I have been looking around 4 different support groups in preparation for my upcoming surgery on 3/23. I am amazed at how many people have problems! It seems that everyone ends up "getting another band" or "re-banding" or "fixing their band", etc., etc.,etc. I am having serious doubts because I don't want to have to be in the hospital every other year fixing the band. I want to do it once, and that's it. Does anyone know of anyone who just had it put on and went on with a normal life, without having to rent a room at the hospital? I am getting real cold feet. Please, if anyone knows anything regarding this issue, let me know.

Thanks,

Diana

Diana: We often say here that the percentage of people reporting problems is much higher on boards. Those who got the band and went on with a normal life post on boards with less frequency than those with problems.

Percentage wise, I believe this board reflects the average rate, percentage wise, of what Inamed says. I don't know the number off the top of my head, sorry.

Good luck to you. It's good to be getting information from all types of experiences. When I got mine, there were fewer bandsters...thus, fewer problems.

Diana, I know how it looks, believe me. I've been hanging around this and other support groups for three years, and the truest thing anyone ever said is that people with problems are the most frequent posters on support groups.

MOST people come, get banded, lose weight, leave and don't come back at all. Those who DO come back do so because they are experiencing trouble of one sort or another. The majority of bandsters are off living their newly healthy lives.

I know it's hard to credit sometimes, but it's true. Ask your doctor for some referrals to their patients who AREN'T having problems. They're out there, I promise.