For those who have just gotten "banded" or for those considering getting...

For those who have just gotten "banded" or for those considering getting "banded":

Compared to other folks on this forum, I'm a newbie.  I'm only 8 months post op.  Yes, I've had much success.  I consider myself to be very fortunate--not lucky.  I work very hard.  I monitor what I eat and how I eat.  I'm not perfect.  There are times when I indulge in the wrong foods and too much of the wrong foods, but those times are few and far between.

Despite only being 8 months, and even though there those on this forum who probably consider me to be closed minded, I actually do absorb and read and listen to EVERYONE's advice. 

If I've blocked anyone, its not personal against them or their experience.  Frankly, its never been the content of what they say, it's their delivery. But I digress.....

My point is, if there is one bit of SOUND ADVICE to give to those who have just gotten the band and especially those contemplating getting the band, it would be this:

You must go in for maintenance, checkups, followups, etc on a regular basis for as long as you have your band.  YOU MUST.  Even if you've lost all the weight you want.  Even if you have found that sweet spot.

The first year, its a given.  Probably every 4-6 or 4-8 weeks you will be required to come in. Mostly for adjustments/fills.  But what about after that first year? 

Well for me personally, I'm going to continue going in at least on a quarterly basis.  I will have a fluoroscope.  I will have my saline removed and measured and re-injected to insure no leaks, but most importantly to insure that the band is still placed correctly and that my port is OK.

From the information that I've gathered on this forum, especially from those who have had a bad experience, symptoms aren't always evident, and by the time you start having symptoms, it could be too late.

Think of your band as a car.  It has to be maintained on a regular basis; everything from oil changes to tires to annual inspections.  But YOUR life and YOUR health is much more valuable than any car, right?

If you cannot afford the followup care, you probably shouldn't get the band.  If you think you can now, because you have good insurance, then you need a backup plan (in case you lose your insurance).  

Valid though it is, it really is ridiculous to not continue with regular after care because you can't afford it.  Your health is too important to skip aftercare--even if it means just once or twice per year.  There isn't a soul on this forum who can't find a way to get that aftercare. 

The realization of the long term expense of having the band, hopefully, is made clear from the onset and if it wasn't or isn't, then you're in for sticker shock for sure!

I wish everyone (even those I spar with) much happiness and success,!!  Whether they have a band or no longer do.

Hey Gorgeous! I follow those EXACT same rules that you are mentioning and I am happy to report that my band Suzie is still kicking in high gear at 7 years post op with no bad side effects...well unless I try to shove food down my throat.

I can eat all foods, I have no food intolerance's, but the band limits my intake. What has kept me complication free  going on 7 years is common sense and listening to my body. When I experience any type of adverse symptoms that LAST LONGER THAN 1 WEEK, the simple cure for me has ALWAYS BEEN -- getting a little saline removed.
 
The longer you live with your band you make become complacent on how much you are eating,  and I  got complacent and got irritated by eating too much last year and I took some saline out and let things rest for awhile. I went back and my band was just like brand new and restriction as good as ever and it keeps the band in good functioning condition to remove saline every so often if you get irritated for longer than a week.

YOUR BAND LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO REMOVE SOME SALINE, any time I've had issues more than 1 week, then again it's time to visit your lap band surgeon.

If you IGNORE any type of ongoing reflux, coughing,  chest pains or frequent vomiting, you will end  up spending A LOT MORE MONEY in the long run for band removal, whereas it only cost most people from $50-300 dollars to get a simple unfill -- for your tissues surrounding your band calm down, in most cases it does not take more than a few weeks before you can get some saline added, the LONGER you wait the more damage is done if you stay too tight or irritated too long.

Also if you don't have money, and have bad credit with your surgeon's office MOST hospitals will still see you if you need to urgently remove saline before you cause lap band damage.

What is Lap Band Damage? It's when your band has slipped but may not be urgent and you can no longer get fills, and you probably will no longer be able to tolerate most foods and your banded life will be ruined.

From my understand band removal can cost some people over $10,000 dollars if you don't have insurance to get it removed and that can get very costly and put you and your family in a bad way if you don't planned expenses for this.

Carry on lovely and have a wonderful weekend -- I just popped in to add my advice and wisdom

Thank you!  I thought I was offering some decent advice too! 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

That was great advice and I wish that I had a doc who did my banding at STANFORD who cared and knew what he was doing.
I would drive 4 hours to be told he was not there , throwing up blood, sorry he only sees banding patients 1 day a month and this is not that day.
After 4 years of STANFORD grap I called my insurance and told them I was afraid of my doc at stanford because he does not care about his patients, and I would get an attorney and sue my insurance co to get me a decent doc.
Thank God they did , but by then I had had too much , i worked for a few more years with the band , I finally had had enough.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE  A BAND DR. THAT WILL BE YOUR PARTNER IN YOUR BAND JOURNEY , NOT ONE THAT DOES SURGERY AND WALKS AWAY !!!!! IMHO

OMG why would your doctor do that?  OMG!!!  But you make a great point.  Having all the money in the world to have followup care is useless if the surgeon is quack!!  

Did you end up having a revision?  How are you doing?

I sure did have a revision!!! to RNY , I wanted  the sleeve but my NEW doc that I trust beyond everything said RNY would be better for me , because of my weight gain history, I have lost 100 to 160 lbs  on my own before , so yea I sure know how to diet , the last time I lost 160 on my own , I kept it off over 5 years then started gaining and had the band.
I am very happy with my revision, my esophegus feels so much better, and my full feeling now feels normal again!!! VERY HAPPY

Glad you're doing better.  How did you lose 160 on your own?  That is incredible!  Its so hard to keep the weight off, isn't it? 

 " Despite only being 8 months, and even though there those on this forum who probably consider me to be closed minded, I actually do absorb and read and listen to EVERYONE's advice.     If I've blocked anyone, its not personal against them or their experience.  Frankly, its never been the content of what they say, it's their delivery. But I digress....."  

I just want to say I'm glad you are successful with your band.  I hope that continues for you. IMO, It's *your* delivery you might want to reflect more upon because in your short time here, many vets have felt very disrespected by you by how you spoke to them.  They have seen it over and over. Newbies come in and jump to conclusions, then later apologize when they realize that sometimes bad things happen with the band through no fault of their own....or maybe that vet they told to shut up and run along really does know what they are talking about.

 If you want to block me for speaking honestly or  say I am being "negative" too, of course that's your prerogative  to make your experience here what you want it to be.   IM0, you have blocked some very knowledgeable and helpful people that won't turn their back on you if you start experiencing problems.       Take care and best of luck to you. Jo

Wow--I'm going to ask a few questions,  and I don't expect a response, but here it goes!

First of all, How do YOU know who I have blocked?  Because to be honest with you, I don't have a clue about who you have blocked or who has blocked you.  Strange.

Also, what makes "the vets"  who have had a bad band experience more knowledgeable and helpful than lets say, someone who has had their band for many years and is having success? 

And what is your experience with the band?  I really can't remember if I have read or responded to any of your past posts, and I don't tend to look at peoples profiles.  I just don't care enough to, I guess.

Finally, what have I said to a "vet" that is disrespectful?  Now I realize that I am guilty of responding and reacting harshly at times, but I have never initiated any sparring.

Are you suggesting that many of your buddies, "the vets" have always been positive and have never iniated any vitriol?  If you think so let me remind you:

I have never called anyone a name (but I have been called names by "the vets")...I have never called anyone a liar (but I've been called a liar by some of the "vets"). I have never created a post about how someone has blocked me and then ranted about it (but one of your buddies, "a vet"  did, about me--and plenty of your buddies joined in and enjoyed it).  I have never created a post warning that all lap bands will eventually, but guess who did?  One of "the vets"

The truth is, your  very response to this post, is part of the problem.  My post was SPOT ON and instead of you being supportive and acknowledging the substance of my post, you chose to call out MY behavior.  

Best of luck to you, as well.
 

On June 15, 2012 at 2:10 PM Pacific Time, c_cubed wrote: Wow--I'm going to ask a few questions,  and I don't expect a response, but here it goes!

First of all, How do YOU know who I have blocked?  Because to be honest with you, I don't have a clue about who you have blocked or who has blocked you.  Strange.

Also, what makes "the vets"  who have had a bad band experience more knowledgeable and helpful than lets say, someone who has had their band for many years and is having success? 

And what is your experience with the band?  I really can't remember if I have read or responded to any of your past posts, and I don't tend to look at peoples profiles.  I just don't care enough to, I guess.

Finally, what have I said to a "vet" that is disrespectful?  Now I realize that I am guilty of responding and reacting harshly at times, but I have never initiated any sparring.

Are you suggesting that many of your buddies, "the vets" have always been positive and have never iniated any vitriol?  If you think so let me remind you:

I have never called anyone a name (but I have been called names by "the vets")...I have never called anyone a liar (but I've been called a liar by some of the "vets"). I have never created a post about how someone has blocked me and then ranted about it (but one of your buddies, "a vet"  did, about me--and plenty of your buddies joined in and enjoyed it).  I have never created a post warning that all lap bands will eventually, but guess who did?  One of "the vets"

The truth is, your  very response to this post, is part of the problem.  My post was SPOT ON and instead of you being supportive and acknowledging the substance of my post, you chose to call out MY behavior.  

Best of luck to you, as well.
 



Again, I will try.  It is not "strange" to know some of whom you've blocked because the "blockee" have said so themselves.  You make many assumptions about those you have blocked and about me in this very post.

I am not a band basher nor a band cheerleader.  I to have been very fortunate in My lap band experience.  I have lost 80 lbs in 20 months without any issues other than PB'ng when I forget and eat too fast without chewing enough.  I am lucky that my anatomy is compatible with the band. I hope it continues this way. I follow the rules and keep in contact with my doc about any issues. I also agree with you about getting fills under flouroscopy. 

I was clear in my post and not attacking you...just responding to the paragraph that I quoted to disagree with you about your own responses to people that that been here way longer than you and KNOW that it is absurd to believe that if you "follow all the rules with the lap band, you won't have any problems"  THAT is the message that is being received from you and some people that have been damaged by their bands through no fault of their own are offended by this, and rightly so.   They don't post anymore because they get attacked or told to go away. (your words).

I was afraid you would get defensive.  I am sorry if you feel attacked or "called out".  I was responding to a post you made. This is a public forum and 0one has to expect to get all kinds of responses...nit just the ones that agree with them. 

Peace.  That's all I am after here.