JACKIEO85

I don't have a dog in this fight... But my point is that it's pretty obvious to me that the op is having a really hard time. It's not our job to call her out or talk down to her. It's our job to be supportive. And if we feel we must set her straight or correct some perceived untruths, do it in a respectful way, as several have done. It is not our job to attack her. That's not what she needs and if I was going through the same thing I would hope that I would have a safe place to get it all out, vent, whatever. This is her story, her opinions, her truths of what happened to her.... Respect it.
It's not just this thread that I am referring to. This same situation happens far too often.

Yes slaughter house. One reason why I don't post very much! What I would say to those doing the slaughtering, you don't have to defend the band or your choice to get it! Damn it's like some people take anything negative about the band as a personal attack. Not saying everyone who has replied here was a butcher. But if the shoe fits....
It's great that it works so well for a lot of people (myself being one) but whenever someone talks about complications what they need is support! Not belittling.
When someone talks about complications I think we all need to sit up and take notice, the band is not THE answer to your weight problems. It is a tool, use it, but don't depend on it alone.
Also God forbid any of us ever have complications. Wouldn't it be nice to have a long term banded friend to be able to ask questions? Or at least have read first hand accounts of what complications are like with an open mind?

Amen, sister! I found out the hard way by posting my story on here and unless it's positive - forget about it!
I wonder what makes all these people so defensive. They have success on their side but have to bash anyone that didn't have a positive experience! So sad!
As I was told you must just be doing it for the "I'm sorries" I get. Ya okay! Good luck OP on your sleeve!

I'm glad to hear there are many that the band has worked for. When I joined this forum many many years ago the band was still new and there were a lot of people that had success with it. But as they years have gone on, not as many are having success. Again it's a personal experience. The band has not worked for me and I won't go into the details as that's between my dr and me. He is the one that has declared that it is not working right. Not me. I still haven't given up on it. But he has stated that the band isn't what they thought it would be and they are not doing as many bands anymore and are doing more and more revisions. I would hate to see newbies come to this site and see all rainbows and sunshine like I did when I started here. Both sides need to be shown. But again, I am glad it is working for some!!! It's good to hear and I congratulate you all!

I've been around just about the same length of time, Megan. I got my band done over 10 years ago, had it removed, and still have damage.
Overall, people are very resistant to hearing about the downfalls of banding, though, I've found. Until they go through it themselves, there's really no convincing anyone that you're trying to help. And that's a real shame. With many insurance companies saying, "One WLS per lifetime" it's kind of important to make the correct decision the first time. It may be your only chance.
Best of luck to you.

I have to agree with Megan. I've had a 14cc band for 10 years and have lost nothing. I've been working with my surgeon and a nutritionist. The surgeon has almost stopped doing bands as they do not work as they thought. More banded people have been going to other methods. The band just isn't as good as was once thought. More people need to be aware.

Wow... didn't those 4cc / ten year old bands pave the way for our "new" & "modern" bands!
Shouldn't we be slightly interested in any & all complications for "future reference" and education?
Note to self.... never ever ever ever ever ever ever post anything about a bad experience on this forum... geez!!
-I just felt like I witnessed a slaughter-
I'm a newbie and reading these brutal replies to someones post is the only scary experience I have had thus far! WOW

I was like some of you a year or two out from getting my band. Nobody could tell me that it wasn't the best thing I ever did for myself.
I just want to be clear: I am here to voice my story and my opinions about what the band did to me and to lots and lots of people I know. I had a great group of "bandsisters" when I was first banded right on this forum. NONE of them have their bands anymore. I am the last one.
Please do not be in denial about the damage that the band can do. Be vigilant with your complications and please, please know that if you are out a few years and you are gaining weight back, this is the biggest complication yet. Do not blame yourself or feel shame that "you failed" again. Private message me so that you are not attacked by people that are still in the glory days of their bands. I will help you in any way I can.
I wish someone would have posted something like this when I first started to have complications because I felt very much alone. This is why I am here.

