Surgery beware!!! Do not have lap band surgery!!! Don't think it will never happen to you because I was THAT PERSON saying it will NEVER happen to me!!! Please LISTEN!

Had lap band surgery, 3 days later ended up with blood clots in my legs and both lungs which normally kills you... well I lived... after 4 months finally got the clots to dissolve after multi med changes blood thinners etc... lost 130 pounds with no fills was loving it.. til December 2014 couldn't swallow food water nothing, for 29 days total couldn't swallow anything severe dehydration malnutrition had to be fed by tubes and IVs.. multiple swallowing tests later found out the band caused esophageal dysmotility which is a common complication. Which is basically where the band won't allow any food of fluid to go down your esophagus. Had to have the band removed. Blood thinners for life for the blood clot risk. Still can't swallow like a normal person. Never be the same. Brain damage and nerve damage from lack of fluid, Lots of other crap. Just a nightmare.

Ok gotcha.

I'm so sorry that happened to you but blood clots are a risk of any surgery. And the lap band, I feel, is riskier than other weight loss surgery because there is a foreign object in your body.

Are you thinking about getting another surgery later on down the road? I'd imagine the blood thinners for life will make that hard.

Good luck.

Im glad you posted your experience, its important to see all sides of a story. And while Im truly , truly sorry that you've had such a nightmare happen to you, I have to ask something. Knowing that obesity and all of its complications can kill you, and the problems you've had from the surgery can kill you, wouldn't you say that both situations carried a huge risk ? I dont see WLS surgery as a reason for you to "eat crow" for your family either. You did your research well, and had a surgery that could potentially save your life from obesity, as most of us did. I have no idea why your family was so against you doing a last resort surgery to get healthy (not skinny !), but thats another story for another day. I wish you well.

No I can never get another surgery. Any surgery i have to be in ICU on iv blood thinners before and after and closely monitored. The blood clots and thinners complicate everything clear down to birth control and even taking a simple ibuprofen. It all sucks. My family would disown me if I had another WLS. I wasn't "that" obese, I didn't have any of the norm medical issues that you get approved for, I have a connective tissue hypermobility disorder, and more weight on the spine more pain. I guess that's why I was approved. They thought the traditional way I've always lost weight before was the way to go again. I had lost tons of weight before several times but always gained it back, that's why I wanted the lifetime change with the band. To answer your question no i wouldn't have died from the amount of obesity, I basically just wanted to be thinner. It wasn't a life or death obesity situation to answer your question. I should have known.. i have the worst luck ever but I took a chance that didn't work out as planned. It's a constant battle for me every day when i think of the last 2+ years and everything I've been through..thanks all for the well wishes.

This isn't the forum to post your story.