newbie - how bad are the side effects?

[nikki c 16]

I've been reading multiple boards and have some concerns about the band after reading the VSG board. I am planning on having the band with plication, but I keep hearing horror stories about the side effects of the band. Some are saying they had vomiting every day, PB, sliming, can't eat out because of vomiting, etc. I see a lot of the same posters (many of whom I believe to have an anti-lapband agenda); I don't think there are many who have serious issues like these, but I am curious about the frequency and severity of the nasty stuff.

I am pretty tough and I'm not scared of some discomfort as long as I get the results I need. So far, I'm still planning on a banded plication, just want the straight facts. Thanks!

Nikki

[TKW 501]

I have little or no complications aside from the occasional "stuck" episode which usually is my own fault brought on by eating too fast. The eating process has been so much easier than i thought it was going to be.

I, personally, could not be happier!

[Rachel412 116]

I think people who tend to have a lot of stuck episodes, PBing, vomiting are people who prefer to keep their bands very tight-- too tight. Of course there are also people who have problems from day one with the band- you just never know how your body will handle it until you get it.

[Jenn1214 120]

I'm about two months out from surgery and I have not vomited, slimed or gotten stuck once (knock on wood!). I was very afraid of these side effects too because I know someone who keeps his band way too tight and he kept telling me his horror stories. So far so good for me!

[nikki c 16]

thanks for the feedback, guys! I'm not afraid of the occasional issue, daily kinda freaks me out tho!

I do think a lot of the ppl who posted the nightmarish stories are either not following the diet properly or just have issue with adapting to the lifestyle (eating slower, chewing well, fills, etc). That being said, I have no experience with it and don't really know what i'm talking about, lol.

[vickyd 24]

I am 5 months out from surgery and I have been stuck a few times (my own fault for eating too fast or not chewing enough) and have PBd 3 times (again, my own fault). I have only had 1 full and there really aren't any foods that I tolerate (other than dry meat)...eating out isn't an issue at all and as long as you don't keep your band too tight and are careful with eating slowly then you shouldn't have frequent issues with being stuck and PBing.

[pkjjm31049 0]

I've been reading multiple boards and have some concerns about the band after reading the VSG board. I am planning on having the band with plication, but I keep hearing horror stories about the side effects of the band. Some are saying they had vomiting every day, PB, sliming, can't eat out because of vomiting, etc. I see a lot of the same posters (many of whom I believe to have an anti-lapband agenda); I don't think there are many who have serious issues like these, but I am curious about the frequency and severity of the nasty stuff.

I am pretty tough and I'm not scared of some discomfort as long as I get the results I need. So far, I'm still planning on a banded plication, just want the straight facts. Thanks!

Nikki

Nikki,

You are not alone feeling this way because I am just starting out also and i am afraid of all the horror stories also,when are you planning on getting your surgery done?I am hoping end of June for me.Good Luck..and I love this place you can find out so much info!!

[Soundman999 3]

If I can do it, so can you!!

I'm a man who is 5 1/2 months post op and down 56 pounds.

Feel awesome!

Been stuck 3 times...all my fault!!!

Slow down and chew, chew, chew!

We eat out often and have not had any problems.

Take the whole process slow.

[Dave_NW 92]

Nikki, I agree with previous posters. Getting stuck and such are usually something you can prevent if you eat right, follow the rules, and don't get in a rush. In five months since my surgery I've only gotten stuck to the point of sliming twice. Once was while eating salsa and chips at a Mexican restaurant (and not chewing properly.) The other was while eating raw broccoli (and not chewing properly.) In both cases it was my own fault. I have not vomited once since my surgery.

As an aside, I'm wondering what benefit is there to plication with a band? My understanding of plication is they roll the stomach to make a smaller stomach capacity. If the band is working right, it will restrict the volume of food that can be eaten easily anyhow. So what purpose does the plication serve? Seems like a lot of extra effort for not a lot of results. Can you please educate me?

Dave

[amberakamom 13]

I was banded 4 months ago and I have never slimed, puked, pb'd or been stuck, but I have lost 40 pounds!

