So...........

That really sucks, and I'm glad you made it through OK. No one thinks that rare or unusual complications will happen to them. Maybe because I've spent the last 12 years working in medical settings I tend to have a different perspective on complications in general. To me, it is always foremost in my mind that ANY surgery could result in my death because I have seen it happen, in it's most heartbreaking forms. I don't think anyone would say that what happened to you was your fault. Frankly, from what you wrote about what happened to you, it sounds like your medical team failed you on so many fronts! When I had band related complications, my original band surgeon did not seem to be doing what I felt was needed to really figure out what was going on with me either. It was very difficult to change doctors, so difficult that I can easily see how it keeps people from doing the same. I was fortunate enough to finally get to a doctor *****ally listened to me and addressed my concerns, but not everyone is able to make that change. THAT is one thing I would say I was not well-informed about before my surgery; no one told me how difficult it wold be to change doctors if needed!

 My original surgeon put me through a whole series of testing... upper gi, ultrasound on my gallbladder, hida scan, endoscopy, esophageal scan, ekg, and ct scan... mixed into that was 4 trips to the ER and being admitted once. He did try and they did see the gastritis on the endoscopy. I was on medication to treat it but because it was so severe my meds were not being absorbed correctly and ultimately my surgeon and I didn't see eye to eye so I did switch surgeons. After 3 months of constant nausea, being on liquids, all the tests, the ER visits, all the meds, 30 lbs weight loss, acid reflux, severe abdominal pain and constant dry heaving (so tight nothing could come out) all the while getting sicker and sicker the only thing left to do was remove my band. I am 5 weeks post op removal today and I feel amazing, its like night and day. My gastritis is healing now and I don't ever want to look at a protein drink again! hahaha

I'm glad you're feeling a lot better and that you were able to switch doctors. I still have vivid memories of what things were like when I was going through my slip, and I know there are few things that feel worse than long periods of liquid food! My slip was hard to detect because it was dynamic, so it didn't STAY slipped to show up easily on imaging tests, so I had an endo for gastritis as well. Not my idea of fun!

Thanks Dev

Allergan lists on their weibsite SOMEWHERE that there is an 88% complications rate. Good luck finding it! It's not exaclty easy to find. Wonder WHY?

That "hard to find" statistic can be located in the second paragraph of what I posted. Perhaps it's easier to find things when one reads the actual text.
(I know, I'm totally being *****y)

*****y? Yes. I'm surprised to hear you admit it though. Funny how no one bothers to point it out when YOU are that way, but the band cheerleaders don't hesitate to point it out when I'm that way. lol

And as far as that 88% complication rate..........So you actually find that acceptable? WOW! That says a lot! No wonder you're so damn happy with your band!

Btw Dev..........you truly deserve those 88% "typical" band complications that you are so proud of!

I'm not usually *****y, I'm usually just sarcastic. But thanks for feeling that, if something terrilbe happens to me I "deserve it" because that truly is the mark of a rational and compassionate person. Personally, I don't think anyone "deserves" bad things to happen to them, even if I don't like them. Well, except maybe people who abuse children and animals.


Note that the 88% stat references all adverse events, including things like nausea or vomiting (so if you've ever pb'd, that's an adverse event) as well as consitpation or diarrhea (which are more likely to actually be associated with what one eats). By that measure, if you compared other surgery types, i imagine they too would have very high "adverse event" rates. What percentage of people with a sleeve have reflux? Well, that's an adverse event. What percentage of RNY patient's have vomited at least once or been constipated? Those are "adverse events" as well.

Assuming that adverse events and complications are a risk for any surgery, my having had a slip which required repair and, 6 years out, displaying mild esophageal dilation, I think would certailny fall within a "normal" range in terms of WLS complications. I haven't had a great deal of trouble with my band, certainly not to the extent that that it defied my expectations, so I am not going to apologize for having had a positive enough experience that I still feel comfortable with my choice. If, at some point, my doctor and I decide that I need to chose something else (such as if my esophageal dilation gets worse), then I will choose something else...but it has always been my expectation, given that I am relatively young, that I would likey require more than 1 WLS procedure to manage my weight over my life, so I still won't be mad about it.

Prolly a good idea to keep the links looking like links........

Dev, thanks for providing information on more than just the band!