Failed4me

Excuse me? Anecdotal hysteria? Really your post is FACT? I'd like to see the research and studies that you have that PROVE without a doubt "over half" of Lap Band WLS patients have Lost and KEPT OFF the weight over their lifetime please. I would also like to see the research and study that prove 95% of dieters Fail.<< And exactly WHAT diets they were on that had a failure rate of 95% seeing as you say : That's my opinion and it's based on facts and not personal and anecdotal hysteria. Yes Please Post ALL facts, research, studies & any other PROVEN information that backs up your claims please! That is NOT given to you by the clinics that perform Lap Band but by independent sources. You state there is no filter to determine who should get it...so ? what? we all just dish out thousands of dollars and "hope" it works for us?? that is NOT what I was told. IF you note...I wrote IN MY OPINION ....I did NOT state it was based on anything other than MY OPINION. You can call my opinion a lie if you want but since you state that what YOU say is FACT then BACK IT UP with documentation, research and studies from independent sources. I would really like to see ALL the information that you have that backs up your claims please. Failed4me, well thank you for your input. And I actually agree with much of what you said. There are some people who should not get WLS, of any kind. Unfortunately, there's no effective filter to determine who will fail and who won't fail? And contrary to your experience, more than half the people who have WLS lose more than 60% of their excess fat. Compare that to studies that show 95% of dieters fail completely, I think WLS is a very viable option. That's my opinion and it's based on facts and not personal and anecdotal hysteria. tmf

I am not going to tell you what to do, I will however tell you my opinion. THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION: I had lapband surgery several years ago for the very reason you mentioned: non invasive, thought it would help me lose weight healthy ect., , I have never lost even a single pound.<that is MY result only< I suggest you research this thoroughly. In My Opinion I would NEVER do it again. I would never do any of the diet surgeries. In my opinion if you were an over eater before surgery you will be one after and there is always a way around a surgery. In My opinion what would of worked better is : going to therapy to discover and mend WHY I was over eating in the first place and to learn how to eat normal and exercise. all I saw when contemplating the surgery was success stories, I didn't believe the failures..I was somehow "blind" to the failure rates. If I had the chance to re do that time: I would NEVER have ANY weight loss surgery. Let alone the lap band. In My opinion there is only one way to lose weight : the old fashioned way....portion control healthy eating and exercise.. If you don't eat healthy and exercise right now..what makes you think you can do so with surgery?? If you don't have any will power now how will surgery change that?? The lap band may or may not make you feel "full" but feeling full never stopped me from continuing to eat... The above is only MY OPINION. What I personally went thru.I in no way represent everyone's results, I'm just saying IMO that you should really consider deep down inside WHY you are eating so much and not living healthy why you can't stay on a regular diet. In My Opinion that is what I finally did. In my opinion what you call "traditional" is not...1 meal a day with exercise and diet pills...that is NOT traditional. Since when do diet pills and 1 meal a day fall into proper nutrition? In the end it is up to you. I am NOT telling you to do it or not. I am just telling you My experience and MY OPINION ONLY. IF given a 2nd chance, I would never have done it. Good luck.

I have had it for 4 yrs now...& it's a 100% total failure for me. there are not "ways to eat more" you just CAN...I gained more than before I had it too! I had it totally emptied about about 2 yrs ago and went on with my life too. I also say it's not worth the pain the discomfort...totally not worth it... I hear you...I am also fully convinced that these bariatric surgeries are way to prey on fat people!! a total waste of time and money!! Of course you can't convince newbies of this...you wouldn't of convinced me 4 yrs ago that it's a total waste of time. Absolutely save your money IF insurance doesn't pay for it...(mine didn't either! & when I think of the money I spent what I could of done with it instead!!!) Yup, one way to lose weight...the old fashioned way...a total drastic lifestyle change with proper nutrition & exercise If I had to recommend the best way to lose weight it's Weight Watchers...Good luck with that it's the best way to go as it's normal everyday food. :-)