[Jachut 487]

If you manage your band well, meaning you dont overtighten it in the mistaken belief that this will bring incredible weight loss - the side effects are very minor and only occasional. I'd say with a fairly loose band, I've thrown up or been majorly stuck about 15 times in five years, but the little daily "ooh, what's that, better hold off that bite a minute" or the slight "ick, stuck, wonder if this is going to go on through or come up and I hope nobody else has noticed that I've stopped eating/look uncomfortable/cant talk because my voice sounds weird" signs of a slight blockage are an almost daily event for me, and eating is never just easy, comfortable and thoughtless like it used to be. However, bad as that might sound, it becomes your new normal and you truly do get used to it. Its only hindsight that make me able to identify that as my band was unfilled six months ago for another surgery. I have noticed how fast I eat now, and how it just disappears down my cakehole with little consciousness from me! I did not find life with a filled band at all difficult, embarrassing or uncomfortable and even if I did (within reason) I would trade that a million times over for the pain of being obese.

Daily pain, vomiting, inablity to eat a variety of foods, inablity to take in enough food to get you through the day, having to rely on liquid calories - THAT is not normal but it is what a lot of people have for a variety of reasons a) they're one of the unfortunate minority in which there's a problem (slippage, erosion, simple intolerance of the band, hernias that cause problems etc), they're too tight or c) they are not able to adjust their eating habits appropriately. The only thing there that is not within your control is a). The other two are totally your domain.

[nikki c 16]

Nikki, I agree with previous posters. Getting stuck and such are usually something you can prevent if you eat right, follow the rules, and don't get in a rush. In five months since my surgery I've only gotten stuck to the point of sliming twice. Once was while eating salsa and chips at a Mexican restaurant (and not chewing properly.) The other was while eating raw broccoli (and not chewing properly.) In both cases it was my own fault. I have not vomited once since my surgery.

As an aside, I'm wondering what benefit is there to plication with a band? My understanding of plication is they roll the stomach to make a smaller stomach capacity. If the band is working right, it will restrict the volume of food that can be eaten easily anyhow. So what purpose does the plication serve? Seems like a lot of extra effort for not a lot of results. Can you please educate me?

Dave

Dave,

The plication is much like a sleeve without the removal of the stomach or stapling. It is a backup in case I have problems with the band. Also, the "sleeving" has a faster weight loss result. I end up losing the weight faster than with solely the band, and have the benefit of a fill if I have stalled weight loss or the plication is unsuccessful. Over time many sleeve patients have a larger stomach capacity and are able to eat more than they should. Should this happen, the band can be used to correct intake. Plication also is an added reinforcement to band slippage - they are MUCH more likely to stay in place if the stomach is plicated.

My surgeon loves this surgery and has had excellent results with the patients who have had it. I feel like I'm gonna be under the knife anyway, why not have some extra reinforcement?

Since reading the VGS boards, I've also seen several ppl who have had to remove their band for a variety of reasons and have had to wait several months to get back in to be sleeved. If I do have to have the band removed (which I don't foresee), I won't have to wait months on end to have a revision surgery, it'll already be done! How scary is it to thin k of losing you band and gaining all that weight back waiting for surgery!? I'd be so mad!

[nikki c 16]

Nikki,

You are not alone feeling this way because I am just starting out also and i am afraid of all the horror stories also,when are you planning on getting your surgery done?I am hoping end of June for me.Good Luck..and I love this place you can find out so much info!!

I met with my doctor yesterday and feel much more comfortable with my decision. I'm have my second (3rd really) visit next Wednesday and at that time will schedule my surgery. Hopefully June! We can be band buddies! o)

[nikki c 16]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys! I figured it was a lot to do with the speed of eating, what is being eaten, and how well it's chewed. This assuaged a lot of my fears )

[mattie7632 24]

Take the negative into consideration, but also be aware that most people don't have problems that aren't self induced. The times that I "vomit" really are simply because I haven't chewed enough or ate too fast.