Spartan

There are, in fact, large numbers of people who have failed with the Lap band. Of course, you have to define “failed”, and that means different things to different people. MOST people with that Lap Band do not lose all of the weight that they had originally intended. I am a firm believer in the concept of working with what you have….but….if what you have is NOT working, then perhaps it is time to move on to something that WILL work. You do need to make sure that you have done everything you could to make the band work. You may have reduced the quantity of your intake, but what about the QUALITY? That does make a huge difference. You didn’t mention anything about your history of fills. I would strongly suggest that you get other opinions from qualified, experienced bariatric professionals. Perhaps you need a new set of “eyes” to observe how you are working the band. Now, having said all that, I will tell you that if indeed you have reduced your consumption by 40%, and the TYPE of food you are eating is appropriate, then it is entirely possible that you are one of the people that never should have had the Lap Band to begin with. A Gastric Bypass might be the appropriate procedure for you. The Lap Band and GB are meant for different types of people with different eating and metabolic disorders. People think they are interchangeable, and that is not always the case. While there are people who would do well with either, usually one of them is better than the other for YOU. Keep us posted…..and don’t lose hope; there ARE other options out there! S.

Spam!!!!!!!!! :confused:

Teacher; Sorry you have experienced problems. I do have a question....You said that you had a revision....generally, having a revision suggests that you have moved to another form of Weight Loss Surgery, Such as a Bypass or a Sleeve. Did you have replacement band or another type of surgery? S.

Vickiemax; I'm sorry you have had to go through all of that. It is an unfortunate fact that parts of the Weight Loss Surgery industry (and it is very much an "industry") have become very sleazy. There are entities out there that are looking to place themselves between you and the surgeon, taking a big slice of the Insurance money or YOUR money in the process. These "Centers" are generally referred to as "Lap Band Mills", and while there are some honest Surgical Centers who have the interests of the patient at heart, there are SO many of them that have their OWN interests at the forefront. The WLS business is full of crooks, charlatans, and jackasses, and you really have to be careful when you are looking for a Surgeon. One thing that everyone should keep in mind: GOOD Surgeons do NOT have to advertise. Most of the best Bariatric Surgeons are Doctors who have long-standing affiliations with very reputable Medical Centers....they don't work out of strip Malls with a Starbucks on one side and a 99cent Store on the other. This is a Surgery in which you want someone with demonstrated expertise over a long period of years. One other thing: I am not suggesting that you will ALWAYS find the Best Surgeons at Major Medical Centers. I am very personally aware of Surgeons at world-class facilities that have made dreadful mistakes and treated their patients very poorly. But, as a rule, you will find that the Best surgeons will affiliate themslves with the finer institutions, and not these little "Drive-Through Lap Band In-n-Out Centers" It can be a complicated matter to find a good surgeon who has assembled a first-rate team that will provide you with excellent aftercare. But the time you take to research it will be worth it, not only in the outcome of your surgery, but in the peace of mind that you will gain by knowing that you have engaged the BEST that is available to you. S.

Occasionally I see someone here post a question about the reputation of a particular facility or "Band Center". I would suggest that you not put too much emphasis on the organization, but concentrate on the SURGEON that will be performing the operation. The organization is important, don't get me wrong. But a good surgeon will generally not associate themselves with a poor organization or facility. I would begin searching for the best Surgeon in your area. Do a lot of research, and one will rise to the top. Many of these Band Centers are just "Patient Coordinators" and they have a loose affiliation with a group of Surgeons that they send patients to. Do a LOT of research before you commit. Choosing the right surgeon is a critical part of this process. S.

PennRob; Don't rule out the Gastric Bypass because it makes you a bit uncomfortable. It might be the ideal surgery for your particular circumstances. Look at ALL your options with an open mind. People make the Lap band seem a lot easier, and it is not. And, it is possible that you might do better with another surgery. I am suggesting that you not rule ANYTHING out until you have studied all of them in detail, and spoken to an Experienced Bariatric Specialist. Good Luck with whatever you decide! S.

