Spartan

Hautemama; If you are vomiting continuously after consuming a small amount of Mashed Potatoes, You might need a slight unfill.....that should not be happening. The point of the Lap Band is not to strangle....it is to RESTRICT the amount you consume at any given time, with the "possilble/potential" added benefit of some appetite suppression at some point down the road. You NEED to eat....this is not a starvation diet..... See your Doctor if you are experiencing that much discomfort...... S.

Uh.....Ok. YOU said it. Let me see if I understand this. You went into surgery NOT KNOWING what you were having done? Huh? How does THAT work? In MOST "quality" surgical operations, the procedure being performed is verified with the patient in several steps. In my case, it was at the check in, and in the prep room by both the Surgeon and the Anesthesiologist . This to avoid a situation that you hear about every once in a while where a surgeon amputates the WRONG leg, for example. And he didn't EXPLAIN the differences between a Gastric Bypass and a Lap Band? So, I'm gonna have to suppose that your surgeon is one of these guys who works out of a dune buggy at the foot of the Santa Monica Pier…or maybe shares space with a massage parlor in a strip mall, perhaps? And...a Big Mac?.....Seriously....you Didn't. You Did? Ugh. Unfortunately, this situation speaks to a LOT of issues. First, it points to the sometimes amazing lack of information provided to the patient by the Surgeon's Staff. There are some Bariatric groups that do an amazing job of preparing the patient for this process. Lots of pre-op information, coaching and classes, and spectacular post-surgical support, followup, and "cheerleading". This is CRUCIAL for the success of most WLS procedures. BUT….there are many Surgeons who jump into this field for the quick and easy insurance money, and are not going to part with the time OR the money to set up such a program. The other side of this coin is the patient. I am quite often astounded by what I read on this forum (and other forums) by patients who have had various types of weight loss surgery. The kinds of things they eat, their mindsets, the stuff they believe about their WLS, is often mind-boggling. It is no wonder that the Lap Band has such a low rate of success. The actions of the Patient has a HUGE amount to do with the Success of the Band, in situations where the Band was THE appropriate choice of surgeries. (Often it is not the right choice.) Just about a year ago, a young woman on this forum asked why it was that Cotton Candy went down so easily after WLS. I had the audacity to suggest to her that perhaps consuming pure sugar….let me repeat that: PURE SUGAR….might not be in her best interest after having weight loss surgery. The response from various members was astonishing. You would have thought I had just raped her baby and set fire to her kitten. It was kind of nasty. Not so muchfrom her, but various OTHER members of this forum! But…..not totally unexpected. Because so many people here do NOT "get it". Incidentally, the young woman who had the cotton candy? She comes and goes on this forum. She made an appearance here recently, and commented that not only had she not lost any additional weight, she had PUT ON additional weight. Gee….ya think? I say all of this not to berate the OP (ok, maybe just a little….) but to suggest to the OP and everyone else here who might be struggling that YOU play a vital role in the success of your Lap Band. If you are not continually doing the RIGHT things, and avoiding the WRONG things then you are going to FAIL at this, plain and simple. It is a fact that the Lap Band does NOT work for everyone. And it works in different ways for different people. And to varying degrees for people who it DOES work for. YOU have to work hard to make this thing work. If you are not acting in a decidedly proactive manner, then will not succeed at this. The process does NOT start at the moment your band is installed. It starts WAY before that, when you do the research to ascertain what kind of WLS would be appropriate for you. It begins when you Make the DECISION to have WLS. From that point on you need to do everything in your power to make this the life-changing experience for you that it has been for many other people. And if you do not KNOW EXACTLY what you are getting into, then there is a problem on one or both ends. You need to choose the RIGHT surgeon. (there are a LOT of greedy idiots out there playing with scalpels, waiting to soak up some of your hard-earned cash) You need to make sure that a first-class pre-surgery educational program is in place. You need to be sure that an excellent post-surgery support and follow-up program is available to you. You have to ask LOTS of questions of your support staff and the surgeon. You have to follow the surgeon's instructions to the LETTER. And if you do not get you results you want/need, then you have to look elsewhere for the information that will help you achieve the results you want. For some people, this process is a nice, easy ride. They lose the weight, and go on living their lives. For others…not so much. It can be a disappointing adventure, full of frustration and heartache and no results to show for it. But YOU can play a role in how it will turn out for YOU. And a HUGE part of the "success matrix" in this experience is understanding the fact that Pie-Holing a Big Mac is a BAD IDEA under ANY circumstances. If you didn't learn that prior to surgery, then you have some work to do. Here is my suggestion to the OP: It would appear that you might have an idiot for a surgeon. If he did not give you anything more than a cursory gloss-over of what your responsibilities are in this process, then it is unlikely that he/she has much of a post-surgery support mechanism in place. So, I would suggest that you look for a new Doctor that SPECIALIZES in Bariatric Support. This does not necessarily mean a Surgical group, but a Physician who understands WLS and provides support for people who have had it. You don't find them all that frequently, and if there is not one in your area, then find a new WLS surgical group that will take you in as a post-surgical patient. SOME Groups will do that; others won't. If you can find one, GET INVOLVED. Ask questions. Go regularly to support meetings. Find out everything you can about this process, and make it work FOR YOU. I'm sorry you had this experience. I don't think you have done any damage to your Band; you would probably know for certain if you did. It can be very unpleasant if you have done anything to change the positioning of the Lap Band. NOTE: There is a thread on this forum that was begun about a Year and a half ago. It was closed for some reason, I think, but it was one the funniest threads I have ever seen on this forum. It has to do with the subject being discussed here, people who wonder why they have problems when they consume food that might not be considered a "good" choice. It is quite hysterical. If you search for "Seriously Curious" you will probably find it. S. Big Mac….Jeez.

