Calling All Negative Bandsters/Former Bandsters

But what I don't understand about you all who have had negative experiences- do you think that EVERYONE will have a negative experience? That the lap-band as a concept is inherently flawed and no one will ever be successful with it?

I feel like I did a lot of research, a lot of soul searching, and went in with my eyes opened and knowing what the potential complications might be, but willing to take those risks.  

I think that is why when I read over here on OH, and see all the lap band "bashing," I just wonder if you all think that no one will succeed with losing weight and keeping it off with the lap band. That everyone will experience complications and have to have some sort of revision or removal.

Just my $.02, which is why I usually post on what I suspect is the "other forum" you refer to


Justdoit130
284/246/130
banded 1/26/12

Having watched band complications happen over and over and over since 2002, I do think that most people will have problems with the lap band. It's hard not to think that when you've gone through it and watched your friends go through it, as well. My experience was really hellish. I came about a day from dying... and then after suffering from chronic pain, I came to a point where I actually wished I would just die. I'm not exaggerating. It was BAD. Really, really bad.
 
And it's really hard to describe the full effect of the complications (for me, at least) because they have touched every aspect of my life. I just don't want other people to go into this believing that these things can't happen. That's why I still post... my conscience wouldn't let me be silent about it. What I don't understand is why people get so up in arms over it... I mean, I understand that no one wants their band to fail... but NOT knowing about the possible complications doesn't lessen them. And it's a very lonely road to walk alone. I can't even express how alone I felt when I was going through the worst pain of my life. I don't want anyone else to experience it.  Those of us who HAVE experienced it need to make it known, otherwise people go into banding expecting the advertising to live up to its promises.

I think the lap band is conceptually a decent idea, but in reality, it doesn't work for most people. Most human bodies will develop an intolerance to the band being there. I wi**** were the answer for our obesity problem, but sadly, it's far from it.

So eloquently articulated Nicci.

I can't answer for any of the others with failed bands, but personally I do believe that all bands will have to be removed at some point. Look at how few have actually made it 5 years with their bands! And of the few that have haven't most of them had complications??? It's not that I don't want them to have their band for life and be successful with it. After all, that's what we all wanted. However I'm just not seeing much long term success at all with the band. Hell even the bandster that wrote about about how to be "successful with your adjustable gastric band" and advertises "live happily ever after with your band" couldn't even make her band work!

I do know a lady that has a band and has had it 9 years with no complications. In her OH info she now leaves out her surgery type b/c even though she has lost all her EWL and been successful............she knows she is a rarity and that few bandsters could even hope to have her success. In the 9 years she has had hers, she has seen all the ones she knew banded at the same time have to have theirs removed. She has watched bandster after bandster that came after her have bands removed. She is greatful that it has worked well for her, but she knows she is the exception rather than the rule, and she does not want to be used as an example of "look what the band can do!" since she knows that almost all of them fail long term. :-(

I think that is why when I read over here on OH, and see all the lap band "bashing," I just wonder if you all think that no one will succeed with losing weight and keeping it off with the lap band. That everyone will experience complications and have to have some sort of revision or removal.


Yep, pretty much. Not about the losing weight part. I KNOW it is possible to lose weight with the band. I lost 132 pounds with the dang thing through hard freaking work and following every single rule. Doesn't mean I won't be revising to VSG in the next couple of weeks. 

 I think there is the off chance that someone may keep their band for, who knows, maybe up to 10 years or more. But unless that rare person is 80 years old, pretty much it is my belief that it would be the very rare exception that someone would have this for a lifetime. I've seen TOO many complications with very VERY little long term success (and by 'success' I mean having a band in place, filled, doing it's job with no complications) to draw any other conclusion. And the complications are scary, and definatley something to be aware of.

I can see why you'd be more comfortable on another board where they don't talk about complications, or "Band bash" as you might say. You already have a band, you want to stay positive. That's fine. But there are other people out there still trying to decide, would it make any sense at all to keep quite about what we have seen and experienced? 

It's hard to explain because I use to be you! I use to read about complications here and there (5 years ago it wasn't the problem that it is now though). And I would think "Oh, I feel sorry for these bitter people who want to drag us down because they lost their band. Obviously they are the exception, not the rule".  Back then the majority of the negative comments and experiences were being shared on a closed "Band Grads" forum that you could only visit once you were a year or more out with the band. It would've been nice to see what was really going on with the vets, but they had been accused of being "negative" and "band bashing" and "scaring newbies", so they took their experience to a place they could talk in peace I guess.

I truly hope that you have a successful, complication free journey with the band. I hope your positive board helps you with everything you need. But in the meantime, please understand why we try to warn people who haven't yet fully decided on which surgery they want to have. It would be irresponsible not to.

