ShantelleElaine

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!

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.

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.

Yea actually my huge point I'd like to make is that i joined this forum as soon as I even considered band surgery... i was obsessed with reading everything, everyone's stories, comments, nightmares, successes, etc... Despite the nightmare stories I read about i said ohhh nahhhh not me I'll be fine... that's my point. Now I'm on the other end, having read all those people's stories saying don't do it, it was terrible, had to have it removed, or puked every day, got stuck constantly on even tiny bites of food, couldn't sip water etc. I read ALL that negativity and was still stubborn and stupid and you could not convince me that it was not a good idea and got it done anyhow and now am eating crow! Wish I would have listened to alot of the bandsters who said Do not so it....so now I just felt like being the voice for someone else to maybe listen to. Believe Me I wanted to continue to be PRO band as I never even had to get a fill to lose 130 pounds..so i was like wow I've done all this without getting a fill like all these other people I thought it was a magical fix all tool! Just unfortunate that the magic ended and now I'll never be the same in so many ways all because of a bad decision.

I lost 130 pounds in 9 months believe me I loved the band! Except for when it tried to kill me. Twice.????

So he basically passed away within 18 days of having surgery yea I'd definitely say those are surgery complications. Every surgery is a risk i agreed with that. The extensive complications that I've endured are positively related to the lap band is all I'm stating. I'm also a nurse and know everything to do post up to prevent complications and despite doing everything right i still had the complications. The blood clots in both my lungs and legs that nearly killed me were not due to the lap band itself, but due to the surgery that I chose to have to get the ultimate goal of weight loss.. it wasn't a necessary surgery, so in hindsight i could have died just to lose weight, just like people die during liposuction, etc.. I would not have done it knowing what I now know. So many of my issues were directly related to the band, not just the surgery itself. I hope maybe just one person listens to my story and changes their mind and doesn't do it.. that's all I hope for.

This has been 2.5 yrs of a pure nightmare. I agree "any" surgery carries risks.. but everything I had happen to me came after this surgery, had previous surgeries with no complications.. ya never know. I am however positive that my esophagus malfunction was caused by the band, inability to swallow even water for a month was definitely caused by the band. All the permanent damage i have in my brain from lack of fluid for so long was a result of the band and inability to take fluid and food. The nerve dysfunction in my inner ear also caused by dehydration, resulted from the band. Having to have the second surgery to have the lap band removed because of all these complications, was in fact all a result of the band. That second surgery could have killed me due to the blood clots from the first surgery. Having the band removed with the history of clots was a bigger concern to all the physicians involved because they didn't know if I could even survive the surgery that I needed to be able to swallow again to sustain life. I was a skeleton at that point. I had surgery in January to remove the band, I've had 6 different tests on my esophagus since then because it is destroyed forever because the damage was already done.. also caused by the band. I elected to have the surgery as well. I was the biggest PRO band girl you'd ever meet.. i ended up eating my words because my family and friends all told me do not do it!! I was obese, I did it to help all my other medical issue same as most other people do. I understand people do it for that reason. Having been through it, having had all the complications i would highly recommend nobody ever having this surgery! Being skinny or losing weight is the goal of everyone considering this surgery. Not necessarily being skinny per say but losing the weight is the whole point. Yes the band is a foreign object and your body can and will constantly try to reject it, causing all Kinds of weird problems clear down to bowel and bladder issues. It's just not meant to be in there on my opinion. . Knowing what I know i wish someone would have reached out to me and told me their horror stories and maybe I wouldn't be where I and now..stuck on blood thinner injections twice and day for life, multiple lung medications for all the scarring from the clots, and not even being able to swallow properly 10 months later.. just a disaster and a horrible experience all around. It's Not worth anyone's life.. it's just not.. thanks for the well wishes.

You rely on the "stats" like I did and il afraid you'll be sorry. I've turned my whole family against me for taking such a risk to be skinny. I should be dead a few times over. I'm just speaking of experience that I said would NEVER HAPPEN TO ME.. Truth...

I was The BIGGEST advocate for Lap band surgery you'd ever find until I had all my complications! Trust me.. i fought to the very very end that it had nothing to do with the surgery but it just did.. sorry.

*i was told the same thing* is what that first sentence should say.

Yea i was r old or WA uncommon as well! I'm hear to be a voice for people! Hindsight i never would have done all this to myself.. it's not as rare as you presume after talking to the surgeon they remove the band all the time! Due to complications. I feel bad for anyone to go through what I've dealt with!

Get the damn thing removed!!! Can't swallow esophagus messed up malnutrition dehydration all of it ridiculous all to be skinny. Died twice! Blood clots. Not freaking worth it!