Hi, ManningFan.... First Question: Peyton or Eli....or Both? You bring up a very interesting series of issues, and I'd like to offer my point of view….which might be a little different than others here. First, congratulations on your achievement thus far. You've lost a very significant amount of weight, and you should be very proud of that. With or without the band, that is a wonderful accomplishment. However, there are a number of things that come into play here. First, you have lost a lot of weight in a relatively short period of time. Dieting in a conventional manner, it would/should take you about 2 or three months to lose that much….UNLESS you were crash-dieting. I hope that is not the case. When you are as heavy as you were, and you have a "young metabolism", it IS possible to lose that much in the amount of time you have suggested….but, I am thinking that you may have been a bit extreme in your dieting, perhaps? That is NEVER a good idea, and ALWAYS leads you back to weight gain. I do not know that this is the case in your situation, but from the time period you have indicated, it is a possibility. Another component of this is that you have your Surgery scheduled. That is almost ALWAYS a motivator that leads people to significant weight loss, because they know that the band is "waiting" for them a short distance down the road, and they won't have to diet quite like that forever. Thus the motivation is a bit artificial, and it is possible that you might not be able to maintain it without the surgery. Now, having said all that, I will tell you something that I believe very strongly: The BEST Weight Loss Surgery is NO Weight Loss Surgery. That means that if you can do it without surgery, you WILL be better off. No one should ever have surgery unless they really NEED it, for ANY reason. You are in a unique position in that you are a self-pay. You don't have to worry about insurance, and you are very fortunate for a number of reasons. You can choose your surgeon, the hospital, the aftercare, etc. You aren't tied to what your insurance will pay for. You can also choose when to have your surgery. You have the CONTROL. In my own process of rebuilding my body, I have been through a rather unique experience. I won't go into details about my "Banded life", but I will say that during a process that has lasted nearly a decade, I have learned an enormous amount, about my body, about my self, about the Medical industry, about Medical Science, and many other things. I have worked within the Medical Sciences field in that period, so I have the unique experience of having seen this process from virtually every angle, including that of a patient. And while this comment might raise a few eyebrows, I will tell you that if I knew prior to my surgery what I know NOW, I would never have had the surgery. Now, I say that as I sit here at a PERFECT weight for my body type, having had a Lap Band, in excellent health, and one might rightfully ask me why I would say that. It's complicated, and I am NOT here to tell people NOT to have surgery, but to assist them in making the best choices for their health….and if that includes surgery, then I will say that. But….I have learned so much about Physiology, Nutrition, Psychology, (I had a background in those PRIOR to surgery, but my experience taught me things that were NEVER taught in school…) and the components of good health and vitality. I have realized that our culture and society has SO corrupted our concept of what is good nutrition and what good health actually means. As a result, I began thinking and eating and moving far differently than I did prior to this process, and I am quite convinced that had I been aware of these things earlier in my life, surgery would NOT have been the path I would have taken. My suggestion to you would be this: You have TIME, and you have Money. You're only 25, and some Medical Professionals will tell you that the body really does not reach full physical maturation until 28 or even 30. I wouldn't say this to you if you were in your late 30's or 40's, or if you had only lost a few pounds, but you are YOUNG, and you have lost FIFTY POUNDS so far. I would call your Surgeon's office, and postpone your surgery for a few months, maybe 5 or 6 months. See how you do. If your weight loss continues, then postpone it again, until you reach a BMI where you HAVE to make a decision and then cancel, or have the surgery, depending on your experience. Take those 6 months, study nutrition (I will PM you some information on materials, if you like), develop an exercise program, and see if you can get control of this yourself. I think you can. You have demonstrated your ability to do so thus far. Quite frequently on this forum, someone will spout out one of the numerous "statistics" that have been floating around about weight loss and related matters. One of the "Statistics" is "of people who Lose weight on their own, only %5 are able to keep it off". Most Fitness professionals (and that includes quite a range of professions) would disagree with that quite strenuously. Those people who do it CORRECTLY can very often keep the weight off, and develop TRUE health and vitality. Those "statistics" (where do they get that crap?) more often refers to the class of people whose idea of real "dieting" means reducing their intake of Snickers from Four bars a day to Two. That ain't gonna work. And, unfortunately, THAT is also one of the reasons that SO MANY people fail with the Lap Band….they simply reduce the amount of garbage they consume. But so often the problem is WHAT they eat, as well as the amount. So, that is MY take on your situation. Because you are YOUNG enough, and you have lost so much of your excess weight on your own, I would give it a try. Some people might say that should not waste any more time and just get the Lap Band. I would strongly disagree with that, because you have NOT wasted ANY time. You have brought yourself several steps closer to Good Health, and if you continue along this path, you will complete the task. But, again, I would caution you: Do NOT do this by crash dieting or by eating unhealthily. I will be happy to assist you with finding materials that will help you with this. But Do it the RIGHT way. Or you might become another statistic. I heartily encourage surgery (including WLS) where it is NECESSARY. But, as I have said, you should never undergo surgery of any kind unless you really NEED it. And you might have a unique opportunity to avoid it. And 17 grand can buy a LOT of bikinis...... If I can help you in any way, please feel free to PM me. S.

