Ive come to feel like this support forum is only for saying keep up the good work and keep your chin up things will get better. WEll If all were good with this band then we wouldnt need support forums. Someone said that I should have checked out things better before I had my band , well if I would have checked in this support forum , I would have had an unrealistic view of how and what things are. In here all is well and will get well, Thats not real life with the band. Maybe for some people its all been great and im glad for them but there are some people out there that are misinformed and should hear the whole truth.

I think there are lots of negative posts. But two things:

Some people who have not been banded yet and bandsters who have not experienced problems and are doing well, tend to ignore or be in denial that problems exist.

And people who are having problems and are not happy with their band experience are actively shut down by some folks who just can not identify.

I am speaking in generalities. I think there is plenty of support to go around for those who are doing well and those who are not. But there is always going to be a faction on either side who do not want to hear what the other side has to say.

If you surf all the threads you will find all the info , pro and con, about life with the band. Are you having a bad time with yours? I have been very happy with mine and am really glad I got it. Donna

Ive come to feel like this support forum is only for saying keep up the good work and keep your chin up things will get better. WEll If all were good with this band then we wouldnt need support forums. Someone said that I should have checked out things better before I had my band , well if I would have checked in this support forum , I would have had an unrealistic view of how and what things are. In here all is well and will get well, Thats not real life with the band. Maybe for some people its all been great and im glad for them but there are some people out there that are misinformed and should hear the whole truth.

Rebandit - What is your experience with the band what are you upset about. Misinformed about what - and what is your whole truth. I don't understand it it was all good we wouldn't need a support forum. WW - Jenny Craig - all weight loss programs have a support forum - I really would like to know what you are upset about ... Please vent your frustrations...

Musta been pms ing when i wrote this sorry guys. What do you think my husband must feel like when im like that?? I know I was being a s***t head.

I feel the opposite ... it seems to me like there's more negative stuff posted. That doesn't bother me because I understand that I have been very fortunate in that my band journey has been very uneventful so far.

People need a place to talk threw what they are experiencing and it seems like more and more doctors just aren't fully informing people of what to expect with the band. "I'm 2 weeks out from surgery and so hungry! It feels like I can eat anything just like before. What is wrong with me?" Umm .. It wasn’t explained to you how the band works and the fill process?

Sometimes I even feel a little guilty about my success so far (ok, not THAT guilty because I am feeling and looking awesome!! hehe) when it seems so many others are struggling.

Musta been pms ing when i wrote this sorry guys. What do you think my husband must feel like when im like that?? I know I was being a s***t head.

Rebandit - Some days we all are sh*theads - that's ok ... But I think you still have a story to tell - we are here for you...

I feel the opposite ... it seems to me like there's more negative stuff posted. That doesn't bother me because I understand that I have been very fortunate in that my band journey has been very uneventful so far.

People need a place to talk threw what they are experiencing and it seems like more and more doctors just aren't fully informing people of what to expect with the band. "I'm 2 weeks out from surgery and so hungry! It feels like I can eat anything just like before. What is wrong with me?" Umm .. It wasn’t explained to you how the band works and the fill process?

Sometimes I even feel a little guilty about my success so far (ok, not THAT guilty because I am feeling and looking awesome!! hehe) when it seems so many others are struggling.

Candle - I don't think there is that much negative stuff posted - I agree that people aren't really informed about the band - and even if they know it's just a tool and the real work is up to them - they think in the back of their head that it is the magic cure to all their food issues.

I don't feel guilty about my success cuz i know i am working hard at this by eating healthy - exercising etc.. This is a lifetime lifesytle change for me - I think I finally got it - my band is my interior motivator..

I agree, I don't feel this forum is all or overwhelmingly negative. I wouldn't still be here if it was.

I've learned a lot more from this site than any other source, INCLUDING my doctor's office. That's why I'm always surprised when I hear people say (specially people that have been around here for awhile) that they weren't aware of the possible complications.

People need a place to talk threw what they are experiencing and it seems like more and more doctors just aren't fully informing people of what to expect with the band. "I'm 2 weeks out from surgery and so hungry! It feels like I can eat anything just like before. What is wrong with me?" Umm .. It wasn’t explained to you how the band works and the fill process?

More then likely it was explained to them since most surgeons require you go to seminars then personally talk to the patient about everything all over again. And then send home documentation. But allot of times I think people don't listen, or don't quite understand an are afraid/embarrased for whatever reason to speak up and say "I don't get it can you explain this to me more?"

You will also have people that only hear what they want to hear and ignore everything else. Or take their *friends/relatives* experiences/opinions to heart as fact and then don't listen to the staff/surgeon.

Then there are the type who their personal doctors recommends the surgery and they just do it without really truly being informed or doing research past their own doctors words.