NaNa

This post is NOT harassing newbies...there are MANY newbies that sent me private messages THANKING ME...to let them know how to minimize and avoid any potential issues that CAN happen with their bands... Sorry if you are not a proactive person that cares about their health...if you feel that this thread scares you...just don't read it...no one is pointing a gun to your head to make you read what I have to say..if you don't like it or don't think what I am saying IS TRUE...don't open up the thread...

Can you do me a favor...please use the enter key when typing out long winded posts of nonsense....and please get someone to upload your avatar correctly...it's rather annoying...

When this topic die out...no more warnings...it seems like ignorance keep it going...I constantly get alerted on the topic...so as long as ignorance keep it hot...I guess I will keep educating...

I don't think most software engineers that have degrees in computer science are stupid and ignorant...and can you refrain from calling people wenches....I could call you some ugly names ..but I will be play nice. It shows what your intelligent level is by not REALLY wanting to KNOW the FACTS about the lap band and how to avoid any issues...or how to manage issues... Stats don't lie and I am not going to lie either...apparently you have NOT done your research AS a MEDICAL professional to know that the lap band HAS A VERY HIGH LONG TERM complication rate...most of the issues are not that serious but many of the problems warrant surgery or band removal...... I can't believe you as a medical professional would not want to KNOW what you are getting into and would NOT want to know what COULD possibly happen... and I hate to say that complications USUALLY happen to those who are NOT educated on HOW TO AVOID THEM...

What's terrifying? If someone stays in the green zone, chew their food well, and follow band rules, there is nothing terrifying about the lap band...problem IS...people don't do what they are suppose to do...which CAN cause terrifying side effects... Most people don't have any problems with the band as long as it's not too tight...and live happily ever after...however, if you live in a bubble and think that you will NEVER have any side effects from weight loss surgery, whether it be lap band, Sleeve, RNY or whatever...and if you are a nurse, I really feel sorry for you...side effects COME WITH THE TERRITORY of ANY weight loss surgery...actually the lap band has the least side effects of any weight surgery if is done correctly...and the patient chew their food well and avoid vomiting... You are in a bubble, if you actually think that you will be "side effect" FREE forever... I have a brand new AP lap band I've had it now almost a year, I CURRENTLY HAVE NO SIDE EFFECTS...but again I've lived with my old band for over 7 years....and I've been there and done that and just because things are rosey posey right NOW...does not mean things will be rosey posey in the next 7 years...I am keeping it real...but having the band to keep my weight down outweighed the risks... Also, if the band was THAT terrible, I would not have gotten a new one...

Yea...I've had that too, you may have a hiatal hernia too...it can cause reflux with the band, I had to get an EGD to find the hernia..it did not show up on Upper Gi....If you have the AP band they can go in a repair the hernia without removing the band...but if you have the older bands...they are not that easy to unbuckle without destroying the entire lap band system... I went in to get a hernia repaired...NOT TO MOVE MY OLD 4CC BAND...but they are harder and does not unbuckle well without destroying the entire lap band system..so my new surgeon just replaced my old band with a new AP band.

I got my old 4cc removed , hiatal hernia repair and new AP band placed all in one surgery, because I either developed a hiatal hernia or it was never fixed when I got my first band 8 years ago...surgeons were not routinely repairing hernia's until they figured out they can contribute to pouch dilation's and reflux, etc... New band is working fine so far...no pain, reflux I am almost 1 year out with the new band...

Congrats!! Keep on working that band.

Another point I used to tell some other long term banders, what used to help me if I got reflux at night, I would chew a few papaya enzymes (from GNC) before bed and right after a meal and this helps break down food in the pouch and my reflux went away...but this was with my old 4cc band, and I took a cocktail of chewable Pepcid and this helped me with any night time reflux...BUT ..this does not work if there is severe band damage and slippage with 'stuff' coming up in your nose...LOL..

