Confused about the band

I am still very happy with my band going on 7 years, I've always done the right thing for my health, and got as many fills as it took to get me where I wanted to be and got needed unfills when I was too tight or had an illness and so far so good.

If you are paying out of pocket make sure that you have pre op screening done to make sure you are a candidate for the band and make sure you research your surgeon and make sure they provide great aftercare and know UPFRONT the band is a tool, if you use it wisely and follow it with a diet and exercise plan you can't go wrong....good luck

When I got my band i believed everything the seminar said.  I was desperate and hated being fat.  4 years after my band I'm happy to say that I was revised to a sleeve 9 months ago and can't believe I can actually eat "normal" food.  Of course in much smaller portions and I have no problems with bug bites making my band swell so that I couldn't swallow my own spit.

There are some who have lost all their weight with the band and maybe a repositioned port or maybe another band due to a band problem.  Seems like most band probelms happen 2-3 years out so most that give an opinion under the two years are usually happy.  

I didn't get banded and sleeved to only lose 1/2 of my excess weight.  The band in my opinion is the worst.  Only have about another 15 lbs to be in the normal range of the BMI chart.  would NEVER have gotten there with my band.

Everyone has an opinion and I respect all if they are truthful.

By the way don't listen to anything Nana says.......just trying to give you heads up.

Good luck but I would do more "real" research and make the right choice the first time.  The reason I can say this is becuase I made the wrong choice for me the first time and hope every one really does the research and doesn't only accept the answers they want to hear.

What's incorrect about the advice I gave the poster? I believe it was sound advice. I told the poster straight up the band is A TOOL. Problem is there are so many people looking for a FREE RIDE with the band, I am fully aware that the band can be very dangerous and can KILL someone if they abuse it, the band can be a very and effective safe tool if used wisely and correctly, but in the wrong hands, it can be a very evil piece of contraption. Remember I use to warn some of those same NOW BAND BASHERS about allowing their bands to heal and being too tight, I've been around long enough to see it all, that's why they can't stand me.

I've had 2 fills since I've been banded where I could barely swallow my spit as well, but as soon as I realized I was too tight I went back to my surgeon for a small unfill and everything was back to normal for me right away.

By the way, I exercised about 5 days a WEEK and followed my diet plan and lost 100 pounds by 10 months post op, I used my band as a TOOL and not as a crutch and I KNEW what I was getting into, I am sure some people's body may reject the band, but MANY get it and abuse it, were you one of the MANY abusers, who knows and who cares, this posters is only asking advice about the band, yours is negative and mine is truthful.......Just because YOU FAILED with the band does not mean everyone else will....

Edited to Add: If you got the Sleeve and now happy with it, why are you here now? Many people on the Sleeve board complain about a very difficult recovery, wicked heartburn and reflux, many did not know or realized that they dump on carbs and sweets -- many don't dump until they are 1-2 years post op, many have had very dangerous complications with leaks, many surgeons do not know the long term effects of the Sleeve, many people that I KNOW PERSONALLY *****vised over to the Sleeve about 3 years ago are now complaining about severe vitamin deficiencies and no longer have the restriction they had....you did not know that did you? All surgeries comes with risk and complications and least with the band we have options to remove it if something goes wrong, you don;t have that option with the Sleeve.

It's ok to give your point of view about the band, but believe it or not there are MANY of us that don't slip our bands or suffer complications.

Thanks everyone. I am more confused than ever!!! LOL. What is this sleeve everyone keeps talking about? I was so set on the band...but now I am really unsure. I am meeting with the surgeon on the 6th and hopefully will decide what to do!

If you are interested in the Sleeve do research on it, many people say they like it, but again, once you remove most of your Stomach there is no turning back, the Sleeve is restrictive just like the band, but not adjustable and it carries MORE risk than the band, but many people can no longer tolerate many carbs and sweets....hence they may lose more weight this way, but again many people who get the Sleeve lose a lot of weight and they look great.

If I had to do it all over again today, I would still choose the band because I know what i want and I just wanted a tool to help me with my portions and I have no desire to remove part of my stomach, so I try to make my lap band work and so far so good. I could care less with which surgery someone choose, we all are on these forums for support, I would like to get the lap band forum back to the way it used to be helpful and people sharing their happiness of weight loss. Good luck to you with what ever you decide.

Thanks Nana. I definetly will not be getting the sleeve then. Have you had successful weightloss with the band? I am a single mother of 2 little ones so the surgery itself scares me a bit. I'm all these kids have...which is why I need to lose weight. I'm only 30 and 100lbs overweight.

I lost 130 pounds with my band within 18 months post op, and kept it off for 4 years with no problems, I had surgery in 2008 and had to get my band completely emptied and I gained back a few pounds and then I lost them, I am going on 7 years post op so I still think I am doing OK for now considering I need a fill but I don't want one over the holidays, I will wait until January, that's the good thing I like about the band I can always jump start my weight loss with a fill even over 6 years post op, no other weight loss surgery have that capability.

Pre op 2005 over 300 pounds





Almost 5 years post op....still holding down my weight featured in Obesity Help Mag...






 
This was taken 1 month ago during a vacation near Monterrey, California near the Pacific ocean loving life -- going on 7 years post op.

Nana, you are truly an inspiration to all of us. You are beautiful, bright, and very informative. If anyone had one ounce of brain cell in their head to know that getting 'any' type of surgery, their are risks. What works for one, may not work for the next. I am utterly surprised here at some of the 'bashing' people write here in the forums when asking for advice. Its very simple you research, find the best surgeon around, and thoroughly check his/her credentials. Know your own body, your surgeon will help you decide, then its ultimately up to you on what type of surgery you want. You need an honest surgeon, one who don't play games and takes your health seriously. When I was asked what type of surgery I was thinking about I said the Lap Band. My surgeon didn't say okay go have yourself a nice day. She sat with me and told me the pros/cons about it, she told me with the Lap band I am going to have to work my tail off extra hard. But before she told me this, she asked me why? I did my research, I watched all the videos of the actual surgery. Just as I did when I had my hip replaced (and believe me that was no picnic in the park) I am making the choice for "me" not for 'you' or what other people say here. 

I am a brand new member here and feel awful for anyone who is new and 'vulnerable' to come here and visit to get answers when all some of you do is scare the heck out of people. Where is the encouragement? I like to read the good, bad, and the ugly. But don't tell me what type of surgery is going to work best for me, unless of course you are God or have some kind of inhuman super powers :)

Thank you Trish! You are smart enough to read through the smoke! They DO NOT have anyone seeking the band best interest at heart.

They are NOT really trying to help newbies, they are BITTER, if I was a newbie, this would make me even more suspicious of their motives, if they were REALLY trying to persuade people from getting the band they should come up with more excuses than oh...the band just like to killed me or exploded....trust me the complications just DO NOT HAPPEN SUDDENLY with the band.

Usually if the surgeon installed it wrong you will know it from git-go...not 1 -5 years later.,

I never recommend the band to people or sway them to get another type of surgery, I would be very skeptical of people telling you to get another type of surgery and they don't know your medical history or personal situation. Everyone is different, there are many people just do not want their insides rearranged or can't be dedicated to a very strict vitamin regimen for the rest of their life.

Even If I suffer complications with my band, I will not come back here to harass and terrorize those who are interested in it.

Congrats Trish to you and which ever surgery you decide to get, I wish you the best!

NanaB wrote: Even If I suffer complications with my band, I will not come back here to harass and terrorize those who are interested in it.


The reason you wouldn't come back is because you'd have to admit that band complications happen through no fault of the patient, obviously. Coupled with the fact that you're too selfish to want to help other people avoid the same situation.