Splenda/Equal are POISON.....Period. I have to LOUDLY applaud Adagray for her comments on sugar. I'll probaby write some add-ons to her comments later. But what she said was spot-on, and people should listen. S.

The Band vs Bypass debate rears it’s ugly (and misunderstood) head once again. Loads of baloney from all sides. So, here are a few comments on things that have been said on this thread. And, if someone suggests that I have a Bypass Bias of some sort…that would be incorrect. Both Surgeries are quite viable, but they are meant for different classes of people. People just love to “defend” their own surgery, which is detrimental to other people who are still trying to make the decision as to what is right for them. “The Lap-band® is less invasive than gastric bypass surgery.” This quote is right out of a Lap band brochure. This seems to be one of a couple of phrases that are continually regurgitated whenever the subject of Band vs. Bypass comes up. The Procedure is DIFFERENT. But this whole concept of “invasion” is pretty absurd. It is NO different than many other surgeries and procedures that are performed to correct a deficiency or malfunction in some area. We have appendixes removed, gall Bladders removed, Heart bypass surgeries, and on and on and on….we have TONS of plastic surgeries. I find it amusing that so many of the people who chose Lap band over Bypass because it’s “less invasive” are planning to have tummy tucks, facelifts….whole big pieces of skin (an organ) removed. Plastic surgery probably carries as much if not MORE risk than a GB. Not to mention all of the piercings and tattoos we have and don’t even think twice about. But a gastric Bypass? An effective surgery that has been successfully performed for nearly half a century and has benefitted hundreds of thousands of patients? Hell no! it’s too…”invasive”….funny stuff. “Gastric bypass is physically altering your stomach forever.” The old “irreversible” argument…..wrong again. It is, in fact, reversible. It is not something that is done very often, because it does not NEED to be performed very often. The vast majority of Gastric Bypass patients have their surgery, lose the weight they need, and continue on to live happy, productive, and HEALTHY lives. You hear of some adverse outcomes, but in virtually EVERY case, the problems occur as a result of patient non-compliance or Surgeon inexperience or incompetence. But the notion that the bypass is irreversible is NOT true. Doctors do not “advertise” the fact that it is reversible, because they do not want patients to consider it to be a temporary procedure. But it can be reversed. It’s not all that easy, but it is performed quite regularly on those who need it….which is not a lot of people. “Gastric bypass surgery does cause you to lose more rapidly, increasing the chance of hanging loose skin... yeah I'd love to have all my weight melt off in a few months, but the idea of looking like the saggy-baggy elephant afterwards... not so appealing.” Again…not the case in most circumstances. In many instances it depends on how much weight you have to lose. If you have 150 pounds to lose, you are going to have saggy skin regardless of what procedure you have. And, even THAT is dependant upon some very individual circumstances, such are your age, skin elasticity, etc. Also….if this element is of great concern, you do not HAVE to lose weight quickly post-bypass. You do have a LOT control over your weight loss. “You CAN eat sugar with gastric bypass, I work with 2 people that have had it done in the past 6 months.” This is one area where you are partially correct. I have watched this argument come and go for years on this (and other) forums. The facts are that a percentage of GB patients do experience a reaction to certain types of high-fat and sugary foods. It is what is called the “dumping syndrome”. As is the case with virtually all WLS procedures, there are no solid stats, but experienced surgeons will tell you that Dumping occurs in roughly 15 to 30 percent of GB patients. If they consume enough concentrated sugar (and in some cases that would be an astronomical amount), ALL GB patients will experience it because of the inherent mechanism by which the GB functions. And, the severity of the Dumping varies dramatically. For some patients, it is a mildly uncomfortable sensation. For others, it is more severe. MOST people who experience dumping are grateful for it. “Even for those that get dumping syndrome, though, it goes away within two years. So, eventually, all sugar addicts have to deal w/moderating sugar (without the help of dumping).” Not necessarily. For SOME patients, it diminishes somewhat over time, but in virtually ALL cases where dumping was present to begin with, it does continue, but, again, it CAN diminish somewhat. “Bypass is a great surgery for some people. But it causes significant lifelong malabsorption of nutrients--which is something we are thankfully spared.” Some nutrients are not absorbed properly post bypass. That IS one of the mechanisms of the procedure. But…..much of the BAD stuff is not absorbed as well. That is why it works. The solution to this problem is quite simple: Take your Vitamins. Period. If you take your supplements, there will almost NEVER be nutritional deficiencies. And please note: You need to take Supplements post-Lap band as well. The NEED to take Supplements post Band Surgery is not quite as critical as it Post GB, but you still need to. For most GB Patients, the Supplements are a non-issue. They take them and they are just fine. No Problem. Again: Patient Compliance is key. A few Vitamins a day is a small price to pay for the benefits offered by a GB. “And once the initial honeymoon period, the rate of weight loss success generally equalizes with ours---at a far greater lifestyle and health cost, IMO.” Wrong again. The Lap Band faction of the WLS industry loves to toss this one out with great regularity, but as presented here, it is quite incorrect. Of course, as I have stated before, there are NO solid, quantifiable research statistics on this, but most experienced, long-term Bariatric Surgeons (and not the batch of surgical clowns that have jumped on board the Lap band Gravy Train in the last few years) will tell you