My Honest Experience is Valid too.

I posted this as a reply to another thread, but thought I should post it as a topic, too. Many have stated that negativity is keeping them from posting on this forum. The honest telling of one's experience isn't inherently negative. It is a necessary tool for those trying to decide if they will have WLS and if so, which. So here's my response:

Balanced and honest information about banding is needed as people research their WLS options. All experiences are relevant, good, bad, positive and negative. Those who choose to call those of us with complications "negative" just because we post negative experiences are well intentioned, but misguided.
I cannot recommend banding today. It seemed like a good option when I was researching, but many of the people who encouraged me to get banded, no longer have their bands and have moved on.
Friday, I got a call from my band surgeon, telling me my band needs to come out. He said he is seeing more and more patients with esophageal problems every day. He is in the process of deciding whether its a viable procedure any longer with the harm that is being done. He's doing more and more sleeves, fewer and fewer bands and his sleeve patients are doing well. He is doing a lot of band to sleeve revisions and while the procedure is more difficult for him and the patient, the results are positive, once patients have recovered.
Why would a person get a band today, knowing they have a better than 50% risk of removal in the first 5 years, risk damaging their esophagus beyond repair and not being ABLE to revise because of the damage?
Symptoms of a serious problem need to be addressed ASAP. The problem is, we're told we ate too much, too fast, forgot to chew, overfilled, became saline addicts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Symptoms of a damaged esophagus FEEL like being stuck. We question ourselves, doubt our compliance,when in fact, it is NOT our fault. Anyone who develops a tight band months, or even years after a fill, needs to get medical attention at once. If your band is "fickle" you need to talk to your doctor, ASAP. If you get stuck on liquids and you haven't had a recent fill, you need to see your doctor ASAP.
I had two fills, 3 cc at 3 months post op and .5 cc at 9 months post op. at 2 years post op after weeks of getting stuck despite eating my measured, tiny well chewed bites, my stoma was so tiny that only drops of barium would drip thru it slowly. 5 weeks after my infill, barium went thru, but slowly. I already had esophageal damage. 10 months later, my esophagus is essentially paralyzed due to band damage. My quality of life is terrible. I've had months of testing at great expense to me and my insurance. I've put off the travel my husband and I planned to do in our retirement. This is my HONEST experience and it is just as valid as anyone's who has or had a band. My difficulties don't constitute negativity, they just are what they are.

Nobody should get the band without knowing about this kind of thing.  I'm glad that you are posting it here.  

Thank you SM 

GREAT POST!!! THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY IT'S ALL MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION

You're responses have always been Honest about your Experience and are needed for those thinking about getting the band.  I was able to find those on the RNY boards telling of their Honest Experience, good and bad, when I was researching.  I was only hearing one side about the band at the time.

People need to hear the good, bad and ugly about all the WLS.  I feel that people are able to get this now here on OH.

 

Thanks! There are so many inferences of dishonesty lately. Honesty isn't saying what people want to hear. It's telling your story as it happened openly and risking the wrath of those who don't like your message.
My 3rd "bandeversary" is next week. Two days later I meet with a renowned esophageal specialist to see if my esophagus will heal and to what extent, if my band is removed. I won't be celebrating on the 28th, because my band has done damage, cost time and resources and destroyed my quality of life. My grand kids are upset, my kids are upset and most of all, my husband is stressed out by this. I'm 63, he's almost 66. We have things to do and people to see...we can't go anywhere because of this situation.
I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

What is there hold up in getting that thing out before it does more damage?  It is really surprising you have it yet.

I am seeing an esophageal surgeon, one of the best in the world, before letting anyone operate on me. My GI doctor is concerned that more surgery could cause more problems and wants the consult for me to be sure it will help and not harm me more. That appt is on the 30th and I could be scheduled for removal the following week.

Also, the damage done to my esophagus is 100%, the concern is aggravating the gastroparesis.

Recently for the past 3 months my voice has a hoarseness tone to it and I feel like I have a lump in my throat. Not all days but often. Could this be a band problem ?

Yes...the feeling of a lump in the throat and hoarseness are typical symptoms of gerd.