kbliss78

Omg, how cool is that? Sharing this experience will bring you close again.
- Natalie

lol... i teared up a little bit! How wonderful.
Good Luck to both of you!

That is awesome. Story gave me goose bumps.

I went for my pre-opt with the surgeon. He does a small group first to discuss the process and then meets individually with all the patients. While in the group meeting, I heard someone call out another patient. I heard the name and it flagged an old memory. I looked down the table and saw my very best friend from middle school. I have not seen her in 15 years. We began to cry and are so excited to share this journey with a friend. It is so crazy we crossed paths again. We each moved long away from out home town and had different paths. We found out we each had two children the same ages. We have supportive hubbies regarding the surgery! We are so excited. We are scheduled the SAME DAY for surgery!
Now I have all of my LBT buddies and a old friend. I think I was meant to cross paths with her again. Some of my foundest childhood memories are with that girl!
Just had to share....
Katy

I went for my pre-opt with the surgeon. He does a small group first to discuss the process and then meets individually with all the patients. While in the group meeting, I heard someone call out another patient. I heard the name and it flagged an old memory. I looked down the table and saw my very best friend from middle school. I have not seen her in 15 years. We began to cry and are so excited to share this journey with a friend. It is so crazy we crossed paths again. We each moved long away from out home town and had different paths. We found out we each had two children the same ages. We have supportive hubbies regarding the surgery! We are so excited. We are scheduled the SAME DAY for surgery!
Now I have all of my LBT buddies and a old friend. I think I was meant to cross paths with her again. Some of my foundest childhood memories are with that girl!
Just had to share....
Katy

I started coming to this site in January. I am scheduled to be banded next week. I found so much support and positive encouragement. I also saw so many people who have done so well. Now for the past week, every new thread is negative; the band is broken, surgury needed, cant drink/shallow/eat, acid reflux, major complications....on and on.
I am not sure if it is all in my head or is there no one out there that is having a positive expirence? Is it that people only start a new thread when there is something wrong? Are there really that many people having MAJOR complications and is there an equal or greater number of those who are very happy with no complications?
Just needing to hear that there is some good in the band. I am still moving forward with my plan. I wnat to change my life. Perhaps I should just not read the site for right now.....

Casscitymom -
I totally agree and felt the same way. I do think sometimes people should education themselfs more before the band and read some information and follow the rules. It suprises me that people complain about major complications but will then say that they ate a piece of bread 3 days after surgery and cannot understand why they are having problems. Most of the complications seem to be from short term of long term non rule adherance. But I have decided that I am going to do the best I can, follow all the rules b/c it is my safety on the line, and beleive it will work for me. Thanks for the positive notes to me!

I agree again. I have read two books about it, watched many videos and asked alot of questions. It appears so much of the time that slips are caused by not fallowing the rules (not always). But it has helped me learn that the rules are that way for a reason and I do not want to cheat and gamble with my health and my family. I am taking a risk in this surgery but it is a risk for me to stay overweight. I am going to follow the rules so well and I have promised this to myself! I am excited and I also feel like I am heading in with my EYES WIDE OPEN!
THanks for your support.
Katy

I agree again. I have read two books about it, watched many videos and asked alot of questions. It appears so much of the time that slips are caused by not fallowing the rules (not always). But it has helped me learn that the rules are that way for a reason and I do not want to cheat and gamble with my health and my family. I am taking a risk in this surgery but it is a risk for me to stay overweight. I am going to follow the rules so well and I have promised this to myself! I am excited and I also feel like I am heading in with my EYES WIDE OPEN!
THanks for your support.
Katy

I'm glad this is was all a placebo....all this restriction, reaching my goal, reversing all those medical conditions, getting stuck, sliming, regurgitation........was all in my head.
I need to see a Physc Dr also......I must be hallucinating!

I was banded on April 9, 2012. My experience has been 99% positive. I have had (like most others) some pain the day after surgery and some gas issues. Other than that, I have followed doctors and nutritionist's orders to a "T" and I have lost 28 pounds. I go in for my first fill on May 27th. I wish you nothing but the best

Casscitymom -
I totally agree and felt the same way. I do think sometimes people should education themselfs more before the band and read some information and follow the rules. It suprises me that people complain about major complications but will then say that they ate a piece of bread 3 days after surgery and cannot understand why they are having problems. Most of the complications seem to be from short term of long term non rule adherance. But I have decided that I am going to do the best I can, follow all the rules b/c it is my safety on the line, and beleive it will work for me. Thanks for the positive notes to me!

ive had alot of complaints lately but im still fairly new and dont really know what to expect, i didnt have to do support groups or anything before getting approved,but ive been tryin to learn on my own thats y i post so much on here because if idk something there r ppl on here that do,i love this site... im excited for my first fill and excited to start seeing results. good luck

I was banded 2/3/12 and I would do it again. I follow the instructions the doc gave me and I am very happy.

