Well, after having prowled around a bunch of "complications" message boards for a few hours I have decided that I am hopeless and may one day lose my band. The only positive statements I read are from those that are like 3 months from having had the band. NONE for 3 or more years. Are there any success stories from someone who has had the band for more than 3 years??

I have had my band for 19 months and have not had a complication yet but am comvinced that I am going to have one. What if I gain back all my weight? THAT'S my biggest fear...

One postitive thing, I do not think that I will ever slip. My band feels secure and I am always able to get proper restriction. But am I one in a million?? Or will I be the next to fail??

Where can I find the success rate on the band?? Percentages %%%%??

Well, after having prowled around a bunch of "complications" message boards for a few hours I have decided that I am hopeless and may one day lose my band. The only positive statements I read are from those that are like 3 months from having had the band. NONE for 3 or more years. Are there any success stories from someone who has had the band for more than 3 years??

I have had my band for 19 months and have not had a complication yet but am comvinced that I am going to have one. What if I gain back all my weight? THAT'S my biggest fear...

One postitive thing, I do not think that I will ever slip. My band feels secure and I am always able to get proper restriction. But am I one in a million?? Or will I be the next to fail??

Where can I find the success rate on the band?? Percentages %%%%??

The band has only been done in USA for little over 3 years, so that's why not so many have had it more than that. However, Europe and Australia have been doing it for many years with great success. My understanding is it is the most popular and successful tool used over there.

Lots of healthy longer term bandsters here in Australia. Yes, there's problems with slips, I've not heard anything like as much about erosion amongst Australians as I seem to read about on these boards. Perhaps its something to do with technique, I dont know.

Hey there, so I don't have the numbers you're looking for, I'm sure they are out there, but just not from me. I did however want to say hello as our stats are VERY similar: banding date, starting weight, current weight, etc. Anyway, I completely relate, I constantly feel like, what if somehting happens to my band, what if I loose this tool i've come to rely on? etc. but at the end of the day, I try to just look at how far I've already come, and do everything I can while I have the band, treat my band well, and deal with the rest later.

Good luck, and keep in touch!

C

The band has only been done in USA for little over 3 years, so that's why not so many have had it more than that. However, Europe and Australia have been doing it for many years with great success. My understanding is it is the most popular and successful tool used over there.

Chrissie,

Hearing you say that had me feel 1 million times better. So that's why I never hear about long term success!!? Maybe I have a shot after all?? I will try to keep my hopes up!!

I need to find some Australian or European lapband boards to see the long term success. I just want to hear from someone with success long term.

Actually the band has been done in the US since at least 2001, which is in the enighborhood of 5 - 6 years, and possibly longer - 2001 is just the earliest case I personally know to be valid.

I know sisters who were banded in 2001. One has had complications (due, they believe, to the materials the bands were created with back then) and the other has not. The one with complications has gone from something like a 36 to a 0 or 2, the other has gone from 32ish to 14ish -- if I'm remembering correctly.

So depending on how you define "success" - both could be, or both could be failures, or it could be split.

Keep in mind that a lot of the people who come to these boards do it for support - either they're lonely and looking for friends, or have questions and aren't sure where to turn, or have problems and are looking for others in the same situation. Or countless other scenarios. Point being - any time that you're on a message board, you have to assume some element of the exception rather than the rule.

Look for a thread called "our own statistics" or something like that. If it's still around.

I saw this link today in some of the research I have done. I thought it may help others.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/cmsID,8222/mode,content/a,cms/

A

FDA actually approved the Lap-Band for use in the USA in June 2001. As with most new surgical techniques, it took surgeons awhile to get trained and get their technique perfected. Sharon Osbourne had her lap-band put in in 1999 and lost 125 pounds. The stats are out there, but you may have to search them out. And I think getting on an Australian or European message board is a good idea. Good luck.

You know, I understand that everyone has concerns. It seems like there are tons of posts on these boards about how do you tell if your band has slipped, how do you tell if you have erosion, etc., etc. My suggestion is, stop worrying about it. That is like spending every day worrying you are going to have a heart attack or that you are going to get in a wreck on your way to work. You know what, if it is going to happen, it is going to happen. No sense in spending hours worrying about it and bringing up the old blood pressure.

Like others have said, many of the people who are having longterm success with their bands are not on the boards posting, they are out living their lives. Now, I am still a fairly new bandster, however, I promise you that 10 years from now, I will still be here posting away because I am a computer geek and love being online.

I hope I have not offended anyone with my post. I know we all love our band and have gone through a lot to get them, and paid a lot for them and we want to keep them. I just don't see how constantly worrying about losing them can benefit us though. I prefer to focus on the positive as opposed to the negative.

No complications for me...I guess I am Not the one in a million. A good thing...my advice...obey the rules, and think positively and you shouldn't have a problem!

:welldone2: becky

you don't hear from the old banders becuse the are enjoying the skinny life

Hi,

I am an old bandster. 6/23/03, so I am 3 1/2 years out. I had some small complications (pouch dilation and some regain, but I am still a success)

Babs in TX

334/190 ish

Wow, Babs, it is so refreshing to hear from you...What success Congratulations.

becky

Four and a half years and very happy with my band. Had a healthy pregnancy and wonderful healthy baby during that time. Still losing weight. There are lots of success stories but the farther people get from surgery the less they tend to hang around the boards due to living their lives and doing all kinds of new and exciting things.

Here's a link to one of the individuals involved in the FDA trials. It was very inspiring to me and I hope it soothes your fears.

http://www.geocities.com/robinh26/

As others have said, once you're so far out from surgery the lapband and the lapband life becomes part of who you are. For the most part you don't really think about it, UNLESS you find yourself in need of support. You get out, you enjoy life and not to sound negative.........if you're here (statistically) you're here for a reason-ie, you think you're having a problem, you need a kick in the pants, etc.

I know as a person who's 20 months post op, I only come online to look and see if others are experience any of the struggles I do, to offer my "experienced" advice and to have others remind me that the cookie I ate after dinner wasn't the best choice.