Serious 2nd thoughts...T minus 11 days

Lap band scheduled to go in Aug 11...My mind is wandering in all sorts of places...good and bad
One minute I think it can't happen soon enough, the next I am doubting my decision and seriously thinking about backing out.

Day 4 of the LD diet.  I can honestly say I am not having any trouble with it.   Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.   I am having 3 shakes a day (12 oz each), water and unsweetened iced tea. 

SO WHY SHOULDN'T I JUST DO 2 PROTEIN SHAKES A DAY W/ A SENSIBLE MEAL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND AVOID THE BAND?!   I've proven to myself that I can do the shakes.  

I AM SO CONFUSED!  I have a feeling posting on here is only going to further confuse me.   But, you are the people who have been where I have been and are going where I am going.  

What exactly is this condition I have read and heard about involving the esophagus?  It seriously worries me. 

The possible problems sound so awful...

BUT, so does complications from diabetes and neuropathy.....6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

Believers please pray for me.  Pray that I may find peace in which ever decision is made. Pray that the Lord guides me and shows me His will. 

Thank you for reading my post AND thank you for replying with a kind heart.

In Him & through Him,

Donna

Donna,

I am going to beg you to reconsider... for the sake of your health. I often feel like I'm repeating myself over and over, but the complications that often accompany the lapband procedure are SO incredibly awful. I can't even begin to describe the type of chronic pain I experienced.

Have you given any consideration to the VSG, by any chance? I know it SEEMS like a bigger deal, but honestly, I'd choose it over the band knowing what I know now. 

Most people start experiencing lapband contraindications at around the 2-3 year mark... the band has been pressing against soft tissue... and the problems get started then. Esophageal problems run rampant with the band. The left shoulder pain is indescribable... or at least, in my case it was. It was like being stabbed repeatedly and chronically. I couldn't even take a breath without horrible pain. I couldn't walk or stand up straight. Driving was awful... the pain was enormous.

I really hope you'll consider a different approach. I tell you this out of concern, I swear.
I pray for your health, no matter what you ultimately decide. I know it might seem callous of me to give you this warning so close to your surgery date, but I really only want you to be able to avoid pain and disappointment.

I pray that you find peace with whatever you decide. Please make sure you have peace with your decision because if you don't you will be very conflicted after the surgery. Trust me, you don't want conflict within yourself after the surgery.

I definately understand how you can be conflicted, as I was too.  I went into this with a very confident experienced doctor.  I did not consider complications.  I am very lucky so far.  I have had NO complications, but am only 6 1/2 months out. Any surgical procedure can have complications.  I do wish I had been on this site for a year instead of 3 months before surgery.  I don't know that it would have changed my decision, maybe so, but I would have been much more informed.  There are improvments on the surgeries, devices and training that are ongoing.  Many, but not all, that have had problems, have some of the older devices.   They have paved the way for all us newbies.  My PCP realized how many diets I had been on and off for many, many, years. I have gained and lost hundreds of pounds.  He was onboard.  I just have never been successful at keeping the weight off.  I also know my family history and was headed in a bad direction as far as my health was concerned.  I took a leap of faith and chose a different path than the one I WAS on.  Only time will tell how it ends.  I can tell you now that I feel better than I have felt in a long time with a LOT more energy.  Make the best decision you can for yourself and your family.  Good Luck!

I am nosing in on someone else's question, but I wanted to thank you for your post.  You case seems a lot like mine and it gives me hope.  My problem isn't losing the weight (I have lost a lot over my life), it is keeping it off.  I am hoping that the band will be a less drastic way to maintain weight loss.  The failures I read about do scare me, but so does the idea of a bypass. 

Thanks for posting,
Bev

I had lapband surgery 2 years ago and for me it was the best decision I could of made I am off almost all of my medications I am no longer on any diabetic medicine high blodd pressure chlorestrol more than half of my psych medicines. I have being under extreme stress this year due to family sickness and also my own physical problems and for the first time in my  life I have being able to maintain my weight No I have not reach my goal weight 12lbs away but in the past I would put on 60-100lbs within the year have not put on any weight I am proud of myself for that. You have to make the deicision that is best for you no one can make the decision for you do your homework I did and I know I made the right one for me even if something was to happen in the future my band I would not change what I did two years ago.
Cathie

Esophageal Dysmotility and dialated esophagus are common complications. Not as common as all the slips and port problems, but they happen quite a bit.

I would not recommend the band to my worse enemy. There are just too many complications with the band long term..............and some even short term! You will notice on the forums that a lot of the bandsters that have had their bands a few years have had to have 2nd surgeries. You will also notice that you very seldom see a bandster on here over 5 years out even though the band has been around longer than that.

I think it might be helpful to you to post the same thing on the VSG, RNY and DS forums. You can get some knowlegable feedback on those forums also because there are a LOT of bandsters that have revised to those other surgeries. The band has the highest % of ppl revising FROM it. That should tell you something right there! If the band was that great............why would all those ppl want to put theirselves through yet another WLS???

Do your research! Check out the other 3 WLS's! You have some great options there.

Good luck!

Hi.  I have had the band for 2.5 years and about a year and half later I started having problems, puking, can't keep protein down, eat around band in order to eat, and too many random tightness, unfills, and tight around period time.  Leading me to depression, and stopped losing weight because of puking.

I am having my band removed tomorrow and going bypass  so I hope it goes well for me!

Please reconsider.  I don't wish this on anyone.

There are some people that have had success with the band and I'm really happy for them!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider!! First there was a hole in the tubing. Then a port revision. Then a flipped port. Then and infection which needed to be drained. Now, I can SEE the port through my stomach. I am literally heading to the ER at 11am today to have it taken out. And the best part?? 


NO WEIGHT LOSS...AT ALL.


Please reconsider....this is not fun and I feel worse than I did when I was simply fat!!! 

Christine

Hi Donna,

I am sorry you are struggling but I am glad you are thinking.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Leila