Exactly and SO TRUE! You truly have a different mentally once you've lived with the band greater than 5-6 years..things change and the band starts to behave strangely..LOL... My advice to people is once you've had the band for many years...and you can eat more food, sometimes it's not needing a fill, especially if eating too much is accompanied with reflux and sometimes you may need to get to a small unfill, and let things rest...especially if you've had some boo boos's LOL of getting food stuck and vomiting. No one's perfect, everyone sooner or later will experience getting food stuck or a horrible stuck episode where you may vomit for hours...the point is let those episodes be rare and not every single day.... Sometimes the band needs a rest and pressure released off the pouch after so many years and then slowly filler up again...it's just a revolving process I truly believe the band CAN last for some people a life time, but it has to be well managed and you have to have a good band surgeon that will diagnose and treat any issues promptly that you have.

I don't the band is truly reversible, it's definitely removal-able, it depends on how bad of a complication someone has when they get their band removed, but for most people the stomach usually go back the same, but probably with some scarring... Also...people need to make sure they have a very skilled surgeon when they remove the band too because if the adhesion's and scar tissue that the band creates...can some some pain and discomfort for many.... So if someone is thinking about band removal they need to ask their surgeon to please remove most of the scar tissue.

Please listen to Jean! She and I have been through that and have seen all issues with the band and the END RESULTS.... I encourage you to get Jean's book, on how to live with the lap band.

Good...and congrats on your weight loss!! But again...just because you are OK for now...please don't encourage others with this same behavior.

Good you are feeling good, but sorry ...band damage does not happen right away...sometimes you won't know it until you start the fill process and some people wonder why they can never get into the green zone, or have food intolerance issues. If the band heals wrong you won't know it until a few months later....or it will be easier to slip than others under high pressure when the band is at optimal restriction.

I promised myself I would not respond to this post in fear I may hurt your feelings....But as this post gets ulgier...I will try to put it as nice as I can. Did your surgeon give you any post op diet plan? Did you research the band at all before you got? I will try to help you since you are reaching out for help: 1. Please, please allow your band to heal, take this six weeks to eat only soft mushy food, most people are on clear liquids the first week, thin to mushy food the second week, and soft foods the 3-4 weeks out of surgery. The POINT is your band has to heal, remember you got sutures holding your band in place, and if you break your sutures before they heal by eating solid food, your band can slip or cause some issues before it really can help you. You have to some some willpower and patience with the band at least the first 4-6 weeks.... Reflux does not start until you've damaged your band, and if you don't get a band book or get a mentor or ask for help real soon, you will get some reflux and it's not a good thing either reflux can get ugly with horrible burning and vomiting up in your nose and mouth when you sleep... I keep things real and don't sugar coat...and yes it's tough love... Be careful and take care of your band and if it's not already damaged, it will take care of you. Good luck!

Great! As the other poster mentioned you have to "baby" your band and take good care of it, especially in the first year, the band is still healing and you want to take it easy and avoid any vomiting if you can. Also, most surgeons "prime" the band during installation and will put a little priming Fluid in it, it's really not filling the band, but surgeons will typically fill the band up, like blow it up like a balloon before they install it to make sure it does not have any leaks or defect before they install it, and then leave a little saline in it during surgery and some patients will say they got a fill during surgery, but really they did not. And most surgeons will have readily availble different size bands to fit your stomach, they don't know which size you will need until they are in there, but some surgeons do not follow this rule and will use ONE size band...so be very about careful picking your surgeon too, you don't want a band too tight, that will not hold much saline without being too tight and you don't want a band that will take 20 fills before you reach the green zone. Ideally most people reach good restriction within about 3-7 fills...

