Help me understand, please.

BriannasLosing, I won’t debate this any long, especially in print.  I would be more than willing to actually talk about it, maybe it would be more beneficial to both of us instead of doing it in cold (unexpressive) print. However, in the end I think we would have to admit we see different side of the same coin.

I have, and will continue to admit, bands do fails – and with no fault of the person.  I also know folks fail the band.  Why they fail the band can be whole host of reasons. I cannot address every situation for every person. And, yes when I talk, I am talking in generalization (big picture). I would be a fool not to realize each person’s issue can be the cause of various reasons. There is cause and effect for everything.  There is no way to address all these.

As I’ve been trying to state, I would like everyone to be tolerant of everyone’s views. Pro and Not-Pro (I won’t use the word anti because it may give some misconceptions) band folks need to tell their story. Not to do so would be a disservice to all. But to say one person is right or wrong, IMHO is incorrect. Many times views are based on personal experiences, and no matter what data you may produce, you can’t argue a person’s experiences. No one here can say for 100% certainty that one certain procedure will or won’t be successful and/or have complications (be it short-lived or long-lasting).

Since you’re a nurse, maybe I can illustrate using this example: For the most part Penicillin is a “wonder" drug. However for the folks who have adverse (close to death) reactions to it, this drug is terrible. And even thou stats show those who are allergic to it is a small percentage*, for those small percentage of people penicillin is no better than arsenic.  .. Yes I know this analogy may be lame, but what I am trying (and maybe badly) to convey is that there is no 100% guarantee when it comes to the medical field, or life for that matter. And experience sometime trump stats.

Let me know if you’d like to talk about it personally. I would love the chance to talk, and learn from you.

 

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin_drug_reaction

 
No thank you.

And one other thing, then we are done.

I have been at goal long before you ever even HAD the band.

Bleh..... And YOU offer ME advice on weight loss?  Pft pft pfttttttttttt.............

 
BTW, again....I ask you:

***Tell me something, if someone struggles to eat protein such as chicken, beef, and pork and they just can't, it doesn't go down and let's say the band is unfilled.  This is extremely common.  People get to the point where they just give up and don't want to battle the constant vomiting.  They finally cave and start eating ice cream and chips because those do go down and they regain anything they may have lost.  Do you consider that a band failure or a person failure?  The reason I ask is that this is what happens a majority of the time to people who don't lose.  These same people go on to get a a revision to a sleeve, also purely restrictive and they do well.  Why is that?***

Which is it, Tom?

I get angry about my useless band because I feel like I was handed a bill of goods about it from the manufacturer. I had used my surgeon for another type of surgery before the band and I know him to be an honorable and very kind person. So when he told me about the band (I was ready for RNY) and that because of a clotting disorder that he would only consider the band for me, I agreed. He told me that even tho I only ate 1000 calories or less and could only do minimal exercise because of COPD (lung disease) I would still be able to use the band and it would still help me lose weight because it would make my stomach smaller and make me feel full so it should still be a good surgery. Of course he was only saying what Allergan told him in their literature, which we now know wasn't exactly the truth. I never should have had a band if I can't exercise and already ate minimal amounts of healthy food. My psych exam showed I had no eating disorers or emotional issues around food, it was simply a matter of not being able to get enough exercise to burn off even the small amount of food I did eat. So because Allergan lied to my surgeon and he with good faith passed that false info along to me I feel like I was lied to and scammed by Allergan to make a buck at my expense and here I am still fat. I've lost more since I had my band emptied than I ever did with the band. That sorely ****** me off, that's why I'm ,mad.

HISLADY, That is very sad.  I guess, my surgeon was unlike many others.  He sat down with me for over an hour an discussed every complication that could arise from the LapBand.  This was in Late 2007 and he talked about erosions and esphogeal damage and slips.  Absolutely everything.  He said he wanted me to be totally informed.  He also made no promises of big weight loss.  He said that I could lose maybe 40% of my excess which would have been 120 lbs.  I have almost lost 3 times that.  I know I am not normal.  I can eat healthy foods without a problem.  I am sorry the band didnt work for you. 

My band almost caused me to choke to death on acid while I was asleep. My surgeon said I was lucky to have made with a slipped band for 11mnths. Also, the amount of acid I had for 8 yrs could have cause esophageal cancer. I just dont want to see ppl suffer. Im not angry, I just want to help.

I think regarding people being more bitter with a band than RNY is because of the difference in how it was marketed to them pre-op. RNY people know there are risks, they still make the decision to have RNY. When I was banded in 04, I was terrified of RNY bc I had heard of people dying. Than I read about the band and it seemed like a win-win. I would never select the band today.

Now I have been successful, I am at a goal weight (would like to be more a 22 BMI than a 24, but definitely a success having started at a 46 BMI) but the band is nothing I expected. For me there is no "sweet spot" Theres food I choke on and than food that i don't. There is no eating four ounces of food and feeling full. For me my success has mostly been lifestyle changes on my own, also the first year banded my band was so tight it was like aversion therapy and I hated to eat knowing the most likely discomfort involved. So yes I lost weight but this band is not at all what I expected. Than I see people that have lost minimal weight and are having band related complications, no restriction, multiple fills, proplapse, slipped bands etc.

We all went into bariatric surgery thinking this was it this was going to finally be the time we got to goal, some of us did, and some did not. I think some of the people with the bands that dont work feel like the jokes on them, and there is always going to be some kind of resentment when you feel that way.