Family Concerns

[joann852 91]

Hi everyone, I'm due to be banded Aug. 29th and have been excited (and a little nervous) about it. This past weekend my brother in law told me that his sister almost died from the band. She lost about 100 pounds and gained it all back then she exercised like crazy and lost it again. The band slipped after she lost it the second time and her stomach rotted. She only has 5% of it left!! Has anyone ever heard of this? It made me very nervous!! Thanks.

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

Well yes there can be complications as it is a foreign body inside of you. Abuse of the band and from what I hear just faulty band/installation can contribute. There is risk with any surgery but with the band it is a contraption inside that can cause issues, have you thought about the sleeve?

[Maddysgram 6,159]

Did he tell about the thousands of obese people who die from heart attacks & strokes??

I was reading a book last night and it said about 0.03 die from it. Plus sounds like she didn't stick to the lifestyle change and dilated her pouch.

Don't listen to him! Do the research and learn the facts.

Good luck!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

Hi everyone, I'm due to be banded Aug. 29th and have been excited (and a little nervous) about it. This past weekend my brother in law told me that his sister almost died from the band. She lost about 100 pounds and gained it all back then she exercised like crazy and lost it again. The band slipped after she lost it the second time and her stomach rotted. She only has 5% of it left!! Has anyone ever heard of this? It made me very nervous!! Thanks.

all surgeries have risks (even the sleeve or the bypass)

if a person does not change their eating habits (or lifestyle)

you can sometimes just end up wearing a necklace around your stomach.

you will read stories good and bad of all WLS and its up to you and your doctor which is best for you. the band is merely a tool to help you feel full (especially after your fills). its up to the person to change what they eat.

and i have found that people who do not know anything about the band or its procedure just say things (they have heard/read about). having the sleeve or the bypass has their own risks also (and also the stomach and insides cut). i chose the band over having my insides cut. its working for me. i am sure it will work for you.

again, you will come across those who are just neg nellies and you can either let it affect you or not.

best of luck on your upcoming surgery.

[A New New Dawn 1,695]

I am sure that would be scary coming from a close source, who I am sure what very upset by what happened to his beloved sister. That is terrible. Certainly, do your homework and also know that there are risks associated with any procedure. However, it does sound like she "abused" her stomach and the band. Also, not knowing if she was avoiding warning signs that there were issues and perhaps she didn't go to the doctor when she had them. There are so many unknowns. Also, how many years ago did she have the band. A LOT has changed in how they do the procedure and the band itself. The biggest thing is to listen to your doctor and listen to your body.

Lastly, I agree with an earlier post that people dying from heart attacks, stroke, etc. outnumber the risks of having the surgery. Doing nothing is almost certain premature death, sadly.

Best of luck to you and hope you can find peace in your decision. Anyone I have talked to has told me the same thing "I wish I would have done this sooner".

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Making you nervous is probably exactly what your dear brother-in-law intended, and I have a strong suspicion that he got his sister's story a bit mangled. When people repeat stories like "his sister almost died from the band. She lost about 100 pounds and gained it all back then she exercised like crazy and lost it again. The band slipped after she lost it the second time and her stomach rotted. She only has 5% of it left!!", I'm terribly tempted to tell my own story. Here it goes:

"Jean lost 92 pounds with her band, had a band slip and a port flip, regained 25 lbs, land then a spaceship landed in her front yard and a very small Martian crawled into her left nostril, swam down about 10", put a rope around her esophagus, and pulled it tight so that her band flew out her mouth, taking 95% of her stomach with it, which her dogs then proceeded to eat with gusto while Jean sobbed pitifully..."

The moral of the story being that the only incidence of a band slip and band erosion (rotted stomach) at the same time in the same patient that I ever heard was posted by someone strongly suspected (by many) of being a troll. So when it comes to the risks associated with band surgery, you need to talk to your surgeon, not your brother-in-law.

Every surgery known to man carries some kind of risk. Surgical mortality with the band is extremely rare (less than 1%). Complications are possible but not certain. On the other hand, serious medical problems, including mortality, have proven association with obesity. That's why they call it "morbid obesity".

[joann852 91]

Thanks!! Jean that gave me a good laugh! I am trying not to listen to him but it's hard. I have been on my pre-op diet and lost so I am confident that I can do this. I want to be heathy and fit for life and I know this is the right decision!!

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

As the old saying goes, "laughter is the best medicine."

If your brother-in-law tries to scare you again, I would clasp his hand, shake it, and exclaim, "Congratulations, Egbert! I didn't realize you had graduated from medical school. The next time I have a bad case of diarrhea, I'll be sure to give you a call."

[fostermomma 39]

I posted my surgery date on Facebook and everyone was so supportive......except for my redneck cousin. He is massively overweight and said people "like us" should have the gastric sleeve because the band just won't work. You and I are taking a big important step to take charge of our health. Don't listen to the naysayers....talk to your doctor. Good luck and God bless!

[Desdemona 48]

Is HE obese too?

Like a previous poster already said - there are risks to all operations. The risks get a lot worst if patients don't make the effort to find experienced surgeons. They get even worse if patients don't learn and follow all rules. It's also true that sometimes-- people can follow all the rules very well and still have problems. But --- if you read the studies --- you will find that the amount of life-threatening problem with the band are not even a small fraction of the life-threatening problems from obesity. Studies also show that WLS is the ONLY stastically significant WL method that works in the long run.

[wjlochrie1 6]

Hi everyone' date=' I'm due to be banded Aug. 29th and have been excited (and a little nervous) about it. This past weekend my brother in law told me that his sister almost died from the band. She lost about 100 pounds and gained it all back then she exercised like crazy and lost it again. The band slipped after she lost it the second time and her stomach rotted. She only has 5% of it left!! Has anyone ever heard of this? It made me very nervous!! Thanks.[/quote']

I agree with Maddysgram. There is always someone willing to tell you a horror story. B a smart consumer do research find out what's best for you. And then follow the rules. All of them no matter how silly it may seem. Best wishs to you. The band is Wonderful tool! Use it wisely and you will hve great long lasting results!