This board makes me nervous!!!

 
~Millions of people have lost lots of weight and kept much of it off. Their lives are substantially better for the experience. That is undeniable.~

There have been lots of ppl that have lost weight with the band. some have even kept it off. I don't deny that. But it is undeniable that this is the case for very few long term. How many successful bandsters do you know long term??? (yes I know..........lots of question marks, lol).

Also you need to consider HOW (yes caps) they lost weight while they had the band. Some lose it by being so tight that they can't eat properly. Some lose it b/c they vomit so frequently. Some lose it only  b/c they diet. Some lose b/c they become addicted to exercise. So if a bandster has lost weight,  "lots of weight" b/c of these reasons.............then the band is not working as it is suppose to and therefore statistically it may look as thought the band has worked for them...........but if they only lose b/c of those things then the band has not been beneficial to them in a healthy way.

 Maybe after 2+ years with the band it could be said I am still in the "Honeymoon" phase, but I must say I love my band.  I lost all my weight in 18 months.  Not because I was unhealthy in losing.  I lost it with a low-carb lifestyle and reasonable amounts of exercise.  I appreciate the fact that I can take over the counter vitamins and I love the fact that I don't have to worry about malabsorption.  Also, since I have lost my weight, I rarely come on here any more, but maybe I should visit more often to let people know there are people out here who love the band and have had no complications at 2+ years.  

I hate that Maria is unhappy with her band, however, I think the band is only as good as the surgeon who "installs" it.  I wonder how her surgeon's sucess rate compares with other surgeons who offer the same procedure?  Did she have it done in Atlanta or in Athens?  This could make a big difference in the quality of heathcare.  There are other factors besides the device itself.  Just sayin....

I think the band is only as good as the surgeon who "installs" it. 

wow 

Nope, it is the device itself!!!  The stomach and your digestive system were not designed to function properly with a stiff noose around it.  It is plain and simple that any device intended to alter what millions of years of evolution has created, is never going to work.

Some people have an anatomy that rejects the device sooner than others.  I agree that there are butcher surgeons out there, just like with any surgery, but the vast majority of surgeons are just as skilled if not more so than your surgeon.

I do understand the desire to make excuses for why some fail and others don't.  We all like to think we are exempt from bad things happening to us because there is "something" different about "us."

 
I think that can be an issue. I think it is rarely an issue though. The band is a very simple procedure. Very easy to do.

My surgeon did his residency at the Mayo clinic, so he should be one of the better surgeons.

I have noticed that a lot of the better surgeons are now refusing to do the band. Also from what I have been hearing............most of those that are still doing the band are removing more than they are installing. Just sayin....

I think everyone who has a band, or had a band, has experience with the same fears.  Reading about complications is scary.  Ironically, for those who do go on to have complications, it is a comfort to know that they are not alone.  That is why we post and share our negative experiences with the band.

It wasn't long ago, and still goes on now, that anyone who had problems were blamed and shamed for "failing their band."  As far as I am concerned, the band is a failure as a safe and effective WLS.  The people who are complication free are the exception.

When I compare my experience with the band and with the sleeve, I can hardly believe how horrible day to day eating was when I had a band.  I kept holding out hope that things would change and that it would work for me, but that didn't happen.

The good news for everyone is, if it doesn't work out, there are other surgeries that are more effective and definitely less painful.

Good luck.

Once again maria....what i said was true (that the article used old band data) and bringing up other arguments doesn't change that.

And I am truly sorry that you had a bad bad experience.

AND (caps intended) you have every right to be here telling your story. Please just don't be so angry when people tell the other side of the story. There ARE band successes. It's about giving nubies the whole picture ...right?

 
Yes that particular post is based on old data. I don'd deny that. New band stats are no better though.

I am not angry about others telling their side of the story. I do get angry when they only want the happy band stories told, or when they continue to blame bandsters..........or now some surgeons instead of FAILED BANDS.