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Worst decision of my life - removed & still handicapped & chronic pain



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You should only do it if you have chronic illnesses that you know will kill you

I totally agree with you on this point and I think morbid obesity definitely falls into that category.

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Is it me or do we have a unusual amount of band bashing on here lately? I have sympathy for anyone who has health problems no matter why.. however, I must say that I have seen quite a few of these very negative statements lately... we all know the risks involved with any weight loss surgery.. I am here to say that the lapband has saved my life and has been the best decision I have ever made.. My health is 100% improved. no doubt about it... so, hopefully everyone will take these posts with a grain of salt and move towards your own goal of becoming healthier and happier.

I think there's a fine line between being disillusioned with the band and downright bashing it. There are definitely people that come in here and are like, dammit, my band slipped. Now I have to do something else! And they're looking for support. Then there are people that are downright bashing the band and act all superior. In my opinion, and I know it's MY opinion, the band is a valuable tool against obesity. Is it the perfect tool? No. In fact there is no perfect tool. I admit that I'm not as pleased with my band as others are and neither am I as dissatisfied as some either.

I hope people do not take my posts that discuss issues with the band as bashing because that's not my intent. I enjoy helping people in here that genuinely need and want help and are seeking support. People that just come in here to bash the band, or people in this forum, can go suck a big one. Coming in here to thumb their nose and saying that they are going somewhere is really just childishness and is probably best ignored. Frankly when they do that I think to myself, Good riddance!

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Me again. About 3-4 years ago my dermatologist didn't like a mole that was under the belly roll/fat whatever obese people call it. I went to a huge Boston hospital to have it removed. It was the size of a dime but to remove it properly, the incision was about 4". Well the incision got infected and turned into MRSA. I was on antibiotics for about a month until they got the right one. My husband would clean the incision with saline 2-3 times a day and apply some sh*t on it. That was a nothing mole.

The Band was major surgery for me. I had a hernia and my stomach was in the wrong place. So technically I had 3 surgeries in one and I did great-WHY?? because I followed my doctor and dietitian's rules.

If something did go wrong I would deal with it but not tell the world not to get the band. .

My oldest sound was born chicken breasted. Heart in the wrong place etc. He had to have his breast bone broken to repair the problem at 2 1/2. My husband asked the surgeon at Boston's Children's Hospital, what are the risks. His answer was, you can die crossing the street. Or since I am from Boston, go watch the wonderful Boston Marathon and get killed, lose a leg or legs etc.

Please try to understand we all care about the good, band and ugly (great name for a movie), but don't go bashing our new found lives and happiness.

Arlene-lover of the band

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Posts that relate difficulties and complications are educational and helpful, especially to those of us in the pre band stage. We need all of the facts, all of the information so that we can make fully informed decisions. However, posts that make blanket statements like, the Lap Band sucked for me, so it will suck for everyone! are counterproductive. Posts like that are fear mongering and to me, they feel a bit like a massive case of sour grapes. As if those who have not been successful, for whatever reason with a band don't want others to be successful with a band.

It's like anything else, YMMV.

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Getting the lap band was the worst decision of my life. You should only do it if you have chronic illnesses that you know will kill you -- not because "every obese person gets...."

I have had chronic pain, many many surgeries. Even with lap band removed - likely permanent abdominal wall injury. Couldn't lay down for 4 years. Now I can lay down just on right side.

I had one problem after another in that area, even after the lap-band was removed 6 months after it was put it. I was obese, sleep apnea - but had worked out 7-10 hours per week, had hiked, biked, active sex life. ALL OF THAT IS NOW GONE BECAUSE OF CONSEQUENCES OF LAP-BAND.

I now am on chronic pain meds, trying accomodations to have some type of life. Income dropped dramatically because now can only manage part-time work at best.

I NEVER should have gotten a lap-band. One should only get it when you are at the part that loss of life & income already happening - not just likely to happen,

I came back and re read your post, and honestly you sound kinda like many of the band bashers on Obesity Help that has actually destroyed that entire forum.

The reason I say that is this, you never shared with us what REALLY HAPPENED. You just say it destroyed your life and caused horrible complications.

I think what would be REALLY helpful to others is telling us EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED? Did your band slip, erode, did your body reject it?

After hearing about thousands of lap banders over the years on various boards that suffered horrible complications, when you really investigate why, it was really not the lap band but with other medical problems that caused complications with their band.

