Re-post: Report complications/failures directly to the FDA!!!

All the procedures have complications, all have failures, all have risk.  Anyone who goes in to any WLS without understanding that is a fool. 

Amen- that is theonly point I am trying to make- to generalize one procedure as all bad- because there are more complaints or revisons on a blog is ludicrous-

Many of the people with the most morbid complications from wls arenot posting ad are left with little or dangerous complicated options for revision- it is absurd to claim a surgery with a mortality rate more than 25% higher than another is "safer

Every WLS has issus- and some surgeries are more suited to some people

The fight should be for an increase in pre-op indepth individual evals for patient/procedue matching should be ALL our battle

Right now the type of surgery is decided by insurance, patient opinion and the sales reps- sales reps drive the trends more than aanyone wants to admit-

God bless all of us on this journey and tolerance and understanding as we al fight the same battle (even if we try different weapons)

The band has so many post op complications, issues, and problems that you can clearly see for yourself that anyone who decides to go forward with having a lap band placed around their stomach knowing that they are taking a huge chance being one of those ones that their body rejects the band for unknown reasons ( which Allergan has clearly posted for you to read about ) is taking a foolish risk.

All surgeries have their risks it's true, but the Lap Band & the RNY seem to have the most. Why are you choosing a surgery with so many post op complications associated with it ?  You do understand that the band is removable, but many of the injuries it causes are not reversible ?

Are you aware that your insurance company will not give a **** about how much pain you are in and that your " easily reversible band " is not that easy to get your insurance company to approve removal of your band ?

There are so many of us that were denied a "simple reversal" based on the insurance companies decision ( not Allergans jurisdiction here ) to deny the requested service based on
" Lack Of Mechanical Failure "


ALLERGAN NEEDS TO CLEARLY STATE THAT PART ABOUT, INSURANCE COMPANIES USING, " LACK OF MECHANICAL FAILURE " WHILE DENYING THAT " EASILY REVERSIBLE SURGERY "....... AND THEY NEED TO STOP MISLEADING THE MASSES INTO BELIEVING THE,
" EASILY REVERSED " PART IN THEIR AD CAMPAIGN....don't you think.

You are right on that

My next door neighbor is severely sick from having the gastric done.  She ended up losing her  job , her kids , her house because she got so sick from her surgery that she was in the hospital for four months .  Now she is looking for transplants because her insides are a mess.

My aunt also has gastric and she is so sickly looking I would rather be fat then look like her to be honest.   She is popping tons of vitamins a day , she looks like a skeleton she is more unhealthy now then she was when she was 100 pounds over weight .

A close friend of mine also had the gastric done lost 140 pounds and gained all of it back but 50 pounds .   She only kept it off for 2 yrs now she is screwed .


I do not know anybody with the DS they do not do that surgery around my area so I can no comment on that .

Sleeve I only know a handful of them from support 3 of them are doing fine and then the other two are fighting not to regain their weight back  and the other one cant keep no food down.  She can keep the sliders down that is it .

See each one of us can go on and on about people we know that has had minor complications to life threatening complications from their WLS.

Like you said every surgery has risks, no one surgery is better then the other.  I could go in tomorrow for the Sleeve and have major complications , I could be sick from that surgery or worse yet I could die from it .

Nobody knows what surgery is best for them , nobody knows if that surgery will work for them , noddy knows if they will have complications from that surgery, they just dont know . There is only one person that knows that answer and that is God .

And just what is "the gastric"?

~All the procedures have complications, all have failures, all have risk.~

Well of course they do. Eveyone knows that. I don't understand why bandsters keep wanting to bring that up! We all know that . It's common sense. However................THE BANDS HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF COMPLICATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BANDS HAVE THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATE!!!!!!!!!!

And when the band cheerleaders want to keep saying "all WLS's have complications"...............it's kind of a waste of time since everyone knows that. But why have the WLS that has the MOST complications?! If I have a splinter removed it can have a complications. But you know what? The complication rate is extremely low. If you however have an impaled rusty iron nail removed though.........guess what? LOT HIGHER COMPLICATIONS RATE!

Can you point me to the actual scientific study where they say that the Lap Band is the most likely to have complications?  I mean, real data, not just a poll of people who came online to complain about their bad outcomes because they are pissed that it didn't work for them?  Do you know why there are so few people on here with Lap Band success stories?  It's because the ones who are successful, with no complications,  are out there living their life, not at home infront of a computer, whining about how bad their lap band sucks.

And, if I end up needing my band out, and my insurance won't pay, I guess I will just have to beg and borrow, and work my ass off until I have the cash to get it done. 

If I were a weaker person, your posts would have made me scared and made me question my decision.  I worry for some of the newbies that end up here, pre surgery or post-op.  Just the ranting way you post could cause them anxieties and stress that no one needs at such a trying time.  Rather than blasting everyone elses experiences, and how Lap Band is never good, at least stick to your own experiences and stop talking for the rest of the Lap Banded community.

I'm sorry, but your approach just seems a lot like someone standing in front of my car screaming, "DON'T GET IN THE CAR!!!  YOUR GONNA DIE!!! PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY IN CARS!!!!!"

"Can you point me to the actual scientific study where they say that the Lap Band is the most likely to have complications? "

Bexie,

The reason why this is not going to happen is because, surgeons are not mandated by law to report Adverse Events to the FDA. They are also not required or mandated by law to report Adverse Events to Allergan.

All data out there is under reported because of this. You will never find the information you just requested from Maria.

Look, I know you are very close to your surgery date and you are convinced that you have researched everything you can humanly research about the Lap Band.

I'd like you to answer the following question to yourself as honestly as you can.

During the past 30 days, have you even one time made the following statement or something similar to yourself  in order to make yourself feel that you have made the right decision about your choice of WLS ?

As long as I --------------- it won't happen to me.


I'd like to invite you to join my Failed Bands Group and allow me to respectfully guide you into a discussion with our other members. I promise that nobody is going to attack you or tell you that your band is going to fail you. I wouldn't allow that.

In general I don't normally allow newbies to join that group because I feel that there are enough of us that share our experiences/knowledge with the band that post regularly on the Main and Lap Band forums.

You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Actually, i have not once said As long as I --------------- it won't happen to me.  I know that this is a may work and may not work situation.  I am not a terribly religious person, but a few weeks ago, I left this all to God.  I can only do what the doctor orders, and only God can decide the outcome.

I suffer from extreme panic attacks.  I am talking about debilitating unfounded terror.  The crazy thing is, I have never been more at peace with my choice.  I am baffled at it myself.  I expected to be a ball of snot and kleenex, and I feel like I am in the best hands, I feel right.

Congratulations on your surgery day, wishing you a safe and successful surgery.

edited for spelling.