Decisions, decisions...

A lot of people choose the band because it supposedly " Less Invasive "

In fact I keep reading about people choosing the band surgeries because it is " Less Invasive " but what does that really mean ?

I found this definition for invasive here www.thefreedictionary.com/invasive

(Medicine / Surgery) (of surgery) involving making a relatively large incision in the body to gain access to the target of the surgery, as opposed to making a small incision or gaining access endoscopically through a natural orifice

THIS is why so many people who say they chose/or are choosing their band surgery was because it was " Less Invasive "

This part of the surgery has NOTHING to do with all the things that can go wrong with the band surgeries.

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4304076/PLEASE-RESPOND-Explain-your-Lap-Band-AGB-Experience/
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4399622/Newbie-from-Chicago/#36376935
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4376706/If-your-band-FAILED-you-please-check-in-here/
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4387717/benefit-of-lap-band-surgery-on-16year-old/
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/4398937/New-here-Researching-and-Learning/


If you're looking for a purely restrictive surgery only. Then look at the sleeve forum.
Your body may reject the presence of the band and you will never find out until it's too late. It's not worth the gamble and it's not worth the intolerable pain the band may cause you.

The band is a terrible product that should never had received FDA approval. The makers of the band spend millions on lobbying to get it and keep it approved.

Check out this private group: Give me a heads up so I can quickly approve your membership should you choose to join.
www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/

Also check out the revision forum and you will see that the majority of revision surgeries are from band to VSG,RNY,DS.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/board_id, 5360/

The scales tip heavily toward the failure of the band.

I had the band placed in 09, started having problems in late 2010 and couldn't live like this anymore so I had band removed and revised to bypass.

Now. RNY resolved my diabetes immediately.  I feel much better. 

I had constant random tightening, puking, couldn't eat anything full of protein, and could only eat junk food becaue it is easily can be kept down.

I would have 5-10 good eating days.

Please reconsider and look into bypass, sleeve, DS.  Keep researching!

So glad your doing better with RNY. I knew u would! It's amazing how quickly it resolves diabetes in most cases!!!

Thanks so much! :) 

 I am almost a year out from having the band surgery and while I love the fact that I have lost most of the weight I wanted to lose, I have had some problems.  My band tightens randomly and I will have episodes where suddenly 1/4 cup of yogurt is too much or something I ate yesterday is not going to work today.  I chose the lap-band because like many others I did not want my intestines rearranged and removed.  I wanted something that could be adjusted, and I wanted something that could be removed if necessary.  With RNY.... well once it is removed, its gone and they can't replace it... It just scared me too much.  Same with the sleeve.  However, this is not a proceedure to jump into lightly.  It takes constant follow up with your surgeon to maintain your wieght loss and to avoid potential problems.  You have to follow the diet and you have to measure out your food.  There will be foods that you may never be able to eat again... You will have days when you are stuck on liquids because your band is too tight because you are having your period, or you have allergies or you ate too big of a bite or didn't chew well enough...  FOR ME... this sacrifice is worth getting my life back.  Today I can do so many of the things I was watching others do just a year ago.  I love the life my band has given me... Do I love my band?  Not so much, but I want to live with it.  

 I got the band because I wanted to be able to have more children in the near future.  I had my first band put in in June '07 and then in Oct '07 had my galbladder removed and then recently went to another surgeon and had a huge hiatal hernia repaired and plication done and a new band put in.    

I have a love/hate relationship with my band.  There have been days where I had just the right restriction and I could get through the day with a little bit of food and not be hungry.  But - there were too many days where it wasn't tight enough and I felt like I didn't have a band at all and there were many  days where it was too tight and I'd cough, puke or choke on my food.  There were days where I'd think, "Let's see - am I going to try the tender chicken breast and hope that I don't choke or gag on it?  or am I just going to go the easy way with the soup/pudding/crackers because I know that won't get stuck?"   I ate quite a few "slider" foods, which stalled my weight loss.   

I"d say that the biggest problem that I've had with my band is that my first surgreon did not repair my hiatal hernia and take out my gald bladder when he put in the band.  That has led to my needing two additional surgeries.  And, that's not really a problem with the band.  

One more thing, in the beginning, I have felt satisfaction, and not much hunger.  But after Sept 2009 when I started having complications, I stopped feeling satisfaction from eating, no statiety, and I was constantly hungry and it got worse around period. 

Now with RNY I don't have much hunger, and when i eat, I eat until I'm satisfied on 2 oz meal.  I still think about junk food, but I don't crave it.