Does the lap band really work????

[Kenya1206 0]

Hi, I had decided to have gastric...I have 100 to lose...,

But gastric scares me...so I am planning on lapband.

thanks for this post and all the comments it has helped!

[jeepygurl 3]

[@Jeepygurl: If you are having such issues as getting stuck and sliming so often that you feel you should have been warned about it, you may want to look closer at how you're eating, or talk to your doctor about physical issues with your band or fill level. The ONLY times I ever get stuck and start sliming is when I'm eating too fast, not chewing properly, or swallowing too large of a bite. If I slow down, chew better, and take smaller bites, there is no getting stuck, and I can eat anything I want.

Dave

I wish people would stop saying this to me, How am I vomiting on LIQUID!!!! I tell my doc this all the time I feel he was not 100% honest with me and I am now living with it, I chew fine, I eat slow I slim on various things, from liquid to chicken the band is a tool but I also think the band was not explained fully to me as I wished it had been, I exercise everyday x2 a day swimming, running, walking, spin class I am active.....SO Please...I CHEW FINE, I EAT FINE.....

[Dave_NW 92]

I wish people would stop saying this to me, How am I vomiting on LIQUID!!!! I tell my doc this all the time I feel he was not 100% honest with me and I am now living with it, I chew fine, I eat slow I slim on various things, from liquid to chicken the band is a tool but I also think the band was not explained fully to me as I wished it had been, I exercise everyday x2 a day swimming, running, walking, spin class I am active.....SO Please...I CHEW FINE, I EAT FINE.....

Sorry, I wasn't being critical. It just seems that if you're often being sick like that, then _SOMETHING_ is not right. It's a mechanical device, and you're having an excessive issue with it. The way the band is supposed to work doesn't include problems like that if you're eating right. That was all I was trying to say.

I hope you get it figured out. Good luck!

Dave

[Dave_NW 92]

Dave I dont agree with you on that one. Some people just get scarring in the pouch and this is the result and it doesnt matter how little a bite you take. Some have issues eating and I for one would like to rip this thing out of my gut. Yes I have lost a lot of weight however I can eat what I want but some days like when it rains I am not eating nothing because of the barimetric pressure and I am not too tight. One day I eat just fine the next it is aweful and I am sick of the back and forth hoping I can eat and I have less than 2cc's in my band didnt have one fill for a year and a half. When I had an endoscopy done guess what major scarring inside my pouch. So unless I am heaving up everything or having real medical issues with it they will not take it out. I hate eating more than ever. Yes some people do eat fast and get stuck but no one has any idea when something is really wrong its not about the bites the chewing or anything else it is a real issue.

Fair enough. I just learned something. I didn't know scarring inside the pouch occurred, and that being sick was the result. That must be awful to deal with. And to be honest, I've had such an easy time with this whole thing, I guess I expected everyone else should, too. I hope you can get things sorted out, and hopefully get to where it's working right for you. Thanks for sharing. Good luck!

Dave

[sassyfrass 24]

I have not yet been banded, either. This topic is my very thoughts and fears too. I get hyped up and excited about getting banded, then I read some horrible experiences and get frightened, but from what I've read of the good experiences, and those few people that I know personally who have had it, it seems like I would be missing out if I did not give it a try, at least. I can't keep living my life, unhappily regaining lost weight wondering 'WHAT IF'.

Thanks for all the posts. It is a scary and exciting thing all at once.

