Ok, on my brief break from LBT as it was updated, I meandered onto some other WLS "support" sites and was kind of shocked to see a LOT of people talking horribly about the band and being venomous to bandsters who were being positive about their bands. I didn't notice any wide spread hate for any other surgery method. What is up with that? I read things like everyone who gets the band will have to have multiple surgeries leading up to removal after 7 years and some bad complications. Has anyone noticed this before? Are there any plus 7 year bandsters out there who don't hate life? I kinda got freaked out and it made me worried about my own future with the band. Thoughts?

I am banded over 10 years and am alive and healthy and have had no problem with my band. The only "band" problem that I have encountered is the same one anyone would have if you choose not to stay on task of weight re-gain. I would hope everyone does their pre-surgery research to decide what kind or even IF WLS is the way to go. There are no magic bullets! Repeat NO MAGIC BULLETS. I lost weight well and steadily and reached my goal and then hit an emotional rollercoaster and tried as hard to put the weight back on as I did to take it off a few years into my journey. I totally believe that the band is an excellent tool to assist with good eating habits and exercise. No matter what a person decides it takes dedication andd focus. A lot of us are more familiar with being a caretaker than taking care of ourself. I have addressed the emotional component to my weight gain and am back on track. My long term caution to anyone considering the band or newly banded is to NOT DEPEND ON FILLS as being the total answer to losing weight. I believe the less fills the better. Using your band as a tool, listening to your body's "full" signals (and you will acquire some with the band) and staying focused on living a healthy lifestyle will take you where you want to be. Seriously, don't waste your time on any "haters".

5.5 years with the lapband and still love it. And I guess you see haters all over the internet, because if you don't have problems, why would you go looking to talk about nothing?

I got a band replacement earlier this year because of a leak, and I returned to this site. And already Im back at goal and maintaining, and I'm drifting away. So what you see on the internet is NOT representative of the bandster population. I think that's something to keep in mind.

I don't argue with those who bash the band anymore because everyone is entitled to their opinion based on their experiences, but they have no right to MY opinion. I am proof the band works, works well and provides good long term prognosis. I don't need to argue my reality with someone who refuses to accept it.

You guys don't even need us to hate you! You have enough trouble within your own group!!

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/287744-know-it-alls/?fromsearch=1

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/283375-poll-do-you-let-food-sit-in-your-esophagus-or-wash-it-down-with-liquids/?fromsearch=1

Geeze it's like watching a soap opera..

"As the lapband turns"

pretty damned embarrassing if you ask me.....

as the lap band turns is funny as hell though

pretty damned embarrassing if you ask me..... as the lap band turns is funny as hell though

Lol! Don't worry, we have about one epic fight a week... And very, I mean VERY occasionally you will see my ugly mug in the middle of it

Lol! Don't worry, we have about one epic fight a week... And very, I mean VERY occasionally you will see my ugly mug in the middle of it

Everyone loves drama.... keeps it real, lol.

I am banded over 10 years and am alive and healthy and have had no problem with my band. The only "band" problem that I have encountered is the same one anyone would have if you choose not to stay on task of weight re-gain. I would hope everyone does their pre-surgery research to decide what kind or even IF WLS is the way to go. There are no magic bullets! Repeat NO MAGIC BULLETS. I lost weight well and steadily and reached my goal and then hit an emotional rollercoaster and tried as hard to put the weight back on as I did to take it off a few years into my journey. I totally believe that the band is an excellent tool to assist with good eating habits and exercise. No matter what a person decides it takes dedication andd focus. A lot of us are more familiar with being a caretaker than taking care of ourself. I have addressed the emotional component to my weight gain and am back on track. My long term caution to anyone considering the band or newly banded is to NOT DEPEND ON FILLS as being the total answer to losing weight. I believe the less fills the better. Using your band as a tool, listening to your body's "full" signals (and you will acquire some with the band) and staying focused on living a healthy lifestyle will take you where you want to be. Seriously, don't waste your time on any "haters".

First, congratulations on your success....

2nd, everyone has a different experience with WLS, and no one way necessarily means it is the only way...

