J3sus ******g Christ, people!!!

 So wait, you hate the band, it does nothing for you, and you get stuck while still having no restriction....but you won't have the fluid taken out? *facepalm*

Hello Bette!

Its pretty sad around here right now, I can understand needing a break.

Take care!

 Bette,
haven't been on in a while. Guess I have missed a whole lot of horse sh**.
Wendy

Bette,

Sure is nice to see YOU here. I hadn't been on in ages. I came back, and was disgusted... Shame, shame, shame. Hope all is well with you skinny lady!

maria hi again i am new here but i must say i agree with jolena every wls as well as all medical procedures work differently for different people as an example i personally had to have a total knee replacement at the age of 24  and over the past 20 years i have had to have over10 major revisions and surgeries to try to fix the problem including being in a wheel chair for 18 months none of the revisions have lessened my pain or made me able to walk without pain but there have been i am guessing millions of people who have had successful knee replacements i am definitely not one of the lucky ones but i dont tell everyone that knee replacements dont work and they are crap because it would really not be a fair statement because they do work for some people so i think the same can be said for the lapband to be fair.....i hope this makes sense and i truly hope you can get to a place within yourself of peace

First of all........my heart goes out to you for all the complications you have had with your knee replacement. Especially since the problem first occured at such an early age!

As far as the band though. Yes I am angry it didn't work at all for me. It worked nothing like it was advertised to do. NOTHING! So I would speak up about it regardles just to let others know that these things can..........and DO happen. But I don't just speak up for myself. I speak up for the thousands of other bandsters out there with issues. And I speak up so pre-ops can hear these things (which were rarely discussed on the Lap-Band forum b/c of the way they were attacked when they tried to post about the complications!) and make an INFORMED decision about the band. Had I been told PRIOR to my surgery that it was possible to NEVER reach restriction with the Lap-Band...........I NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT!!!!!!!!!!!! And I think the same is true of many other bandsters. Now if the rest of you know this and decide to get banded anyway, that is fine. You've been given the option to consider a very common complication of the Lap-Band, and decided to take a chance. Some are willing to do that. Some are not. Those that would NOT be willing to take a chance on that have a right to that info PRIOR to surgery!!!

~i dont tell everyone that knee replacements dont work and they are crap because it would really not be a fair statement because they do work for some people so i think the same can be said for the lapband to be fair.~

I have not researched knee replacement, but from my understanding, most go well. Correct me if I am wrong. However with the Lap-Band  MOST do NOT go well long term!!!

1. How many long term bandsters do you see on here, OR IN REAL LIFE?
2. How manu long term bandsters do you see that are successful??
3. How many long term bandsters do you see that haven't had to have at least a 2nd surgery???

See where I'm going with this. The band seems to be mostly a matter of luck. Some are LUCKY for a few years. MOST are NOT lucky long term. Now if anyone is willing to take a shot at it after knowing the chances, then fine. But let them be educated about the band first. It's only fair. Don't you think???

And I thought *I* was young for having a knee replacement!  I got my "bionic" knee after a bad accident in 2002 and it took a few surgeries but not as many as you!  ANd you are still in pain?  Have you ever tried Ultram ER?  It's the only pain med that  helps my injured bones over the years.  Hope you find relief soon.