mreckner

I'm in the paperwork process for getting a gastric bypass done (had a band removed in 2014), and aside from my husband, my family does not approve. They are all unsupportive, and keep telling me I'm going to die, and that I shouldn't go through with it. One of my aunts told me that if I was unsuccessful with the band, (NEVER got to the sweet spot, always throwing up, etc) that I'd be unsuccessful with the bypass, as well, despite my surgeon saying the opposite. So, if you've converted from.the band, what's been your experience? Can you eat real food without it getting stuck? Have you been successful? Are you satisfied with your decision to have a RNY? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

I had lap band surgery in October of 2012. From the beginning, it was nothing but trouble. I followed my instructions to the letter, so this was a band failure. Not a surgeon failure, not my failure. In almost a year and a half, I never hit the sweet spot. The band was either too loose, or too tight. I threw up every time I ate. I could not eat the things I was supposed to eat. No meat, no eggs, no vegetables, no fruit. Basically if it wasn't in liquid form, it came back up. Having food get stuck is unpleasant. Productive burps are unpleasant. No matter how well I chewed, everything got stuck. It got to the point where I was eating all the stuff I wasn't supposed to eat, because I couldn't get anything else to go down. I didn't lose any weight. Not an ounce, with the exception of the pre-op diet, and the couple of weeks after surgery where I survived on liquids. The final straw for me was being in the bathroom, violently vomiting, with my two small children standing outside the bathroom door, crying, because it sounded like mommy was dying. Plus, I didn't want them to think that vomiting after eating was the norm. That's not a healthy thing to teach children. My band came out in March of 2014. Best decision I made, regarding the band. I'm having revision to gastric bypass done, later this year. My surgeons are now trying to steer people away from the band, and are more focused on Sleeve and Bypass. I, personally, would not recommend the band, although I do know people who are happy with theirs. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

I wouldn't say it was a drastic post, but it was certainly truthful. I'm glad you had good luck with your band. I didn't. I didn't see a heading stating I was only allowed to tell my story if it was positive. I believe in presenting both sides. I wish I had seen a post like mine before my band, so I knew the good, bad, and ugly, and could have made a more informed choice. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

Hi all. Had an awful experience with the band. Am revising to RNY later this year. For those of you who have had this done, are you happy with your decision? What can I expect? I'm terrified. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

I was worried about hair loss and looking older, but from what I'm hearing, as long as we keep up on our Vitamins, we should be ok. It's worth a little temporary hair loss in order to not have awful arthritis, and be able to chase my little nuggets around. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

No, but the recovery was longer than when I had it put in. They have to make a relatively large incision to remove the port. It took quite a while to heal up. I was just really, really tired. I was worthless for about 2 weeks. I slept almost constantly. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

I had awful issues with my band. I NEVER got to the sweet spot. I threw up after every meal, every day. Worst decision I ever made. I ended up having it removed after a year and a half of zero weight loss and misery. The surgeon who did my band is starting to discourage patients from getting the band. I'm in the paperwork phase of getting a revision to bypass. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

So, I was watching a series in the UK called "Fat Doctor," in preparation for surgery. I'm currently still in the paperwork/weight management phase. On this show, they said the chances of dying within 30 days of the surgery were 1 in 50. Is this true? I was feeling pretty confident in my decision, but now I'm starting to reconsider. Is this accurate? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

That makes me feel lots better! Thanks everybody! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

I'm over 300 lbs. I'm only 40. My knees are crapping out on me, and so are my feet, due to arthritis and my weight. My kids are 3 and 5. I'm missing out on doing lots of cool stuff with them because of agonizing, constant pain, and I don't want my kids to get picked on because mommy is fat. Like I said, that statistic scared the ever loving crap out of me. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

That's what I thought! Granted, the show was filmed in 2007, and these patients were about 600lbs, so I guess that could increase the odds, but it literally took my breath away. I have 2 small kids. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

My only fear is dying. My husband has good insurance, so the loose skin doesn't bother me, I can most likely get removal covered, at least partially, by his insurance company. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App