Confused about the band

I ordered the book weight loss surgery for dummies and read all about the different surgeries before having mine.    The band is certainly not easy and you have to work hard at it.
Wishing you the best of luck

Jessica

Any advice?

Ok here goes: RUN! RUN FAR, AND RUN FAST FROM THE BAND!

$18,000 can be a wonderful investment in your health. *IF* you choose the right WLS. That being said.........I wasted about $15,000 on mine.  I might as well have flushed that money down the toilet. After 16 fills and NO restriction I gave up.

Something most Drs. will not tell their patients BEFORE getting the band is that many patients NEVER REACH RESTRICTION! Kind of an important little detail to leave out, don't you think?!

I have researched VSG in Mexico. I think that would run me about $11. I just can't see wasting anymore time and money on the CRAP-BAND!

The band has the poorest rate of excess weight loss and a very high rate of post-op complications.

I had the band for just under 3 years. The first year, I lost some weight. Then I began to have complications requiring several unfills. I spent the next nearly 2 years regaining any weight I had ever lost back.

I had my band removed and I revised to the sleeve and have been much more successful. I can eat more normally with my sleeve and do not vomit. I vomited frequently with the band and never knew what would work and what would come back up.

Best of luck in your decision,
Lindsey

While Kate and some others have had great success there are those like Pumpkin. Maria F., Redbabe and myself who have had either a miserable time or a wasted time with our bands. I really think the band can be useful for volume eaters, if that is the only issue but it rarely is. In my case I was already eating less than 1000 calories a day and can not exercise because of severe arthritis, fibro and COPD among other health issues so I lost about 40 lbs at my best and gained back about 20 of that with all my tighten issues with the band. I finally had mine emptied so I wouldn't suffer from so much heart burn. I havwe basically stayed the same weight since then, bounce around with in a 5 lb. range. I never should have had the band because of my other health issues but my surgeon was leary of more invasive procedures because I also take blood thinners so here I sit with a useless band and basically no weight loss to speak of. I would think long and hard about if you are able to commit to the lifestyles changes because even when it works you stll have to work very hard at it. Myself I'm hoping to revise to VSG when I can save enough money.

 I WILL ONLY SAY ALL SURGERYS HAVE UPS AND DOWNS AND ALL KINDS OF STORIES WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND DIETS ARE ALL DIFFERENT BUT I LOVE MY BAND

Me too.  I'm up a little right now but that is my fault - not my bands.  I got a partial unfill due to unrelated digestion problems that were exacerbated by my band.  I waited 18 months to get refilled - at first b/c I didn't have insurance to cover it, then when i did, I refrained because frankly I was back into my old habits and dysfunction, eating anything and everything. Now I'm back with two fills under my belt.  If I lost my band tomorrow, I'd be so sad. All that being said, if I had it to do over again, I'd do the sleeve for a more permanent solution. Just my humble opinion.

I love my band.  I have lost 150 lbs and have kept it off for 4 years. Please do your research. There are certain foods you are not suppose to eat with the band (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, corn) just to name a few. If you do and are at restriction you will pay the price for it. PB, vomiting, pain. Can't stress it enough to do your research. Love, love, love my band. She is my soul mate. she saved my life. Mohammed ali daughter has a book out about the band and it is very good and also a dr has one about it they are both excellent books.

I hated the band, it nearly killed me, I still have health problems that are a direct result of the lapband and it's been over 6 years since removal.

I'd rather be fat than have a band again. Actually, I'd rather walk off a cliff than have a band again.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!! had the oporturnity to get the lap band 2 months ago after doing my research for many, many years. I LOVE MY BAND, I agree that the band only helps those who eat large amounts like i did. I get full with 4-6 oz (havent had any fills yet) and i have to exercise!!! i exercise in the morning and after work(yes i do get my lazy days in and not making the right choices) but my band is a constant reminder of what i want to accomplish and its not to be skinny but to be healthy.

If its meant for u to get wls it will happen, i wouldnt recoment wls to anyone!!!
Leave everything in Gods hands he will keep u safe:)

I've had my band since 2006 and initially it worked really well.  I lost 40 pounds and then had a slip....then complete unfill and a few fills and another slip.   Since then it's been unfilled totally and I've gained the 40 pounds back.   This week I go in for a revision to the sleeve and am VERY excited.    When I went in to consult about my initial weight loss surgery I felt very pressured to go with the band over bypass.   Now, my new surgeon (at the same medical facility I went to last time) has said he never puts bands in.....he only takes them out.