lap band regrets

I'm with N.M.  Just had  my crapband removed and have been fighting it for a year before the dr. realized how eroded it was...a surgery that was suppose to take 45 minutes took 2 1/2 hours and almost became an open procedure when they couldn't get it out without tearing the stomach tissue...I will NEVER recommend the crapband to anyone I know...

Thanks for everyones comments...sooooo weird how soooo many people love it and others do not.  Is it not made for longevity?  ????

You won't know until you have a band, if your body and your band will actually work  together.  Many people have problems that are undiagnosed prior to surgery that can make getting a band miserable for them...esophageal spasms (they occur without a band but getting a band can cause them too), dismotility and hiatal hernia all need to be taken into consideration when getting a band.
Some docs are not good at placing bands and just that can cause complications.  Others may be too aggressive with fills, which can also cause complications...it is sort of a Goldilocks situation...finding just the right doctor, just the right amount of fill and eating just the right amount of food just the right way.  If you are not diciplined, you won't do well with the band.
I got my band a year ago today and I am happy with it.  I do understand that things can go wrong and if I was having surgery today, I would opt for the VSG, just because upkeep with a band is a bit of a pain.  If I ever need to revise, it will be to the sleeve.  It is my "plan B".
Getting a band in Mexico is not a good idea.  There are some good docs down there, but how do you know which is reputable and which is not.  Also, how are you going to get fills and follow up care?  If you are set on going to Mexico for surgery, make sure you have a good doctor and get the VSG. 
I would post on the VSG board and ask for advice about doctors in Mexico...
Steph

I think the biggest problem with the band is that you just don't know how you are going to react to it until it's in and then it's too late to change your mind. For the first year I was a band cheerleader, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread but by the second year I had oh so changed my mind! Then there is the fill, unfill cycle that can be a never ending pain in the rear. For those who have success it is great but for those of us with issues it is a nightmare. It's just soooo iffy what each person's journey is going to be. I wish you luck whatever you chose!

I love my band, and I've totally used it to its full potential.

But "hislady" is right... it doesnt work for everyone, and those people who it doesnt work for, wont ever know until they go through it.  Unfortunately its not something that anyone can predict.

Just like with any surgery choice, there are successes and failures to it all.   

I've had some ups and down with my band, but nothing major.   I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

For those failed band patients, I wish them the best.

I really hate when people down the band so vehemently.

I know people personally that have had other WLSurgeries such as the DS, RNY and sleeve and some of them have had problems too. BIg problems, even death for a distant Cousin and a lady in my area that was featured in a national magazine after she lost a great amount after RNY but later died from complications. I have also seen some that have had great success .

I know personally in my case. I love my band but I have not lost as much as I thought I would by this time but you know what. ..It's all my fault. I'm not exercising like I should and I can't eat much but a lot of times I eat the wrong thing. Like tonight  had 5 fried shrimp , 5 french fries and 2 onion rings not much but I should have gone for some steamed shrimp and a veggie. I had a fill this past week that I had to beg for because my Dr. was mad that in the last 2 months I have only lost a pound.. I am not a sweet eater at all which he suggested but I like to have a drink when I go out which is often. Alcohol bloats me and stalls my losses, so that has to go. I'm also working on not eating and drinking at the same time. I don't do it together but I don't wait long enough after eating to drink.

The band hasn't failed me I'm failing it and if I don't get it together I will have a big problem.

I'm not suggesting that some have not had legitimate problems with the band but everyone has to make their own choice as to what they want to do. I went for the band because personally I cannot see having my stomach cut and redirected unless the Dr tells me I have a deadly growth that has to be cut out. That's just me . 

There are many, many people that were banded and have had phenomenal success. I put off getting my band for over 3 years because of reading horror stories. If you've decided on the band look for the positive and decide that anything can work if you work it.

Make an informed decision for yourself. Ultimately no one knows what will be the outcome of any surgery until it's all said and done. Just going under the knife at all is a gamble. I wish you the best with whatever you decide.

Who is "downing" the band? The original poster ASKED for real life accounts... and was given them. I don't sugar coat my experience with the band, personally. It nearly killed me, caused me chronic pain, damaged me permanently, made me lose my job... I have nothing good to say about it.  I don't see it as "downing the band," however. I see it as telling my experience about it... which was what the original poster asked for.

Yes, I regret my lap band surgery and wish I had gone with the sleeve the first go-around. Why? Because the lap band experience was miserable. I lost about 65 lbs the first year with the band and then after that, when the complications started, I spent the next 1.5 yrs gaining all of that weight back.

I have already lost more in the first 6 months with my sleeve than in my entire time with the band. I am able to eat healthy with consistent restriction and have never vomited with my sleeve. I love it.

Being self-pay with the band is very tricky. Are you able to afford the necessary fills and unfills? When my complications began, I was having unfills and refills frequently trying to find that  "sweet spot" which will offer restriction without getting stuck or vomiting or restricting you to liquids or slider foods.

Also consider that often the band will require follow-up surgeries in order to repair/remove/replace the band. Will you be able to finance those as well? There is nothing sadder than seeing a self-pay posting on this board talking about the pain they are in, but how they cannot afford the surgery for repair/removal. Please consider these very real scenarios.

Best of luck,
Lindsey