There are many contradictions with the band, heck having a hiatal hernia is a contradiction, which MANY obese patients have, but having the hernia repaired is a must in order for the band to work properly.

Also if you got your band removed in only 6 months, it could be surgeons error also.

There are warnings and precautions with the band, and knowing how to use it properly helps many from complications or failures or no weight loss.

I think it's ok to tell your story but it would be more credible and beneficial if you told us exactly what happened, instead of saying the band was the worst thing you've ever done.

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I came back and re read your post, and honestly you sound kinda like many of the band bashers on Obesity Help that has actually destroyed that entire forum.

The reason I say that is this, you never shared with us what REALLY HAPPENED. You just say it destroyed your life and caused horrible complications.

I think what would be REALLY helpful to others is telling us EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED? Did your band slip, erode, did your body reject it?

After hearing about thousands of lap banders over the years on various boards that suffered horrible complications, when you really investigate why, it was really not the lap band but with other medical problems that caused complications with their band.

There are many contradictions with the band, heck having a hiatal hernia is a contradiction, which MANY obese patients have, but having the hernia repaired is a must in order for the band to work properly.

Also if you got your band removed in only 6 months, it could be surgeons error also.

There are warnings and precautions with the band, and knowing how to use it properly helps many from complications or failures or no weight loss.

I think it's ok to tell your story but it would be more credible and beneficial if you told us exactly what happened, instead of saying the band was the worst thing you've ever done.

Thank You....spoken like a true veteran....

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I hope that you get the medical attention that you need and heal quickly. I'm very sorry that you've had so many medical problems. I'm sorry You were the small percentage that they warn us all about when getting the band.

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The band sucks it sucks cause I dident get it sooner I've lost 50bls in like 2 months my sleep apnia has improved I walk better I breath better I can see my man bits again well allmost lol I've followed the rules 100 persent that my docs gave me and its working before I had this band I couldent walk well due 2 a pine injury witch obesity made ten times worse now I walk round with a stick but another 50bls and I'll run so sorry but

BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE...

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You got it Blake! Keep on that smooth road ahead, miss the potholes and dead ends, watch for curves and the steep hills and the valleys and interstate will be great. . . . . . . . . . . . . (sorry I got carried away.) I also had bad feet, walked slowly, high blood pressure, diabetes and etc. so my band is my saviour. Congrats to you :)

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Shortness of breath, bad back, knees shot, humdrum in a rut sleep apnea and high bp. Life aunt perfect since the band and 45 lbs loss but a lot closer. I couldn't even to stand to look at my shadow let alone a mirror. But this is changing. WLS might not be for everyone but definitely was for me.

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You have certainly had your share of troubles and certainly have more than just physical pain.

For Me the Lap band has indeed been a life saver, I have had more than one relatives die because of obese related issues. I did not want to be one of them.

I no longer take meds for diabetes, no longer have knee and back pains, no longer have sleep apnea, no longer have breathing problems, no longer have chronic bronchitis twice a year,

Every surgery has risks and no matter what WLS you chose it may or not be the correct choice for you. I have known some individuals who have had various WLS from the Lap band, the sleeve, and the Gastric bypass and they have been very successful along with some who have gained all the weight back and more.

Your situation does encourages those who have not made the decision to have WLS to make sure that the benefits to be had far outweigh the risks.

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It drives me crazy that people think the band is a cure!!!! It is a tool that requires good food choices ... Exercise ... And a person coming to terms with the reasons they are obese!!! Follow the rules and MOST of the time it works! I am very sorry that you had these horrible complications but look around at these wonderful people in this forum and on this feed! They know about sacrifice ... Determination... Failure and success!! Good luck to you!

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I didn't read all of the posts here, but I just wanted to say thank you (to the original poster) for sharing your story. I came to this site to hear the good and the bad so I know the risks. I have been doing a lot of research and am working with several health care professionals on my journey. I think personally for me that the good outweighs the bad, especially with all the problems I am beginning to have due to my obesity. I also work out several times a week, have an active job, and eat healthy foods. My issue is that I am always hungry and I over eat. I am trying to work on that now and think that the band will help me out tremendously. From what I have seen several people post, most errors are either because the patient did not follow rules or because he or she had a poor physician. There is always a risk with bariatric surgery, but I know the physician and facility I am attending are well known for bariatric surgeries. I still thank you for sharing because people who are considering the procedure need to hear it all and make sure it is right for them.

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