Thank you for posting :-) I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you. I am still waiting for a barium swallow and ultrasound (takes forever in BC!! our stupid medical system) even though I got surgery done in Toronto. As for the moment, it is NOT working, I was giving it a 2nd try after a defill. But no luck. Meanwhile I got diagnosed with a medical problem that makes having the band pointless. So after all is said and done....looks like I"m going to have to have it removed. Meanwhile I struggle with weight(just like before) but I won't give up, I'll keep exercising and trying to watch what I eat, I just won't have the band to help. I understand how you feel. I agree with what you have said. Good Luck to you, and I hope you feel better. :sad:

I get constipation now, before the de-fill and giving the band a 2nd try (still don't know if it's slipped or dilated, waiting to get tests) Anyhoo, I take fibre 1 in water or my coffee, sometimes Kashi cereal in am, it's high in fibre, low in fat. I think I'll try the prunes though, that sounds good :-)

:tongue2: awesome!! for you!!! You'll get here soon! Probably pass right on by me!

Oh no :-( really? Because I have possible slippage...I was doing alright until last nighttoday...I am very sick again and now getting reflux and coughing...I'm worried it has slipped...but I have already made the decision that IF it has..I'm going to have it removed :-( Thanks for the post :-)

:smile2: OMG!!! Can your medical cover it? I mean you cant go around with a problem, something awful might happen... I don't know what country you live in...but there must be SOME recourse against the surgeon? How can they possibly charge FULL price?? I'd be looking into that if I were you. Jachut: IF I lived in the same place as my surgeon there would be NO cost for fillsde-fills and any check-ups, even though I self-paid. Besides that, our medical WONT cover WLS any of it.

:blushing: EEP! leaking? I totally understand the self pay, as thats what I did. I agree 100% with you...If self pay it's a crap situation! It's costing me soooo much, just like you! But I am in the process of giving it a 2nd try and praying it hasn't slipped, If it has, then I will probably get it out, as it's too much Money to maintain. However so far so good (knock on wood) It's only been a week, but I've lost 3 lbs. I don't feel the hunger like I did, there is still swelling, so I'm not gonna jump for joy right now..as this may all be temporary and I may be back at square 1 or worse again when swelling goes down. Nice<NOT< how they FAIL to mention all the things that CAN & DO go wrong with the band eh! Good luck with yours, keep me posted. Congrats on baby!

I'm just gonna cross my fingers n toes and pray this 2nd try works for me...Ultra...I understand the paying for it privately..as I did too...that's why I'm so desperate for this to work (my 2nd try) It IS very expensive for fills and de fills and the surgery it's self... I can't tell you weather to have the surgery or not..that's up to you...just read ALL the info you can on it and then decide if it's for you or not. Good Luck :-)

Good Luck! I really hope you can lose it all! I understand what you are saying 100% I too feel the quality of my life in regards to food is compromised also...I guess on really can't have their cake and eat it too eh! :-( I'm sorry you still have reflux..is there nothing you can do about it?? As for me, well it's been 1 week since I had a de-fill and I have lost 3 lbs...I'm not jumping for joy, because I have to wait and see what is going to be the end result. There is restriction and I'm not hungry anymore...which I can tell you..I find very WEIRD!! That's never happened before, and I'm praying it is permanent. My tummy is still swollen and yesterday had puffed out again, around band area, so I felt ill, but it might of been the shorts I was wearing? the band of the shorts landed right where the LB is..?? I thnk it was too tight, as a result I got very nauseated and gas and blah. I'm still willing to keep on going...I mean I paid SO much...I Have to give it a 2nd try. Good luck with yours and I really hope you can do something about reflux.