You say the Lap band surgery is NOT a magic bullet, you are afraid of gaining the weight back, an you do not depend on fills.....

Well there is a flip side to every story, because I DO believe the band IS a Magic Bullet...easiest thing I could have ever done....

I DO NOT fear gaining any of my weight back. If anything, I don't see how it is even possible because it is impossible for me to over eat...believe me, I tried....

I also DO Rely on fills...my Dr. and I believe the band was designed to function a certain way, and only with the appropriate # of fills, band adjustments, can that optimum point be reached...I believe I have found that magic Place....

The band is adjustable....people who decide to go with little adjustment, then must rely on their own will power and determination,

People like me, who have failed at every diet I have ever attempted over the last 30 years, rely on the band, with adjustments to do for me what I am unable to do on my own....

And that is the difference between all lap band patients...how much their band is adjusted, and how much they rely on their hard work, or how much they let the band do the work.

Is one right and the other wrong? Not at all...it all comes down to one's own personal choice...and it is easy to see just how different everyone's approach and comfort level is through all the variations of how people reach their success....you can't argue with first hand experience.

Like I said, for myself, I stink at loosing weight,have no will power or self control...my problem is/was I could not stop over eating.......I now rely on the band to do all that for me, giving me perfect portion control, and taking away all my hunger and cravings 24 hrs. a day...and thus far it has....in my case, it IS a Magic Bullet....with little or no effort or struggling on my part at all.....

Now if I were to get even the slightest un-fill, that balance would be lost and the entire make-up would change for me....and I probably would be able to over eat, and my hunger would return...I would then have to work at it and always have that fear of failing, as I did so many times before.

I was recently banned from a site (I didn't realize it was a pro-fat site) because I posted that I loved my band. Immediately following my post, band-haters started tearing me apart: "You are only 8 months post-op. Come back here in a couple of years and tell us then what a failure the band is," etc etc. When I tried to log back in to explain politely that I had a right to love my band, just as they had a right to hate successful banders, I found the admin had banned me!

Lesson learned. Never venture into unknown forum waters.

Shel, I just have to say this is hilarious. Sounds like the plot for a funny play -- WLS enthusiast unwittingly stumbles on to a pro-fat site!

Well, B-52 you sort of got what I said right even though you did post the direct quote. I said not to TOTALLY depend on fills and gaining weight is possible if you don't stay on task speaking of my personal experience. It sounds like you have been very diligent with everything. That is awesome! What I was meaning by the less fills the better is I know many people who are constantly getting filled, then un-filled and have lots of problems. They don't seem to give their bodies and minds time to make the adjustment to the help the band is affording them. I should have been more specific saying to give the adjustment a chance and continue doing the things we know we should. I would still maintain that there are no magic bullets and that the band is an extremely useful tool. It sounds like you have totally used the band the way it is designed to be used. I really believe we are saying the same thing only in a little different way

we all want to lose weight and get healthy...whichever WLS we choose, i wish everyone luck

no one is better than the other...

Right on, Sister Soldier!

The war on obesity is tough enough without infighting over which surgery is better and who made the right decision and who didn't. Band, sleeve, bypass or switch we should be uplifting and supporting, not ripping one another to shreds.

Hey, whatever works. I love my band so far. I know I still have to follow rules but I have help now. It took this to show me my obesity was never about physical hunger.

we all want to lose weight and get healthy...whichever WLS we choose, i wish everyone luck no one is better than the other...

couldn't have said it any better .. Same reason there are 9635 shades of nail polish... Different strokes for different folks

Really like to read up on veteran bandsters. We are all coming to this site to discuss our differences AND similarities...my band has been a successful tool. But I find I have to put together the pieces of my health and weight loss.

Working out. Mostly eating right. Limiting alcohol as it seems add calories ... Ok sometimes SO worth it after a long week.

My biggest issue is I cannot seem to eat in the AM. Protein drink or bar seems about it. My band just seems so tight till the afternoon .( Still working on this issue seven years out. Still learning. )With this forums help I hear about others too. Thank you to all

When I started this whole process my weight center did not even offer the Sleeve as an option and in fact I didn't know anything about it. I chose Band over Bypass because I didn't want my insides re-routed and being nearly 500lbs I thought my body had more of a chance at recovery with the band.

