Negative posts that plant the seed!!

[B-52 7,113]

Anyone who tells another person what they can or cannot do is being negative, IMO....

The best people can do is share their own experiences, good and bad and let the accept or reject it....

[kll724 3,055]

Oh Cheryl, I so agree. Aftercare is probably the most important thing you can get from your lapband surgeon and office.

[Zingythingy 210]

I acknowledged their right to day what they wanted and their opinion..I just feel they should say why how these things happened to give helpful knowledge

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[lilmispcl 298]

Here's what I think. Im sure this will piss off a few people..but it's just my opinion. I don't mind hearing success stories because you know for certain that those success stories are earned...the band does not lose the weight for you. You have to work for it and your success is truly up to you. I am skeptical of the "horror stories" because far too often in this day and age people do not want to accept responsibility for their actions. They would rather place blame than accept that their choices land them where they are. I am NOT saying that some people don't honestly have fluke issues but I believe in my heart that the majority of people that are not successful with the band is because they are not doing what they are supposed to do...but they would never admit it. I think the reason the DR's don't stress the risk factors is because they are so minimal in comparison to the potential for a life changing and often life saving procedure. I don't think anyone that is not 100% committed to changing their behaviors should consider any kind of surgical procedure and certainly don't knock it when it doesn't work out for you. You have to be ready...mentally. I read this forum for a long time before making my decision. I shed countless tears wondering if I was making the right choice and I was scared from the horror stories. BUT...you have to take risks in life. I KNEW I was going to follow the rules...without fail. This was my risk and it was the best decision I have ever made. I pray that I never become one of the few that has a legit fluke issue. As for now, I am incredibly happy, and I feel I am a success story that 5 months ago I just read about and desired to be. You can be too!!

[lilmispcl 298]

I acknowledged their right to day what they wanted and their opinion..I just feel they should say why how these things happened to give helpful knowledge

Sent from my GT-S5830 using LapBandTalk

This ties into my belief that it's their own fault. If they had a medical explanation they would share it. When it comes from not following the rules there is no explanation other than that and they don't want to admit that they failed. When doing your research, just ignore horror stories with no medical detail and valid explanation. You can drive yourself batty with worry if you don't.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Well I would call the office and demand an appointment with him or see if another surgeon will take you for your fills and after care. Many surgeons now are accepting patients from other doctors. Its not like it was when the band was new. If you are not happy with your doctor you need one that not only provides you with the vital information you need to be successful but also that cares enough to see you from time to time and doesn't rush you out the door. I would see who takes your insurance and find a new surgeon. I am almost sure someone else would look after you. They would only need your preop and post op record.

[GuyMontag 1,264]

This may be a HORRIBLE generalization and I by no means stand by it but it seems to me that a lot of people I have talked to that got banded in hospitals have received poor aftercare more so than people banded in stand alone clinics. I've met many people that got banded at a hospital, never got fills, then think they'll lose weight eating Soup and Cereal all day every day. Again, maybe that's just the hospital in my area or maybe I have talked to people that just didn't pay attention to their aftercare.

The fact is the band is VERY high maintenance and requires much learning and attention. There's a lot to learn and aftercare is PARAMOUNT to the band's effectiveness.

[Zingythingy 210]

I don't have insurance. I paid cash. I live in ireland but travel to the uk. There are clinics in ireland given by my team. (impossible however to get an appointment) and its only for fills. I paid for two yrs aftercare but didn't really know what that entailed. I researched the surgeon not the company.. Thought as he was one of the best in britain his company would be. I think I made the mistake of complaining plasters were applied to my skin during surgery. (it was on my notes) I'm really allergic to the adhesives and had a reaction which made my healing much more difficult.. Been treated like a moaning minny since. They were attentive until surgery then poof gone. So I rely on the internet and experiences on this site to judge how I'm doing.

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[lellow 1,713]

It's interesting this view about aftercare. It's one I know I share. I have had conversations with fellow Australian banders and I think we universally believe that one of the reasons Australian patients are generally successful with the band is because our aftercare is subsidised by the government as part of our Medicare scheme. I pay about $20 out of pocket every time I see my surgeon, Medicare pays the rest. It gives banders no excuse to NOT seek out and receive aftercare, as often as they need to.

I get in to see my doctor within a week or two of calling. If I need to see him urgently, I get in the same day. Yes, the band can be high maintenance, and therefore having good aftercare is absolutely critical. I can go back and forth as often as I need to in order to get the right level of restriction for me. That's absolutely priceless, imo.

[feelinggood 152]

I will call myself fortunate to have a wonderful surgeon who took me on as a patient after having had my band placed in Mexico. I think he even gives me special consideration because of the 4cc band history. He treats me like one of his own and for that I am truly grateful.

[NJDad 173]

This may be a HORRIBLE generalization and I by no means stand by it but it seems to me that a lot of people I have talked to that got banded in hospitals have received poor aftercare more so than people banded in stand alone clinics. I've met many people that got banded at a hospital' date=' never got fills, then think they'll lose weight eating Soup and Cereal all day every day. Again, maybe that's just the hospital in my area or maybe I have talked to people that just didn't pay attention to their aftercare.

