Increasing Frequency of Band Complications?

dishdiva · March 26, 2005

Infected ports. Lost ports. Slipped bands. Funky tubing. I know that with the band growing more popular, the number of complications will rise in relation to the increased number of bands out there. But just scanning through the boards tonight, I'm surprised by the number of port and other problems people have had or are having. Isn't the complication rate about 1 percent of all patients? Maybe it just seems higher to me because I had a slipped band (since corrected in a second surgery) and am on-guard for problems.

It's just scary how many people (myself included) have gone to such great lengths to obtain the band only to be left with lots of bills...and short of weight loss goals.

Has anyone seen any good data from Inamed recently on complications? When I called about a year ago after my band slipped, they said they were required to report any complications to the food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Anyway -- to end on a lighter and more positive note: I continue to be amazed by the great wisdom, strength and courage of everyone at LBT. And there's not another group out there that can top this crowd's sense of humor!!!

Elizabeth

Alexandra · March 26, 2005

Hi Elizabeth,

It does seem that way sometimes, definitely. But it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, because the people who are cruising along without problems are those least likely to post on support groups. Overall the complication rate has not increased; it's probably going down overall as doctors gain experience. Or maybe it will go up as more doctors enter the field and then stabilize as they gain experience. But what IS going up is the public discussion of complications, so of course it seems like it's more likely to happen.

From reading these boards it's hard to believe the complication rate is as low as Inamed and our doctors say it is. But really, the VAST majority of bandsters do not seek out support or at least do so only briefly. There seem to be very few long-term bandsters visible on support groups...where did all the others go? They're out living a successful, and presumably complication-free, life.

dishdiva · March 27, 2005

Alex --

You are so right. Thanks for that perspective. I also think there are probably bandsters out there who never participate in online boards -- from pre-surgery and beyond... and there are probably some who don't get online UNTIl they have problems.

Elizabeth