Not a Success Story

[RcrazyShe 0]

I guess I am the one they tell you about where the LapBand doesn't work. My band is supposed to be very tight, however, I am able to eat anything I want.

Granted, I do eat less at one sitting, but the hunger pangs never go away and I eat more mini-meals throughtout the day because of this.

I went into this operation for all the right reasons...better for my body than the By-Pass and it could be reversed if necessary. I had all the hope in the world that LAP-BAND was the procedure for me! This idea slowly diminished each month as I kept complaining of the hunger I felt then the band was tightned and tightned until it was at its limit.

For those of you who do have a success story I applaud you, but for those of you who go into this thinking it couldn't happen to me, IT CAN. I am proof of that.

Hindsight, I now wish I had spent the few extra grand to have the By-Pass --that, I know works.

Best to you all,

RcrazyShe:sad_smile:

[jtrit1 0]

I'm sorry to hear about this, but did not doc do any kind of x-ray or swallow evals??? They have to come up with a reason this is happening to you. Let us know:mad2::tongue2:

[PangeaOne 0]

I am so sorry that this has happened to you. It's very scary to hear this since I am at the beginning of this process. I'm sure you have discussed all of this with your doctor. What explanation do they have for this. There must be some recourse for you to take given that you are still experiencing hunger. Please let me know what the doctor plans to do about this. I will certainly bring up your experience with my medical team before I have the surgery. Let me know how you're doing.

Bev:confused:

[Boo Boo Kitty 3]

I am sorry as well. I hope you can get some help and turn it around for you! Good luck!

[sam020408 0]

The other night I watched a Discovery channel show about obesity. Same story with someone who had bypass and lossed and gain back plus. Sounds like the same story. She said that the smaller meals worked but did not realize that being satisfied sooner would not do away with the "desire" to eat. Noe of the surgeries work if you don't worry about the other "desire" also. My doctor always emphasized that it was a "tool" to lose weight.

I am not attacking you because I have found that same point myself after 55 pound loss. I have to concentrate on the 3 meals a day and nutrition.

Work on the here and now. You did not have bypass but you did have lapband. The problems would be the same! Concentrate on your part of the deal. :tongue2:

[lynnlynn 0]

I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with the lab band . I had mine July 21 and i have lost 35lbs so far. so for me it seems to be working right now anyway. I choise the lapband for the same reasons as you. But for me I am far more scared of the by pass surgery . It is a much more surious surgery. But i wish you all the luck . LynnLynn:thumbup:

[lynnlynn 0]

I forgot to mention i understand there is 2 sizes in the band ask your Dr. if this is true if so maybe you need the other type band. Good luch to you . lynnlynn:thumbup:

[hopeful93 0]

HELLO, CHECKING IN FROM PHILLY. I WAS BANDED ON 9-13-07 THAT SAME DAY MY DAD DROPPED DEAD OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK TWO HOURS AFTER HE LEFT SEEING ME. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT THIS WHOLE LAP-BAND EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN A VERY POSTITIVE ONE TO SAY THE LEAST. MY DAD REALLY NEVER WANTED ME TO HAVE THE BAND HE SAID I DIDN'T NEED IT ( ISN'T THAT WHAT DADS ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY) ANY WAY I AM APPROACHING MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BAND/DAD AND TO DATE HAVE ONLY LOST 18 LBS. ONE WEEK AGO I HAD MY PORT REPLACED ?LEAK.... I LOST THE 18 LBS FROM SEPT-DEC 2007 NOTHING SINCE.I NEVER FELT SATISFIED,I COULD EAT ANYTHING WITH NO PROBLEMS AND EAT MOST OF THE TIME LIKE PRE-BAND. I HAVE A 4CC BAND. I HAVE HAD 11 FILLS IN 11 MONTHS LAST TIME TOTALLY 4CC IN 4CC BAND THEN FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS I FELT RESTRICTION THEN IT WOULD DISSAPPEAR.I HAVE KEPT A food JOURNAL. MET WITH THE NUTRITIONIST, HAD AN UGI ( I AM AN X-RAY MYSELF) DID MANY X-RAYS ON MYSELF JUST TO MAKE SURE THE BAND WAS STILL THERE CAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. WHAAT DETERMINED SURGERY WAS WHEN I WENT BACK FOR MY 11TH FILL THERE WAS ONLY 3 OF THE 4 CC OF SALINE IN THE BAND. SO FINALLY WE ARE BACK TO PRESENT DAY ONE WEEK POST-OP PORT REPLACEMENT SURGERY (HOPEFULLY THIS WILL DO THE TRICK). MY DOCTOR WHO I TRUST WHOLHEARTEDLY (BESIDES THE FACT HE IS REALLY CUTE) SAID THAT HE INJECTED METHELINE BLUE INTO THE PORT/BAND TO SEE WHERE AND IF THERE WAS A LEAK. HE DID SEE THE BLUE liquid OUTSIDE THE PORT SO YES THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK. I CANNOT HAVE ANY FILLS UNTIL 10-7-08 MY INCISION NEEDS TO HEAL AND APPARENTLY THE PORT IS A NEW ONE ALOT FLATTER THEN THE OLD ONE( IT DOESN'T FEEL FLATTER).....HAVE YOU BEEN CHECKED FOR A LEAK? WRITE BACK I'M REALLY INTERESTED .I KNOW ITS HARD BECAUSE ALOT OF TIMES I WISHED I WOULD HAVE DONE BYPASS TOO:unsure: BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. WELL STILL TRYING TO BE POSTITIVE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING I'LL POST SOON SEE YA :confused_smile:LATER.............NANCY