The fact is the band is VERY high maintenance and requires much learning and attention. There's a lot to learn and aftercare is PARAMOUNT to the band's effectiveness.[/quote']

Guy,

I am new to the lap. And world, only having surgery in April. While I agree completely that this method requires a lot,of maintenance, I disagree with your generalization on hospitals. I had my surgery at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, NJ. The team there has been nothing but great. Dr. Strom is the surgeon that assembled this crack team.

Starting with my 7 or 8 nutritionist appointments, going forward to the insurance specialists, to the hospital team the day of my surgery, and finally, to the doctor himself. I am a, (what's the word I am looking for? Yes, that's it) pain in the ass patient. I expect a high level of service and care. I have received exactly that.

My post-op experience has been wonderful so far. My three fills since my surgery have all been performed by my surgeon. Each post-op visit I see my surgeon himself. Each time I am asked if I would like to speak the nutritionist before I leave the office. My nutritionist has answered a few questions I did have about foods both by phone and email. I have attended a few bariatric surgery support group meetings sponsored by my hospital and run by a nutritionist (I even did yoga for the first time in my life at one of these meetings).

So, those that are considering having this surgery, look at everything, ask around, and see what others are saying. It isn't just the person that installs the band, it is also the after surgery care you need to pay attention to.

[5.0junkie 770]

So glad this was brought up. One negative person can ruin the experience for so many people. It's not just fellow WLS people, its the general public too. One negative WLS patient that failed the system makes the system look like a failure for everyone and therefore people like me don't publicly discuss their decisions because we are automatically judged based on someone else's failure. Please, anyone out there that has a system failure post your story. Thats how we all learn. Please, anyone out there that failed the system, think twice about posting your negativity.

[n2win 123]

Guy stated: The fact is the band is VERY high maintenance and requires much learning and attention. There's a lot to learn and aftercare is PARAMOUNT to the band's effectiveness.

AMEN!!!!!

If it was not for this forum and the wonderful posts & responses to questions, I for one, would be totally lost!

I often cannot wrap my head around how these surgeons offices (mine included) do not give out more information before surgery and more importantly postoperative. It's like a big guessing game.

I am so thankful when people pass along information for nutritionalists that really care, teach and support their clients (mine was useless).

....regarding the scary posts, I say a little prayer for their health and move on. Like others stated, if they cannot link their adverse risks & reactions to a viable reason, then how can we learn from scary? ...we learn from reasonable things like: explanations, diagnostics, trail & error, studies, facts...etc

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To all those who have continued to stay active on this forum after years of success when you could have just moved on... my deepest gratitude....Thank You All!

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[GuyMontag 1,264]

Guy,

I am new to the lap. And world, only having surgery in April. While I agree completely that this method requires a lot,of maintenance, I disagree with your generalization on hospitals. I had my surgery at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, NJ. The team there has been nothing but great. Dr. Strom is the surgeon that assembled this crack team.

Starting with my 7 or 8 nutritionist appointments, going forward to the insurance specialists, to the hospital team the day of my surgery, and finally, to the doctor himself. I am a, (what's the word I am looking for? Yes, that's it) pain in the ass patient. I expect a high level of service and care. I have received exactly that.

My post-op experience has been wonderful so far. My three fills since my surgery have all been performed by my surgeon. Each post-op visit I see my surgeon himself. Each time I am asked if I would like to speak the nutritionist before I leave the office. My nutritionist has answered a few questions I did have about foods both by phone and email. I have attended a few bariatric surgery support group meetings sponsored by my hospital and run by a nutritionist (I even did yoga for the first time in my life at one of these meetings).

So, those that are considering having this surgery, look at everything, ask around, and see what others are saying. It isn't just the person that installs the band, it is also the after surgery care you need to pay attention to.

I'll be honest that the only thing I have to back up my generalization about hospitals is my own anecdotal experience and in no way do I think it applies to all hospitals. I think it's easier in general to get lost in a large operation than it is in a small one. Kind of like the attention to detail you might get by dealing directly with the owner of a local restaurant vs. calling a large chain's 800 number. When I deal with my lap band doc I'm dealing with the owner of the business. It's a pretty safe assumption that when you're dealing with a lap band doc at a hospital you're not dealing with the owner of the hospital. My generalization can probably just be attributed to the fact that hospitals are large and are probably more likely easier to get lost in the shuffle of paperwork. However, I'm sure there are many doctors that work in hospitals that are just as attentive as local lap band doctors who own their own clinics. And, for the sake of full disclosure, my doc is now head of the bariatric department at a local hospital now but I do not know if that's affected the quality of his aftercare.

Bottom line, before you get a surgery like this where aftercare is essential to success or in worse case situations, losing your band, it's a good idea to talk to current patients to see what kind of care and attentiveness they get from the doc's office whether it's a small or large operation. And in reality, no matter how awesome THEY are if you choose to not take advantage of their care there is not much they can to do stop you.