Hi everyone! I'm new here and not banded yet. I've been reading all of your great posts and am having trouble finding any horror stories concerning any part of your experiences. Tell me, has anyone had a bad experience? Thanks.

I think there is a thread. Mine was far from a horror story. The Bariatric process and personnel were great, but the Anesthesia team broke two of my crowns when they put the breathing tube in or took it out. Later they tried to deny it and even tried to cover it up. Fortunately I had just visited the dentist a week before surgery so she wrote a long letter on what condition my teeth were in before and after surgery. She also stated that it would have taken excessive effort to do that kind of damage. Only then did the hospital relent and pay for the repair of my teeth.

Don't know what kind of "horror" you're looking for. Most band problems are limited to slippage and erosion, and even that is a somewhat small statistic. There was one guy on here who actually had to have his band removed because he was allergic to a component of the device. Many docs actually stitch the band into place to precent slippage and if it does slip, often a return to a liquid diet can move it back into place and that is the first treatment for slippage.

There are people who have their band removed for a variety of reasons but you can read some about those choices here on this website.

For almost all of us, the surgery is a simple, short out-patient procedure; for some it's an overnight stay. The worst side effect I experienced was gas in my abdominatl cavity following surgery (they pump carbon dioxide into you to make a little more working apce) and that has to be absorbed by your blood stream and filtered out.

About 1 1/2 wks after my surgery I started feeling intense pain every time I was in an upright position. The pain would vanish instantly whenever I laid down. I thought maybe a stitch was caught on something and it pulled when I sat up. Doctor sent me in for a CT Scan at the ER. Everything looked perfect. They took a urine sample and found out I was really dehydrated. They pumped me full of liquids and sent me home. The next day I felt wonderful. No pain at all. Found out that the pain was caused by the dehydration. I drink 64 ozs of water a day now and feel on top of the world. Have lost 23 lbs in 4 weeks, no hunger, no need for my first fill at this point and doing great! I love this thing! I don't even know it's there. Just make sure you get your water!!!! It was hard to drink that much at first, but now I crave it, if I don't get the required amount in. If you choose to go ahead with it, just plan on being really strict with yourself and follow the rules. :biggrin: