Disappearing lapbanders

[New&Improved 1,780]

OVER THE YEARS there's evidence of way too many issues and complications and negative feedback on the band so many doctors won't even offer it anymore.

I'm going for the bypass because I want something that will be permanent and will change my life.

[Trouvette 34]

7 hours ago, Mikeyy said:

OVER THE YEARS there's evidence of way too many issues and complications and negative feedback on the band so many doctors won't even offer it anymore.

I'm going for the bypass because I want something that will be permanent and will change my life.

With greatest respect, this thread is meant for people with LAP Bands. We have had too many instances of people coming here and criticizing the procedure. I wish you well on your journey, but we are the ones living with the band. We are here for support, not criticism.

[Dan89 10]

I just got the lapband done a week ago. My surgeon who is very well respected has discontinued sleeve operations because of newly released research showing weight gain over time. He truely believes in lapband, and so should we. It gets a bad rap because it places greater responsibility on patients to work with the surgical team in adjusting the band over time. If you look at those having issues.. common complaints are that they couldn't keep food down for months on end.. I mean okay, but why didn't they get the band adjusted? You can't blame lapband for that.

I am only one week post op, but I would take lapband over sleeve or bypass anyday of the week.

[Dan89 10]

On 7/23/2019 at 2:42 AM, Trouvette said:

I had a similar experience pre-surgery. I went to a support group and it was all people who have fallen off the wagon, so to speak. They just told horror stories. It shook me at first, but I realized that all of these people mentioned that they had been non-compliant, either by what they were eating or how much fill they were keeping in their bands. Most importantly, everyone's journey is different and what works for one may not work for another and vice versa. Don't let these people discourage you. Focus just how you are doing. If things feel off, bring your concerns to your doctor instead of a forum. A support group is great for tips and venting, but they become toxic when people who know nothing of your medical history start projecting their experiences onto you. Always keep that in mind.

Thank you so much for posting this. It is so discouraging hearing all these negative opinions about Lapband. I also noticed a common theme of non-compliance, and those who got the band and didn't even keep consulting with their medical team for fills/unfills. Still, it makes it hard to come to a forum like this for support, when all it does is place doubt in my mind. I am just glad my surgeon is seriously well respected and chooses to only do Lapbands as he thinks it is the better option of Sleeve/Bypass.

[sparkplug 106]

I have had the band for 11 years. For the first 8 1/2 years I did great, with occasionally getting stuck once in a great while. I got down to goal and everything was fine. NEVER had a fill since I felt restriction from day one with no fills. Fast forward to today, I am an emotional eater and the last 3 years have been very turbulent for me and my husband who I am a care giver for. I ate my way to gaining a little over 30 pounds and get stuck on a daily basis. I feel like something has slipped and I have been trying to get approval to get the band out since only sliders go down easy and I really need my strength to take care of my husband. I would not discourage anybody from getting the band but I do not know anybody that has had the band for the rest of their life like I was led to believe this would be. I wish I could keep this and get back on track but the uncomfortable feeling in my chest has got to go. You are right everybody is different and maybe I am not the best person to ask about this but I really did have a wonderful 8 1/2 years of being thin again, even though it was not permanent. I believe my sister got the skinny genes and I got the fat ones since this has been my cross to bear since I was a child. Good luck to all of you since every story has a different ending.

[sidvicious 20]

My cross to bear.... yes

[Trouvette 34]

10 hours ago, Dan89 said:

I just got the lapband done a week ago. My surgeon who is very well respected has discontinued sleeve operations because of newly released research showing weight gain over time. He truely believes in lapband, and so should we. It gets a bad rap because it places greater responsibility on patients to work with the surgical team in adjusting the band over time. If you look at those having issues.. common complaints are that they couldn't keep food down for months on end.. I mean okay, but why didn't they get the band adjusted? You can't blame lapband for that.

I am only one week post op, but I would take lapband over sleeve or bypass anyday of the week.

My surgeon said the same thing about the sleeve. The majority of his procedures are bands. Apparently the real problems are with the older bands, which are smaller. Regarding your other comment about compliance, you are spot on. I also find that the people who struggle the most with the band are the ones who do not live close to their surgeon, so can't get their adjustments. They make it very clear up front that the band is the most burdensome of the procedures in terms of the maintenance. Since I live in New York City, my surgeon is a subway ride away, so going to appointments has never been a problem. If you have to drive an hour each way to see your doctor, you probably won't be as successful with the band. The point will come when the time commitment is a huge inconvenience. That's an example of when I would say the sleeve is the better option.

[jfc193 718]

Finally after almost 12 year the scale finally showed 170 which was my long term goal weight.

[Trouvette 34]

1 hour ago, jfc193 said:

Congratulations!!!!!

Finally after almost 12 year the scale finally showed 170 which was my long term goal weight.

[Niki Spence 9]

I have had my band for 11 years.... for the first year, I was toooooo tight - throwing up all the time - lost all my weight, but had the band replaced after a year because it slipped. Ten years later, I have kept all my weight off, but there is a leak in the tubing somewhere so the saline doesn't stay in the band. I can get a fill, feel a bit of restriction, and then it fades. The scar tissue and band itself provide some restriction - enough to keep my weight stable. I am at 143 lbs - about 10 pounds higher than where I used to be a few years ago - but better than being 265. I believe that each weight loss surgery serves a purpose - one isn't necessarily "better" than the other because each person is different: some of us are volume eaters with no off-switch, others are emotional eaters, some of us have certain health concerns that would make duodenal switch or bypass a better choice than the sleeve.... It doesn't matter which surgery that you and your surgeon decide to go with, it is a difficult life-changing decision. Feel confident in your decision and stick to the guidance that your advisor gives you.

[Jack 855]

Congrats to jfc!!! Compliance means We the Individual must do our own share of the work. Glad to see some are more disciplined that I sometimes manage

Same Band since 2004, last fill adjustment nearly 10 years ago.

[Trouvette 34]

I wanted to share this with my fellow bandsters. As of this morning, I have broken through the 200lbs threshold! The last time I was at this weight, I had just started college 15 years ago.

[Torriluv02 44]

Im not a bander but what is that tracker app? Curious

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Trouvette 34]

2 hours ago, Torriluv02 said:

Im not a bander but what is that tracker app? Curious

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

It's the Fitbit app. It connects right to my Fitbit scale.

[Niki Spence 9]

23 hours ago, Trouvette said:

I wanted to share this with my fellow bandsters. As of this morning, I have broken through the 200lbs threshold! The last time I was at this weight, I had just started college 15 years ago.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!