that the vast majority (around 85-90% by some estimations) of GB patients take the weight off, and KEEP it off, given some minor, normal weight fluctuation as age increases and time passes. “From what I've observed, dumping makes stuck look like a walk in the park.” Most GB patients would disagree with that, particularly those who have experienced both. Dumping is usually a mild to medium discomfort, and NOT the gut-blasting makes-you-wanna-shove-your-fist-down-your-throat-and-rip-out-your-esophagus experience that characterizes the Lap band “stuck” experience. SOME Dumping episodes can be difficult, but to suggest that Dumping “makes stuck look like a walk in the park” is ludicrous, at best. “Don't bypass folk get food stuck from time to time? My PCP had bypass and we were talking about getting food stuck. He spoke of some incidents he'd had with chicken.” CocoaBean, that is partly correct. What a lot of people are unaware of about the GB is that restriction is ALSO a component of this procedure. Malabsorption is the primary and fundamental mechanism that makes the GB work, but on very, very rare occasions, you can get “stuck”. MOST commonly, this occurs in the presence of a “stricture”, where the channel leading into the stoma is not wide enough, and eating without chewing properly can lead to a Lap Band-like “stuck” feeling. It does not happen very often, and the stricture can be very easily corrected. However….many patients do not WANT it to be corrected….it provides another level of “forced compliance”, kind of along the lines of the Lap band. It does not happen often, but it is one of the things that CAN occur….but again, it is quite easily corrected, in a few minutes, actually. And yes, Chicken…..evil stuff…. J. Also the nature of the “sticking” is different. With the lap band, almost anything can get stuck, it seems. And things get stuck on one day and not another. With the Bypass, the experience is very consistent, in the rare event that it does happen. And it is ALWAYS because you haven’t chewed properly or it is something you just should not have eaten. “I registered to the site just so I could post on this thread. I just wanted to point out that my best friend had a gastric bypass 6 years ago. One of the first things she ate post-op was a slurpee. (full of sugar) To this day, she has no issues eating sugar or candy. She only got dumping at the VERY beginning. Also, she is always getting food "stuck" and trying to either get it to come back up or go down. One of the very reasons I am not a big proponent of gastric bypass is having watched her and others who have gone through one. She doesn't eat right, and im worried for her in the long term as far as nutrients and vitamins are concerned. She lost a lot of weight, yes, and she's very happy and consideres it the best decision she's ever made. Im happy for her, but I just wanted to point out that she can eat sugar and gets things stuck.................. “ With all due respect, you have a very Stupid friend. Ultimately, it is likely that her Bypass will fail. PATIENT COMPLIANCE is KEY, with the band AND the Bypass….and the Sleeve, DS, FB, and all the other more obscure procedures. And from day one, she broke the rules. But guess what: The band wouldn’t work for her either. She would have the SAME problems, and would not have lost any weight, because of the ease with which one can eat “around” the band. For some people, NO Surgery will work long-term. Your friend needs the kind of help that no surgery offers. This whole debate over which procedure is better is pretty useless. The simple fact is that one of the procedures is better for someone than another. They are different procedures that work in different ways. One is Malabsorptive in nature, with some restriction; the other is almost entirely restriction. They are meant for DIFFERENT people with DIFFERENT eating and/or metabolic disorders. There is a certain segment of the obese population for which either one WOULD work reasonably well….But….ONE of them would be better. It is not a matter of simply picking the one that appeals to you….at least not if you want REAL success. It takes an experienced and skilled bariatric specialist to be able to help you sort out which one would be the most successful for you. There are a number of things that make the GB a preferable surgery for many people. It’s been around a LONG time, nearly 50 years. The procedure has been refined over and over. The advent of Laparoscopic technology in the last decade has made the procedure incredibly safe. As one very experienced Bariatric Surgeon said: “If the Patient is reasonably compliant, then we can predict pretty much exactly what is going to happen…the surgery is that reliable”. Finally, to the Original poster I would have this to say. It is difficult to know from what you have said if the Bypass would have been a better procedure for you. A “sweet tooth” is not always a specific indicator of the need for a GB, but it is a “clue”. I think that at this point in time, it would be wise for you to work with what you HAVE, rather than spend any time thinking about what you “should” have done. “Buyers remorse” is very, very common among WLS patients in the first couple of months post-op. Regardless of the surgery, most Patients will end up saying to themselves “what have I done to my body?” at some point. But, that will pass. It almost always does. Many people have a rocky start with the Lap band. One person on this board, Erin18, I believe, had a LOT of problems at the beginning. She was quite the topic of conversation here last year because she was posting every day, if not several times a day, complaining about the difficulty she was having. But, she has gone on to lose quite a bit weight. She is one example of people who had a lot of problems initially but went on to some success. If you do not find success with the Lap Band, there are the other options. But you absolutely have to give the Lap Band every chance to work. It sometimes takes a LONG time to find that “zone” where it starts working. Some people never do, but you have to give it your best shot before you start thinking about alternative procedures. It IS “doable”. It just takes time, effort, commitment….and COMPLIANCE. S.

