Hi, Everyone....I think I'll be the contrarian voice here...

[anonemouse 1]

I believe Headhunter story.

We all know complications are possible. There are risks with everything in life. Anyone of us could die or be killed before the day is over Does that mean we should spend the rest of our life under the covers? Of course not. We have to weigh the odds of complications or risks in everything we do. If we are going to die of obesity complications unless we do something drastric with a slight risk involved, them I will take the risk.

I know that my Dr has had no complications and has never had anyone want their band removed. To me that means the risk is very very slight.

Having said that I believe his story, I need to say that I don't believe he should try to get rich from it. Or go on talk shows.

My good friend just lost a baby...Does that mean everyone should be warned to avoid pregnancy because there is a risk of losing the baby? No! We all just gotta do what we gotta do and pray for good results.

Life is like a box of chocolates..........

Well said. I won't say I completely believe the OP's story. While I do think he probably had complications, I personally think his story is probably either rather exaggerated or a product of his own stubbornness in refusing to see his doctor unless they saw him for free. If he did have the problems he said he had, I feel sorry for him. But, to be completely honest, that's how the wind blows, sometimes. When you go in for elective surgery, smart patients do all the research they can, both on their surgeon and on the procedure/aftercare/etc. And every single US surgeon that I've ever heard of requires pre-op seminars, consultations, yadda, yadda, yadda, where prospective patients learn the possible side effects and complications.

So what I'd like to say to newbies that read this thread is this: Yes, complications can happen. Yes, they can be severe. But they are VERY rare. You are FAR more likely to have a complication-free experience than an experience like the OP supposedly went through. But the bottom line is that if you think something is wrong, GO TO YOUR SURGEON. DON'T WAIT. Be aware of what can happen and stay aware of how your body is acting.

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Not me, thank Nicole......

WTG Nicole.

*bow

I may suck at eating, but I rock at the inter-web. Rofl

The biggest problem here is... well, frankly, I think this guy is making us material for his little book. Maybe not us, but the poor souls that actually PM him for guidance

Edited April 18, 2008 by NicoleW8ing

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Yes, this is all accurate. nothing wrong with what I said here.

I stand behind it totally.

So, have I placed a resoure box in my sig? nope. have I tried to direct ANYONE to a monetized website? nope. have i written an ebook? Nope, but I might, and i'll give it away for free.

Funny how you keep saying you have nothing to sell, yet that post comes from, "The #1 Internet Marketing Forum Since 1997". Go look there, it says it in the logo. Haha, this was an awesome marketing ploy.

Ack! Go away! You've caused so much damage here to get some free research and sell your name.

[BeckyinTexas 3]

This is to Willsmommy.....I've had my band for 3 years, have lost 278 pounds, have only had 3 fills and not one problem. Well, other than people being so negative about the lap band and that is a problem. Headhunter, I was the first to post to this thread and I wished you luck and still do but some of the things you have said are just hurtful. Like it's been said, this is a support group and you are less than supportive of so many things. I understand you have had a horrible experience but thank God you are in the minority. You certainly didn't help your case by talking about law suits and talk shows. That just brings to mind someone trying to make a buck off something. If you do any talk shows or whatever, I'd volunteer to go along with you and tell the positive experience I've had and am still having with my lap band so people can see both the good and the bad. Willsmommy, don't let one person's experience, although there are problems that can develop for anyone, stop you from achieving your goal. All this talk about risks....well we all take a risk everyday of our lives. Heck we could start to get out of bed, trip over something and break our necks. Not likely to happen though, just as the horrible outcome that Headhunter has experienced with his lap band. Again, good luck Headhunter but try not to scare the living daylights out of people that are here for the sole purpose of getting support. Willsmommy - just how I feel, but the lap band has given me my life back and I'm so thankful for that! I hope that for you as well.

[GoingForIt 0]

Instead of giving this "Author" more time and energy I think it deserves to just be ignored. I am a staff member of another website and we have Moderators for just this type of situation. headhunter needs to be banned and the thread locked or deleted because he is only doing damage to the Site and giving information that could cost someone their life because he is creating fear and doubt.

It sad to see what people will do for money and attention. Makes you wonder if the surgery really ever was done.....maybe it's all research for more Fiction.

[LauraD 2]

Unless Headhunter is willing to discuss his complications in a factual manner, I'd also like to request that this thread be locked. He is doing nothing but stirring up trouble and fearmongering.

If not locked, at this point shouldn't it be moved to Rants and Raves?

[Sades 4]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion but I have to agree that this has to stop. You've had a bad experience, it's sad, but to be honest you are in the minority. My doctor said that less than 5% of people have complications of some kind or another and I was happy to take that risk. You've come here ranting and raving and put some people in a spin but 99% of people will do their own research and make their own decision. You might win some people over but they are probably only half hearted about the band to start off. I read enough on the complications section to scare me but it didn't stop me going ahead with the op. So I say move on, you've lost the battle here.

