Lapband complications section of the board

[JinTx 19]

Let me start off by saying that I dislike going to that area of the board, however as a prebander I feel it is necessary to hear the good, bad and ugly about this from all view points. However, I have noticed that a lot of people begin having problems years out and dont immediately seek medical care from their surgeon. They live with problems for months and then finally decide to go back to the dr. I guess my question is to those of you that are a success story -- how often do you see your surgeon? My surgeon requires monthly visits for the first yr - regardless of if you want/need a fill. After 1 yr post op your follow up visits are up to you but it must be at least once a yr. So my response to him was "so i can come monthly for the rest of my life?" he said yes. I look at my relationship with my surgeon as one i will have forever. Perhaps all newbies think like that though, then they make it to goal, life get in the way and before you know it you havent seen your doc in 2 yrs. My dr did say that while the majority of his long term post op patients dont come in monthly they do come in regularily-- quarterly, every other month, etc. But when i think about it how does he know the success of the other patients if they dont come in? If i end up having problems with my band i dont want it to be because of something i did. I want to follow the rules and to me regular follow ups with your dr is part of the rules.

[Rachel412 116]

Monthly, wow! I believe my "mandatory" check-ins the first year are quarterly, then every 6 months after that... but I might be wrong. I know I have them but i'm not sure what the spacing is once I'm no longer a newbie. Once a month sounds like you'll be getting great follow-up care.

[Nechama L 4]

Really it addresses a larger problem for those who don't go to the doctor when they notice a problem and wait and wait and wait. I would imagine those same people don't go for pap smears, eye exams, dental cleanings etc on schedule. It's a carelessness or a blase attitude and I imagine you either have it or you don't. Glad to hear you don't!!

[honk 780]

Well it took me 7 months to get restriction so I was going in every 3-4 weeks to get a new fill. Now that I am at restriction I have not been there in 4 months. My insurance has changed so I no longer have bariactric coverage. If I was having trouble however I would go in! One of the biggest issues I have seen on this site is people who keep their bands too tight and end up having a slip. My doctor says if you can't eat 3 oz of solid Protein and veggies you are too tight. Some people want to be tight so they can't eat pizza or other junk food. This is a bad mentality. Look to the band for help in controlling hunger not as a storm trooper.

[screeden 21]

I saw my doctor every 2 weeks for the first 3 visits, then every4 weeks for the first year. then very 3 months the second year, then twice a year.