  I can eat alot of things, but eat healthy.  You can hear (read) bad stories about everything. This site has helped me alot.  And go to a support group meeting. You can get a lot of questions answered there.   But most of all ask your surgeron all the questions you have.  He is the one that counts. 


Tracy

Thanks! I think I have done a ton of research and  I know the risks. I have made my desicion, now maybe I should stop looking. Not that I want my head in the sand because I do know the risks but maybe I just need to say you did you research step away from Google. 

Great idea !!

I think the idea to quit reading the bad posts is a good one at this point .LOL I had to do the same thing before my surgery. I too had educated myself and made my decision and also have a wonderful hubby and 2 great kids . I felt much better after talking to the anesthesiologist (sp?) .He assured me that I was in pretty good health and had no history of problems being put to sleep so I would be fine! That made me feel alot better. There are always risks in any surgery but the risks for this one is really low !  When having surgery becomes a reality I think we all get cold feet to some degree at some point.
Maybe lurk and only read the positive posts for awhile. Also for me I obsessed with looking at before and after pics online. I tried to keep it upbeat and positive.:) It can be overwhelming at times.

The official stats for mortality during or just after the lapband are about 1:1000 to 1:2000. So lower than other wls but, yes, there is that chance. By definition, wls patients are high risk because of their obesity and many have co-morbidities which are also high risk factors.

All surgery carries risk and none should be undertaken lightly! The fact that the mortality rate is lower with the band than most ops (and for all other wls) does not take away from the fact that there is that risk.

For me that was outweighed by the risks or living with obesity!

I note that the posts you describe were of people "knowing someone...". Is that the next-door neighbour's haridresser's mother sort of knowing? Or real knowing? I have been on OH for 5 years and the only death in that time was not band related.

Absolutely. You can find ANYTHING on the internet if you look for it. Even if you don't :)

My doctor has never lost a lap band patient. If he has, there was only one and it was a complication post-surgery that was linked to their previous health problems. From all the research / reading that I have done over the years, this is a very very very low risk surgery.