Stacy, it is generally an easier experience having it taken out than it is having it put in, UNLESS there is some major complication (erosion, etc) that is the reason for it being removed. I would encourage you, though, to take whatever experience you have had with the band and use it to your advantage. Since you haven't explained what the circumstances are that have brought you to the point of removal, it's hard to give you specific advice, but I really hope that you will try and retain whatever positive eating habits you may have gained during your time with the Lap Band. Many people have their Band removed and are able to continue with their weight loss, but many are not, and they begin regaining weight the moment they step out of the hospital. Try and continue eating as though you still have the Lap Band in place. Regardless of the reason you are having it removed, you are certainly not alone. The Lap Band can and does cause a lot of problems for some people, and the number of removals and serious complications is on the rise. I wish you the best of luck......It IS possible to lose weight and be healthy without the band (or any WLS)....sometimes it's a little harder, but many, many people are able to rise to that challenge. I am sincerely hoping that you will be one of them! S,

I am continually amazed at the eating decisions people make after getting the Lap Band. So, you go through a significant surgery, you pay (or your insurance company pays) anywhere from 5 to 20 thousand dollars, and you think it’s a good idea to consume what amounts to PURE SUGAR? Honestly. You can do better than that. Icees/Slurpees have NO nutritional value at all. Not a bit. If you feel like you needed a “treat” or something like that, you would have been much better off throwing some fruit in the blender with some ice. As I have said many times before, it is the accumulation of these small missteps that could likely keep you from reaching your goal. And sugar-concentrated garbage like that is not at ALL good for your overall health. You really need to rethink what you are consuming. S.

