Don't get a lap band

[Stupid Me 2]

4 plus years I've had this thing and It hasn't done what they advertised

I had it put in by the army and they touted it as greatest thing ever. It hasn't worked, its not that I was hungry because I wasn't . I just ate what I wanted when I wanted.

Getting fills was a problem because every time I wanted to fill it would take months and then one postponement after another.

I've lost a total of 40 lbs. now my doctor wants to do a sleeve surgery.

nothing but a waste of time. I have a huge bump on my stomach that is very embarrassing and I've lived with it thinking I would lose weight.

I haven't hap any of what I wanted. I think I will just go ahead with an emotional breakdown. Then start over with the sleeve

DON'T GET A LAP BAND IT DOES NOT DO WHAT THEY SAY

[Dub 9,922]

I'm sorry that you had to go through all this.

[ar1kah12 3]

So sorry, I unfortunately have heard similar stories

[B-52 7,113]

I'm 5 years in and it has done everything I expected, and then some....

Best decision I ever made....easiest thing I could ever do to loose ALL my excess weight and body fat....

Now living the new life I thought would never be possible....

I only say this, because after years on this forum it is obvious everyone is welcome to share their experiences, good and bad....and for every statement made, positive or negative, there is always someone with a different experience...

The same goes with things such as caffeine, alcohol, # of fills, interpretation of the Green Zone...there is no wrong or right, there is no Black and white...

When one person or persons say one thing and feel it is the absolute fact, there will be another one with a totally different experience.

And readers, especially newbies, should not get caught up into that trap...just because someone on the internet says so...

I read success stories, as well as failures all the time....and the underlying issues to both the reader will never know...one can only assume.

[Jim1967 3,569]

3+ years here and doing fine.....

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

As band veteran ..and now a sleeve veteran I think that the band is in some ways "harder to get just right". There are plenty of success stories but there are plenty of us who wound up revising because we never got the hunger reduction and "just right " fill level. You might check out the band to sleeve revision forum (or band to bypass) to share experiences with people who can related.

[Bandista 7,466]

I'm sorry you have not been successful with your band and that you haven't been able to get the fills you need to make it work. The purpose of the band is to dim your appetite so you can make good choices but you have to do that part -- not eat whatever you want. Please don't discourage my choice in getting a band as I have been very happy with it for two years. It's one thing to have it not work for you but to tell other people not to have one surgery or another based on your singular experience is misleading. Meanwhile, best wishes and hopes that you are able to work with your doctors to find whatever is right for you.

[lakenyagreen2986 5]

Thanks Bandista for saying that because I haven't gotten mine yet and somethings will scare you away from making the choice to move forward.

[parisshel 1,892]

I sincerely doubt that anyone would read this post on a forum and follow that advice. So while everybody does have a right to voice his/her opinion and share his/her experience, I don't think anyone will be scared off in getting a lapband/sleeve/bypass/whatever just because someone advises against it, especially someone on a Forum.

The only person anyone should seek advice from/listen to is a qualified surgeon. If your surgeon says "I don't think a lapband will work for you," you should take that seriously. Ask why. Read statistics. Research all available and legitimate evidence and publications pertaining to your choice of WLS. (Message boards do not count.) But don't put stock in individuals' stories, because guess what? You can ALWAYS find someone who succeeded with "x" and someone who failed with "y." Always.

[happybandit5678 4]

If the band didn't work, neither will the sleeve. The band has worked for me tremendously and I didn't have to get half of my stomach removed!! Also, I was able to have my restriction removed when I was diagnosed with cancer and needed to eat. I recovered from cancer and gained some weight back so went back for a fill and lost the weight again.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I am very glad the band is working well for you but much like the OP blanket statement yours is also not factually true. I did not do well with band, revised to sleeve 4 years ago and maintaining 150# loss. Many other similar stories.

If the band didn't work, neither will the sleeve. The band has worked for me tremendously and I didn't have to get half of my stomach removed!! Also, I was able to have my restriction removed when I was diagnosed with cancer and needed to eat. I recovered from cancer and gained some weight back so went back for a fill and lost the weight again.

[Sharpie 3,306]

YES, DO NOT GET THE BAND IF: You cannot and/or will not follow the instructions or rules provided to you by your Surgeon. Do Not Get the BAnd if you will not or cannot control your urge to overeat no matter how much it hurts or makes you sick. I sometimes think the psychiatric counseling pre-op doesn't go far enough for some patients. I do agree that the band is not for everyone and I am always sad to read the negative posts. My problem is the way it's written to scare potential patients away from the Band. I could do the same thing with the sleeve which removes 80% of your stomach, forever or the re-routing of your intestines by by pass but I think people are better off making their decisions on gathering information themselves from credible sources. I was banded in January 2013, have no problems, no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. It was not easy, and I had to re-learn eating habits and how to recognize true hunger from maybe emotional eating or eating from boredom. The band has helped me control my eating and I am extremely happy with my decision. There are legitimate problems for some people with the band and also the sleeve and bypass. Not all problems are caused by non compliance. Do your own research.

[happybandit5678 4]

I am very glad the band is working well for you but much like the OP blanket statement yours is also not factually true. I did not do well with band, revised to sleeve 4 years ago and maintaining 150# loss. Many other similar stories.

If the band didn't work, neither will the sleeve. The band has worked for me tremendously and I didn't have to get half of my stomach removed!! Also, I was able to have my restriction removed when I was diagnosed with cancer and needed to eat. I recovered from cancer and gained some weight back so went back for a fill and lost the weight again.

[happybandit5678 4]

Cowgirl Jane, I'm sorry, you are correct and I shouldn't have made a declarative statement like that. It just seems frustrating to see people who may be using the band incorrectly to make statements against the band and move to the next cure in line. Also sad to discourage folks who might be considering the band because it is less drastic procedure from taking that path.

[Rockin Robin 1]

I had the band for 6 years and it gave out on me. I was told by my Dr the Band wasnt meant to have forever. It will eventually have to be replaced or have another surgery. My Dr will not put another band in me because it has caused some damage over the years and I no longer empty my stomach normally. It is called gastroperesis. I am getting sleeve surgery on the 23rd to hopefully fix the damage the band has done. For a while I was a raver about the band and how amazing it was....until it hurt me. I think that is the problem of some people the band has hurt them and they dont like it anymore. Like a break up of sorts.