The band - tell me the best and the worst...

I can't decide between the band or the sleeve! My sister had the band 5 years ago and she has done very well!! No problems!! But I like all the reports about the sleeve too. So many people report problems with the band. I guess the sleeve is too new to have it's share of "haters" lol...

So, those of you that have the band what is the biggest problem you have had? What do you like best about it? Would you do it again? If not, what surgery would you choose?

Thanks for all your info!!

I was gonna hook you up with a lot of links, but after the " Haters " comment.....forget it.

 The best part for me is a tie: I lost a LOT of weight with the band and didn't have to have any parts of my body removed.

The worst part is trying to find that exactly right fill level. It's tricky and, for a lot of people, never found.

to be honest:

I've had the band for 2.5 years.

It went great the first year....

I am now unable tolerate fills anymore, and too many random tightness, unfills, puking, regurgurating.

I'm empty now.

Having revision on August 1st.

I do not regret having band placed in me because it did help me lose some weight, but I shouldnt have had the band in the first place.

There was no "best" part for me. And the worst, well, it's indescribable. But people don't find that out until after they get banded. Then they realize that the people who had the band and had complications weren't just talking to hear  themselves talk.

The band was the most painful thing I've ever gone through... and I had gallstones while pregnant and a big, open incision to remove the gallbladder. I fell down a flight of stairs while carrying my infant son a month after my gallbladder surgery and crushed my ankle to the point where they didn't think I'd walk normally again... and the band is still the worst, most painful experience I EVER had in my entire life.

what is the biggest problem you have had?

NO restriction.............AFTER 16 FILLS!


What do you like best about it?

NOTHING!


Would you do it again?

Oh hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't recommend the band to my worst enemy


If not, what surgery would you choose?

VSG.........RNY...........DS.............Anything BUT the band!!!

And as far as "haters". There is a reason the band has so many "haters". It's b/c we have or have had the band and know how crappy it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had my band 20 mos. and have hated it ever since I realized before my first year that it was NOT working.............So if the VSG were as crappy as the band you would see haters on their forum also.............but you don't!

The best for me- it did just what it was supposed to do. It reminds me when I need to stop eating and ti takes away my hunger. It has helped me lose weight and maintain loss.

The worst, the knowledge that this is only an implanted device and that I may not have it forever. When I was banded, I was told that it would probably be for life. Now I k ow it may well not be. But for me, and this is specifically for ME, it was an excellent choice and had done all I hoped it would do.

Kate.

The biggest problem directly related to the band.. there's no one big problem, but various minor issues:  got too much fill once, unfill about a month later took care of it; sometimes can't eat a meal that formerly did fine ~ no apparent rhyme or reason to the intolerance; have intermittant "stretching/pulling" sensation in my back, about bra strap level.  NOT pain and not associated with any particular activity.  No one knows what this is about.  It's more of an aggravation and a curiosity than a problem.

Non physical band problems are all weight loss related...my eyes are still bigger than my stomach when grocery shopping. I can't find a bra that fits well (yeah, I should go for a professional fitting.. hard to find the time), I could really benefit from plastic surgery...kinda hate to have more cutting done...and spend the $$.

I like best about the band is that FOR ME it helps with appetite control.  I can still over-eat if I go slow enough or choose the wrong things, but if I follow the guidelines, I am satisfied on smaller, healthier portions.

Heck yes, I'd do it again.  At the time I was choosing a surgery, the choice was between RNY and Band.  The sleeve wasn't being done at that time by my surgeon and honestly I didn't know about it.  I did not want a malabsorptive procedure due to other health issues (  1~fear of osteoporosis ~ I already have the beginnings of osteopenia.  2~I'm a cancer survivor. Surgery was my cure. Hopefully there will be no recurrance, but if there should be, malabsorption may make chemo very tricky. )

If I had to decide between band and sleeve now, it would be a difficult decision.  The best answer I can make is maybe.  I know people do very well with the sleeve, I've witnessed this in person in two people and am supporting a third friend through the early stages of sleeve adjustment.  For me, I have a slight mental issue with the idea of removing part of a healthy, functioning organ. 

I can say that IF my band should become a problem and need removal and IF I could not maintain my weight loss on my own, a sleeve would be my choice over RNY or DS.   I hope I don't ever have to make that choice.

Glad you are doing your research.  Best of luck on your decision.

Do you still have your gall bladder? The pain I had was not typical for gall bladder problems - pain across back, under the breasts and etc. I may be worth it to see about. I'm 4 days out from my gall bladder removal and feel so much better.

Yes I still have my GB and I will not have it removed unless absolutely necessary.   This is NOT pain. 

I have had a few GB attacks in the past.. last one was July 4, 2010 .. and this is nothing like that.

Thanks for your concern.