Did any one else have the fear that I do?

Totally agree with you... all of his posts have the upmost tact, even when he is telling his story.  Newbies/lurkers like me appreciate his posts and respect the information he gives  out.  A true asset to OH.

I also have to agree.  I just complimented someone else on the same thing.  I think it was very nicely put.  Not band bashing, but supportive.  Everyone makes their own decisions!  Well done!! 

Thanks guys.  I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad about having the band or for choosing the band.  I just know that what happened to me COULD happen to them.  I don't want it to happen to them, honestly, I wish everyone success with the band that gets it.  

Hi,
I am three years post-op from band surgery. The funny thing is, people will complain with everything! You can have each kind of surgery and get it revised to another surgery.  I know people who have gone from band to bypass and bypass to band. My office manager had bypass like 5 years ago and is actually getting banded soon.  Yeah, you can cheat yeah you get stuck sometimes. But always make sure you get back on track.
As for your concerns with going under...totally normal.  I needed my gall bladder taken out a month before my surgery for band and that was the first time I went out.  So I kinda had practice doing the "lights out".  I was pumped for surgery that morning but then I had to wait in pre-op forever! By the time I went into surgery I was like just give it to me now!! Best best best luck! and Congrats!

i felt the same way as you....i had the band for 2.5 years and didnt know the horrific complications that start after a bit. not to mention scar tissue and years of fills and unfills that never worked for me and lead to horrific acid reflux. i revised to the VSG 2 weeks ago and finally feel peace and am watching my weight leave me...finally. i never wanted to cut out my insides but they way i see things is that if you take a higher risk, you get a higher reward. the band was minimally invasive but caused the most problems for me (and im sure for lots of others like me) the VSG has given me hope and my life back. i hope you truly are informed of the decision you are about to make. it works for some and thats great but you will find many *****vise....years down the road. good luck in your journey.

When you get to solid food is when the VSG really starts to shine. 

I have been on solid food for almost a month now and all I can say is that I can eat ANYTHING without fear or worrying how my stomach is "today".  There is a huge amount of consistency with the VSG that I didn't have with the band.  Before it was almost like I would have to go into a meal and see what was going to be tolerated at that point in time.  Was I going to be able to eat chicken breast, was I going to have to coat it in something to make sure it doesn't get stuck, or was chicken breast even possible at all and am I going to have to go to liquids?  Mind you I never went more than 40% of my band's potential restriction and, for the most part, I was staying at 20%. 

Also, one thing with the VSG.  No more stuck episodes.  The closest thing I get is that if I don't chew enough or I eat too fast I get that old stuck feeling, but it passes within 30 seconds to 1 minute instead of lasting for about an hour or two like it did with the band. It just reminds me to slow down. I haven't slimed or vomited at all.  Plus, you can't eat around a VSG with slider foods because there is no room.  With the band if something slid past the band it would sit in the larger pouch of the stomach and wouldn't make you feel full.  With the VSG there isn't any more room than what you have, plain and simple.   

 I had a band, back in 2007.  Start weight 282, down to 248, was back up to 300, now sit at 286.

I have had so many fills/defills I have lost count.   Restriction never happened, and I have ended up bulimic.  Yes, I am morbidly obese and bulimic.

Please reconsider the lapband.

Please don't flame me, I write this from deep in my heart.  I am getting a revision to rny/sleeve, not sure yet.  The lapband was a disaster for me.