Correct, MOST of the lap band failures that CAN be prevented and part of this statistic are the following: 1. Poor Aftercare, not following up with the surgeon timely 2. Patients progressing their diets too quick after surgery, some people will go to a restaurant and eat solid foods when they are supposed be on liquids and mushies. The band is supposed to heal and set in place, prior to getting fills. 3. Frequent vomiting 4. Aggressive fills, fills should be done gradually every month, until you reach the green zone, starting from 4-6 weeks post, -- AND YES, some surgeons have filled the band 2 weeks post op. 5. Purging daily, and eating too much on a too tight band. 6. Keeping the band dangerously too tight, aka..not able to eat solid food without vomiting. Honestly, if you take the above out of the equation, the REAL lap band complication rate is pretty low, such as band erosion, port infections, tubing leaks, port leaks, etc. There are also chances of developing hernias, or events that happen in the stomach or the patient may reject the band, but those are rare....but the most preventable complications are VERY COMMON.

Also another note about revisions to the Sleeve, I am not confident about the Sleeve yet, Band to Sleeve revisions don't do as well as virgin Sleeves as far as losing weight, some do ok, but MOST DO NOT. Also I read a study lately regarding a 5 year study for Band to Sleeve revisions and it was heartbreaking, very low weight loss rate and VERY HIGH Vitamin deficiency rate especially with Band to Sleeve patients, that worries me about revising to the Sleeve, they remove part of the stomach that have vital vitamin B nutrients..... Also the reflux I hear can get over bearing that causes similar bile reflux that happens with the lap band slips -- at least you can remove the band or fix it, the only cure with horrible reflux with the Sleeve is to revise to the Bypass... I am just not ready for the Sleeve yet --- Here is the long term study.. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/40490

I agree with this study and it is VERY TRUE. I love my band and want to keep as it long as I can, but I am not living in a "bubble" and ignoring FACTS. The thing is ...why those STATS of failure long term is so high, many people use the band the opposite of how it IS suppose to work. I NEVER kept a too tight band for long periods of time, my surgeon used the Pars Flaccida method 8 years ago, my band never did slip...BUT...my pouch got dilated VERY QUICKLY after being too tight for about 1 month, but -- I guess you can argue that the 4cc bands were more prone to pouch dilations than the AP bands are...reason that surgeons no longer use them in the US. But there are still many people are still doing well with their 4cc bands, and have had no issues, BUT -- MANY STILL HAVE REFLUX that is controlled with PPi's and Protonix. I had heartburn from DAY 1 with my old 4cc band and had to be on PPi's for over 8 years. Since I've gotten my new AP band -- no heartburn or reflux at all, and I don't need to take Protonix...also I had a hiatal hernia repaired that I don't believe my first surgeon repaired...so there are so many variables on why complications occur. But -- one of the biggest mistakes and will occur with ANY band -- 4cc or AP, you cannot keep it adjusted too tight, in the red zone for long periods of time and not expect some damage to the esophagus or other issues. Also, constantly vomiting puts pressure on those sutures and they can come loose from the band, I've seen this reported this too over the years. -- A few stuck episodes (Pbing) will not cause damage, but if this is done repeatedly daily, it can damage either the esophagus and the pouch, you actually don't have to be too tight to cause band damage, you can vomit daily to cause damage too. Ideally, most lap banders SHOULD be able to eat moist lean meats of about 1-3 oz per meal, if and a few bites of soft veggies per meal that average about 1/2 cup to 1 full cup and sometimes 1-1/2 cups of solid food per meal, THAT IS THE GREEN ZONE. Restriction will never be the same each day, some days most bandsters IN THE GREEN ZONE can eat a bit more and sometimes a bit less, depends on the ebb flow of the band and what is going on with them personally. Also this still does not keep complications from occurring, events in the stomach, or other issues can cause complications, so nothing is full proof, but staying in the green zone most of the time, and avoiding vomiting, will lessen the chances of band complications.

Exactly! They are yet ACKNOWLEDGING what I am saying "is true" but don't like the tone of my posts...LOL.... Never listen to my tone, I would never lead you the wrong way....my tone gets over the top because I've seen people lose their bands over and over again over the same issue, when it can be easily avoided. So I guess if we could get that color to match...we'd all be happy!