Since you brought this up, here is a comment on the COE: I'm not all that certain that I would put a whole lot of weight on the "Center of Excellence" designation. The reason for this is that they are, essentially, a "Trade Organization". It serves to promote the interests of the bariatric surgery INDUSTRY, and that is not always a good thing for the consumer. The Surgical Review Corporation, the "parent" of the COE program, is offering the COE designation to Surgical facilities that meet certain criteria, and I'm not all that sure that the criteria is that rigid. One of the requirements to be designated a COE is that you give them MONEY. LOTS of Money. One other requirement is that the Surgical facility must perform a minimum of 125 bariatric Surgeries a year. Now, for one experienced surgeon, 125 surgeries a year is not very much at all. BUT, the problem is that their requirement states that only the FACILITY has to have that volume. If they have 5 surgeons in the practice, then to maintain their designation each one only has to perform 25 surgeries in a year. The designation is given per FACILITY, and not per SURGEON. It could, conceivably, be a training ground for "rookie" surgeons, and I would NOT feel comfortable with that. S.

I agree with everyone here, Especially Cleo's Mom,..... Except for one thing...Tell us a little about what the experience was; what has made you so upset? It may very well be a case of "Idiot Surgeon".....but, if is this simply a situation where he/she is telling you something you Don't want to hear, well....That's different. There are situations where patients do NOT follow the rules, and when the Surgeon calls them on it, the patient accuses the doctor of not being sensitive, or abusive or something else. I am not suggesting that this is the case here, but I have seen that happen many times. It has been discussed on this board before. These is no one more disdainful of self-righteous and arrogant surgeons than I. There are plenty of jerks and quacks out there that are only in it to soak up the rewards from the inusrance companies. I have been in litigation myself with an idiot surgeon who made a mess out of my situation as well, so I do understand the problem.' But...You need to be certain that you are being realistic about the circumstances you are in, and that you are being honest with both your Surgeon AND yourself. And I bring this up only because you didn't give any details on what happened. Please tell us, and maybe someone here can give you some additional advice.... S.

If you have done plenty of research, and have decided that the band will work for you, then you should move forward confidently. ALL of the various WLS's have their issues, and the sleeve is no exception. And, the fact that the sleeve is fairly new to the WLS scene suggests that all of the longer-term issues that MIGHT occur with it have not been discovered. I would certainly not suggest that a person utilize any new procedure until it has been in COMMON use for a number of years. The sleeve methodology has been in use for OTHER issues for a number of years, but as a weight control mechanism it has been in use for a relatively short time, and there are not THAT many sleeve patients out there. Also, consider the fact that of all the major WLS available, the Sleeve is the ONE surgery that is NOT reversible in any way. Once you have it, well,....there really is no changing or going back. And if the surgeon doesn't do a good job, then you're stuck. The band has worked well for many people. If you have decided that restrictive WLS is indeed what will solve your particular obesity problem, then ignore the sleeve and go forward. S.

