Unsuccessful Lap Band

Hello all:

I had the Lap Band procedure in Boston. MA in 1/2010. I feel like a COMPLETE FAILURE. I really tried and the most I ever lost was 12 pounds. My surgeon was great, the staff is great, but I have struggled my entire life with being overweight, and this just did not work for me. I TRIED so hard to follow diet, exercise and end up back to eating sweets, and "eating around the band". I wish I had known more about how this px is not as effective for us GRAZERS like myself. I think in general, the band may more effective for volume eaters. However, I can only speak for myself. I had such high expectations and was initially so motivated, but Ive lost all motivation, and basically have given up.I need to lose about 100 pounds, and am fully disgusted with myself. Ive seen the nutritionist, who is supportive, but I must be crazy, because I just cannot strictly diet, which is needed. Im ashamed I could not get a grip and as I said feel like a complete failure. Once, briefly I spoke to the surgeon, about possibly revising, but she did not seem too responsive. She said she had one patient like myself who she revised, but most everyone initially lost significant weight, (which I never acheived). Im scared to have another surgery, but this weight is literally holding me back from all the things I want to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank You!

((((((HUGS))))) so sorry to hear this,First you are not a failure you had a procedure that might not  have been the right choice for you.. you  may have  needed a procedure that fit  more with what your problem was with food . From what I gather from your post is you have a problem with sweets and the band does not help much if you can't controll sweets it helps if you are a volume eater.  Bypass might  have been a better option and your surgeon should have adressed that. Please do not give up , if your surgeon was not responsive to your suggestion of a revision I urge you to seek out another surgeon. Hang in there. try to find a support group, it might help and might give you some motivation. Good Luck

I am so sorry that you have not been able to work with the band.

I will say that in addition to my surgery, I used OA (www.oa.org) to change my attitude about my eating.
I was a very strong sweets eater -- and just before my surgery, I joined an on-line OA group and made a committment to follow the 12 steps to recovery.

With their help, I made a list of my trigger foods, and I made a decision to refrain from eating them.
I knew that my band would not stop those foods, or make it difficult to eat them --- actually, they are the easiest foods to eat.

When I have them in my life (cake, cookies, candy, ice cream, baked goods of all kinds), I prefer to eat them to any regular food --- so, for me, it was necessary to stop eating them completely.

Some people can eat sweets in moderation ---- but that is not me.  One cookie leads to the whole bag and to 2 bags tomorrow ---- it is scary how fully they control my life.

By the grace of God, I am now free from those foods for 35 months (3 years on March 31) ---- and am able to enjoy a wonderful life.

I don't know if you have tried OA -- or even considered it, but I know that it has truly enriched my life.
I attend in-person meetings occasionally, and continue in the on-line email loops.

Another great resource is www.therecoverygroup.org

I wish you well, and peace.

Don't beat yourself up, there are a great many of us that the band didn't work for! I too didn't realize that it was mostly effective for volume eaters until I only lost 20 lbs with my band. I did eveything I was told to do and even then it still didn't work! I would suggest you study seriously the other 3 surgery types and try to revise to a surgery that DOES work. Also join us at the failed lap band group. We can help with support and ideas to help you move on. Many bandsters have had to revise to another surgery.

THANK YOU ALL so much for your responses. Your support and comments truly are appreciated. Especially in that this issue is so hard to share with those who have not been there or have not been through the surgical weight loss struggles. I wish I had been more informed about eating STYLES in relation to optimum surgical results. I was informed about other procedures, but the band seemed the safest and least invasive. I have to say I felt I was steared away from the other procedures due to potential complications and risks. Not because of any health issues (I am lucky in that I dont have many), but due to higher percentage of overall problems. I cannot say that other surgeries were not mentioned, but I don't recall a discussion about eating habits/styles in relation to choices for surgical procedures. I went in wanting the band, so perhaps that was the reason(??). However, I know a woman who was about my weight who (different facility here in Boston), went in wanting the band, and was told it would not be best for her eating habits/style and it was strongly suggested she undergo bypass. She went with their suggestion and is down 68 pounds and has been able to stabilize her weight for 4 years-
I have tried OA, weigh****chers, HMR, Phentermine (years ago),Diet Center, counselling, Medi-Fast, the gym all in the end with same result, initial loss on some and weight back on. This is why I opted for weight loss surgery. I swear I know WHAT to do, I just cannot seem to execute it. I have an appointment next Tuesday with my surgeon/NP and nutritionist. Believe it or not I am EMBARRESSED about my failure. They have never said anything to make me feel this way, however there is a sense of underlying failure, which I feel is probably somewhat self imposed. I think the doctor is perplexed as to why I cannot get a grip. I guess I want us all to admit this is not working and talk about what we can do. I am terrified about undergoing another surgery, though I think she is a fabulous surgeon, and I would trust her skills. I just dont think this is something she wants to bring up. I know it's not about the surgeon, the NP or the nutritionist and what they think of me, but my failure in being able to comply feeds into my own insecurities. I know there are other surgeons out there (if she does not want to deal)I just dont know who would be open to this, and I do want someone who has dealt with this issue. Thanks again to all!!!

Sending you many hugs. 

Carbohydrate addiction is real.  The effects of eating highly refined carbs connect with the same triggers in your brain that cocaine users experience.  Some of us are more sensitive to this than others.  Just like some people can try cocaine a few times and walk away, while others use is once and will lie, cheat and steal to feed their addiction to cocaine.

I am definitely very sensitive to carbs, which is one reason the band has not been the best choice for me.  However, I have been able to conquer my addictions and used my tool, the band, to help me lose weight.  When my tool is being a turd not letting me eat solid protein.....well, I start to fail.  I turn to my old freindemy, carbs. 