JennyBean you are going into this with your eyes open and knowing the pitfalls of banding and how to avoid them, and how to use your band wisely and I am hoping you have a very long successful banded journey.

It does not cost a dime to just get up and walk around your neighborhood. I lost over 100 pounds and never stepped inside of a gym. I simply got up every morning before work at about 5am, and walked about 30-minutes to an 1 hour each day and lost weight quickly with my band. I think *I* lost weight on my own and my band helped keep my weight off with smaller portions, that is the best way, that way you don't have to depend so much on the band and so much on costly gyms. I own a treadmill now and use that when it gets cold outside, so there is more ways to skin a cat and keep weight off. Good luck.

Ah...another newbie AGREEING with a poster that says she can't eat meat, but I wonder if HER SURGEON knows she can't eat meat? Let's see...over on OH, there is a FAILED LAP BAND board -- with over 1000 lap banders, many whom have already revised to the Sleeve and Bypass, and no longer can get rebanded after removal, due to either esophageal damage, or slippage AFTER about 3-6 years post op. Their biggest complaint before the band damaged their bodies or slipped? "they never could eat meat", but refused to get saline removed until it way way too late. So sure, everyone experiences will be different depending on how much saline is in their bands and how tight they are. Good luck!

Glad to hear you are feeling better! Band issues can feel horrible when they happen. I had a hernia repaired last year, old 4cc band removed, and new AP band put in all in one surgery. But I did not have slippage or horrible complications, just some discomfort of back pain where the hiatal hernia was pushing up against my esophagus, but I never had any vomiting or eating issues with my old band and I feel like a new woman with my new band...NO reflux or vomiting -- or back pain, yet with this new AP band and I am close to one year with the new band. I had scar tissue too, we all develop it after any surgery and the band creates a little more, my surgeon had to dig out lots of scar tissue and adhesions before replacing my new band...it took about 3 hours for him to remove my old band and my repair hernia, and place the new AP band system...and honestly I had no pain and my recovery was a lot better than my original first band...I guess it all depends on the skill of the surgeon...

Don't be afraid, but cautious and take this time to learn as much about the lap band as you can. Many newbies come here and don't realize it can take several fills before they get into the green zone. Some never researched their surgeon, complication, revision rate, and aftercare, THOSE are the most important things you need to worry about right now, your surgeon is your first defensive against complications, NOT what you really read on these boards. Many people come here when they are in trouble, or not following rules, etc, or not doing their homework on how the band works, many don't even have a post op plan of nutrition, exercise, or have a clue of what they are suppose to do, they are just waiting on fills and the band to "automatically work". I got the band because it was the safest of ALL weight loss surgeries, and it can be adjusted or removed if necessary. My band gave me my life back, and changed my life, I lost over 130 pounds with it and kept that weight off for many years, my band DID ITS job, but I also worked my band by following rules, seeing my surgeon when needed, exercise, etc.... The band just like ALL surgeries comes with risk, losing weight and getting healthy outweigh any potential complications for many people. Realizing the band is a tool, and not a miracle wand and knowing upfront what you have to do will lead you to a successful band journey... There will probably be bumps in your journey, nothing is perfect, but again don't focus on complications, focus on working your band following the rules, learning what the green zone is and staying in it throughout your banded life and you should not have many worries.... Things can happen without your fault, the band can erode, you can develop a hernia, your body my reject the band, but these things are VERY RARE.... Most of the complications with the band are preventable and not serious, and can be treated and managed as long as you follow up with your surgeon timely. Again research your surgeon, learn how the band work, go to seminars, meet others in person who is banded, seek someone to mentor you if you are feeling scared.... I've had two bands, I am almost 8 years post op, loved my old band and love my new band, I developed a hernia last year in my 7th year, had the hernia repaired, old band removed and new band put in all in one surgery and I was in good hands with a very skilled surgeon.... I would do the band over and over again, if necessary every few years as long as I don't have horrible complications and my insurance pays for it. Good luck!