Obesity Help or Harm???

Also abotu keeping your band too tight ... Here is my fill schedule ... Any time you see me getting an unfill more than a couple weeks after my initial fill its because no joke my band tighted up all of a sudden out of no where.
Fill Schedules
8/27/07 1.4 cc
10/5/07 2cc Fill
10/30/07 .5cc Unfill
12/10/07 1cc Fill
12/17/07 .5cc Unfill
02/14/08 .5cc Fill
4/22/08 .2 unfill Fill
5-19-08 total 2.5cc
6-10-08 Total Unfill !
7-31-08 1.5cc Fill
8-25-08 .50 cc fill
10-7-08 .50cc Unfill 1.5 Total
3-31-09 Total Unfill
4-22-09 Small Fill .25 Cc
7-29-09 Slip Total Unfill

I would also like to point out , once you get a total unfill your troubles are not over. I throw up at least 5 times a week now . Things do not go down . I have been unfilled for nearly 2 yrs now.
Also I flew on a trip a couple weeks ago and as soon as we took off my band tighted up to the point i started coughing and did not let up until we leveld off. Big deal huh ? Wel think about this . I have NOTHING In my band why is it doing that ? its because I have so much scar tissue built up from slips that I have no room around my stomach with the band on . Nothing like living in fear that your stomach could be cut off at any time ! 

Hey Min,
 PLEASE keep updating your LAGB experience here in the OH Failed Bands Group. We get new requests from prospective members almost daily wanting to join, and it's important to continue to document our band experiences ( even for those who have already had their bands out and/or revised to a different weight loss surgery.)

It's important to blog, but sharing your ongoing trial and tribulations with your lap band here on OH is a priceless & valuable tool for those that come after you/us, ESPECIALLY for those that shared in writing their reasons for choosing the Lap Band and are now experiencing common lap band problems,injuries,revisions, and or removals.

We all had a lot in common, when it came to the " Whys " behind our decision to choose Lap Band over RNY, VSG, and/or the DS.


 

 
Terry unlike you I don't have problems with specific food on a regular basis, but have never reached a true restriction. 19 fills. 4 partial unfills. So I know how you feel. It's extremely frustrating!

Hugs!

 You have a valid point.  Those who have issues with their bands (or any WLS) need to share their experiences so that those who are researching and considering surgery are able to make an informed decision.  The purpose of online forums in general, is to share information.  Anybody who has experience with a product has the right to offer up an opinion of how that particular product worked for them.  The problem with those of us who live with or have lived with obesity is we are so invested in our particular choice, thinking it is the only chance we have to be healthier, we take it very personally when someone voices their experience (sometimes very rudely).

It is wrong to call names...very kindergarten behavior.  Whether the name is band-basher or band cheerleader, it is wrong and is going to prevent the reader from getting past the name-calling and really hearing the information in the message.  It is wrong to tell someone who has a band that isn't problematic that "...your band WILL fail you!  Just wait!".  That's mean...warn them, but at the very least, do it politely and back it up with personal experience or documentation.  Nicci is a good example of someone that presents the facts in a sane, rational way.  Trying to scare someone who has already had the band implanted doesn't help.  Instead offer up information about the signs and symptoms that they should be looking out for, so tha if they develop a complication they will get prompt medical attention.

There are offenders on both sides of this fence...

Thank you EVERYONE for your responses to this post.  This is what I thought we were supposed to be here for.  To support each other, good or bad.

I can truly say that those *****sponded here did so with integrity and not meaning to harm anyone.  Thank You Again!!!

I think there is a distinction here....I constantly WARN NEWBIES of what can go wrong with the band every time I post, not sure how people ignore that fact. I am FAR from a band cheerleader.

I also give them tips on how to avoid common pitfalls and band slippage also and how I've been able to stay complication free for 7 years...some band complications are not preventable such a port issues, leaks, erosion's and complications or unrelated illnesses that may impact their lap band and could result in removal.

So there is a difference of telling what happened to you and give warnings than telling those who still have a band and those who are interested in it...it's a bad choice, and everyone who gets it will eventually get it removed and every one will have complications...THAT IS CONSIDERED BAND BASHING AND HARASSING....

You just keep on posting your story for newbies. I don't mind that at all. It is the right thing to do. It is not band bashing.

I feel as if band bashing is when someone posts with negative statements that indicate that it will always, ultimately fail, that those who get the band aren't well informed, are unkind to someone who is asking for help or advice, or gloats over a bandster who has been pro band and then has complications. Those people I can't respect. You, I can, as well as others like you. Honesty can never be considered a bad thing.

Sue

 unkind to someone who is asking for help or advice, or gloats over a bandster who has been pro band and then has complications.

I agree, it's not good to "enjoy" someone else's suffering...

Good post, so very true.

Just in addition, those who think the band is still for them after hearing all the bad scenarios that happen to people....make sure you chose a surgeon who is qualified to fix/repair/revise you when/if your band causes you problems. 

Banded Sept 2008 and started having problems 6 months after my daughter was born in Summer 2010. Haven't been able to keep a fill since then due to continued prolapses and now working my way through revision...original surgeon can't fix a prolapse and won't revise, so working my way through finding a new qualfied revision surgeon and jumping through the insurance hoops, etc. Not a good feeling when you have this band inside that is doing nothing and no one can help you....

Folks,

 

IMHO a BASHER is someone who NEVER had the specific procedure, yet bad mouths it.

 

Most folks here do a fantastic job sharing their experiences, but pro and con. For those who had terrible experiences with the band, your voices are just (and maybe a bit more) important as those who had/have success with their band.

 

Warning newbies about the possibility of failures/complications is a must. Explaining what one has gone through is more valuable than any “documentation" one can read.

 

However, telling a newbie their operation is destine to fail is a misnomer.  No one knows for sure who will and won’t be successful, and it may or may not have to do with the operation.

 

I just find it disheartening when the attacks become personal. Especially by those who profess to be in the medical field. When I see that, I need to question their credentials.  I know many in the medical field, and tolerance and compassion is a number priority.   To wish harm, and even death (like one person did to me in a PM) to someone makes me ponder what their true intention is.

 

I consider Maria F a friend. While we may not necessarily agree with each other on some aspects, we’re always courteous with each other because we know we cannot argue with each other experiences.  So while we may not agree, we will defend one another the right to say it.

 

I try to implore and/or promote tolerance for all these operations. We can all agree there is no 1 operation that is 100% successful, or one that has 100% failure rate. There are pros and cons with each operation, and we need to inform folks of them. And honestly, the bottom line is helping each other get healthy. Does it matter which operation does that for us? I tell folks, for me it’s like everyone traveling to a specific destination.  It doesn’t matter if they drove; flew; was on a ship; took a bridge or tunnel , the important thing – we all get to the same destination.

 

Let’s hope we can spread more and more tolerance on this, and other forums and/or non-OH boards.  Let continue to LOSE weight, and GAIN friends!!