What Cocoabean said. Seriously, it would be best if you were simply honest about it. I do understand your reticence over it, and I know how judgemental families, in particular, can be about these things. But...the truth is going to come out eventually anyway, and they might be more upset with you if they find out later than if they find out now. Also, you really do have courage, and you should be commended for that. Even though they are TOTALLY different procedures, many people would not have WLS if a close family member had passed away post-surgery. Courage is an important component of a successful Band Experience, and you have certain shown that you possess it. You should do very well with the Band! S.

There are plenty of people here who will be happy to extoll the virtues of the Lap band, and share their success with you. But, don't be afraid of reading the negative stuff, either. You can learn a lot from UNSUCCESSFUL people as well. Many of them leave "clues" to their failures in the posts. You really should study both sides of it. Many of the less successful people can provide a good lesson in how to NOT use the Lap band. S.

Swirl, I will contact her and see if she will drop you a line, I'm certain she will. She does not participate here much now, but she cares very deeply about people and the suffering they go through. S.

Below, I have pasted some comments by someone else,....they have said pretty much what I would say: "Generally, I would be opposed to having a LB installed outside of the country, or even outside of your own geographical area. There are many things to consider, particularly the aftercare. Many US Doctors will NOT provide aftercare to patients that are banded outside of the country. I also feel that it's very important that you be within a reasonable proximity to the facility and Surgeon that performed your procedure, in the event that there is a problem of some sort. Also, there is the issue of liability in the event that is a problem....it's hard to go after an out-of-country Doctor if something goes wrong. Finally, there is the increasing incidence of violence along the Border cities with Mexico. Those are just a few of the reaons to re-think the idea of going to MX for surgery. Note that there are SOME Drs here in the US that are lowering their rates to attract additional patients....the economy is hitting even the WLS industry! I have not thoroughly investigated this, but I HAVE heard that many good surgeons here in the L.A. area are reducing their rates to compete with the mexican surgeons. It's worth spending some time looking into. One guy told me that a surgeon here reduced his rate dramatically when he told him that he was too expensive and that he was going to mexico. So, I would most certainly try looking at Surgeons here first. When I had my band installed, I also considered the option of going to Mexico, as I am a couple of hours from the Border as well. But, after researching I decided that it would be better to be CLOSER to the Doctor that put the band in, in the event of problems. But that was just my choice at the time. I STILL wouldn't feel comfortable having a National Border between me and my Doctor."