[everfriend67 2]

Hi there. I can tell you that the reason that you are wanting the surgery is EXACTLY the same reason that I wanted the surgery. I got the surgery 3 years ago. I have the lapband but I might as well not have it. I lost weight initially though not as much as I probably should have. When I went to the orientation before deciding to get the band, the MD who did my surgery spoke and made it seem like this IS the cure for people who just can't get that full feeling which is me!! I just went in whole hearted KNOWING that I had found the fix to control my appetite. Well, after my initial weight loss of about 60 pounds, slowly I started to gain the weight back. I went in for band adjustments (not sure if you are familiar with what I mean) but it did not work. Either the band was too tight and I was vomiting when I ate or it was too loose and I did not feel full. I was adjusted countless numbers of times and THEN my MD proceeded to blame ME!! He asked me if I was drinking a lot of milk shakes, mashed potatoes, mushy foods. He asked this becuase he had adjusted my band so many times, he could NOT and refused to admit that the band had failed me NOT that I had failed the band. Anyway, I am an EXTREMELY non confrontational person but after going to see him a few times and him blaming me, I did not go back. I had NOT been drinking shakes and eating mashed potatoes. I had been eating like I would have normally eaten but I felt EXACTLY as I did BEFORE the surgery. I am still doing horribly. I have NO will power over food. It's awful. I am not a person who will eat if I am full but I just don't seem to feel full unless I eat a considerable amount more than a normal meal. I just WISHED there was something out there that could help me to feel full I hope this helps. I am sorry but I think the surgery is the BIGGEST waste of money that you can throw away.

Hi I am not banded yet and have been researching the band for over a year. Probably too much. I have read some discouraging things about the band as well as some good things. Some bandsters on this site that are not happy with their band say it is all about will power.......and receive no restriction whatsoever from their band. this is quite discouraging as I have never had will power to lose weight and need help. That is why I am chosing to go thru surgery for this. Does the band really help you lose the weight? Also, would you do it again knowing what you know now? Sorry for the negatives but I am nervous about my decision. As you all know it is not an easy one. thank you for your honest replys.

[mauraclegg 29]

I have never heard of scarring i the pouch?? How would scarring within the pouch happen?

But I do think that some people are not well informed before their banding. I did tons of research even as I was going through my doctor appts. I know there can be issues and some of them are medical. I would think though that if someone hates their band that much having it removed would be the smartest move. It is a reversable situation.

I am not trying to be critical - just thinking outloud. I know that if I HATED my band I would have it removed, even if I had to save - and while I was saving I would have all the liquid removed

[mauraclegg 29]

. He asked this becuase he had adjusted my band so many times, he could NOT and refused to admit that the band had failed me NOT that I had failed the band. Anyway, I am an EXTREMELY non confrontational person but after going to see him a few times and him blaming me, I did not go back. I had NOT been drinking shakes and eating mashed potatoes. I had been eating like I would have normally eaten but I felt EXACTLY as I did BEFORE the surgery. I am still doing horribly. I have NO will power over food. It's awful. I am not a person who will eat if I am full but I just don't seem to feel full unless I eat a considerable amount more than a normal meal. I just WISHED there was something out there that could help me to feel full I hope this helps. I am sorry but I think the surgery is the BIGGEST waste of money that you can throw away.

I do have a question for you - if you have no willpower then how did the band fail you, and not you fail the band? Please know I am not trying to be churlish - I just know that the band is a tool and that if you continue to eat however you want then it won't work.

[everfriend67 2]

As I said in my earlier post, what I needed was a tool to help me to feel fuller quicker. I was told BY THE MD that this was the tool to do that. Also as I said in my post earlier, I won't eat if I feel full. I hope this answers your question and if not, here is some food for thought:

RESULTS: Between June 1997 and June 2003, LGB was performed in 317 patients, 43 men and 274 women. Mean age was 38 years (19-69), mean weight was 119 kg (79-179), and mean BMI was 43.5 kg/m(2) (34-78). 97.8% of the patients were available for follow-up after 3 years, 88.2% after 5 years, and 81.5% after 7 years. Overall, 105 (33.1%) of the patients developed late complications, including band erosion in 9.5%, pouch dilatation/slippage in 6.3%, and catheter- or port-related problems in 7.6%. Major reoperation was required in 21.7% of the patients. The mean EWL at 5 years was 58.5% in patients with the band still in place. The failure rate increased from 13.2% after 18 months to 23.8% at 3, 31.5% at 5, and 36.9% at 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: LGB appeared promising during the first few years after its introduction, but results worsen over time, despite improvements in the operative technique and material. Only about 60% of the patients without major complication maintain an acceptable EWL in the long term. Each year adds 3-4% to the major complication rate, which contributes to the total failure rate. With a nearly 40% 5-year failure rate, and a 43% 7-year success rate (EWL >50%), LGB should no longer be considered as the procedure of choice for obesity. Until reliable selection criteria for patients at low risk for long-term complications are developed, other longer lasting procedures should be used.