[Duchess1 0]

To all the "success stories", I applaud you. But I am one of those that insurance did NOT cover, and my father paid out around $20,000+ for my surgery and adjustments afterwards. In my first year after surgery, I DID lose 100 lbs, but was vomiting daily and always went into an "emergency" situation each and every time they did an adjustment on me. I threw up so much that it literally ate all the enamel off the backs of my teeth, and I am now having so many problems with my teeth that I am going to end up with dentures. Thanks alot! I also had to resort to eating baby food in order to keep anything down. At one point my surgeon told me I needed my gall bladder removed, and almost took it out, but after tests - he decided to tell me to see a gastroenterologist immediately that something was very wrong. I saw a gastro specialist, he did a scope on me and found that my esophageous was really messed up from all the vomiting, etc. and that I really needed the band removed. In the meantime, I was sick all the time for unexplained reasons and was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus and fobromyalgia. Had the surgeons checked me for lupus (as they should have prior to surgery), they would NOT have been able to perform this costly surgery that has literally ruined my life.

Yes, the surgeon did say that he would remove the band and do a "mini-bypass" in the same surgery, but with me having lupus, I cannot have that done. So I am stuck with this device inside my body and it is wide open and still causes me problems at times.

I am now very ill and have numerous other problems and have had to be removed from the workforce and forced into medical disability.

Sorry, but I have NOTHING good to say about LapBand surgery, and most of the people that I know have had similar experiences and wish they had never done it either.

I am very frustrated and have a very bad taste in my mouth about the way I was treated by my surgeon and his entire staff and would NEVER advise anyone to have this surgery done - NOT EVER!

If I could get back my money and my life that this surgery destroyed, I would.

I never received the appropriate aftercare they promised and they always told me that I was not following the plan correctly. They were wrong! I did everything I was told. I also woke up twice during my surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I had never done this surgery and wish that I could do something to warn people about the things they do not tell you, that can happen to people like me.

Sorry "GastricBand" in Chattanooga, TN - you are a ripoff and should be reported to the Medical Association, and I probably will be filing a major complaint against you and your staff for the way I was treated and your lack of consideration prior to my surgery. You are the WORST surgeons I have ever dealt with in my entire 50 years of life!

If you haven't already had this surgery, DO NOT UNTIL YOU EXPLORE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THEY CHECK YOU FOR EVERYTHING BEFORE HAVING THIS SURGERY PERFORMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Duchess1 - A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE THAT RUINED MY LIFE!

[lucie.pettis 0]

I was among the first people in the Baltimore area to get a lap-band after they were approved by the FDA in 2002. A week after it was installed, it slipped and I had to go through the surgery all over again for it to be put back where it belonged. Then, a couple of months later, the port disconnected from the tube and I lost all restriction. So, I had to have surgery again to reconnect the port. I began to lose steadily after that.

I went from 238 pounds to a low of 175 in a year. I was too restricted at 175 - I was vomiting after eating and had heartburn if I slept flat. I had a little Fluid removed and plateaued at 185. I maintained 185 from 2003 to January of 2008, and looked like a normal person at 5'6".

However, in January of 2008, I had a gall bladder attack and lost most of my restriction. My gallbladder was removed but my appetite returned. I started regaining my weight at the same rate I had lost it - about a pound a week.