Swirl; The "experts" here have weighed in and done their usual damage. It's too bad I went on vacation. It might have been fun to get in on this one. This place is like a Box of hamsters. Pure comedy. People love to compartmentalize the Band experience into neat little boxes. It works like "THIS". "THIS" is what you have to do. "THIS" is what you should eat. "THIS" is what you shouldn't eat. It's "all" about the Calories. It's "all" about the Vagus nerve. And if you don't do it exactly THEIR way, well, you're doing it wrong. And much of what people think/say is baloney. And the REASON it's baloney is that the same process does not work for everyone. I believe it was Cleo's Mom who stated (correctly) that the Lap Band works in different ways for different people. And that is true. There ARE some absolutes, though, that everyone should do/not do. But even those are disagreed upon here. It might be entirely possible that you would have been better served by having another type of surgery, such as the Gastric Bypass. The various types of Weight Loss Surgery are all different….and meant for different people, with different eating, weight, and metabolic issues. So, it might not be a problem with the Lap Band. It might be that it was not the right surgery for YOU. SO many times on this forum, I see people describing the problem they are having with the Lap band, and it is so clear and apparent from what they say that a Bypass would have been better for them. But, I usually don't say anything because it is not always a pleasant thing to hear. And, well...they already HAVE the Lap Band, so why not do all you can with it? People do NOT put nearly enough work into the discovery portion of the WLS process. They see the ads on TV, Billboards, and Bus Benches about how easy it is to lose weight with the lap band. And...they simply go ahead and DO it, without seriously looking at the alternatives, or perform the due diligence and choose the RIGHT Bariatric professional to advise them. With regard to your original comment, the Lap band does NOT work for everyone. That is absolutely true. And when it does work, it doesn't always work that well. People who are having success with the Lap Band HATE it when someone suggests that the Lap Band might have problems, most likely because they fear that THEY might suffer erosion, or slippage, or another of the problems that have been associated with the Band. A classic case of "shoot the messenger". But, as others here have said, the patient DOES play a significant role in the efficacy of ANY WLS. You DO need to make certain that you have done ALL you can to make it work. Weight Loss Surgery is an INDUSTRY. It is full of crooks, thieves, sleazy marketing types, and "Patient Coordinators" (Pimps). It is filled with half-witted money-hungry doctors who have jumped on the Lap band gravy train in order to line their already bulging pockets some more of YOUR money. There are plenty of inexperienced Doctors performing this surgery, and they really don't care if it's the RIGHT surgery for you or not. Just as long as you PAY them to perform it. But...there are also some wonderful, experienced, caring Doctors that really only want what is BEST for their patients. And part of YOUR job as a potential WLS patient is to find the Surgeon that will give you what you NEED….which might not necessarily be what you WANT... The Lap Band industry makes it seem all so easy. In and out in a few hours. Go Home. Lose Weight. Done. Of course, it does not work that way at ALL. Here are some simple facts about the Lap band: MOST people who have the lap band will lose SOME weight. SOME people will lose very little or virtually no weight. A small percentage (thought to be single-digit) will lose all the weight they want. For some, the Lap Band is a remarkable, life-changing experience, providing a new lease on life. For many others, it is a mind-numbingly brutal experience, filled with disappointment, pain, financial loss, and sometimes disastrous health consequences. Of course, MOST people's experience falls somewhere in the middle, usually toward the part where they don't lose nearly as much as they want. I think that it is important, though, that you maximize the investment you have made in time and effort and money and make certain that this is, in fact, the case. The Reality of the band is that there are many, many factors in play that determine whether or not it will be successful in any given patient. My suggestion to you at this point: Get a second opinion. Find another EXERIENCED surgeon, someone who has a demonstrable track record of success with multiple WLS procedures. Have them do a complete review of your case. They might find something that can turn this around. I have seen it happen before. Remember: you can always revise to another WLS. There is a long-time member of this forum, someone who is very highly regarded here. She has nearly 7 thousand posts, and is considered to be one of the best WLS information sources here. She was considered to be something of a "champion" of the Lap Band. She struggled with her lap band a LOT..then she began to have some success, but it was HARD. Very hard. Finally, her band slipped. She decided that she was done with the process, and she had a gastric bypass. It turned out that IT was what she needed all along, and she is very happy that she had the revision. It MAY be that this is what you might have to do. But, I would seriously suggest that you seek out another opinion. I do believe what your surgeon said, though. Many surgeons are echoing his sentiment. Some people on this forum don't like it. But, it is what it is. S.

A remarkably lame analogy. Even for you. S.

Most experienced Bariatric Professionals (Surgeons, Drs, Etc) would disagree with that article (and DO). S.

Crod; A few things come to mind. First, congrats on your success. MANY Band Patients do not make it to those last 15. You have done very, very well. First, you said you exercise, but you did not specify what KIND of exercise you do. In a later post you agreed that you should start doing cardio. If you have not been doing much or any cardio up to this point, then you really have not been working out. Cardio is KEY to losing weight. You should spend most of the hour you dedicate to exercise on cardio, with your pulse in the correct range. That might be all you need to shed those pounds. Also, you said that you ate correctly %99 percent of the time, but you did not specify what exactly that means. To many people on this forum, "eating correctly" means having only ONE Snickers instead of 3. I have stated many times on this forum that it is the constant, small decisions we make in what we eat that will determine whether or not we are totally successful. I seem to continually get into arguments here with people on the subject of alcohol. I won't open that debate here, but in fact those couple of glasses of wine that many people have at dinner or bedtime might be inhibiting their weight loss. I saw a post recently where one member (LeighaMason, I believe) had difficulty losing her last 10 or 15 pounds. When she cut out her glass of wine, the weight came off. It is NOT always a matter of Calories in/calories burned…..different types of food have different effects on your METABOLISM. Alcohol is one of them. I am not suggesting that this is your problem, but I would encourage you to take a serious look at what you are consuming. Culturally, we are very conditioned to think that certain things are "good" for us, when in fact they are ONLY good for the people who SELL them. Milk, for instance, is one of those foods. We are the only creatures on earth who continue to consume milk after we have been weaned from our Mothers, and with all of the hormones and drugs that the dairy animals are given to promote growth (and profits), there is a good possibility the Milk we consume can be, in fact be having a detrimental effect on us. Most of the positive nutrients in Milk are destroyed during the homogenization process, so you're not getting much nutrition from your Milk, but you ARE getting some fat, calories, and other things that are NOT desirable. You can get all the Calcium you need from a small serving of vegetables. So, I would encourage to you take a close look at what you are eating. There might be some things that you can change that will make a difference. You have done very well, so you must be eating fairly well. I suspect, though, that adding in as much cardio as possible in the exercise program will be of great benefit, in a number of ways. Cardio is tough to get going on, but after you have done it for a while, you will begin to look forward to it. Best of luck; keep us posted! S.

