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The operator error BS is likely part of the band marketing materials that the manufactures give to the surgeons to explain away the terrible stats. Most of the people I know who had bands had issues that seemed to be more anatomically caused. It is the only explanation for being in the green zone with no fills for years and then suddenly overnight having reflux, choking in your sleep, swelling and green zone never to be seen again. I buy the body rejecting them theory. I was chronically ill with the band, pneumonia, lung issues, cold after cold after cold. have not been sick a day since it was removed. I hope yours continues to work. I let mine go on too long and lived with the band 11 years when it should have been removed year 4.

Mine went bad after pregnancy. I'm not alone there, it seems to be a common theme could be the anatomical changes with pregnancy or immune response...who knows. but nothing irks a band victim more than being blamed for a device that permanently maimed them.

I got a band in 2003. Accompanying the band was severe referred left shoulder pain from damage to the Vagus nerve system. No one knew back then just how much damage the band causes that particular nerve. We do now, however, so many surgeons are opting to not damage their patients with a device that causes this problem. I guess there are still some who are either ignorant to the complications or they just don't care.

The band is terrible. The worst. It should be avoided.

I should mention that I had my band removed in an emergency surgery almost 12 years ago now. And the last three days I've spent in abject misery. I still have the damage from the band. It seems that it's not going to heal in this lifetime. So much for "less invasive" and "safer." I have gone to bed with severe left shoulder pain and woke up with it. I have ulcers and gastritis from my time banded. My diaphragm and esophagus were both damaged, as well. The band can do a real number on a body in just a short time.

And, yes, it very much does feel like choking when you have a band. In fact, all the blood vessels in my eyes broke a few times from the nonstop puking. It's not like "regular puking." It's much, much worse. I guess you'll be able to describe it after you get a band because you'll certainly experience it. If you try to drink water when you're stuck, you'll realize just how big of a mistake the band is. There is no "loosening up" food that gets stuck. If you eat rice and pasta and it swelled and didn't go down, your esophagus will work and work and work to either move it up or down. And it won't be able to go either way. It will stay put, but the muscles will just keep with the spasms in an attempt to move it. Sometimes this can last for hours. I've had episodes where something got stuck and it stayed stuck for days. It's quite painful and if you have to work for a living, you'll be spending a lot of time in the restroom. Bring a puke container with you while driving, as well.

Save yourself a LOT of misery and pain. Learn from what we have gone through with the band. It's a bad idea. I've been on this forum for way too long, just because I hate seeing anyone go through so many of us already have. It's frustrating to even see posts like yours when all the information is right here. What in the world would make you think the band is a good idea? Many insurance companies have implemented a "one WLS per lifetime" clause because people keep choosing the band. It's guaranteed you'll need another surgery... at least one more. And your insurance might very well say, "Too bad. We're not paying for it." They might even refuse to pay for the inevitable removal of the band, leaving you in pain and scrambling to pay for a surgery that you'll desperately need. It's happened to many, many people. Why not choose a better option from the get-go and save yourself the future trouble?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half-patients-complications/story?id=13187452


This is a report by ABC that said that half of all lap band patients have to have their bands removed.

I know you don't want to hear it, but really consider that the surgery has a very poor track record.

Not being snarky, but assuming you've read the many posts in the Lapband forum - how can you possibly be still planning on getting this terrible device? I just finished reading many of the posts and am amazed that any surgeon anywhere still performs this surgery.