Baba Wawa

Wow, that's one I haven't heard of! Have you been able to lose with the band unfilled? Mine was unfilled last June and you'd think I had my old fill amount in (3.5 cc).

I read it yesterday am...I own Jeans book...she was one of my main reasons for choosing my band. I'm well acquainted with her common sense approach to WLS surgery, band myths...but there are several more myths...such as "if you follow all the rules, you'll avoid serious complications"; "keeping your band loose will avoid slips" etc.

I agree that the 4cc band study is irrelevant, but your statement " Just because half the Lap Band patients are messing up their own bands with their own ignorant behavior isn't a reflection on those who actually follow the rules and do the right thing." is just unkind, and arrogant. As stated before, if you're so happy with your band and complication free, why are you here on the complications forum? What scares you about someone posting this information? If its irrelevant, readers can do their own research and figure that out. There's a wealth of information available today vs several years ago, when many of us were banded.
I'm sorry, but there are just too many variables within the banded community; the patients, doctors, hospitals, clinics, etc all have variables. Doctors protocols are very different in their dietary requirements pre and post op. There are huge differences in pre band testing requirements, screening for ability and willingness to comply.
Some band mills took advantage of people, taking their money, operating on them and charging exorbitant fees for follow up....and many of those patients have had complications and or failure to lose due to incompetence on the doctor's part.
Imagine that this OP is someone you care about, is truly struggling and looking for real support...few of the responses on this thread meet that need.

Since this is a complications forum, you're going to see negative posts. It seems to me that the OP had her band surgery with a band mill type of operation. I was fully informed prior to my surgery, but still have major complications, even though I was and am completely compliant. Stuff happens, bands DO fail, sometimes people fail, but you're reading a post complications forum...it's unreasonable to expect to find positive posts here.

Nana, sorry you got hammered. Apparently there are some who reside on this site who have nothing better to do than add insult to injury. PM me if you would like a link to a group that will actually support you.

I'm sorry, but I don't think accusing the OP of being a troll, guessing at her secret identity and generally putting her down is a positive reflection on this forum. It is a Complications forum, isn't it? I know who you might be referring to, and she isn't even a member of this site. This smells of Internet bullying to me.

Gastroparesis is basically paralysis of the stomach. food just sits there, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. It can come on after a viral infection, upper abdominal surgery. Often, the cause is unknown. Surgery, such as WLS or gallbladder surgery is often cited as a cause due to damage to the vagus nerve during those procedures. It is standard of care to protect the vagus nerve when doing surgery, but sometimes in isolating it and "protecting" it, it is injured.
I have mild gastroparesis and achalasia (esophageal disease). Both are uncomfortable and require lots of lifestyle changes, including eating a low Fiber, low residue diet (complete opposite of the Lapband diet). I find that green tea with essential peppermint oil, about 10 drops, helps with the spasms that can occur with these disorders.
I hope you find some relief soon. Best of luck to you.

Gastroparesis is basically paralysis of the stomach. food just sits there, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. It can come on after a viral infection, upper abdominal surgery. Often, the cause is unknown. Surgery, such as WLS or gallbladder surgery is often cited as a cause due to damage to the vagus nerve during those procedures. It is standard of care to protect the vagus nerve when doing surgery, but sometimes in isolating it and "protecting" it, it is injured.
I have mild gastroparesis and achalasia (esophageal disease). Both are uncomfortable and require lots of lifestyle changes, including eating a low Fiber, low residue diet (complete opposite of the Lapband diet). I find that green tea with essential peppermint oil, about 10 drops, helps with the spasms that can occur with these disorders.
I hope you find some relief soon. Best of luck to you.

I wish my esophageal dysmotility was flying "fast and loose" with the facts. If it was 11% in 1995 and according to the doctors I'm seeing, saying they're seeing a dramatic increase within the banded population, who knows what the actual % is today..,

