To all the "success stories", I applaud you. But I am one of those that insurance did NOT cover, and my father paid out around $20,000+ for my surgery and adjustments afterwards. In my first year after surgery, I DID lose 100 lbs, but was vomiting daily and always went into an "emergency" situation each and every time they did an adjustment on me. I threw up so much that it literally ate all the enamel off the backs of my teeth, and I am now having so many problems with my teeth that I am going to end up with dentures. Thanks alot! I also had to resort to eating baby food in order to keep anything down. At one point my surgeon told me I needed my gall bladder removed, and almost took it out, but after tests - he decided to tell me to see a gastroenterologist immediately that something was very wrong. I saw a gastro specialist, he did a scope on me and found that my esophageous was really messed up from all the vomiting, etc. and that I really needed the band removed. In the meantime, I was sick all the time for unexplained reasons and was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus and fobromyalgia. Had the surgeons checked me for lupus (as they should have prior to surgery), they would NOT have been able to perform this costly surgery that has literally ruined my life.
Yes, the surgeon did say that he would remove the band and do a "mini-bypass" in the same surgery, but with me having lupus, I cannot have that done. So I am stuck with this device inside my body and it is wide open and still causes me problems at times.
I am now very ill and have numerous other problems and have had to be removed from the workforce and forced into medical disability.
Sorry, but I have NOTHING good to say about LapBand surgery, and most of the people that I know have had similar experiences and wish they had never done it either.
I am very frustrated and have a very bad taste in my mouth about the way I was treated by my surgeon and his entire staff and would NEVER advise anyone to have this surgery done - NOT EVER!
If I could get back my money and my life that this surgery destroyed, I would.
I never received the appropriate aftercare they promised and they always told me that I was not following the plan correctly. They were wrong! I did everything I was told. I also woke up twice during my surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish I had never done this surgery and wish that I could do something to warn people about the things they do not tell you, that can happen to people like me.
Sorry "GastricBand" in Chattanooga, TN - you are a ripoff and should be reported to the Medical Association, and I probably will be filing a major complaint against you and your staff for the way I was treated and your lack of consideration prior to my surgery. You are the WORST surgeons I have ever dealt with in my entire 50 years of life!
If you haven't already had this surgery, DO NOT UNTIL YOU EXPLORE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THEY CHECK YOU FOR EVERYTHING BEFORE HAVING THIS SURGERY PERFORMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From Duchess1 - A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE THAT RUINED MY LIFE!