Well, THIS ain't good!

My band mechanically "works" as well. The put fluid in. It stays in. they take fluid out. It stays out. But yet my band does not "work" as they advertised it to work. It seems as though that is the case with yours also. I refuse to take the blame for a failure of the band. If you choose to....go right ahead.

What I want to know is where does this leave us?  If we have the Band...they discontinue their use I assume that mean fills too.  So that means mine will become useless eventually.  I'm glad they're looking into this but I want to know what happens to us...and don't assume we will be taken care if.  Chances are really great that we will be left in the dust. 

I hope this doesn't happen... the being left in the dust thing. I really want everyone to be happy and healthy... and it scares me to think of someone experiencing problems and not being able to find help.  I would imagine, however, that there will always be some medical professional able to help, if need be.

~don't assume we will be taken care if.  Chances are really great that we will be left in the dust. ~

Crystal that is what we have been trying to tell you all all along! Allergan and Realize have NO moral obligation to do the right thing and to take care of those of us with failed bands. They have NOT done it. The Drs. that banded us have NO moral obligation to correct what they have done to us either............and most do NOT. The manufacturers and most of the Drs. will only do the right thing when they are legally FORCED to do so! You now have the potential to know how those of us with failed bands feel. :-(

Yes I guess I would be FORCED to know what it feels like.  But it wouldn't be because of my body rejecting it or the Band it's self.  It would be because I wouldn't be able to get the regular maintenance fills.  Which would be upsetting...because I would have an object inside me that worked just fine till then.  I am also saying that everyone that thinks that they will be offered a revision free of cost...you're kidding your self.  It's not going to happen.  I know for some this is a good thing but I am will be sad if they stop offering fills and insurance will stop covering office visits.  There are a whole bunch of us that will be left with a functioning band that will slowly become dysfunctional...that's all I'm saying.  

    

 

And I do agree that is VERY sad. It's very upsetting and emotional to be just tossed aside. That is what happened to many of us with failed bands. And you're right, it appears that could be what will now happen to those with currently working bands. :-(

I just hope that if someday they do end up taking it off the market, insurance companies would be more likely to approve a revisions and not require that it be "medically necessary".

I think the band is only on the market because it makes a boat load of money.  IF the company smells  money loss it will pull the product. They dont care if it works or not.

Medley411,

While I appreciate your opinion, I think the reason BAND companies put out their products is because they believe it works. And for some, like myself, it does.

I can’t imagine any WELL ESTABLISHED medical company knowingly putting out an inferior product just to make a quick profit, knowing eventually it will catch-up to them and they will be sued until they are penniless. Why risk it?

And if your assertion is correct, what can be said about the Doctors who implant these devices? Could it be possible they are willingly implanting devices they know will fail, just to make a fast buck?  If that too is the case, then all Doctors who do various bariatric surgeries have to be questioned about performing NON-band bariatric operations. If they are willing to see a patient fail with the band, how can you expect them to perform “successful" bariatric procedures for other patients?

Yes I will admit there are many “fly by night" companies that will try to sell snake oil to make a buck. But IMHO I feel companies like Allergan and J&J/Ethicon are creating these devices to HELP, not harm.

Please know I am not staying you’re wrong, I am just giving my opposing 2 ¢.

My secret fantasy goes one of two ways.

In the first version, data proves that the band is safe and somehow I get back on track and lose the rest of this weight.

In version two, Allergan admits that the band is not meant for long term use, and provides removal and revision surgery for those of us with the band.

Probably not a popular thing to voice, but that is where the newer data puts me in relation to my band.