I know this is a forum that is typically positive when it comes to the lapband surgery...but I want to know some of the negatives that people have experienced. An example of this is my brother....he went from 429 to 160 at his current weight (positive but see below)

He told me the other day...that once a week he hacks up this "black bile" which he doesn't like....and he misses the "taste of things". I know about band slippage, erosian ect....but these are the main negatives that people talk about.... SO PLEASE SHARE SOME HIDDEN NEGATIVES that fly under the radar when one is considering getting this procedure.

Thanks,

MD

After two dialtions of the esophagus due to band slipping and a replacement of the port due to my body encapsulating the port with scar tissue and not being able to make adjustments my band was removed yesterday, July 5, 2012. Hopefully my insurance will approve a revision to bypass. I had lost around 87 lbs when all this started and was very please with the band. I still need to lose another 100 lbs though so wish me luck. I guess the admins should delete my account not that I no longer have the band. Good luck to you all and if you do what your doctor tells you, you will lose the weight!

After two dialtions of the esophagus due to band slipping and a replacement of the port due to my body encapsulating the port with scar tissue and not being able to make adjustments my band was removed yesterday, July 5, 2012. Hopefully my insurance will approve a revision to bypass. I had lost around 87 lbs when all this started and was very please with the band. I still need to lose another 100 lbs though so wish me luck. I guess the admins should delete my account not that I no longer have the band. Good luck to you all and if you do what your doctor tells you, you will lose the weight!

In your opinion....what caused your issues with the band? Anything you did in your opinion.....or your body didn't adjust to the band.

Blessings,

After two dialtions of the esophagus due to band slipping and a replacement of the port due to my body encapsulating the port with scar tissue and not being able to make adjustments my band was removed yesterday, July 5, 2012. Hopefully my insurance will approve a revision to bypass. I had lost around 87 lbs when all this started and was very please with the band. I still need to lose another 100 lbs though so wish me luck. I guess the admins should delete my account not that I no longer have the band. Good luck to you all and if you do what your doctor tells you, you will lose the weight!

Personally, I don't think you should leave LBT. You can still be a valuable member of our community! You were very successful, and even if you weren't, if given in a positive manner, we all have something to contribute. Sharing your experiences can help others facing similar situations.

That said, I do hope you can get bypass approved and continue on in your journey to good health and weight loss!

I felt that I was successful with the band. I had pneumonia and the coughing caused the band to slip enough to cause irritation in the stomach and for the stomach to swell shut. I did not realize that it was swollen shut and but for the grace of God I would have aspirated. I could not eat much but I tried to eat a little and in the middle of the night while I was asleep it came up in my mouth. Scared me half to death..... Went to my surgeon and they did an upper GI and found a dilation in the esophagus. Took all the fluid out for six weeks and I gained about 30 lbs back. When it healed they tried to get some fluid back in the band and could not get in. Tried on 3 different occasions 1 normally, 1 with ultra sound and then with fluoroscope (pardon spelling) none of which were successful. The only thing we got were bent needles. Dr decided I must have a bad port. Surgery to replace port found port was find. My body had completely encapsulated the port with scar tissue. After digging all that out and putting in a new port in an entirely different place.. I was good for another 1.5 years... when the same thing happened. I was perfectly happy with the band and my results up until all this happened. My body just does not like a foreign object inside, I guess. If I did not know all of this would I go with the band again? Yes... However, now that I do know how my body reacts to it I have had it removed and in six weeks will try for a revision to the RYN bypass. Wish me luck.

I felt that I was successful with the band. I had pneumonia and the coughing caused the band to slip enough to cause irritation in the stomach and for the stomach to swell shut. I did not realize that it was swollen shut and but for the grace of God I would have aspirated. I could not eat much but I tried to eat a little and in the middle of the night while I was asleep it came up in my mouth. Scared me half to death..... Went to my surgeon and they did an upper GI and found a dilation in the esophagus. Took all the Fluid out for six weeks and I gained about 30 lbs back. When it healed they tried to get some fluid back in the band and could not get in. Tried on 3 different occasions 1 normally, 1 with ultra sound and then with fluoroscope (pardon spelling) none of which were successful. The only thing we got were bent needles. Dr decided I must have a bad port. Surgery to replace port found port was find. My body had completely encapsulated the port with scar tissue. After digging all that out and putting in a new port in an entirely different place.. I was good for another 1.5 years... when the same thing happened. I was perfectly happy with the band and my results up until all this happened. My body just does not like a foreign object inside, I guess. If I did not know all of this would I go with the band again? Yes... However, now that I do know how my body reacts to it I have had it removed and in six weeks will try for a revision to the RYN bypass. Wish me luck.

I concur with Cocobean....your knowledge and experience with the band is invaluable for those who are looking to make a decision with the band. Thank you for taking the time to share your history and experience.

Blessings to you going forward in your weightloss journey.

Warmest regard,

MD

Any other thoughts out there? Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts/

I am thankful for my band it does have its ups and downs but its all worth it in the end the negative side to me is going out to eat with friends u have to b really careful because your food can get stuck and it can be embarrasin there is food u want to eat that you realy wished you could but thats what got me in the situation im in so im thankful i cant eat like that anymore

I am thankful for my band it does have its ups and downs but its all worth it in the end the negative side to me is going out to eat with friends u have to b really careful because your food can get stuck and it can be embarrasin there is food u want to eat that you realy wished you could but thats what got me in the situation im in so im thankful i cant eat like that anymore

I would say my negatives are hair loss, not realizing what rapid weight loss would do to my body (flabbiness), and upper left chest pain (this comes on when I eat too fast and it's very painful). Other inconveniences...having to buy new clothes which can be expensive, having to exercise...lol...drinking expensive protein shakes...and for some reason increased alcohol intake although I don't know why other than I'm happy with my weight loss, can't eat as much so I end up drinking more...idk...but I am very happy with my decision and wouldn't change it for the world!