. He asked this becuase he had adjusted my band so many times, he could NOT and refused to admit that the band had failed me NOT that I had failed the band. Anyway, I am an EXTREMELY non confrontational person but after going to see him a few times and him blaming me, I did not go back. I had NOT been drinking shakes and eating mashed potatoes. I had been eating like I would have normally eaten but I felt EXACTLY as I did BEFORE the surgery. I am still doing horribly. I have NO will power over food. It's awful. I am not a person who will eat if I am full but I just don't seem to feel full unless I eat a considerable amount more than a normal meal. I just WISHED there was something out there that could help me to feel full I hope this helps. I am sorry but I think the surgery is the BIGGEST waste of money that you can throw away.

I do have a question for you - if you have no willpower then how did the band fail you, and not you fail the band? Please know I am not trying to be churlish - I just know that the band is a tool and that if you continue to eat however you want then it won't work.

[everfriend67 2]

I agree completely that it won't stop you from eating sweets. Sweets are NOT my problem. When I sit down to eat a meal, I DO NOT feel full any more than I did before the band and like I said before, that is the tool that I need, something that will help me to feel full. I think the bottome line is, no matter what, there are things that will work for some and not others. I happen to know 4 other people who had the band put in who are in the SAME boat that I am. It is EXTREMELY discouraging when you are told that the band is a tool to help you feel full, you get your hopes up, pay all of that money and it turns out that for some, it does NOT. Now I am stuck with this band that is doing me NO good. Insurance will NOT cover removal unless there is an issue and it's deemed "Necessary" to remove it! I would like to know the percentage of people who are still feeling the SAME way when it comes to hunger that they did before the band. With me knowing 4 of them myself, I would say that the numbers would be high.

[everfriend67 2]

I understand completely. I have just come to the understanding that food will ALWAYS be an issue for me. Every since I have a first memory, I was over weight and YES, part of me does blame my upbringing because we had nothing growing up so when food was there, you DID NOT waste it under ANY circumstances. We HAD to eat EVERYTHING that was put on our plate in my house. I HATED that. I can remember literally having to go to the bathroom to get sick becuase I had eaten WAY too much. I also do think that Genes play a big role.

[mauraclegg 29]

While I am not doubting there are some bona fide medical issues that can come to light because of the band I think if u are not losing weight then it's because you are NOT using the tool to it's fullest potential. If we didn't have good issues we wouldn't need the band in the first place. You HAVE to have willpower even with the band. You have to work with the band to lose weight

[mauraclegg 29]

While I am not doubting there are some bona fide medical issues that can come to light because of the band I think if u are not losing weight then it's because you are NOT using the tool to it's fullest potential. If we didn't have good issues we wouldn't need the band in the first place. You HAVE to have willpower even with the band. You have to work with the band to lose weight

[PattiL 1]

The lap band is a tool as others have stated. I love my band and would do it again. I was 264 pounds in August 2010 and now I am 198 in June 2011. My goal is 175. You must be willing to take control of what you eat. You must excercise and you must drink your Water.

it helps to have a partner that will support you. My boyfriend is awesome and supports me in all I do.

[everfriend67 2]

This will be my last comment on this particular threat. I think the band works for some but NOT everyone and I also don't believe that it's the person's problem. I don't believe that ANYONE would spend that kind of money and just eat what ever they want and expect to loose weight. THAT IS REDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!