First off let me be the first to say I was the only one who wanted me to have this surgery!! I researched for Over 2 yrs prior to actually taking the plunge!! Everyone said NO WAY!! I disagreed cuz my research was so extensive plus I'm a nurse and I know everything.. in my eyes. I tried every diet every pill every everything known to man and I just wanted something permanent! I could lose weight no prob but keeping it off different story, Hugeee problem.. wanted something permanent!! Every single other method didn't work.. finally decided on lap band surgery despite my whole family hating me basically taking this Risk all to be "skinny".. that I wanted so much.. surgery day fine except for horrible gas laproscope pain, next day fine fine... pain but mostly from gas air and all that from laproscope still... got home did my 30 cc of fluid every 15 minutes. Gatorade or water or broth etc.. supposed to be a 7 day clear liquid diet broth coffee jello gatorade juice etc... i propped my leg up and relaxed on day 3 at home. My leg hurt cuz i thought having it propped up... day 4 I was like wow my leg really hurts behind the knee... being a nurse i looked at my leg.. red n warm n tender to touch plus temp of higher than My norm.. went to ER as my fiancee HAD to leave for 2 weeks to go out of town cuz of his job he drills gas and oil wells and is out of town long tours at a time... although concerned of leaving me I said it's nothing my mom is taking me it's just me overreacting cuz I'm a nurse and know too much!! In fact I had a blood clot in my leg from surgery... they started me on blood thinners to dissolve the clot...sent me home...2 days later I couldn't breathe... i thought ohhhh pneumonia I've had this like 6 times.. or possibly a Blood clot in my lung but no way... I walks back into the ER saying exactly that pneumonia or a blood clot in lung aka PE. Pulmonary embolism. ... they quickly found bilateral meaning both lungs were full of blood clots killing me! As a nurse of 13 yrs I've never had a patient survive a PE let alone multiple ones BILATERALLY ... so I knew I was DEAD!! I immediately went to ICU for daysssss bunch of blood thinners IV etc. Finally was put on a blood thinner to manage to nottttt getting anymore blood clots! Ended up leaving ICU on an oral blood thinner.. never felt right for months but lost alot of weight. Went back for a check cuz i still couldn't breathe right and my leg still hurt to find out the clot in my leg completely occluded 3 of my vessels and my lung blood clots were worse not better and I was going to die even more than the first time. Emergent situation sent to a huge city hospital for all the clots in my body that never resolved.. ultimately put on an injection blood thinner twice a day every day for the REST OF MY LIFE to avoid more clots... no clotting disorders were found during this time and all the testing and all the docs and treatments.. just the surgery alone.. finally after 4 months i was clot free when it normally only takes10 to 14 days!!! My family was outraged and worried so much at the same time! I lost 130 lbs in like 9 mths totally successful living it up..loving the clothes new lifestyle new everything wearing smalls i was like whooooo is this girl that wore 2 or 3 xl??? THEN!!! Disaster AGAIN!!!!! Can't swallow, can't drink, water or fluids or food or anything, the pain unbearable to swallow a drink of water let alone a piece of food... 29 FULL days no nutrition or hydration for this girl needless to say no fluid or nutrition going into me other than thru an IV at at this point!! Losing Losing more n more weight skeleton looking everyone yelling at me like a kid. total almost 2 mths in the hospital. .. FINAL decision the BAND malfunction was severe enough to remove It per all surgeons.. remove the skinny band!!! Surgery again sucked cuz still the blood clot threat had to be in ICU again for proper dosing of blood thinner before the OTHER surgery.... hindsight DO NOT EVER SUBSTITUTE YOUR LIFE FOR BEING THIN! I haven't worked in 9 mths cuz of brain damage due to malnutrition and dehydration and inner ear problems and weakness and swallowing issues can't begin to name everything!!!! I had to share cuz i Had to say it is not worth it!! Fat again. Right back where you started from!! Worst surgery ever#!!! Someone has to listen to me and save their life i hope! That's my only hope!!! #notworthit #justdont

Yes I'm definitely grateful for the band and my success. I'll take the good with the bad.. I've been feeling fairly normal since last night so hoping I'm on track to getting used to my fill and being able to eat properly. Sounds like you had a very bad fill I can't imagine all that vomiting. Glad your getting straightened out.

