Band "failure" versus "User errors"

This is taken from a posting I made on another fourm. I agree with Kate's post regarding the "all or nothing" attitudes toward band "failures". There is so much gray are in there!

There are A LOT of people who genuinely got ****** up by the band: either by a crappy doc or just having a physiology that didn't agree with the band or some other unexpected issue which is beyond their control. I do not believe that they are in the majority but I do feel terrible or them and hate that they couldn't have success (at best) and were physically damaged (at worst.)

There are A LOT of people who think the band was going to be a magic wand, and POOF! they wouldn't have to do anything after the surgery. They say, "My band failed." [No, YOU did.]

There are A LOT of people who, for whatever reason, just can't be compliant with the band and what behaviors make it successful, then they  cry "My band failed!!!" [No. YOU did.]

There are A LOT of people who find proper eating with the band inconvenient,( "It's too much chewing!!!!")  decide to eat ice cream, etc. because "I can get that down", and then they gain weight. "MY BAND FAILED!!" [No, you did.]

There are A LOT of people who can't or won't obey follow-up protocols, don't get fills, don't get sufficient fill, get TOO MUCH fill and then say that "my band failed."

There are some people who will fail ANY WLS. I have seen more than one person talking about how the band "failed them", so they revised to the sleeve which "failed them" and who were then going to have the DS. As if THAT was going to help. 

To me, the hardest thing about WLS is being in the frame of mind to make all the changes necessary for success. If your coping mechanism for stress or just the day-to-day ****tiness of life is eating, you're still going to have problems, no matter what surgery you chose. 

If you have the financial ability to afford a therapist, see one. If you don't, try try try to find a free support group through your surgeon or even Overeaters Anonymous. It's very hard, if not completely impossible, to do this along.

Bette, girl, I couldn't agree more.  The hardest part for me was to change my eating habits - as in all day, every day.  Was it easy?  Not at first bc in the beginning I had to re-learn how to eat healthy again.  Did I do it overnight?  No.  But slowly and surely, I did it.

I don't find band eating what-so-ever to be inconvenient but that's bc I changed my mindset.  I don't think of my eating habits as a chore or "whoa's me" I can't have this or that.  I focus on ALL that I CAN have and keep it moving.

I personally know a few ppl who've lost their for medical reasons and NOT due to being non-compliant, so like anything else, one size doesn't fit all as w/ any WLS. I also know ppl who've had the Sleeve, gastic bypass, or whatever and they're still struggling - just like I do at times.

I try to keep it all in perspective.  That's all I can do...

kate

I agree.  I had to change my attitude towards food....the band doesn't change that for you or alter your brain chemistry some how.  I still have the inner demons they don't go away for me. 

Today at work there were cupcakes and a big BBQ lunch with mac & cheese and potato skins...and a bunch of other things.  I wanted all kinds of things.  I had a small helping of chicken with no BBQ sauce.  That was it.  I wanted more but I can't keep cheating all of the time and say...oh I'm treating myself.  I have to draw the line.  The band does not do this for me.  i could have very easily ate a cupcake, some BBQ, and mac & cheese and texas toast.  Maybe not all at once but spread through out the day...sure I could have.  It wasn't easy denying myself either...I kept looking over (the food table is right in front of my desk) and I had that fight with my inner demon that kept saying "oh...go have a little more"  "you lost so much weight...what's a little cup cake going to do"....I wonder if skinny people deal with this?  I wonder if this is the same fight alcoholics have when they want a drink??? 

The band doesn't stop you from eating the wrong things or from grazing/snacking all day long.  My band doesn't stop me from eating bread, pasta and such.  I wi**** did...boy , oh boy I wi**** did.