My primary concern is with the frequency of follow-up visits to the physician. I've read that monthly visits are required. I travel a lot, and having to go monthly would be burdensome. Does a Lap Band recipient need to plan on monthly doctor visits forever? Is it just for the first few months, then tapers off?
With Lapband, aftercare is frequent and essential. A minimum of 4 visits to the bariatric surgeon the first year is pretty average and some require more frequent check-ups. If, for instance you get a fill, it's a bit too much, you need to go back to get some removed...if your surgeon is close by, no big deal. Many wls patients travel long distances for surgery and follow up care, so this can be a problem. After the first year, my doctor expects to see his patients for fills and an annual check of the band.
Next issue - I'm having a hard time getting a clear picture on the rate of complications. Some research suggests that an awfully high percentage of Lap Band patients end up with complications that require additional surgery to correct. However, various Internet user groups and polls of Lap Band patients tend to indicate that most people are quite happy with the Lap Band and glad they got it. This could be explained a couple of ways - 1. people feel that the Lap Band is worth getting despite the complications; or 2. complications are over-reported or over-emphasized.
Allergan's own site, cites a 25% removal rate. There is a trend within the bariatric community of growing concern over the impact of banding on the esophagus. In speaking to my doctor the other day about my esophageal issues, he told me he is and his affiliated hospital are considering discontinuing gastric banding and are recommending other procedures. He treats esophageal issues too, so is very concerned about cases like mine. If you look up "achalasia/gastric band" on sites such as Medscape, or just google it. Many of the studies that support gastric banding are old or limited in size. Like any other medical device, it can fail. I know my band is responsible for my situation and I was absolutely compliant. I'm having my band removed in June.
If you decide to do a band, get an esophageal manometry test. This test can detect asympyomatic esophagus issues that the band can aggravate causing debilitating and truly miserable problems.
It seems like a lot of people initially get a lap band, then end up having it removed and receive either a gastric sleeve procedure or gastric bypass. I'm not sure my weight and over-eating problems are quite severe enough for a gastric bypass, but I'm wondering if I should opt for a gastric sleeve. If I'm going to have surgery under general anesthesia anyway, might as well do something that's less likely to have complications, require less maintenance, and be more likely to work.
The problem with bands is that you could suffer damage, making a revision to another surgery more difficult if not impossible. One thing that is clear to me, knowing what I know today, is I would opt for a vsg. One surgery, yes it's irreversible, yes the intitial recovery is harder and surgical risk is a bit more, but once you get thru that, you're done.
My advice is to research every surgery, talk to doctors who do bands, sleeves and DS. Get the pros and cons and be open to hearing "negative nellies" and their message. The "rules" around banding are constantly evolving and vary from surgeon to surgeon...how can you be sure you are compliant when the guidelines you are to follow vary so much. Yes, there is a lot of room for patient non compliance, there is as much room for surgical practices to vary in their perception of what compliance is. Best of luck to you.
BTW, I've lost almost 100 lb....70 from the band (emptied a year ago) and almost 30 from band-induced achalasia. The 28th is my 3rd bandiversary, but sadly I won't be celebrating my weight loss, but I will be hoping to regain some esophageal function after my band is removed.

Unfortunately, this information is contained in the Bariatric Professionals portion of the website, which now requires a password and access code provided by Allergan. Much of the website has been rewritten, again, and as usual, intended to cover their a**. I've posted the link before. I'll see if I have the information pasted somewhere.

http://www.sutterpacific.org/bariatrics/conditions/lap-band-complications.html
This is the copy I was referring to. It's published here by a Bariatrics practice in San Francisco.

Lellow, thank you for your response. My thread was a message for a specific person on this site who's ego has gotten much too big for her britches, as her britches get smaller. Looks "like" message was received.

MsMaui : I am TRULY Sorry your going through such Pain with your lap Band,
I have to agree about postings made to be informational, BUT instead ,are attacked as "bashing" If you presented here and said Don't get a Band!! you will have These complications..to me that is bashing..but again this is a public forum and you have that right, either way. I also find it amusing that support only comes in Cliques. If these "support groups" were truly for support/information then one would think that the "powers that be" would also post ALL new and relevant information regarding the WLS' on this site,not just the things that have a positive spin..But Why bite the hand that feeds you!
Only TIME will give us the answers...I PRAY you find positive ones soon!!!
~~~~~~~~~REMEMBER KARMA IS A GOOD THING~~~~~~~

I've tried to tell my story here and been shot down over and over...I'm done. I suffer every hour with the damage done to me by this band. I swallow, it comes up, over and over again. I'm losing, but there's no celebration. I hurt, but there's no supportive words to help me cope. My voice doesn't matter. I've never met a more unsympathetic or insensitive group of people. I hope you never feel like I do right now, cause some of you will.
Have a good life.

I've tried to tell my story here and been shot down over and over...I'm done. I suffer every hour with the damage done to me by this band. I swallow, it comes up, over and over again. I'm losing, but there's no celebration. I hurt, but there's no supportive words to help me cope. My voice doesn't matter. I've never met a more unsympathetic or insensitive group of people. I hope you never feel like I do right now, cause some of you will.
Have a good life.

I've tried to tell my story here and been shot down over and over...I'm done. I suffer every hour with the damage done to me by this band. I swallow, it comes up, over and over again. I'm losing, but there's no celebration. I hurt, but there's no supportive words to help me cope. My voice doesn't matter. I've never met a more unsympathetic or insensitive group of people. I hope you never feel like I do right now, cause some of you will.
Have a good life.

Take your Mom and/or BF with you so they can get their questions answered as well. The probably are just afraid for you to have surgery.

I've tried to tell my story here and been shot down over and over...I'm done. I suffer every hour with the damage done to me by this band. I swallow, it comes up, over and over again. I'm losing, but there's no celebration. I hurt, but there's no supportive words to help me cope. My voice doesn't matter. I've never met a more unsympathetic or insensitive group of people. I hope you never feel like I do right now, cause some of you will.
Have a good life.

I have heard good and bad things about the band and I'm guessing its like winning the lotto there's a chance things will work out good an a chance they won't. Sorry to hear ur in pain one of my friends was telling me her friend had the same problem as u. Nothing worse than pain an frustration

I'm so sad to hear that you've given up...my heart goes out to you and the complications that you are dealing with as a result of your band. I would love to keep in touch with you, if you are interested. Just PM me.