A must read for all!

Maria, it is not that we don't "like" it...it is old.  The bands being used today and the technique have changed...most of the bands placed in the study you quote were placed before the pars flaccida technique was in use...our likes and dislikes don't apply to the validity of a study for today's lapband patients...

I understand what your saying at from that point of view it's a valid point. However, before I got my band I was told that the stats I saw were not accurate b/c the newer bands were better and had all the kinks worked out so you almost never saw a problem with them. Well I fell for that. So imagine my surprise when I get my band........and then see all these complications on the band forum from ppl that got their band just a few mos. b4 I got mine.............and even ppl that got theirs AFTER mine.............that of course had the NEW band!

...so we should ignore the stats and just take your experience into consideration??

NEVER have I said anyone should just go by what I say. But when I say it..................and so many ppl on the forum say it...................and when so many ppl revise b/c of it..............and when stats say it..............kind of makes u wonder!

Imagine my surprise when I had knee surgery in 2005 to remove some torn cartilage and deal with a chondral lesion of the femur (15cc).  I expected that I would be able to drive my "Bette" the beetle again (2003 Turbo with stick), work on my feet for hours on end, run, walk for miles again, and basically get my life back...wrong.  After surgery, physical therapy and exercising daily, I was still in terrible pain and because I "favored" one side and put all the weight on my right leg, my back developed problems and I became disabled.  My doc didn't do anything wrong, he did what he could.  Yes, I could bend my knee without "catching" a piece of torn cartilage, but the weight bearing end of the femur was damaged beyond repair and I need full knee replacement.  Did the surgery help?  Yes, I had more mobility, but still had a ton of pain, especially given my profession (Starbucks Store Manager of a very high volume store) required me to work on the floor with my employees 4-6 hours per day. 
My point is this, my band has relieved my knee pain so much more than the surgery did...and that was my ultimate goal, reduce pain and improve my quality of life.  I guess one has to be in extreme pain to measure whether or not the band is worth it...one 61 yr old thinks so and no one has the right to tell me that the band was a poor choice for me unless they want to walk those 61 yrs in my shoes (and I don't think I would get too many takers, lol).

I'm glad you were able to eat tonight without problems! I remember when I had my band removed and could eat solid foods again. I felt healthier and happier immediately. I knew I'd been miserable, but I didn't quite realize how miserable!

My doctor told me a few weeks ago that he thinks the lapband is the most awful device created. He expressed that it bothers him that people think it's so easy to have it removed if it doesn't work out.  I'm living proof... I have so many adhesions that I woke up repeatedly during a colonoscopy because my colon is being pulled in different directions due to the sheer number of adhesions I have. The scope kept encountering areas that it couldn't move through and apparently it caused enough pain to jolt me out of a drug induced stupor.

It's amazing to me NOW when I read about people gagging, puking, sliming, etc. It's proof that people WILL get used to anything. Because it's NOT normal to live that way... and it's certainly not healthy. Being fat isn't healthy but neither is daily regurgitating and being unable to eat healthful foods. You're just damaging yourself in a different way.

I am glad you have gotten to this point, my friend. I still think Maria is a nut job but you? I love :)

Ditto to what Krista said.

I've probably asked you this before, but tell me again: is there any chance you could revise to a different WLS procedure?

Jean

Jean, I don't have any bariatric coverage anymore but I'm hoping that eventually Medicare will cover it and then IF possible I'd go for the sleeve. Fortunatly I've always had good self esteem and being overweight while not optimum for my health doesn't send me screaming into an abyss of depression. I will still continue to be happy and productive, fat or thin. If I got nothing else from the band I've met lots of truely awesome people like you! Life is and always will be good for me.