ya know Ive been reading threads for over a year now and am all ready for surgery. Hears my worry. Im self pay and its took all i have to scrape up the thousands and thousands of $ to have it. From all these threads people seem to have more problems than success. Im so worried that somethings gonna happen. Erosion, port slippage ,band slippage,infection,just to name a few. what are the chances of nothing happening and what are the chances of something bad happening. Im getting scared.and im out of $

marmar, don't rely too much on the negative things you read here. realize it's part of human nature to pay more attention to the negative, and certainly to vocalize it.

i mean, how many people ask to speak to a manager because an employee did such an awesome job? i bet for every negative thing you read on here, there are a ton of positive things you don't read.

That makes sense I am gonna follow everything my doc says to a T and Pray Pray Pray

Marmar- I hear ya! I am self pay and it freaks me out to think of having to have another surgery to fix something or whatever. I cant afford it! Im already freaking out about the 300$ fills. My surgery has been SOOOOOOO stinkin smooth! No complications and not too many side affects besides gas and that didnt last long. Im 3.5 weeks post op and feel like nothing even happened! Jus make sure you have a great surgeon with a great repuation! You will be fine!

I was banded 12/07 and I've been so blessed on my journey. I did listen to my doctor and I had a great one. As you can see, I've lost a total of 128 lbs and I have maintained that for 11 months. I recently had to go in for a slight fill because I was getting hungry in between meals. All went well and hunger is gone again. Just remember this is a change of lifestyle. Any WLS is. If you're committed to that, there is a 97% chance of no complications. Don't get worried over how long it takes to get to your "sweet spot" because it will happen and if you convince your doctor to be too agressive in the fills it will mean unfills. Just be honest with your doctor and it will happen.

Guys, remember that the "squeaky wheel" gets the attention. You notice the negative stuff. AND for every negative poster on this or any other forum, there are hundreds of people who never, ever post on any forum on any subject; they are happily living their lives and enjoying the results of their surgeries.

Most common problems related to the band (PBing, getting stuck) are operator error. Remember to cut your food into bites about the size of a nickel, take a bite, put your fork down and chew it well, swallow and then pick up your fork and take another bite.

While the SOUND of an aggressive fill is good, the REALITY is that a very aggressive fill can likely mean that you will end up too tight and need an unfill. Go with your doctor's plan, make your regular appointments for fills and you'll get to your sweet spot soon enough.

There was one poster on this forum who had to have his band removed after just six weeks because he ended up being allergic to something in his band. How often does that happen? Even less than once in a very blue moon.

And, I hate to say it, some people got their bands expecting that they were basically buying weight loss. That they wouldn't have to change anything, just merrily go on along the road they were heading down before surgery and the weight would just magically disappear. They are very disappointed in their decisions about getting banded.

If you follow your doctor's instructions and accept that you will have to modify your bad behaviors, and regard your band as an awesome tool, you will more than likely do fine.

In the 1980 presidential election, it was thought prior to election day to be too close to call. Turned out they were talking to the vocal minority. That can be the case in many forums.

thanks everyone i feel alittle better

I had the same worries as you. I am also self-pay. I am now over two weeks out and have had NO problems so-far! I am still paranoid about a leaky band -- because I couldn't afford to have it replaced if it happened. BUT, I am not going to "borrow" trouble.

One thing that happens a lot of the times is we spend so much time on the boards before surgery just trying to find out every little thing. Then we have surgery and come back for a little while to talk to others who just had surgery too. Lastly, you no longer really need to come back because things are going so well you don't even think about it. But, if something goes bad, you immediately come back to the board...

I hope that made some sense. My point is that a lot of people who have no problems at all (like myself after 7 months) don't come back to the boards all that often, just because there is nothing to talk about :confused:

So, don't worry too muh!

I was just like you.......thinking so negatative that I wasted one year ( I am self pay). I was banded on July 3, 2009 and now I feel normal. The first 2 days were the only days I felt little sick but now I feel gret.

1. Find a good doctor even if his price is higher.

2. No matter what follow "orders"

Good luck,

Bindi

I had to pay $11,000 of the $16,000. I feel it has been a great choice and am happy with the money spent. I have lost approx 48 lbs since March 3rd, 2009. I will admit there are times (very few) that I wish I didn't have the band so I could eat all I want.....but then of course that is why I have the band. I won't tell you what to do but I am very happy with my choice. Good luck!