Honestly, at this point if something were to happen to my band it would be a difficult decision on whether I would revise to the Sleeve or go back to another band. Obviously the scenario would have to be something that even gives me that choice.

I have a very open mind about it all at this point and now that I am experienced.

Really like to read up on veteran bandsters. We are all coming to this site to discuss our differences AND similarities...my band has been a successful tool. But I find I have to put together the pieces of my health and weight loss.

Working out. Mostly eating right. Limiting alcohol as it seems add calories ... Ok sometimes SO worth it after a long week.

My biggest issue is I cannot seem to eat in the AM. Protein drink or bar seems about it. My band just seems so tight till the afternoon .( Still working on this issue seven years out. Still learning. )With this forums help I hear about others too. Thank you to all

I gave up and dismissed trying to eat a solid breakfast....I make a home made high protein smoothie in my blender with the fruit and other additives every morning....35gm of protein, plus lots of other good stuff like anti-oxidents, omega acids, etc......good to go all day long...

What could I possible eat, and how much, to get the same benefits?

I know MANY people who say the same thing...their band is always tightest in the morning...there are many theories why, but that's another discussion...

I do not hate the band, but I do hate MY band. I got banded in April 2009 and was successful in losing 60+ pounds and getting down to my lowest adult weight, but I really felt as if it came at a great cost to my health. Prior to the band I lost 85 pounds over 2+ years through diet and exercise and over about 4 months 20 came creeping back on. A couple of my friends had recently gone for consults regarding WLS and I decided to get more information. The surgeons in my area were only doing RnY and bands at the time. Bypass surgery seemed much more drastic than what I needed. I didn't like the idea of what nutrition I took in "food wise" not being absorbed by my body. I also knew that weight loss was much more drastic with bypass and the band seemed more like a "good tool" to keep me focused on my current weight loss path. The idea being that it would just help me reduce the amount I took in. In the beginning all went well. But about 4 months in I fell and hurt myself and was unable to workout (walking only and no long distances.) While recuperating I was keeping up with my fills and at about 6 month in I was filled up to 6 ccs in my 10 cc band. The minute I hit 6 ccs I starting having problems with my ability to get many foods down regardless of how much I chewed. This included most vegetables and meats. In order to get vegetables in I had to cook them within an inch of their life. Most of my Protein I had to get through Protein shakes and low-fat dairy options. I was not happy. I existed this way for several months. Finally, I went to the surgeon who removed 1/4 cc and it was slightly better, but it was never the same. My surgeon and I went back and forth filling and taking Fluid out of my band to find that "sweet spot," but we could never find it. Through this process I developed new disturbing eating habits that I am still working through. Once I was cleared by the doctor I went back to the gym, but my energy level was ridiculous. I actually almost passed out several times. I was completely discouraged. I lost a ton of muscle mass and felt more "out of shape" than I had pre-surgery although I was 60lbs lighter.

Today, I still have my band. I am still at 5.75 ccs in my band, and as of two days ago I am almost 20lbs over my pre-surgery weight. One of my other friends who received her band shortly before I did had similar issues with and has had her band removed. My other friend, is still banded and while she has had some struggles has successfully lost about 100 pounds and kept it off. She is very satisfied with her band. I am so happy for her. She has worked very hard to get to this point and I am glad she found success with her band. I am working hard at trying not to see my experience with MY band as a failure. It is a tool, but it wasn't the one for me. As of two days ago I have started the process to get a revision of my band to a sleeve. I came on this forum through my research into this process. I have read all of the research and medical information but I wanted to get thoughts from actual WLS patients about their successes and struggles. I haven't really spent much time looking at the Lap-Band forums as I am trying to move forward, but there is still a part of me that wants to figure out if there was more I could have done and if others continue to struggle as I have.

I hope that nobody is offended by this post. It was not my intention to cause drama. I am still trying to figure out where I belong on this website. This was the first thread that hit home for me. Thank you for allowing me to contribute.