Baba Wawa

Yes, sales fell from $240mm to $160mm, a huge decline! Sort of backs up what being said, AGBs are going the way of the dinosaurs, due primarily to high failure/complication rates + high follow up costs.

Are you suggesting that there is no new information now vs 2009? There's a ton of people who are experiencing exactly what I am. I don't have bad energy...I don't like it when people who are suffering are blamed for it. As obese/formerly obese people we should be able to show some empathy. A lot of obesity is rooted in psychological problems, abuse and self esteem issues...now we're going to blame these people for a medical device's inherent propensity to fail AND cause permanent damage to vital organs?!! Heartless and cruel is the only way to describe this sort of attitude. I don't care if you're following the thread. If ONE person opts out of banding because of the information I posted, my job is done. As far as your character assessment of me, you could not be more wrong. Responsible is my middle name. I'm fully responsible for my decisions and accepting of the consequences AND appreciate the good my band has done me...when you know better you do better. We know better now, the newer WLS candidates can avoid the pitfalls, injuries and pain of band complications that happen even if you follow all the rules (which by the way are so inconsistent from one doctor/clinic to the next, who the hell knows what they are?). You go ahead and believe what you do....I really don't give a rat's behind. I would post links, but LBT won't allow. Anyone who would like more info, please pm me.

There seems to be a prevalence of opinion in another thread that Lapband failure is due to noncompliance 90% of the time. What do you think? I know I am compliant, but I'm too tight, even with an empty band. Please share your story here. Thanks!

Realize bands are not filled at surgery, allergan recommends a primer fill of 3cc at surgery for its bands...not really a lot, but it often has to be removed before discharge.

Thread...you can eat that? This is what they are stating as fact. My disagreement is with the stance that they are blaming people who fail, across the board. One poster even quoted that 90% of failures are due to noncompliance. Most erosion is caused because people eat things they are not supposed to and eat too much. It puts pressure on the band and causes it to erode. I think that most band failures are because of the patient. Being too tight and throwing up, eating too much, drinking carbonated beverages and caffiene, these all cause erosion. The amount of people on here that do all these things will end up with getting their bands removed. It's not worth the risk to over eat. You have to take some responsibility in your diet. People say nothing is off limits but if you're eating something that is constantly getting stuck then that product shoud be off limits.

You might be a bit tight...failure to lose, maladaptive eating go hand in hand. Try getting a little unfill and you might be able to eat the way you're supposed to...

The issue with broccoli is volume. Broccoli has a lot of Protein per 100 calories, but you'd have to eat almost 4 cups to equal 100 calories. 1 cup chopped broccoli is 29 calories and 2.5 grams protein. 2 oz sirloin steak has 14 grams protein and is 110 calories and is within our volume limits 1/2 to 1 cup food per meal. There are other sources of dense protein if you have trouble with meat. String cheese, eggs, tuna salad, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt are some options. I mix 1/4 kashi go lean crunch with 6 oz Dannon light and fit vanilla NF Greek yogurt....15 gr protein, which is my meal goal. I also find that if I'm making meat loaf, I add a bit of olive oil, ff Greek yogurt (plain), eggs to my 93% lean beef, + a bit of old fashioned oats and ground veggies. It's delish, you can make meatballs out of the same recipe. The meat is more moist, softer, but is still dense protein.

My guidelines for nutrition are: 60+ gr Protein per day Avoid processed carbs 64 oz Water daily Eat protein first, veggies second, carbs only if there is room, usually not room. 3 meals per day, 15 gr protein, 20-30 gr low glycemic carbs 1 snack, 15 gr protein, usually a bit of tuna salad or a couple of RF string cheese or ff Greek yogurt. Avoid liquid calories I have problems with greens, so try to eat colorful crunchy veggies, like peppers, carrots, cabbage, onion, asparagus, etc. Meal size per my nutritionist is 1/2 to 1 cup... No drinking for 30 min after eating With an empty band I've lost 15 lb in 3 months.

Yep it does.... http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/months_beyond/

http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/months_beyond/dietary_guidelines/ Following Allergan's instructions for diet...4-5 cups of food divided into 3 meals = 1.3/1.6 cups per meal assuming fruit/veggie servings are 1oz each...

I did my research...my medical team is great, but they are doing less and less bands and more revisions, VSG now because of experiences like mine. I was and am highly compliant. Please don't make assumptions. My purpose in responding to this point of view is to help that person who reads that they are at fault, when in fact they may NOT be, and encourage them to share their experience in a safe venue, away from bullies. I once held the point of view that if I did everything "by the book" my band would be a lifetime device. Unfortunately, the band manufacturers no longer state this, saying it isn't a lifetime device. Perhaps if you asked when I was banded, you would understand that the # of failures has escalated tremendously for the newer bands in the last 2 years. When I was preparing for surgery 3 years ago, the old 4cc band was cited as the one causing problems. The newer bands were being touted as "much safer, less prone to complications..." Why do you assume that anyone who "cry about failure" are bellying up at the "ff restaurant"? That's just a mean stereotype! Btw, the instructions that Allergan is giving for post op diet and eating habits keeps evolving as more and more complications surface.

You said it "...the band is too tight". This is the responsibility of the medical team, not the pt. I don't have erosion, but I am too tight, with no fill after losing 82 lb. If I develop erosion, it will be due to the band, not my eating habits. I only had 3.5 cc in my 11cc band, kept it loose on purpose. There are hundreds of stories just like mine and worse. If a pt goes in for a fill and is given, say 5cc, thinks they are ok, but over time develops random tightness, GERD, etc AND is not well educated by their medical team (so they don't recognize the warning signs), is this the patient's fault? No. This exact scenario is being played out in the banded community over and over again. Go to other support sites, search band complications and you will see for yourself. The patient who gets a band and the band doesn't perform as promised, or causes life threatening complications, is a victim. To blame the patient for the device's failure is to victimize the patient TWICE. My band has helped me, but currently is injuring me...I'm thankful for the loss of 82lb, but for a 63 year old woman who has had over a dozen surgeries, the prospect of additional surgery is daunting. If my ins had covered it, I could have been done with one procedure, VSG, and saved myself a lot of trouble. Being aware of potential complications, their symptoms, etc could save your life.

Most of them are from sites like this and are just opinions...

Yes I know what it is...looking for links as to the CAUSES. Thanks though.