Complications associated with Gastric banding A Surgeon's guide

[elcee 3,341]

Anyone that goes to a REPUTABLE surgeon will have been given all the info prior to surgery. I was given a booklet which told me all the possible risks. In fact here in Aus patients have to sign a statement saying that they know the risks of whatever surgery they are about to undergo - it is known as INFORMED CONSENT.

[elcee 3,341]

Jackie who are you and what made you the WORLD AUTHORITY on lapbands ond WLS? You have 8 posts , 2 topics yet you come across as though you know everything? Why haven't we had the benefit of all your knowledge previously or is it just that you keep changing your name because you annoy people so much?

Are you some kind of missionary that you feel the need to inform everyone about the risks of the EVIL band?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

The point was the NOT EVERYONE knows about the RARE complications, and since I now know that a lot are due to patient's non compliance,NOT band failure, or those rare complications, I'll just tell everyone that wants to Know about having a LB to GO GET ONE if you need to have surgery because of a slip HEY, no problem, it's not like it's major suregery. And all your health problems from being obese will go away with that LB.

Sorry I posted INFORMATION it won't happen again .

Wow...calm.

I think the problem is the way you portrayed the information. It came across like another gloom and doom post against the Lap Band.

If you really want to help people, they need to be aware of all the ways they can sabotage themselves with the band. Their greatest risk of severe complications isn't from their band it's from their own non-compliance and bad behavior.

[NYC1992 135]

This OP is clearly just an angry picketer sent to this forum from Westboro's new Against Lap Bands chapter I wouldn't mind them too much.

[JACKIEO85 308]

I'm not a band basher, I've had my band since 04/2009, I've been doing fine with my band but the information posted to most people isn't factual. the studies only give us the information they want to disclose.

I apologize, I probably should have prefaced the post to: Newbie's having problems, so they can ask questions of their surgeons IF they are experiencing any of the aforementioned problems.Yes I'm new but honestly I guess my problem is that I prefer Facts to anecdotal information.

[dani_nyc 224]

This is so annoying.. It's like everyday regular people wanna push scientific data down others throats... Funny thing is unless your a doctor that specializes in WLS.. U have no business tying to "educate" people on the lapband.

There's so many factors missing.. And all this is really gonna do is make people paranoid.

Reminds me of the study that linked Tylenol to heart failure or cancer to sugar free gum

[SageTracey 608]

It's a shame that this topic has become so inflamed as there has been some information posted that is of interest and benefit to people researching the lap band or possibly having complications.

IMO the most important thing to remember is that this is a forum for discussion. We are not WLS surgeons, we do not know enough about each other's personal health situations, we possibly don't even know how to properly read and interpret findings from studies.

The best we can do is share our experiences, be supportive and encourage each other to get proper medical advice when needed.

[Baba Wawa 543]

One of the issues with WLS in general is there are unscrupulous surgeons out there willing to take our money, rush people thru the paperwork and not fully disclose the risks. This seems to be especially true of Lapband due to the $$$ to be made with aftercare.

I think Jackie's intent was to inform those who might be taken advantage of by these types of surgery mills...

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

One of the issues with WLS in general is there are unscrupulous surgeons out there willing to take our money, rush people thru the paperwork and not fully disclose the risks. This seems to be especially true of Lapband due to the $$$ to be made with aftercare.

I think Jackie's intent was to inform those who might be taken advantage of by these types of surgery mills...

I agree with you totally. I see people come on here all the time that are seriously and totally clueless because their surgeons didn't educate them at all. Unfortunately, this is especially true of people going to Mexico for bands.

I don't doubt Jackie's intentions, and I'm sorry for any misunderstandings, but unfortunately a lot of us are on the defensive because of band bashers and took her post the wrong way.

[Baba Wawa 543]

I think that when our bands are working great, we're losing, complication free and enjoying doing things we haven't done in years, we are willing defend our tool and our choice vigorously against "band bashing".

The problem is that often the signs that things are getting off track are confusing, feel like other minor issues, until we hit a wall, so to speak. The problems I'm hearing about with bands and motility often feel like something else (esophageal spasms feel like angina) or something commonplace, such as Constipation. The other big red flag is when you hear of someone stuck on Water or other liquid. They think their band has randomly tightened, though they haven't had a fill in months or years. In this case, they might be experiencing what I am...achalasia, failure of the LES to open in response to swallowing. This is above the band, food, liquids back up in the esophagus causing dilation and damage.

When I post of complications I've had, it is purely to educate, inform and help someone else who might not realize they're experiencing the early warning signs of band complications. Knowing these signs, reacting quickly could mean they reduce the pressure in their band, lessen the damage and save their GI tract from permanent and painful damage. The intent is not to bash, just to inform.