Hmmm.... that was odd...... I just heard something very strange coming from Elcee's direction........ S.

After you have lost 50 pounds, you might find it beneficial to break your goals down into smaller pieces. For many people, 50 pounds (or thereabouts, plus or minus) becomes the point where loss begins to slow, and you need to give yourself more frequent "victories" on the scale. I would consider creating 10 or 15 pound goal increments. Have a "Master" goal of the TOTAL amount you want to lose, but don't pay attention to that until the final amount is the NEXT goal.....just pay attention to your smaller, incremental goals. You will feel a greater and more frequent sense of "success" if you break it up a bit. S.

Hi, Lauren; I have a few thoughts on this....... All of the various Weight Loss Surgery procedures have their own share of complications. None of them are problem free. One thing that hasn't been discussed is what exactly IS a complication? Are you talking about MAJOR issues (erosion, slippage) or minor ones (getting stuck occasionally)? I think you have to consider the idea that what is a complication to one person is a mere inconvenience to another…or a benefit to even another. For instance, in the Bypass world, there is what is known as the "dumping syndrome"…..for SOME GB patients, if you eat too much high fat or surgery food, you will become nauseous. Some people call that a complication, and for that reason alone, they would not have the bypass. But for many people it's a BENEFIT…..Dumping keeps them from eating foods that they shouldn't. It's all a matter of perspective. For some Lap band patients, getting "stuck" and throwing up on occasion is a complication….to others, it KEEPS them from eating too much food at once, and reminds them to chew thoroughl.....again, a benefit…for THEM.. Make no mistake about it....Lap Band Patients have complications, and plenty of them. But.....Isn't being obese a HUGE complication in your LIFE? Isn't it worth the risk of some potential problems to be free of your obesity, which is GUARANTEED to shorten your life and make you miserable along the way? Many Lap Band Surgeons will tell you that the incidence of complications is RISING, not falling. This due to several reasons, the main one being that we are just now getting a sizable population of LB patients that have had their Lap Bands placed for 3-5 years, and the problems are just beginning to show up. While banding technology has been available for around 20+ years, it has only been widely used for about the last 11 years. It was only approved for use here in the US about 10 years ago, and it has only been in the last 3 or 4 years that a critical mass has been reached where it would be considered a "common" procedure. This means that we really do not know, on a large scale, what the outcomes are long-term. But the post 3-year period is where many of the problems are surfacing. It has suggested here(and in other threads) that the majority of Successful LB patients are simply "off living their Lives" and not hanging out here at LBT.....that only complainers come here, mostly. I would agree with that to a CERTAIN extent. But you also have be aware that People who have had their bands removed, had them unfilled due to problems, or are just living/coping with the problems, are ALSO just "off living their lives". Not all the complainers and people with complications come here (or other forums) to talk about it. There are plenty of Lap Band patients with problems that never come to ANY forum to talk/complain about it. Someone here remarked that they thought that the ratio of LB patients without complications to those WITH complications was "Thousands" to 1. I would disagree with that. I think it's much closer. There are certainly more LB patients without serious complications than there are patients with problems, but the fact is that there is a significant number of Lap Band placements that eventually do have some serious difficulties. I am not trying to discourage the OP in any way. But I believe that an honest and realistic view of these procedures is the best way to move forward; a fully informed patient makes better decisions. And to deny the rather substantial occurrence of complications with the Lap band is to deny reality. Now, as a self-pay patient, you have some significant control over what your experience might be. You will be able to choose your OWN surgeon, rather than be obligated choose from a limited pool of surgeons provided by your insurance company. A couple of suggestions: Make CERTAIN that it IS the Lap band procedure that you need. The different WLS procedures are meant for DIFFERENT people with different Weight issues. You really need to take the time to be certain that restrictive surgery is what you need. Many people pick the wrong surgery. Take your time, and select the BEST Surgeon you can find in YOUR geographical area. I cannot overemphasize the importance of choosing a GOOD surgeon. You want one with TONS of experience, a fully developed and comprehensive post-surgery program, LOTS of experience, an available and supportive staff, and an enormous amount of experience. Did I mention that experience is extremely important? Many self-pay patients do something stupid like go to Mexico or DR or somewhere else like that simply to save money. I am not going to get into that issue here, but I would STRONGLY advise that if you have 15k to spend, spend it on the best you can get, NOT the cheapest. And the closer to home, the better. Make certain that you are addressing the mental/emotional component of your Obesity. This is a HUGE part of the obesity problem, and if you are not dealing with it, you are not truly dealing with your weight issues. Seek out an experienced Psychotherapist that SPECIALIZES in dealing with bariatric issues. Go to counseling regularly. This CAN and DOES help….very often, therapy is the key to being successful with the lap band. So, I won't say ignore the complications, as others here have. You need to be aware of them. But don't let them scare you off. With the right Surgeon, the right Support team, and the right choices on your part, the odds are that you will not have any problems. Best of luck with your choices! S.