Michael: A good Surgeon will almost always use a Fluoroscope when performing fills. Some Doctors do not use them, because of the added time and expense, but, personally, I would not utilize a facility that did NOT use the process. It is really in your best interests for the Doctor to take advantage of the technology to obtain a more "granular" indication of your restriction level. As far as how long it takes to arrive at the optimum level of restriction for YOU, well, that is very, very individual . I have known patients who had the Lap Band installed and went on to lose all the weight they needed with NO fills, but I have also known others who were filled to the specified capacity and never did achieve the "sweet spot". So, there are a lot of variables, and your personal response to the Lap Band cannot be predicted with any real precision. You need to think of the Lap Band as merely a component in a larger matrix that includes actions, behaviors, attitudes, and the committment to MAKE it work. It's just a piece of Silicone; It provides an ASSIST to the patient in controlling eating. But it, in and of itself, is not the answer. YOU are the answer. S.

You call having a couple (or more) holes poked in your stomach and a piece of silicone sewn around your stomach "non-invasive"? Problems with Lap Band Surgery do not happen all that often during the Sugery part of it.....the majority of problems with Lap Bands tend to happen later on. However, there are some cases where there are difficulties that are experienced post-surgery, in the first 24 hours. And if YOU are in that small percentage, then you will want to be In the hospital. It's a personal choice, in many cases. If you have the choice, and if it is not too big of an inconvenience, I would stay overnight in the Hospital. Take the time to relax, read, and recover. S.

More Lap band procedures are being done as Out Patient. However, it IS surgery. They cut you open, and they put a foreign device inside you. You are under anesthesia. And because of that, I would not have the surgery at this point in time WITHOUT being allowed/required to stay overnight. S.

Ada, I would seriously avoid eating anything but liquids or food that you can "turn into" liquids in your mouth. You need to let your system heal a bit, and you really can do some damage if you don't let it heal....so please try and make that a priority. A wedding is one of those unfortunate social situations where you kind of feel obligated to eat and you feel like everyone is watching if you don't eat. I recall that I was able to develop the art of "non-eating" where I would be able to make it LOOK like I was eating...but I wasn't....You kind of move things around on the plate, making it look like it was being eaten, and you continually move the fork up to your mouth like you are eating....it actually became kind of fun to learn to pretend that I was eating. My work involves a LOT of social eating, so it was something I actually became quite good at. There were times, though, when it was not possible to do that, so I simply said that I was on a 24-hour fast for upcoming blood tests for a physical. And I didn't eat anything but sip some Water. It is important, though, to learn to place your own health above what anyone else MIGHT think, and just simply do what is right. And that might involve just sitting there and NOT eating anything. Just enjoy the Wedding....weddings are usually wonderful! S.

It would probably be in your best interests to NOT compare yourself to anyone else. People with the band lose at widely varying rates, and you might be selling yourself short if you try and achieve someone else's goal. Talk to your Doctor, and see what their expectations are for you. Your rate of loss will be dependant upon many variables, and trying to compare your progress with someone else might be unrealistic and potentially discouraging to you. S.

Ash; Patience, my Dear. That’s what you need. Patience. Thus far, you have done fantastic. There is no other way to describe it. I do understand how you feel. Once you have begun the process of losing the weight, every day seems like an eternity. But you will begin to see more noticeable results before long. I can practically guarantee that. You had a LOT to lose. And you have lost nearly 25% of that, and that alone should make you ecstatic. And the rest of it WILL come. Our bodies are very, very funny when it comes to weight loss. You can lose inches in the strangest places….the weight does not come off uniformly. There are parts of you that will just kind of hang on to the fat, for a while. But….it WILL come off eventually. I’m not going to tell you to work harder, or exercise more, or any of that because, frankly, your rate of weight loss thus far has been very, very good. I know that you already know all of this….you said it yourself! So relax, and look forward to the time in the not-so-distant future when you can look back on all of this and laugh about it. It WILL happen. S.