Mis73,
You and I have gone around and around before...so this is the only reply I will give to any of your posts in this thread.
I've been around long enough to know that people have complications from all bands...sizes, manufacturers, etc.
The mayo Clinic, the number one rated hospital in the world no longer will place any bands. My surgeon at a University hospital will no longer place bands.
If that isn't enough evidence that bands are not a great long-term solution then I'm not sure what is.
Megan

I've noticed the people who are "unsupportive" on this thread are so in just about any other thread on LBT, I hope Alex or any of the other moderators take notice before more people stop visiting the site. I've had my band since 08, lost 120 lbs, reached goal within 10 months until it slipped at 2 years post op after a bad stomach bug
It turns out every time I get near the green zone my band would slip. Since my BAND FAILED me, I'm in the works to have a revision
Best of luck to all who are having problems, I suggest you visit other sites also, if you feel harassed on LBT. I was very active on this site a few years ago and you would actually get SUPPORT from other users. SMH

Thank you so much, dawalsh and I didn't mean to generalize, not everyone is a bully on LBT but if you compare this site to how it was 5 years ago, you'd probably see what I'm talking about. Glad to know you're supportive and good luck in your WLS journey

Sorry that you had to go through what you have gone through, This board isn't really very band friendly,OH if your doing great yeah, plenty of support, otherwise it's your fault, you did something wrong. When in reality yes not losing weight is considered a Band complication. I have no idea why you didn't lose, I don't judge. I totally agree with your comment about Lack of education from the medical professionals.
But you do realize that If you eat more than you expend then your not going to lose weight? NO WAY!!?? really? This is the best advise/support you can offer..I think if your on a WL board that is Obvious.That's how the majority of people ended up here.
If you want people to talk to Pam send me an IM I'll send you the information.

I had to have my band removed in August 2011. I did not revise. I've maintained my weight. It is a struggle, but I'm never going back to where I was before. If you need some tips, feel free to ask me! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!!!

I had my band out for 6 months before I could get my revision to RNY...I gained 30 pounds :/. I won't tell you what to do, there are risks associated with each surgery. I will say I love my RNY and feel better then I ever did with my band. There's no reflux or getting stuck, I don't feel like I'm starving all the time. I'm 5 months out and averaging 2-3 pounds a week loss consistently (doc says revisions tend to lose slower...as long as I keep losing I don't really care how long it takes!). I do have dumping if I get crazy with carbs but have absolutely no problem with normal healthy foods.
Good luck! I wish you the best!

What's left to eat??

thanks everyone. I am ok. I chose not to go to the ER. Now wait - before you judge, I recovered late friday evening, and i have felt ok since. My mom is a nurse, my vitals have been ok, BP, pulse, o2sat, and no more vomiting, my fingernails are pink, not white,appetite has been fine & I have had one BM since friday and it was not black. Also, I need to go for a physical anyway, so I will bring it up then, make sure they get a BMP, & CBC at the least.
To clarify, I not only dislike doctors, I despise the disrespect a lot of them have shown me when diagnosing and "un" diagnosing me with various illnesses. My brush with depression, anxiety and a previous history of psych issues, has made many doctors judge me when nothing is immediately wrong, I have almost died (had I not sought a second opinion or had someone in my family know to) at least once that I can think of right now.
I have had doctors that look only at tests on paper and tell me I am fine, making no effort to concern themselves with how I might be feeling. I also don't trust the medical system as a whole in this country, believe that there is enormous amounts of corruption, and that a lot of health professionals make their decisions at the mercy of insurance and big pharm, and not based on their better judgement, for fear of putting their careers in jeopardy.
So no I am not going to see something scary, and go running off to the ER at the drop of a hat. I know in a way what I am saying sounds crazy, but the only one who has made me not only dislike, but distrust doctors, unfortunately is, doctors. And if I go for my physical, and turn out to be really sick, the only one I will have to blame is myself.
Thank you so guys all so much for expressing genuine concern, it is more than I could expect, especially from most doctor's offices.