““After many discouraging and unhelpful responses... I guess I'm going to give this a go somewhere else.” What, no one here told you what WANTED to hear? Reality bothers you a little, maybe? “I've been called a lots worse than stupid” I have no doubt. “I think people's morality gets too involved on this site.” Morality? When did morality EVER come into this conversation? Morality has got NOTHING to do with it, at least as far as I’m concerned. Alcohol consumption in the first few months of your band experience is a BAD IDEA, however you want to spin it. You came to this site looking for support/advice/whatever, you don’t get the info you WANT, so you go running off like a two year old on a tantrum. Sweet. Real Sweet. You’ve lost 23 pounds so far. That’s great. But that’s the EASY part. The first few pounds are usually the easiest. But if you continue to consume food and beverages that are UNHEALTHY, then that last 50 is gonna come off REAL hard, if at all. And the sooner you learn that, the better. “there, done that, eff off.” Charming. Absolutely Charming. Happy New Year. S.

Fluffy is correct. You made a bad decision. It was hardly "pontificating". It was merely common sense. If you continue to eat and drink the way you always have, you will continue to have the same body you've always had. I am not entirely opposed to a rare drink AFTER a few months have passed and you are losing weight consistently and have developed your new eating habits, but TWO WEEKS out? Just plain stupid, and the VAST majority of Bariatric Sugeons/Doctors would agree with that. S.

NancyMarie; I'm so sorry that you have had to experience this. A lot of people DO have problems with the band. And, with all of the other Weight Loss surgeries as well. For some people, the band experience is a relatively easy, smooth path to a normal and healthy body. For others, though, it is a mind-numbingly painful, difficult process that simply does not work. MOST people's experience falls somewhere in the middle. It is unfortunate that yours had to fall at the "negative" end of the band experience spectrum. A similar topic was started a few months ago, and I posted a comment there. I am going to cut/paste those comments here, in the hopes that you will derive some encouragement from them. Please note: one particularly pompous and self-absorbed individual took issue with my comments in the previous thread, suggesting that I was implying that anyone could reach goal without the band. That is not at all what I was suggesting. I AM suggesting that we, as humans, have an enormous amount of power that we are unaware of, and, given the right circumstances, many of them can find a way to harness that power and do incredible things. The person who made a fuss about what I said had a problem understanding that. I have altered some of my original comments to reflect that, and, in the event that she reads it again, I removed some of the words that use multiple syllables, so that she will understand it better. Here is what I had to say in that thread: The Lap Band has been sold/marketed as a long-term weight control device, but in the years since the FDA approval took place here in the states, many Surgeons and Bariatric Specialists have to come find that there is a significant and growing incidence of Slippage, Erosion, and other complications that contribute to the early removal of the band. This happens for a wide variety of reasons, some of which are not entirely understood by the Medical Community. And, the band does not work well for everyone; only a small percentage of people who have one ever entirely reach their stated weight loss goal, and incidence of the aforementioned complications have been rising steadily, as the numbers of band fittings have increased. This is not to say that the Band is not a good thing; it has worked miracles for many people, and has provided the little "something extra" that many people need to be able to lose the weight that they could not lose on an ordinary diet. However, in some parts of the Bariatric Community, the Lap Band is now being viewed a little differently than it was 2 or 3 years ago. At one time, it was the "darling" of the WLS industry, but that tide is turning a bit. Many Bariatric Surgeons are beginning to see the lap band as a temporary solution, to be placed for a period of 3-5 years, during which time the patient will be strongly encouraged to modify their eating habits and choices in food consumption, rather than a lifetime weight loss solution. A "re-training" period, if you will. So my point is that you are NOT alone. This is happening more than most people are aware. I recently read some preliminary notes from a study that was done in Europe (Note: the study is still ongoing, it has NOT been published, nor has it been given a formal name.it is not about the lap band, it is about the "placebo effect" and has many components, of which WLS is only one) . It has not been published yet, and I don't have any of the information regarding the number of subjects, etc, but what I read of what was given to me was very interesting. It seems that Lap Band surgery was performed on a certain number of patients, but out of those patients, a certain percentage were NOT given the entire Lap Band. Only the PORT was placed to give the feeling that the entire surgery had been performed as planned. The idea was to test the "mind component" of weight loss. The result? The non-recipients who THOUGHT they had a band placed performed EVERY BIT AS WELL as those who DID, in fact, receive a full Lap Band. The point is, of course, that the MIND is a powerful component of the weight loss process. The "Placebo Effect" made it possible for these people to lose even when they did not have a Lap band installed .They only thought they had one. Remarkable. I am NOT suggesting that everyone can achieve weight loss by only thinking that they have a band, but this (and other) studies demonstrate the incredible power of the human mind, the subconscious/unconscious in particular. There are new surgeries being investigated now that actually focus on physically altering portions of the brain in an effort to control eating and hunger. THAT is a little scary, but it is being investigated nonetheless. It might, at some point in the future, be the ultimate answer. So, I do believe that you can continue forward with your weight loss without the Band. You need to take what you have learned during your time with the Lap band, and simply continue doing it. Because, when you get right down to it, it is YOU that is making the decisions...NOT the Lap band. The band can be very easily defeated. It is not difficult to "eat around" the Band. The power for the lap band to promote weight loss really comes from YOU. I wish you the best of luck in this, and I think you have an excellent chance of succeeding. Please keep us all posted on your progress, as there are people on this forum now who may be in the same situation you are in at some point, and they will need advice and encouragement as well. S.