Hee! those are cute names! I think I will be Sooooo Happy when I get to 200 I won't know what to call it...I'll be too busy bouncing off walls! LOL "Twoterville" heehee that's cute :-)

:w00t: I just had a De-fill...I feel almost 100% better today! What a relief! I have to give it about 2-4wks for swelling to go down and everything to heal up...so I will be on a combo prepost op diet of soft LFLC and mushy type foods. This is going to be my 2nd try for the band, hadn't worked the first time, but I'm giving it another chance. Course they don't know if the band slipped, but I don't think so? even though my throwing up was unreal and ALL the time..(as someone pointed out in here, I couldn't even swallow my own saliva!) However it wasn't to do with not chewing or any of the 'normal' band issues, it was other stuff, so I shall see what happens now. IMO, I wouldn't worry too much about a small de-fill, just remember to watch food intake (amount) at least that is what I find I have to watch...and IF I can consume more than 12 to 1 cup of Protein or more than 1 cup of mixed foods..then I find I have a problem. But that's just ME. It can be different for everyone... Hang in there, and I hope it works out for you, good to hear the band hadn't slipped, still waiting on swelling in me to go down until I know for sure. Good Luck!

Congrats to you Scout on your success! I applaud your self control and that you don't beat yourself up for slips. I really hope my 2nd try helps me and I can be where you and others are :-)

Lapband totally CURED my GERDS, the surgeon told me I had a HUGE hernia, the biggest one he'd seen that day. My Gerds was so bad pre-surgery I couldn't eat anything anymore :-( But since surgery, haven't had a single problem. I know how you feel about people doing the : she'll never lose weight ...ect ect...hurts I know. My situation is different in terms of losing weight...But as I've said in other posts...I'm about to give it a 2nd try. So how about we both be the others support? If you want. PS: banishing old eating habits is very hard...I've heard..to attempt it in baby steps...one little step at a time...if you slip, it happens, just pick yourself back up and take another little step:biggrin:

Yes, I think a support group would of helped with the non-medical issues..it would of been nice to meet face to face with people who had lapband, to share stories, experiences. That is far away to go, and at night...I don't blame you for not going. But it's working for you anyway, so that's good :-) Because I paid so much, I am giving it another shot, (read other post) I just hope I don't get sick again :-( I'm going to have to wait at least a month or two? Could be more. 100% De fill. Wait, special diet, try again. *crosses fingers*

Wow! I'm glad you have such a great surgeonclinic. I'm glad its working for you! Unfortunately there were NO clinics in my area or close to it that performed lapband, there are now. So I had to go to Toronto...so no support groups :-(

I truly hope it works for you! I think because every 'body' IS different that does make it a 'crap gamble' as you called it... However, I WAS assured it WOULD work, no question it WOULD WORK. Not that I would be some 'twiggy' but just a normal healthy weight. That has not happened even though I have tried. I'm going in for a 100% De-fill this week. Plan to let everything calm down and heal for a month + a special diet along the lines of pre-op and post-op<first month< will see if that helps. Because I paid so much (self pay) I am willing to give it a 2nd try, but IF I wind up this sick and this disappointed AGAIN...well I don't even want to think about it! I will cross my fingers for you that it works for you! I really hope so!!!

In that case: Hi :-) nice to meet you.

Good luck to you too!! I really hope your RNY works for you! I'll cross toes n fingers for you! I am depressed it hasn't worked. I'm going to go have a 100% defill this week and I'm just going to leave it for a few months. Then see what happens. I want to try and make it work, IF and that's a Big IF, It's possible for me to. Only time will time, if not then I'm having it removed and I'm going to tell the clinic that I think THEY should DO something about this!!! Because I can prove I have tried everything to make this work. Sorry it didn't work for you but Happy for you that you have now found our answer! Good Luck!!

Thank you for standing up for the post..or? me? Either way, I appreciate it. I explained it all in new post. I did have a bad experience and am having. But that IS my experience. I wish that when I researched it, that someone had answered me honestly. Had they answered me honestly, then I would of chosen to Not do it. I would have known the lapband is not for me. Anyway, thank you very much.