After a year and a half post op I finally got my first fill last Monday. I lost over 120 pounds on my own with nothing in my band! I am now miserable and haven't felt right since. I have barely eaten, sure can't get in protein, I have heartburn so bad into my back despite taking my prilosec as ordered, my normal every day pills are now getting stuck and it hurts so bad. My band feels like it's spasming.. I'm just not right at all. When they filled me they had me sit and drink water till it went down easy to know how much fluid to put in, I thought that was an easy way to judge. I did have her take a little fluid out right then because it felt the water was hesitating going down and I didn't want that. I'm wondering how long do I wait to call it a day and just go get an unfill so I can feel normal again? I was allowed to advance my diet to regular foods yesterday and I didn't because I didn't want to deal with any issues so I just ate yogurt instead. I can't imagine trying a piece of meat if my pills are even getting stuck (pills that I've easily taken down normally) it hurts and I don't like it. Any suggestions?! Thanks..

I did liquid for 2 days and then soft for 2 days and haven't advanced to regular food like I was supposed to yesterday. . I had decreased my heartburn pill to once a day instead of twice a long time ago cuz i had no reflux symptoms.. i resumed taking it twice a day just today so I'm hoping that will help if not Monday will call the MD. Sorry to hear you continue to have the pain..

I was banded 6/2013 and I've pretty much always had that left sided pain whether it be really bad or just a dull ache intermittently. Don't know what it is, but pretty sure it's harmless after 18 months of dealing with it. I think it's just another one of the changes that come with the band for some people. Good luck.

I finally got the point where I was eating more than I wanted to be able to so I knew it was time to catch it quickly before I started to gain any back. Thanks for the advice I think I'm calling Monday if I don't feel better.

After a year and a half post op I finally got my first fill last Monday. I lost over 120 pounds on my own with nothing in my band! I am now miserable and haven't felt right since. I have barely eaten, sure can't get in protein, I have heartburn so bad into my back despite taking my prilosec as ordered, my normal every day pills are now getting stuck and it hurts so bad. My band feels like it's spasming.. I'm just not right at all. When they filled me they had me sit and drink water till it went down easy to know how much fluid to put in, I thought that was an easy way to judge. I did have her take a little fluid out right then because it felt the water was hesitating going down and I didn't want that. I'm wondering how long do I wait to call it a day and just go get an unfill so I can feel normal again? I was allowed to advance my diet to regular foods yesterday and I didn't because I didn't want to deal with any issues so I just ate yogurt instead. I can't imagine trying a piece of meat if my pills are even getting stuck (pills that I've easily taken down normally) it hurts and I don't like it. Any suggestions?! Thanks..

I chucked all the protein shakes in the garbage! All the huge containers of loose protein mixes, all of it! Ugh disgusting all of them, every single one I tried... plus they made me too full I wouldn't eat a single thing. I got protein shots. They are 2.3oz the same size of an energy shot. Chug it down and be done with it. 32 grams. That's the only way I can do it. And I lost 120 pounds and just at about 10mths so apparently the protein shakes weren't a must. Tweek when needed to fit your own needs

I haven't been on here for a long time dealing with complications from my surgery no fault of the band but my own body and health issues that were unknown until post op complications arose. I was on the lap band talk site and apparently that doesn't exist any longer. I came across this site and assume it replaced the original lap band forum. As I said ice had excessive weight loss in a short period of time. Love the change in every way. I did have blood clots in my lungs and legs and nearly died multiple times have been in and out of ICU for 10mths now. Will be on tons of life sustaining meds for life due to the blood clots but as I said the band is great and I wouldn't change a thing. I keep losing weight I think my body will stop when it's ready. I'm embracing every change and enjoying shopping in the medium section instead of 2 or 3xl. Don't doubt the band it does work. I've had NO fills. This is all me. I'm not hungry. I don't eat much but I'm ok with that. Success stories are really not fairytale they can be real life. I'm living proof!

Don't Know what happened to the lap band forum but I've lost 120 pounds in 9mths and thats really all that needs to be said..love my new body life and everything that goes with it....

Don't Know what happened to the lap band forum but I've lost 120 pounds in 9mths and thats really all that needs to be said..love my new body life and everything that goes with it....

I'm down 53 pounds in 3 mths, NO fills, not hungry, forget to eat alot. Have alot of trouble getting protein in because im not hungry enough, even for the protein drinks. I've had major complications almost died 3 times still full of blood clots, nobody seems to know why, im under the care of so many doctors, I've had zero excersise because it is forbidden for me and I still have had success.. it can be done! Definitely happy. The lap band has been the least of my concerns with my other health issues but it is still reminding me that its in there by the results I see!

Rpatillo I found the protein shots on eBay. They haven't came in the mail yet, but it's only 2.5 ounce shits so even if they are naty il plug my nose lol. I got berry flavor..