Band Bashers

[rachetsboy 1]

I have been reading everything I can all over the internet and talking to people who have the band to gain all of the information I possibly can before getting banded and I am so surprised to see the level of band bashing! Is the band really as bad as "they" say it is? I do understand that every surgery has its own risks and benefits, but when people say 'anything but the band' that worries me. I do NOT want my insides rerouted with RNY and I do need something to help with weight loss but I have lingering doubts now with all of the anit-band comments. Can some seasoned band lovers help ease the doubts?

I've been banded for 6 years by Dr. Arturo Rodriquez in Monterrey, Mexico. I wish I'd done it years earlier. So, I guess you could say I'm a veteran banster.

[mauraclegg 29]

I was banded about 15 months ago so I don't know if I am a veteran but I have to say that banding was one of my best decisions. Now I didn't research all the different options much, but I knew that bypass was DEF NOT for me. I did do research on lap-bands- not on boards & groups I wasn't looking for opinions.

I have lost 98 lbs & I had my TT 2 weeks ago. I never gained, but I had an awful plateau earlier this year.

The band WILL work if u work with it. You can't continue to eat the same way. You have to eat slower, chew better and have much less on your plate; but you will feel fuller faster

[Humming Bird 275]

I have been banded over 2 years now. The first year I lost 100 pounds! I did this with zero calorie counting, zero tracking of anything, and zero exercise. I love my band and I love how easy the pounds fell off. I don't "diet". I would get banded again in a heartbeat. I have not had any major complications, and if I ever do, I would beg to have another band if it came to that. I have been on just about every diet known to man and this is what has worked for me. I continue to maintain a normal BMI with the band. This is the first time I have dropped a large amount of weight and kept it off. I think the band is magic! I honestly can not relate to people who say you have to work hard with the band.

[Jim1967 3,569]

I went back and re-read some of the posts on the other forum and followed up on some of the people and I found that a lot of them who complained the most and the loudest did not use a 'Total Care' facility.

Now again I have not been banded so I admit I do lack experience with the band but one thing I am certain of is I will not use a non total care facility. There are so many benefits to using a total care.

Practice I am using is total care and here are some of the key items I thought were important

1. Multiple surgeons/nurse practitioners so if an emergency comes up someone will be available if not my own surgeon.

2. Nutritionists on site

3. Psyche Counselors

4. Insurance specialist to assist in getting over those approval hurdles

And the big one:

4. Support Groups for both Preop and Postop that meet a couple of times a month. They also have a Men's only round table that meets once a month.

Just thought I would throw this out there.....

[screeden 21]

you are going to find a basher for anything. no it does not work for everyone, but then on the same token, alot of those it did not "work" for, they did not do as they should have, ate right and exercised. the band is not an instant fix, you can't eat whatever you want. if you do, then there is no point of getitng it. it helps you control your portion sizes, but you ultimately have to choose what goes in your mouth. yes, i have made not very wise decisions when eating, it is the emotional eating that got me to the point of being fat. but i just get right back on the wagon and i am fine. the band is one leg of a 3 legged stool. diet and exercise are the other two, without them, the band is useless. i think alot peoples problem with the band is they want the weight to come off right away and they want an instant fix and they think they can still eat mcdonalds every day. i choose the band so i could lose the weight slowly as that is healthier, and the elasticity in your skin has time to "catch up" to the weight lost. my surgeon likes us to be in the "sweet spot", meaning losing 1 to 2 lbs per week. that is 10 lbs a month, so in theory one could lose 120 lbs in a year, that is awesome.

i love my band, and don't regret one bit. even when i ate too much and threw up, only did that once, will never do that again. the first few weeks are a little rough, but to me it was totally worth it. i have 2 friends, one is 2 yrs out and lost 75 lbs and looks great, the other is 1 yr out and lost 60 lbs. and neither one regret their decision.

good luck to you on your journey.

[reverie 49]

Agree with the above post that you'll find ____ bashing anywhere. Not everyone is going to agree and everyone has their own opinion of things, including the Lapband. I did and still do have success with my band but just like all WLS, the band does have it's downfalls. Yes it's adjustable, yes it's removable, but it's also not a lifetime device, and those words are out of the company that makes the band. I think that's something that always needs to be kept in mind. The band is rarely in us FOREVER.