There are no easy answers, because the ONLY answer is to NOT EAT carbs.  Period.  This is for those of us that have addictions to the highly refined carbs.  RNY is a better choice for people like us, but if you can't get a revision, what will you do?

Take control of your life.  No one and really no surgical intervention can do this for  you.  You control you.  Period.  Detox from carbs.  Do what you have to do......throw out all of your food and lock yourself in to your house for a week.......go take a vacation in the middle of nowhere.......whatever it takes.....just don't let one single bit of carbs pass your lips.  After about a week of this, your cravings will be all but gone.  You will feel better....you will just have to never let them back in your life. 

Easier said than done, I know.   No one said it would be easy.  It's not.  Just remember.....you control what goes in your body. 

Hi Melly37:
Thank you for your response, and I totally agree about the carbs. The only success I ever had (pre-LB) was when I totally eliminated carbs. I literally went thru 10 days of withdrawel-felt sick, etc. Then I was fine. The minute I started with a cookie, it was over- It's nuts! In any event, it looks like you revised to the sleeve? How long did you stay with band? I have not directly asked my surgeon about a revision. We briefly and I mean BRIEFLY touched upon it about 6 mo ago,when she said she only had one patient who did not lose any weight, and she had mentioned the sleeve. However, we both did not discuss further. At 2 years out with no weight loss, I am seriously thinking of opening up a discussion.I am not looking for a quick fix, as I know eating habits go hand and hand, but there does seem to be a higher success rate with bypass px's. I know after the weight loss it is up to the individual to change their habits along with daily activity etc. However, the weight loss provides some incentive. When there is zero loss, prior weight loss failures; it is tough to continue without results. Again Im so scared of surgery, but I am more scared of ending up with diabetes, or other weight related diseases. Would love to hear more from you (or anyone here who is willing to share) about failure then success with band or decision to revise, etc. Thanks again

My revision surgery to the sleeve is scheduled for 2 weeks from today.  I am very excited, but I know that I will be facing the same demons that I have now.  I will still be able to eat chips, crackers and cookies and probably way too many of them. 

The difference for ME, will be that hopefully, my sleeve will allow me to eat solid protein on a consistant basis.  I will have to do my part to steer clear from carbs, and never let them back in my life, and my sleeve will help me stick to small portions of healthy foods.

My band is just way too unpredictable.  Everything might be great, able to eat a healthy lunch, but when I sit down to dinner, all of the sudden I can't eat anything.  I have been dealing with this for months and months.  I eventually got so frustrated that I turned to carbs.  Most of them are sliders and I am able to get those down even when my band is acting stupid. 

I can't detox from carbs when I can't eat meat.  So, the sleeve will hopefully help me help myself.  I think the liquid diet after surgery will be a good cleansing and fresh start.  Carbs are NOT my friend.......they are very destructive in my life. 

I'm not trying to be insensitive, but I find all of this a little hard to swallow (no pun intended).  I had to fill out a 15 page application, meet with a nutritionist, have a psych-eval,  and go to two group meetings BEFORE I was even approved for gastric banding.  I won't even to tell you about the labs & x-rays I had to have done in order to get full approval.

Now during the psych eval, I was specifically asked about what my knowledge of the band was and how it worked, as a way to verify my competence.  I was told grazing would compromise my success, and that even with success, I would probably lose no more than 40% of my excess body weight. 

I was told by the nutritionist which foods to "fill" up on (protein first, veggies, fruits, starches in that order) and which foods to avoid, but don't we already know this regardless if we have WLS?  You've been on several diets--I think you know what you should and should not consume. 

I chose gastric banding with my eyes wide open.  No surprises.  I think it is SAD that folks are allowed to received gastric banding for weight loss if they are not educated and show competence about the band, how it works , and what you have to do as a patient in order to have success.

This is a serious surgery and no one she be having it done without 100% full disclosure.  I don't know if this issue lies with the surgeons or the patient--maybe both. 

Disclaimer:  I make this statement assuming there wasn't a botched surgery, or defective band/port.

Yes, I knew about the mechanics of the band, about what to eat, what not to eat. My point in my post is that I was not really aware and/or felt it was not fully reviewed that some procedures may produce better results depending upon your eating styles. With all due respect, I feel bad enough about my situation, and just wish I had been advised more about my personal eating style and perhaps advised/guided as to what may be the best surgical option for my success. Certainly in the end the decision was mine. As far as the psychologist I was asked if I knew what the band was, yes, how works, yes, and who was the president and vice president of the United States. My interview was 10-12 minutes. But again, I knew about what was going to happen to me surgically. In their defense, they want to be sure the patient is fully aware and does not have unreasonable expectations or any apparent eating disorder. I was advised that grazing can sabatoge the process.When most people are at the point of surgical consideration, I think most KNOW what to do on a diet , it's the doing and getting started and changing ones entire lifestyle that is the biggest hurdle. My reason for surgery was after 25+ years of constant dieting I felt I needed a more drastic tool to help motivate me to continue and change to healthy lifestyle, etc. That does not happen overnight, I know, but as I never lost any significant weight with band, I struggled. I could never get the proteins down and manage fills to balance things. I take responsibility for my failure to stick to a diet, and I always have. Having said this, I am the one that is stuck in this bad place, and am not looking for exuses or a quick fix. I've blamed myself enough and I suppose I want to move forward and try to stay as positive as possible in a difficult situation. I may not opt for another surgery, however, I will discuss it next week with my surgeon.