Congratulations Becky on such an amazing result, you're an inspiration to those of us who have a long way to go.

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Congratulations Becky on such an amazing result, you're an inspiration to those of us who have a long way to go.

I sent her a PM to say the same thing... she's amazing! AWESOME JOB! :thumbup:

oh and /vote for lock.

[shortgal 5]

If he has no audience, he will go away.

[Sades 4]

Nicole, what's good about this site is we get to read about amazing success stories as well as the seriously unsuccessful ones... no hiding the truth here.

Agree Shortgal, guess it's time to move on.

David, I wish you well in the coming months.

Edited April 18, 2008 by Sades

[babygrl1234 6]

Stop feeding it and it will die.

[Sades 4]

So stop feeding it then.

[Headhunter 6]

Nope. Won't go away. But, you CAN choose to ignore what i have to say, and i encourage you to do so...you have added nothing to this dialogue.

LauraD, explain what you mean by "Factual". I mean REALLY, explain that. Explain to me what you would like to hear from me. What have I said that is NOT factual? I CHALLENGE you to dispute ANYTHING that I have said.

Am I an "author" now? No, I'm not. Point me to my work, please. demonstrate where I have ANYTHING to sell.

And why do I need to be banned? TELL me THAT. I have said OVER and OVER that THIS has been MY experience. And MINE ONLY. I know that there have been others like me.

But you don't want to hear that, right?

in PM's I have enouraged people to go ahead with their surgeries. The Mods have access to those PMs, THEY can see what I am saying privately and THEY know I am not trying to sell anyone anything.

Beckyintexas, I have communicated with Willsmommy privately and I supported her in her journey. PM her, she'll tell you that.

And Nicole, yeah....it's the #1 Internet marketing forum on the net. THAT'S why I went here. To find help figuring out how to reach people with what i have to say. You might be unaware of this, but MARKETING does NOT always mean SELLING SOMETHING. It's about communicating a message. I opted to NOT go that route because IM has become a little crass.

And I ask you again: what is it that i have said here that has been HURTFUL???? Have i scared some people? Hell, YES I have. And people NEED to be scared a bit so they look at exactly what they are doing before they do it. I want people to be Scared enough so that they find the RIGHT doctor, the RIGHT hospital, and do the RIGHT things before the surgery, do the RIGHT things after the surgery, and TO GET HEALTHY in the process.

WHAT is SO WRONG with THAT statement???

Remember those movies they used to show us in High School drivers ed? the ones that showed people in horrible accidents? That was to SCARE us into driving correctly...and most of us took that lesson to heart.

You're going to have a foreign body placed in YOUR body. There are SOME KNOWN complications. The Risk is SMALL, but it is still a RISK. For many people, the benefits OUTWEIGH the risks. The risks are diminshed by doing what you are SUPPOSED to do before and after the surgery. ALL of that is part of what I am trying to say.

What is WRONG with THOSE statements? NOTHING.

I had a BAD experience, and it continues to this day. It was PARTLY because of an incompetant doctor, partly because of choices I made, and partly because of pure bad luck.

What is wrong with offering to help people make DIFFERENT CHOICES than I did? What is wrong with wanting people to the RIGHT thing, following the protocols correctly, etc, etc ,etc.

If I am asked to be on a National Talk Show where I can encourage people to approach this process the RIGHT way, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

Yeah, you can lock this thread. and you can ban me if you wish. but I won't go away. Just because a few people on this board Don't want it mentioned that someone had a problem with the procedure doesn't mean that there aren't MANY others who are interested in what i have to say.

Again, I challenge anyone to find REAL FAULT with anything I have said above...and I mean REAL fault and not the imagined stuff that you have to dissect into unrelated pieces to find fault with.

And, i encourage the Moderators to view my PMs, and you will see that that I am selling nothing, and offering enouragement to people engaged in this process.

If you don't want to read my comments, then simply go away. There are people that DO want to hear what i have to say, as evidenced by the numbers views this thread has gotten.

[shortgal 5]

Seymour, FEED ME! Love, Audrey

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[Headhunter 6]

Nicole, what's good about this site is we get to read about amazing success stories as well as the seriously unsuccessful ones... no hiding the truth here.

Agree Shortgal, guess it's time to move on.

David, I wish you well in the coming months.

Sades, Thank You. I could not have said it better.

And thank you for the good wishes. And thank you to EVERYONE that has wished me well, publicy and privately...means a lot. In spite of what you may think of me or my motives, I DO have surgery upcoming, it WILL be messy, there WILL be a long recovery, and the outcome IS uncertain.

So, the good wishes from those of you that offer them are accepted with great gratitude.