Hi all,

I am getting banded in October but am concerned about the long term unknown effects... thoghts anyone?:peep:

Not sure what you mean.....

I hope the long term effect is a known one...weight loss and maintenance.

The band hasn't been around for lots of decades, so the long long term effect isn't known, but the band is supposed to last you a lifetime.

I have to second Betsyjane's post...long term effect: weightloss and improved health.

There isn't any cutting or reconfiguring of your organs, so I am not sure what long term effects there could be. Unlike RNY where you have malabsorption and Vitamin deficiencies to deal with. The band is supposed to stay in a lifetime (or at least a lot of years-like 20 or so). If it has to come out, the surgery would be minimally invasive like putting it in. Can you imagine in 20 years what we may be able to do for obesity? May not need any kind of surgery. So I'd rather have something that could just easily be taken out than lose feet of intestine (RNY) that I can't grow back.

I know what you're talking about, and yes I think about it sometimes.

I have a friend who wanted to get the laser eye surgery.. but he was afraid of what the long-term would be.. for example, are people who have it more likely to get eye cancer 40 years from now, etc?

And I think about that with the band.. in 30 years, will they find that the lap-band increases your risk of esophogeal cancer, or..whatever really, that's just an example I came up with off the top of my head.

But, I'm also young and impulsive, and I only care about 'right now'. Right now, I can finally walk again without feeling like a cripple! Right now, I'm going down in sizes, and am no longer having the panic-attack from knowing I am outgrowing size 28 which is the highest size all the clothing stores I shop at go to.

Time will tell, if there's any additional 'long term' effects, I guess I just don't want to think too hard about it

Unknown effects are still unknown... but as to the others....

Some bandsters (a very small portion) will have to have their Bands removed or unfilled due to:

*slippage

*GERD/Reflux

*Inability to tolerate a fill or desire to expand food choices

If your Band erodes (very very small percentage), you would have to have your Band removed.

The other possible consequence is that you will not lose enough weight and you will seek out a different surgery. (This could mean that you still lose the 50% of excess weight that would deem the Band a success, but did not lose the 90-100% that you wanted.) The good thing is that the Band has not altered you permanently in any way, so revisions are very easy.

I'm six years + out, I have not heard of Bandsters with osteoporosis, anemia, or other vitamin-related issues like you hear about with other WLS. I also do not know of any who have had hernia repairs...which seem to be quite common with RNYers and DSers.

Another way to think of things is that the long-term consequences of being morbidly obese are pretty clear... increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.... which means, you have an increased risk for an early death.

I have 2 long term effects to share....I ano longer take diabetic meds, and my osteoporosis has reversed itself!

It's reversible so if you have a problem down the line, have it taken out.

Yeah but what if they find out in 40 years, the presence of somethign on your stomach like that, rubbing against your stomach for 30 years kills the nerves in your stomach and makes it where you can no longer feel full.

Just another random example.

We can't know what they may find out in the 'long term'.

That's just a risk I was willing to take!

I've heard that along about the 5th year you'll wake up one morning and have an extra eye in the middle of your forehead. Well, okay, I'll deal with it....

Would I have lived another 40 years if I hadn't got banded and lost 90 lbs????

For what it's worth, I believe that any worry about what possibly could go wrong in the future is out weighed by the benifits of being healthy now. I believe I have added several years to my life in the past few months. Maybe I'll be wrong down the road, but I'll worry about those bridges if and when I have to cross them.

JMHO...

Bruce

I veiw it like this.............. IF down the road my band needs revision or replacement, I will say... "HEY DOC, hook me up with the NEW and IMPROVED version!"

Bands and tecniques to INSTALL the band are being improved upon all the time... just like my violet sistah.. Laura23 above... she had an issue come up and now because of HER port/tubing issue... her doc has now changed the placement of the ports for ALL OF HIS PATIENTS......

I LOVE MY BAND!

Bruce- No doubt, like I said I still CHOOSE the band, despite the unknown. But it's a real possibility that they could decide in 30-40 years that the band long-term caused ______.

But that's everything in the world.

Look at the debate about artificial sweeteners, egg beaters..Ecstasy use to be a drug for people with marriage problems, etc.

Such is life.

I personally don't find it enough scare to make me not want the band.. I would do it again But who knows what we find out later on.

And I have NO DOUBT, in 30 years the lap-band will be extremely outdated. They might even have the fat-be-gone pill that works by then!

Laura- I didn't mean to offend you, sorry if I did. Being a businessman, I make decisions based on the best available information at the time and not look back. You and I both made the decision to get a lapband which I believe was a good choice.

I guess my only point would be that some people wait for something better or to wait until a product is "time tested". Well, as you have stated, if you wait until it's time tested there will new technology, then you'll have to wait to see how it fairs.

I enjoyed my 8 track tapes for many years until cassettes came along!

I wish you good luck on your journey!

Bruce

Laura- I didn't mean to offend you, sorry if I did. Being a businessman, I make decisions based on the best available information at the time and not look back. You and I both made the decision to get a lapband which I believe was a good choice.

I guess my only point would be that some people wait for something better or to wait until a product is "time tested". Well, as you have stated, if you wait until it's time tested there will new technology, then you'll have to wait to see how it fairs.

I enjoyed my 8 track tapes for many years until cassettes came along!:plane:

I wish you good luck on your journey!

Bruce

Whats an 8 track ? :biggrin1: :biggrin1: I kid I kid lol

Just do it or die anyway from obesity related problems.