Hi all, I am in Melbourne Australia and scheduled to have my lap-band surgery on November 27th. I have been really excited and 100% positive of a successful outcome up until now. Reading some horror stories has allowed a hint of doubt to creep in.. I am trying to assess each story separately, and find a common thread for those that haven't worked so I know what to avoid.. I would be grateful for any suggestions and help along the way. I think I am doing everything I can to help myself by being well informed, accepting help and advice and being realistic about what to expect of myself and the band. Anyway, I have had appointments with a physician, a psychologist and will be seeing a dietician this week. I also need to have a sleep study in a couple of weeks as well. Anyway I want to wish everyone the best of luck both pre and post-op and hope for the best possible outcomes.

Hi there, Im glad to see you're doing your homework before being banded, I think some people don't research it well and then are totally surprised when things don't turn out . EVERYTHING can have a horror story, not everything is 100 % guaranteed, but I found if I followed the Dr.s rules the band worked very well !! Im VERY happy with my band, it gave me my life back, and I have a healthier,happier mind and body. Im very grateful for this 2nd chance ! Good luck to you !

I too have read some horror stories, but I try to balance that by reading successes. I just finished reading the Khaliah Ali book and found that pretty helpful.

One thing that has also helped me is back in 2007 I had major surgery, a hysterectomy, bladder mesh and 5 prolapses fixed, I already have a foreign body in there kind of holding me together. If I had listened to all the horror stories and not had some of this surgery I wouldn't have enjoyed all the benefits I have. Surgery is scary, it's a big step, but is it a risk worth taking?

So I think, what are the alternatives? Yet another stint at Weight Watchers? Doing nothing and carrying on with the breathlessness, everything I do so hard, compression socks, CPAP machine? Or do I be brave, move forward, and embrace the chance of a healthier future?

That has helped me.

Thanks guys. That is really helpful.

I'm a big believer in education and this site has been a godsend. I also read books outside of this forum. If you are scared about the complications of LapBand then do discuss them with your doctor. After all the doctor sees the good and the bad and will have an experienced opinion on what would be best for you. Also, until my final surgery scheduled date, my team asked me repeatedly if I was still opting for the band or for one of the other two surgeries. You can choose what is best for you and what your insurance will cover. I chose banding because I was willing and able to do he patient follow up and discipline the band forces you to do to be successful. Some people aren't suited to the maintenance requirements the band has, and they should not be banded. If you've researched and know yourself and are willing to do the legwork this requires then you should have great success. That said, sometimes things do go wrong even when people do things right. But I've read of complications with all of the surgeries. Good luck to you!