Naughty Girl. :frown:

I am quite continually amazed that people continue to consume the non-essential crap that made them fat to begin with, after going to the trouble and expense of having Weight Loss Surgery. You would be doing yourself a very big favor by going on an "alchoholiday" for a few months post-surgery. Beer and other types of alchoholic beverages can impede weight loss in several ways. Life with the Lap Band is not always easy, and there are a few things that you simply need to stay away from while you are in the beginning stages of learning to live with it. S.

You're going to TALK to him???? Do people still DO that? I thought that communication these days was relegated to chat rooms, forums, texts, and emails...... Seriously, though....I love hearing stories like this. How neat would it be if you guys could actually get together after all these years. Just one more reason to love the internet. I have been able to re-connect with old friends from all over the world, from many different times periods in my life. So, please keep us posted on what happens.....we've all worked hard to make sure you get laid.....:frown:...(sorry).... S.

Ah, ok....that makes a little more sense...I didn't realize you were banded in Mexico, and I was wondering why you didn't just make a quick call....but, it's easier said than done cross-border. This is, unfortunately, one of the pitfalls of going outside one's geographical area, and out-of-country. It is often difficult to obtain the kind of support that you might need post-op. But, I also recognize that in some cases, going out of country is the only way the surgery is going to happen! Please do keep us posted, I'll be curious to know how they respond....and, again, I am quite certain that it is nothing to be concerned about! S.

Hi, Alyce; As I said in my earlier reply, it is PROBABLY nothing to be concerned about. However, it did concern you enough for you to post about it on a forum, so for your own peace of mind I would suggest that you take a few minutes and call your Doctor's office and make them aware of it. It certainly never hurts to make a quick call. There are many things that can (and do) go wrong with Lap Bands, and it's important that you pay attention to anything out of the ordinary that is happening. Your Surgeon's office MIGHT have some very specific intructions on how they would like you to handle this. One other thing is that a GOOD Lap band Surgeon likes to be made aware of things like this.....different things that happen to different people as a result of different things that they do/do not do at various stages in their Band experience. It all depends on the Surgeon and his level of involvment with his Patients, but many of them do record events like this. Again....probably nothing to be concerned about, but a 5-minute phone call will certainly give you the information you need on the correct way to proceed. Hope you feel better soon. S.

Well, I would suggest that you talk to them and explain your situation. Tell them that based upon the date they have given you that your insurance won't cover it by then. They might be able to slide you in sooner. It is certainly worth a try, and you might be surprised. They are a business like any other and they don't want to lose the revenue if they can help it. If they do not give you an earlier date, then see about getting another provider. I know that it will depend upon your insurance, but if you have other options, then I would begin checking them out right away. Many patients are able to get a surgery date within weeks, and if you already have your insurance approvals then you might be able to find someone who can do it a LOT sooner. Don't give up hope....I think you'll be able to work this out. S.

Yes, PT, I'm afraid you have initiated something of a Soap Opera....and we're all watching......lol.....

Hoax is a good possibility. However, what concerns me is that someone might take the OP's suggestion that it CAN be done seriously, and inflict some serious damage on themselves and/or their band. There are several instances on this forum of people who have stated that they are self pay or have lost their insurance and cannot afford and fills. I am concerned that one of those individuals will see this, and try and do it themselves. Part of me says this thread (and those like it) should be deleted, another part says leave it up with all of the DON'T DO IT comments that people are making. It is a ridiculous and dangerous notion, and anyone who suggests that someone without training, credentials, and proper materials should be doing this, should be bounced from this forum. Again: Idiot. S.

Idiot. S.