Sue, I'm sorry to hear you will be losing your band, but wanted to say THANK YOU for posting this. I too, have concerns for the longevity of my band and try and learn from longer banded patients. Not that I have any symptoms or problems now, but it's always possible.
Would you mind sharing what your doctors seen on the fluoroscopy/barium swallow to indicate the need for the endoscopy? Does the contrast liquid actually go around the outside of the band? Were you gradually able to eat more, or was it sudden?
Again, thanks for posting and educating me about this concern. I wish you a speedy recovery and much success moving forward.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I truly had no symptoms other than being able to eat a lot more and subsequent weight gain. I had a renewed effort and had three or four fills in a very short period and still didn't feel any restriction. My surgeon did a barium swallow and when he made me drink the barium three times I knew something was up. His staff scheduled me for endoscopy. When I woke from the endoscopy I knew there was a problem because they left some pictures on the table next to me. It really is shocking to see that stomach acid can turn that band from white to black. Ewwwww. So, we'll see how this goes. I'm guessing I won't be a candidate for ever getting another band because I've already had two. I just have to get my butt in gear and exercise. From 6/21 to now I've lost 9 pounds, so that's a great start. I don't know how the band eroded. It certainly was never too tight for me. On 12/24/12 I had oral surgery and had a lot of vomiting afterwards, but I never had pain. Would have been hard to tell if my band was different then because of the oral surgery I was eating only soft foods. So, I'm really guessing that it happened then. Again, thanks for the good wishes.

marfar7, at first glance... I thought you said,"nightmare" cough as a slip symptom!!!!
I had a nighttime, nightmare cough as a sign of band slip.had X-rays, band unfill, and repair of the slip.doing well now after a few months and some fills.

The only sign I had to my slip was a nightime cough and severe reflux where I had never had it before. I sufferred for 4 mths cuz I was afraid my dr would unfill me. And unfill he did. Tried to get it back into place by just an unfill but it wasn't to be.
Had a sleeve revision on July 16th. After a year of a slipped band.

What a bunch of passive aggressive people. You're not "sorry for me." And I highly doubt you "wish me a long, healthy life." What a crock. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Anytime a person posts something it is THEIR opinion. It kind of "goes without saying." Or at least, you'd think so. I am not used to hanging out where I have to explain every single thing to people. I guess I will have to dumb things down.
Don't blame me that the band isn't long term. Blame Allergan. They're the ones who make it. And they're the ones who state that it's NOT a lifetime device.
And Insecure Mis is attributing quotes to me that I never said. For someone who's so concerned with The Truth, she's not very good at it.

I love hearing what you have to say!
Bless you!
I can relate more than you can imagine!

Reasonable people would think, "Hey, maybe there would be something to learn from people who have been banded for a DECADE." Insecure ones think, "I'm not listening because they might tell me something I don't want to hear." Doesn't make the truth less truthful, though. So, the insecure people strike out, call people "trolls," (which is ridiculous. It's the internet) and then realize down the road that the people trying to post to HELP were actually trying to post TO HELP. The funny thing is, I WAS one of the insecure people back when I was first banded, too. I remember striking out, too. I was so afraid that I hadn't made the correct decision. And that clouded my perspective on everything. There is no reason to attack people who have had complications and choose to post about them. There is simply NO reason to take it personally. Just like I don't take any offense to people posting about their success and happiness. I'm genuinely happy for the people who are happy. I can't understand why the unhappiness of those of us who had bad band experiences should affect some people on such a deep level, unless it's due to their own insecurity.
I don't see people posting "Scare tactics." If their truth scares you, it's because you know there is something to be scared about. Maybe you didn't research enough and are just now finding out about common complications. But if you're NOT having problems, just stay positive and enjoy your success. IF you develop complications, isn't it better to KNOW that others have had them, as well, and what they did to help themselves? I'd think so. No need to be SCARED. Just be aware, that's all.
I truly had a horrible time while banded. My family suffered alongside me, and it's not something that's easily forgotten. It can change a person for life. I've always thought it would be really nice if people could empathize a little, sincerely. I'm not perfect. I can be a total tool when I get angry. I know this. But for the most part, I really want to help others avoid what I went through.

It's not just her! You bash everyone when they say they would never get the band again or that they don't recommend it- I'm far from crazy I'm open to everyone's stories. Reevaluate yourself! This forum is awful because of one sided people like you