I went back to getting fills again, but they are not nearly as effective now that my lap-band is close to full. I can only tighten it a little more until it reaches it's maximum. My food is dropping straight through rather than getting stuck in the pouch.

It was so wonderful to experience looking normal and not stick out as a fat person for a while! It really feels awful to be hungry all the time again and to outgrow all the beautiful clothes I bought when I plateaued. I'm at 210 now.

My doctor tells me that others whose lap bands stopped being effective also regained their weight. Just like some people regain their weight even after gastric bypass. It's just amazing how the body adjusts and finds a way to get back to what it was before.

My doctor is offering me gastric bypass, but I don't think I want to take the risks associated with it. That's why I chose the lap-band to begin with. And maybe I'll be one of those unlucky people who regain weight after bypass surgery since I regained weight after lap-band surgery.

[Kat817 19]

I agree that there is a LOT of negativity here for a thread titled SUCCESS stories. There are also threads titled COMPLICATIONS......seems these need to be moved around a bit.

I have no issue with people posting of their problems, they do happen---and I wanted to read up and be aware of all the good and all the bad before I had surgery. Which to me seems to be somewhat of a recurring theme with some of the complications, and that is not being fully tested nor fully informed of how the band works.

To lose the enamel on ones teeth requires stomach acids----and they should not even be in the pouch---the stomach acids should be remaining in the lower portion of your stomach.

Serious medical intervention should have been taking place all along, and if you are not getting proper care from one Dr. then see another! There are competent band Dr.'s out there who will treat other Dr.'s patients, I know, I go to one. I do not go back to the surgeon who did my surgery due to distance.

Personally mine IS a success story. I have not had adverse medical issues related to my band. I have lost down to my goal and beyond, and am reassessing my goal right now to decide whether to lose another 15 pounds or so.

I had a total unfill back in April in preparation for my TT in May. I have not refilled my band at all. I worked very hard to train myself and my body to portion size and healthy eating ways while I had restriction to help me. Since my TT and my total unfill I have lost an additional 20 pounds. I am not gaining....I am using the lessons I learned being banded to maintain my weight.

I am very sorry you had a bad reaction to the band in correlation with your other health issues. The fact remains with those existing health issues, you likely would have had EXTREMELY serious health problems if you had chosen bypass. You would be suffering malnutrition on top of your lupus and your fibromyalgia. With the band, while it might cost you financially, it CAN be removed, and allow you to continue on with your life as before, dealing as best you can with the illnesses you have. With bypass, that would not be an option, that portion of your stomach and intestine would forever be gone.

I DO understand the illnesses you are dealing with. My Mom has suffered with fibromyalgia for many years now. She does get some relief from a combo of massage and accupuncture.

My oldest DD has RA, which is complicated by a connective tissue disorder similar to Lupus. She is currently undergoing further testing to see if the damage to her aorta is going to require surgery to repair the dilation.

I am not taking your illnesses lightly----I am saying perhaps they are the underlying cause of many problems that you are dealing with not simply the band. Even without the band, with those problems life would not be a bed of roses.

I agree that it is highly unfortunate that they were not diagnosed nor caught prior to the band.

Surgeons DO make a difference, and it is imperitive that we research who we are trusting to make changes to our bodies!! I spoke with several patients of both of my Dr.'s before making my decisions.

I hope you find relief. I still feel that bashing the band in a success thread is not a right thing to do. There are places to do that, and to thumb your nose at the thread title is like thumbing it to all of us wanting to share our good outcomes as well. No one here who has met with success has put you down.....yet you have tried to diminish our success stories by placing these here.....at least in my opinion.

Kat

[Duchess1 0]

Please DO NOT have Gastric Bypass, I was told I would die on the table if I had that done. I also found out in June 2007 that I suffer from systemic lupus - an auto-immune disease, and therefore cannot even have my non-working lapband removed due to the fact that I risk getting a staph infection. I cannot have any surgery unless it is for a "life-threatening" reason. Try NutriSystem, that is what I am currently doing, even though their food is not as "tasty" as they say, they do have a good program and I am considering going off their program using their foods, but staying on the same "meal plan". But please do not even consider gastric bypass - it is highly dangerous! I just do not trust these bariatric surgeons after my bad experience and the manner in which I was treated. My head surgeon was even on the team that helped to finally get lapband approved by the FDA! So go figure! Good luck and think about NutriSystem or something besides another surgery. You have nothing to lose by at least trying an alternative to surgery, and it does not cost nearly as much.