I am 6 months post-op, I've lost 46 pounds and I have had very few complications. I throw up 4-5 times a week either because I eat too fast, don't chew enough or eat something (usually meat) that just doesn't agree with me. It is the BEST thing I have ever done for myself. One reminder for you, its a TOOL not a miracle. I have to map out what I eat, plan my Water and exercise. The only difference for me now is that I can't eat as much as I used too and I definitely can't eat certain foods. It's LIFE LONG commitment. I went to my regular doc 3 weeks ago, I've dropped my cholesterol 40 points and my triglycerides 100!!! She was THRILLED. The throwing up for me is a mild side effect to an opportunity to live a long, healthy life. Hope that is postive enough for you!! Good luck on your surgery...
Christy

Banded 4/2 and not having any issues. Can't wait for my first fill!
I also make a choice to only focus on the good comments and positive results.
When I do this, it's easy for me to stay on track. No bread for me

I agree with Mis73. People are more likely to come to the site and post when they are experiencing something, usually negative, to ask for advice.
If you're a week out of surgery, then I'm sure you've been through the entire prep process. You should know the positives and the negatives that come along with this procedure. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few posts on here regarding complications and even death that have scared the bejesus out of me.. but as you're told before surgery.. there is always a chance for problems to arise. Follow the rules, don't push the band healing process and listen to your body.
The band is a tool to assist you in losing weight. I have found myself extremely frustrated over the past 5 months with my band thinking it was going to do all the work.. i was wrong. I'm finally hitting the groove of feeling restriction and eating less. It took me 4 fills before I had good restriction. It takes time. It definitely requires you to "diet" more than say getting the sleeve or bypass.. you'll still feel hungry, but you're body will adjust.
Now that the weight is starting to come off, I'm feeling better. More mobile, energetic and starting to fit into my smaller clothes! woohoo. Stay positive and look forward to how great you're going to feel!
Go into the surgery with positive thoughts. You'll do just fine.

I was banded in February (2/1) and the only problem I've had so far is that I've had no problems! I mean, sometimes it's hard to remember I have a band because I can eat all foods with no sticking, no PBing, and no acid reflux. I've never had any pain beyond the first couple of days of shoulder pain immediately after surgery. I try to follow my doctor's rules to keep myself out of trouble and it's definitely working. I feel great. I'm losing weight slowly but steadily (as long as I follow the rules. If I slip up, the loss stops). Even when I occasionally eat more than I should, it's nowhere in the same universe as how much I ate before the band. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. And this is all even before I've reached what I would call "restriction."
I know there's been a lot of negativity lately, but a lot of people were shaken up by recent events. Also, the boards seem to be cyclical, from what I've seen... meaning everything will go along calmly and positively, then there will be a couple of weeks of all bad all the time. Then it calms down again. Try not to worry.
As I said, I've had zero problems in the 3 full months I've been banded. I would have the surgery again in a NY minute. Only you can decide if it's right for you, but please don't let a skewed sample like the boards influence your decision too much. Pick a good surgeon, follow the rules, keep a positive attitude, and you'll do great, I'm sure.

I believe the reason you hear more negative than positive is because the people who are successful are just plain busy getting on with their lives and those with problems post to either complain or for help and support. While I also believe there are some with legitimate issues I do think some of the issues are either from a lack of education or down right not following the rules of living with a band. Now before anyone jumps on me I did say I do believe there are some out there with legit issues but I see posts made daily about stuff that if people did Band Class 101 they would know better.
Sorry but if you're in puree stage of a diet and you're stuffing bread down your throat and it's getting stuck then well...you asked for it. You are either uneducated or ignorant.
I have only been banded a short time (4/16) and so far I would not change a thing.
Jim

Possible causes:
EROSION - immune system response to the presence of the band; trauma to the stomach during band placement; stomach ulcers from medication or the pressure of the band against the stomach; aggressive over-filling of the band.
SLIP - vomiting, overeating, failure to follow the post-op diet progression, poor eating skills, over-filling of the band; untreated hiatal hernia; suture failure or surgical error during placement of band

Jean... Thanks for sharing. I did not know that an untreated hiatal hernia could cause a slip!! All the more reason to repair mine.

I had my first fill yesterday. I had contemplated not having one because I have not felt any hunger between meals and have to remind myself to eat. That is until this week! I had been walking on my own and the weight loss had slowed down once I went back onto regular foods. However, slow and steady was fine. This week, I started with a personal trainer and I noticed a HUGE difference in getting hungry around meal times. I went from struggling to get in 700 calories a day. My doctor actually told me I would have to increase my calories due to the amount of exercise. Got to give the body some fuel! So I gladly chose to take my first fill. Back on liquids for a couple of days, but I am anxious to see if I can balance out this fill with my new exercise regime.

Thanks Emelie! Is it me, or should there be a handbook given to us by the makers of the band, Realize or whomever? I know communication is key with the docs office and we go in frequently, but there's so much to know.

I agree with you and Elcee. I love my band. I have been banded 5 years, had a slip and just got it fixed 3 days ago. The band has done me justice...and I don't regret it all even with the problems I have had. There are complications with every kind of weight loss surgery. After my band slipped I looked into revising to the gastric sleeve but after researching I decided that it was not for me. Many patients have great success with the gastric sleeve but more information is becoming available about the long-term results. The gastric sleeve procedure is the first part of the gastric bypass and over time some patients stretch the stomach from over eating and of course gain some of the weight back. When this happens there is really not much else you can do other than have another procedure done to feel some restriction again. The lapband after gastric bypass and gastric sleeve...go figure!

I have had my band since 2010! Not one single regret AT ALL!! I had all these questions and concerns (I still worry) mainly b/c I work in the operating room and see all the complications! If you "you tube" the surgery you can watch the way they secure the band by pulling up and suturing the stomach around the band! One of the most dangerous complications we see in surgery is erosion which can cause infection!! And that is almost always from overfilling and purging. You have gotten this far and want this for a very good reason, do what you feel is right I had a hard time accepting that once I could introduce food into my diet again after surgery (by this time swelling is down around the band) I was hungry, and had very little restriction! Wait till you get a full or 2, I actually had to have some taken out on my second fill, my "sweet spot" was easy to find, LOL
Best of luck, you'll do great, and I have read some awesome advise on this board about taking the time to understand your relationship with food!!! Very important... The past relationship and the future one!!