Oh really? Surgical Weight Loss Clinic in Toronto! Dr. Couburn did my surgery. How dare you call me a liar! How do we know YOU are NOT lying??? I paid 1000.00 deposit, paid 16,000 IN FULL self pay prior to surgery. Was on Optifast for 14 days prior to surgery both chocolate and vanilla. Between Optifast, Hotel, Flights, After Care, Medications, Fills (which I have to drive 2 hours to! and pay 150.00 per fill and it's only a Nurse who does it!) personal trainer and all expenses I'm looking at 20,000 total! So YEAH I DO KNOW HOW MUCH I PAID! Want to see the receipts? I'll gladly post them! Just because I"m a first time poster and the band failed for me YOU Automatically ASSUME I'm lying! How dare you! People have a right to KNOW if Lapband failed for some people! But people like YOU scare them away. Well you DONT scare me away! I am perfectly willing to say it didn't work. I can back it up and am willing to do so! I have a right to share that it failed for me, just as you have a right to say it did work. I DID research, and then I did MORE research, but hardly anyone tells you the PROBLEMS with Lapband. There ARE people the lap band doesn't work for. There are people that the other forms of weight loss surgery don't work for. WHY? is that so hard for people like YOU to accept?? I have a right to say it didn't work for me. For you it did, so you say. That's great. But for me it didn't. I have never felt 'sated' or not hungry except for the first month after. I am about to have the band emptied in another day. I am going to leave it empty for awhile and let everything calm down in my body. Which will cost me Another 150.00 because I dont live in Toronto and so I have to PAY for my fills. I went thru hell after surgery, my incision got infected no matter what I did. took months for it to heal. I had to go on antibiotics several times, even though I was using left over surgical soap to clean it and I followed all the rules they gave me. Took me almost 4 days after surgery before I could even leave Toronto. Pain was unreal. food gets stuck no matter how slow I eatchew it. No one bothers to Really tell you what that's like! I know I am not alone in this. Bash all you want, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not scared of people like you. I can PROVE everything I have said about MY experience with the lapband.

I fear being bashed for this...but it hasn't worked for me. I was banded July 1608. I've only lost 20 lbs. I don't know if something is wrong? As I've had a personal trainer, I lost inches, gained muscle tone, but didn't lose a single pound. I regret spending 16K on it. I feel it is one of the worst AND most expensive mistakes I've ever made. Sorry if that angers people on here, but I think that I should be allowed to say the Lap band can and Does fail and not because the person with the lapband IS NOT trying. I think there are a LOT more people out there like ME who are just scared to admit it didn't work for them. Why? I don't know? I truly do not know. All I figure is that if you do Not put yourself (or at least me) on a continual LIFETIME diet, you are going to Fail. What I spent 20K to learn was: There is NO magic cure, you diet, you exercise, you starve= THIN. Anything else = FAT.

I was banded 07/16/08. In Toronto. It has been a 100% failure for me. Had I known what I know now. I would NEVER have done it. I sit back and wonder how??? I could of been so stupid as to fall for another "no pain, no gain, magic weight loss" story!! Only this one cost me 20K!!! 16K just for the operation, then the flts and hotel and Optifast and fills kicked in the rest! For what? 20 lbs? I even had a personal trainer at the gym for months...NOTHING, NEVER LOST A SINGLE POUND! Lost lots of inches but NO POUNDS. HOW is that possible with a lapband??? Tell me, if anyone can?? How is that possible?? I'm at 5cc fill, I started out at 291 lbs, and the only weight I've lost is when I was on optifast. I have never had that 'sated, not hungry' feeling since surgery, had it for about 3 wks after surgery and that was it...never felt it again even after fills. I admit, food is my addiction, but I TOLD the clinic that! They ASSURED ME, I WOULD lose weight! I guess they meant for 16 Thousand dollars you will lose 20 lbs on Optifast and then your screwed! Now...9 out of 10 times I throw up, no matter how slow I eat. Stuff continually gets stuck, my esophagus feels like someone ran hot coals down it. I lost MORE weight on a regular freakin diet than I ever have with the lap band! I wish I could get my money back. Hope my surgeon is enjoying my 16K!! While I suffer! Sorry peeps, I know I'm new here, but I really am frustrated that after an ENTIRE YEAR and a Personal Trainer I am STILL OBESE! When I was Promised I"d lose at Least 60% or more of my body weight in 1 yr. Ugh...