This subject does come up frequently, and it usually provokes some pretty strong opinions on all sides. I'll state the same things I have stated on this subject before: If you are really serious about losing weight, you need to consider giving up the booze. It is NOT conducive to good health OR weight loss, regardless of what some small studies say about the occasional glass of wine. Don't get me wrong; I always enjoyed a good blast of hootch, but NOTHING could make me feel as good as I do as a thin person. Sure, you could have a drink occasionally; you could also have a Snickers on occasion. Or a Hot Fudge Sundae. But WHY would you want to, after everything you have been through with your weight? It's the little decisions that we make on a moment to moment basis that impacts our health so dramatically. A shot of booze here, some cheez whiz there,....it all adds up. And you don't NEED a drink to be happy or have fun....if you DO,....well,,,,there are perhaps some other issues that you might want to address. There are certain things you need to eat to live....alchohol is one of those things you do NOT need. And it can hurt you in a number of ways. Also, consider the very real idea that after you have had one or two drinks, your will-power does tend to diminish, if not vanish entirely. This could lead to more drinks, and then the snacking that can often accompany a buzz. Sure, you can drink. Sure, you can have that piece of pizza, that slice of cake. But will that move you ANY closer to your goal? Nope. Will it keep you away from your goal? A little, tiny bit, yes. And will it continue to expose you to the foods that made you fat to begin with? Sure will. A couple of you have said your Drs have said that it is OK to have a drink.. Some have said their doctors advised against consuming alcohol. You will find Drs that say both. But….I would challenge you to ask any Dr if it would be better that you did NOT have a drink/Pizza/whatever. I can guarantee you that probably %100 would say that it would be better if you didn't. You always have a choice. And you should always strive to make the HEALTHY choice. S.

I hated chewables as well....UNTIL i found the products by a company called bariatric building blocks...... http://www.bbvitamins.com/ These things are really really good..... S.

DaMomb, SAM-E has been used quite effectively for many people with depression. Like most treatments for most difficulties, it does not work for all people all of the time, but it DOES work for many. It is also one of those "natural" treatments, so it cannot be patented....therefore, it is not "pushed" by Doctors and health care organizations because the profit in using the substance is just not there. Consequently, you just don't hear THAT much about it. I would suggest going to this site: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments for more information. The site is a little cumbersome to navigate, but you can find tons of information posted by people who have used various forms of treatment for Depression and various other ailments, and they tell about their experiences. S.

This place is now a mess. It used to be a Lap band site with some advertising. Now, it's an advertising site with some Lap band content. Incidentally, this is not actually an "upgrade"....it's an entirely new system. A whole different product. It DOES allow for more advertising space. There is more flexibility in the infrastructure for changes to the appearance, which translates to being able to jam an advertisement in where ever the site owner wants. Which appears to be EVERYWHERE. There are other products that would have made MUCH more sense for a community like this.....but.....who knows what the owners were thinking when they did this. S.

This is probably the WORST "upgrade" of a site I have seen in a LONG time. One of the reasons people keep returning to a site is the "format familiarity" component...and they have entirely done away with that here. They HAVE made more "real estate" available for advertising, that's for sure. And I certainly understand the need to generate SOME revenue to offset the costs of maintaining a site,,,,BUT.....this new format is pretty bad. Awful, I would go as far as to say. S.