[Rachel412 116]

Practice I am using is total care and here are some of the key items I thought were important

It is so SO important to deal with an office that is focused on aftercare, especially with the band. You'll see the office a lot, and you really need to make sure that they have multiple levels of support in place in order to help you do your best. It's not like other surgeries, where you go to the hospital, get your surgery, and that's it. the adjustments/fills are key!

Yes, OH is very negative towards the band. As time goes on they seem to have fewer and fewer posters who are happy with their bands. I do like to read there to keep myself aware of the "what-ifs", as it's never smart to bury your head in the sand about complications... just remember to take everything (here AND there!) with a grain of salt!

the people who are most successful with the band are those who researched the living daylights out of it. Buy a book or two, read every website you can find, GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUPS, and make sure you really know what you're getting yourself into.

[Shannon28 26]

I see what you mean by band bashers now. I went in for my first consultation today (YAY!!!!) lol, anyways, when I sat down in the waiting area another woman was in there talking about her surgery. She had the sleeve recently and was talking about her very bad experience with the Band. She was talking to another man there about how the sleeve is the only way to go, and how horrible the Lap Band was. I was sitting there minding my own business hoping she would just stop talking eventually lol. Then she asks me if I had surgery already. I told her no and then she asked what I was having done. I told her I was going to get the Band. And oh boy did she not like that. She kept trying to talk me out of it. I repeatedly told her that I thought this was right for me but she was acting like I was stupid for choosing the Band. Then she was like "Well, it looks like you made up your mind". She was very rude about it and had some nerve trying to change other peoples decisions. Luckily I don't care about what people like that say and not easily talked into something. When I have made up my mind no one can change it. Other than that woman in the waiting area my consultation went GREAT! I loved the Doctor and the staff is amazing. I feel extremely comfortable with my decision for the Lap Band and the Doctors/Nurses that are going to be working with me.

I have been reading everything I can all over the internet and talking to people who have the band to gain all of the information I possibly can before getting banded and I am so surprised to see the level of band bashing! Is the band really as bad as "they" say it is? I do understand that every surgery has its own risks and benefits, but when people say 'anything but the band' that worries me. I do NOT want my insides rerouted with RNY and I do need something to help with weight loss but I have lingering doubts now with all of the anit-band comments. Can some seasoned band lovers help ease the doubts?

[crittlebird 7]

I am 4 mo out and absolutely love my band!!!!! I just wish I would have done it sooner!!! I like the others believe a slower weight loss is healthier. Good luck on your decision.

[asksdf 5]

The band gets a lot of hate because it's known to allow for slower weight loss, and it's success depends on if the person truly wants to succeed or not.

[readytolosemomof5 0]

When I first started looking into WLS, I did not know about the band. The only procedure I was aware of was gastric bypass. I knew about this, because as a nurse, I took care of numerous patients that had complications, some of whom died. Complications varied from leaks, malnutricion, and perferated stomachs from overeating. The thought of getting a bypass terrified me. I scheduled consultations only to back out before going. When I finally found out about the band by an ad on Facebook, it was like a light went on. I researched immensely, and decided that this was the right choice for me. I have banded for 5 weeks now, and I love my band. And although I know that I am not in "the green zone" yet, I also feel a HUGE difference when I eat. I can't eat no where near the amount I used to, and this makes it easier for me to make better food choices. It is important that the band does not make you lose weight, it just makes it easier to lose weight and keep it off.

[emjay 8]

I'm 2 1/2 years out and down 1/2 my body weight and maintaining for the past year - something I've NEVER done in the past. I was a yo-yo dieter - I just couldn't keep it off. The band has allowed me to do that but I"m one that has to work at it. Eat right, exercise and Portion Control (band) has worked for me. I am thrilled with it and have had no complications. I can eat anything and keep my band on the loose side to prevent as many problems as I can.

Best decision I've made for myself in trying to get and keep the weight off. Absolutely no regrets.

[CynthiaMTR 2]

I love my Band and if I had to do it again I would. Going on a year and a half and I'm about one1 or two pounds from my goal weight. Everything takes work and dedication...so if you're up for it its going to work. Its been easier than it was when I was doing it on my own constantly dieting and exercise loosing 20 lbs and then gaining 30. I exercise a lot and the band has been that extra thing I needed to be SKINNY!!! I'm not skinny but that is my new nick name at work. I have never been called skinny before my lap band. I love it and feel WONDERFUL!!!

[54Shirley 105]

I have a post up on post bandsters site. saying I thought I would spread the good news !

I lost 110lbs so far. But it explains a lot of stuff, so check it out.