[setagirl 0]

Hi,

Me, too. I swear I could eat a cow. I have 8 cc's in my 10 cc band and.... nothing. I called the surgeon's office and they said my insurance only covers for me to come in every 6 weeks, so I guess I'll just have to wait.

I started at 327 pounds. I'm 5'3" and will be 62 years old next week. I got down to 296 for the surgey and now weigh around 245. I didn't have my first fill for about 6 months, so have lost most of this weight on my own. Needless to say, I am much more comfortable than before but, also, much more wrinkled and flabby - especially my arms.

Don't know that the answer is - I'm hoping my surgeon can bail me out at my next visit. :lovechoc:

[MissBS 3]

I agree with many things that Kat said. Sounds to me like there were existing problems combined with maybe a not so good surgeon. Not sure all of your problems should be blamed on the band. And your post hardly seems to fit in the "Success Stories" forum section. I'm sorry you have experienced all of these problems and I hope you find a doctor who will work to make you healthier and happier. Good luck to you.

[Wishes4444 2]

I agree that there is a LOT of negativity here for a thread titled SUCCESS stories. There are also threads titled COMPLICATIONS......seems these need to be moved around a bit.

I have no issue with people posting of their problems, they do happen---and I wanted to read up and be aware of all the good and all the bad before I had surgery. Which to me seems to be somewhat of a recurring theme with some of the complications, and that is not being fully tested nor fully informed of how the band works.

To lose the enamel on ones teeth requires stomach acids----and they should not even be in the pouch---the stomach acids should be remaining in the lower portion of your stomach.

Serious medical intervention should have been taking place all along, and if you are not getting proper care from one Dr. then see another! There are competent band Dr.'s out there who will treat other Dr.'s patients, I know, I go to one. I do not go back to the surgeon who did my surgery due to distance.

Personally mine IS a success story. I have not had adverse medical issues related to my band. I have lost down to my goal and beyond, and am reassessing my goal right now to decide whether to lose another 15 pounds or so.

I had a total unfill back in April in preparation for my TT in May. I have not refilled my band at all. I worked very hard to train myself and my body to portion size and healthy eating ways while I had restriction to help me. Since my TT and my total unfill I have lost an additional 20 pounds. I am not gaining....I am using the lessons I learned being banded to maintain my weight.

I am very sorry you had a bad reaction to the band in correlation with your other health issues. The fact remains with those existing health issues, you likely would have had EXTREMELY serious health problems if you had chosen bypass. You would be suffering malnutrition on top of your lupus and your fibromyalgia. With the band, while it might cost you financially, it CAN be removed, and allow you to continue on with your life as before, dealing as best you can with the illnesses you have. With bypass, that would not be an option, that portion of your stomach and intestine would forever be gone.

I DO understand the illnesses you are dealing with. My Mom has suffered with fibromyalgia for many years now. She does get some relief from a combo of massage and accupuncture.

My oldest DD has RA, which is complicated by a connective tissue disorder similar to Lupus. She is currently undergoing further testing to see if the damage to her aorta is going to require surgery to repair the dilation.

I am not taking your illnesses lightly----I am saying perhaps they are the underlying cause of many problems that you are dealing with not simply the band. Even without the band, with those problems life would not be a bed of roses.

I agree that it is highly unfortunate that they were not diagnosed nor caught prior to the band.

Surgeons DO make a difference, and it is imperitive that we research who we are trusting to make changes to our bodies!! I spoke with several patients of both of my Dr.'s before making my decisions.

I hope you find relief. I still feel that bashing the band in a success thread is not a right thing to do. There are places to do that, and to thumb your nose at the thread title is like thumbing it to all of us wanting to share our good outcomes as well. No one here who has met with success has put you down.....yet you have tried to diminish our success stories by placing these here.....at least in my opinion.

Kat

Hi Kat WTG!

I too am VERY happy! I LOVE my band!! I was banded 10 months ago and have lost 80 pounds. I had lost 40 before the surgery as well. I still have a long way to go but I feel great. It is a "tool" and I do someone who had it done 6 weeks before me and they have not lost a pound, but she drinks while she eats. She has cokes all the time ahe eats and throws up, and has streched out her pouch. I feel very sorry for all of the people who it has not worked for, because for me it has been a wonderful thing. I am not just a reg fat person that no one stares at any more. My knees are better and I know I will get under the 200 mark. I started at 358, I am 5'2". I now weigh 238:thumbup:

Good luck to all!

Ann

Edited September 6, 2008 by Wishes4444