~  Back then the majority of the negative comments and experiences were being shared on a closed "Band Grads" forum that you could only visit once you were a year or more out with the band. It would've been nice to see what was really going on with the vets, but they had been accused of being "negative" and "band bashing" and "scaring newbies", so they took their experience to a place they could talk in peace I guess.~

I find this EXTREMELY sad! The "band grads" that hide on their group to post their band complications are doing such a  disservice to all pre-ops, as well as to those that presently have a band! Do they not wish bandsters had come forward and posted their stories when they were researching the band??? Do they honestly think that ignorance is bliss?! To deny band complications (either by stating they don't exist, or by hiding out on a different forum to post about it!) does not benefit anyone! It just further serves to lower the self esteem of an obese person that more than likely already has issues with this, by making them feel that it is not common to have the band fail......and make THEM feel like a failure!

To hell with this "scaring the newbies" crap! They should be scared! I wish someone had scared me with the reality of the band before I got it!!!

Once again that is a GROSS MISREPRESENTATION.

The band grads group was started (and made a closed group) so those of us who were more than a year out had a place to go that wasn't "I had surgery last week and haven't lost 100 pounds yet" or "I haven't lost weight in 3 days - am I done?"

AND

it was a haven from the surgery wars which were especially bad at that time and no vet was being allowed to post any experience without the non-band people jumping all over us.

Yes, people in the grads forum have had issues and have posted about them, whether it's how to get back on track after losing focus, or start refilling after a pregnancy or more serious complications BUT it was never a group formed so we could hide our horrible lapband problems from the newbies.

Maria - your band experiences (both good and bad) are valuable to anyone who's considering the band or having complications.  Why do you insist on being so strident that all of us are doomed to failure?

Kim - almost 7 years out, down 95 pounds, no band complications and usually out living life

I stand by my statements. You did bring up some good points though.

~ it was never a group formed so we could hide our horrible lapband problems from the newbies.~

Perhaps this was not the actualy reason the group was formed.....but it does serve to hide vital info from newbies, wheather it's serious complications or just no significant loss (after many, many years!).


~Maria - your band experiences (both good and bad) are valuable to anyone who's considering the band or having complications.  Why do you insist on being so strident that all of us are doomed to failure?~


Yes I feel my experience is valuable. ALL of ours it, so I personally don't feel some should be hidden. That's just my opinion though. As far as the doom...............well I just look at the % of posts. I see new ppl posting EVERYDAY with new band complications. And I almost NEVER see a bandsters that has made it 5 years out. And guess what? When I do............they almost always have had a 2nd surgery (or 3rd!). Now to you, these things may seem insignificant. To me they are not. And I feel like everyone should be aware of this if they are researching the band. But again..........that's just my opinion.


~Kim - almost 7 years out, down 95 pounds, no band complications and usually out living life~

Kim that is awesome. We all want to have others have the success you have had thus far with your band. We all had a possitive impression of the band when we got it, and expected the same if we worked with it. Unfortunately............that's NOT the experience hundreds of thousands of bandsters have had. Why do you think whole COUNTRIES have stopped doing the band? Why do you think band Drs. now refuse to do the band? Gotta be something to that, right?!

Now I'll address the issue of "you don't see happy, successful long term bandsters on here b/c they are all out living their skinny lives!"-Well I'm very active in the WLS community. I rarely see a happy, successful long term bandster IN REAL LIFE! That's right..........as many long term VSG, RNY and DS'ers as I see in real life that are happy and successful..........I'm not seeing that with the bandsters I know! It is what it is.

I've had my band for almost 12 years. I went to Mexico alone after finding out all the details from discussion boards. Dr. Kuri did the surgery, and in those days you had to find your own way from the San Diego airport to his office. I lost all my excess weight and managed to keep it off for several years.  Some of it has crept back up, but I expected it to due to my inability to exercise or barely move because of severe back problems for the last 5 years.  I lost 80 pounds, got into a size 8 jeans.  Now I've been holding at size 12 for 5 years after gaining 20 pounds back.

I do eat whatever I want, although much less of it.  I cannot move much, and my metabolism is slow as I'm 60 years old.  The only complication I ever had was by my own doing.  I "stuffed" the band by eating too much, therefore stretched it.  (Can reverse this by going on 5 day eating plan)  I also got overfilled by going someplace local for a fill without flouroscopy (sp?) So my esophagus started storing food as it built up in the pouch, and it got swollen and painful and I had to get some fill removed.  I also sip diet coke daily.  I made the decision to live the way I was most comfortable.

Size 12 at 60 is a far cry from where I was headed, as I have a 300 pound sister and diabetes on both sides of the family.  The band is a tool.  Nothing more, nothing less.  It worked for me and I'm so thrilled I took a chance.

 

That is awesome! 12 years with the band and no damage is amazing! Many bandsters would be thrilled with your results. I am truly glad it is working for you so far and hope that luck continues. But surely you do realize that most bandsters that were banded the same time you were do NOT have their bands! The band seems to be all about luck. It's very much a crap shoot. Many of us did what we could to work WITH our bands, but our bands did NOT work with us in the manner in which they were advertised. Count yourself as one of the lucky ones and enjoy it! :-)