does everybody have complications?

[hannahc 0]

I'm getting my surgery on march 11 and have been reading about all of the complications here on the forums! Did anyone get lucky and not have any?!:tt2:

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Which "complications"? I had a quick recovery and no issues, but it would help to know specifically what you are worried about.

[Petalpusher 1]

I had my surgery Jan. 5. I have had no complications. Just the general gas(shoulder) pains the first day. I get my first fill next week. Can't wait since this last week I have had no restriction.

[hannahc 0]

I'm worried about port infections, if your body rejected the lapband, always throwing up, those kind of things!

[socalfosh 17]

I had the surgery a little over 3 months ago...I was nervous too and I usually don't get nervous over this kind of stuff. I have had no complications and everything is going great for me. I have no regrets at all. Good luck!

[amonroy 0]

I don't think EVERYONE has complications. I have had none actually. I have been banded for 7 months and never PB'd, gotten stuck, vomitted...nothing. I follow the diet pretty well and always eat slowly and chew alot, but I do allow myself a treat such as a cookie or ice cream once a week so I don't feel deprived of anything. I"m pretty much one that is able to eat anything, just not as much as I used to pre-band. Everyone is different so it's hard to gage, but if you do what you are supposed to and take it slow you should be fine. Good Luck!

[brittneylee 0]

i had a few complications with my surgery. first off they were originally going to do my incisions under my breast area, but my diaphram was too high. because of that they did my incisions maybe an inch about my belly button. i had 2 extra incisions because my skin was too thick apparently. so i have a total of 6 incisions. during surgery i apparently bent 2 of the surgical tools. my surgeon had to move alot around inside of me, so i was very sore. my surgeon told me that i was going to be in alot more pain, and have a longer recovery time. i was banded on 2/11. after surgery i threw up 3-4 times in the hospital. i had gas pain in my chest, but icy hot did the trick for it! even with all of my complications and pain, it is SO worth it!! even if i knew what was going to happen before it was going to happen i would still absolutely go thru it! pain is only temporary, and 9 days after surgery it has gotten ALOT better! i have lost 23 lbs so far in 3 weeks ish. no matter what you are feeling, no matter if you do or dont have complications, pain is temporary, and you get to be drugged up :tt2: You will be absolutely fine! every patient handles the surgery different. honestly you wont know until you do it. with all of my complications and everything i will be back at school on monday, so it honestly wasnt THAT bad! and this is coming from someone who had complications! so dont let the fear stop you! good luck!!

[Jachut 487]

People with problems tend to congregate for support and advice, even though this forum has several thousand members, they are but a drop in the ocean of the banded population worldwide. You'll read about all sorts of problems here, and its good to be aware of what they are and think about how you will deal with them. For most people who DO have a complication or problem, it is usually that I wont describe as minor, but as solveable. Overfill or inability to find a good comfortable level of restriction is probably the most common - well, to me, you can then settle for slightly LESS than perfect restriction and work a bit harder (like, exercise more) or you can whinge a lot about it and claim the band doesnt work - only you can know which type you'll be.

I also think the Protein first diet can have its downfall, for example, I find bread, Pasta and rice as part of my meals WAY more filling and makes me eat much less overall, makes my body feel full for longer. If I eat cottage cheese and fruit for Breakfast, I will be starving in an hour, oatmeal sits with me for much much longer. So I choose to have my band a bit looser to allow more bulky foods to be eaten. That solves a LOT of the problems with excess appetite and overtightness, vomiting and sliming that people experience because I just dont need to be so tight.

Some people's bodies just dont seem to want to work with the band, its not "rejected" exactly but it sure causes some problems and some are just not bearable or able to be lived with and bands have to come out.

There's been some pretty wild claims made on here lately about how the majority of the time the band causes problems and how the band will not be in anyone's body for the long term, well, those are just claims, not really substantiable and in reality the majority of people do NOT have real complications although I dont think the band is overall the massively successful tool it was supposed to be.

Personally, I've had no complications at all in 3 and a bit years and I dont know anyone IRL who's had anyting more than minor overfill issues and reflux (some people do tend to suffer reflux with the band) which can be often be remedied by a simple unfill.

[hannahc 0]

thanks so much! I'm super excited to start my new life!

[bearbandit 0]

I have had absolutely no complications...Knock on wood. People seem to dwell on negative things instead of positive ones. Most people have no issues. Good luck.

[JayTee562 1]

I have had absolutely no complications...Knock on wood. People seem to dwell on negative things instead of positive ones. Most people have no issues. Good luck.

I just skimmed the post so this may have been said on one of the longer ones.

First I'm PreBand so can't speak form personal experience......

I think the reason it seems so many have complications is because more people post for advise when they have an issue then people posting saying - "Hey I had a great day/week waht should I do about that." I've read many post from people that have been doing very well. I'd also go out on a limb and say that the ones posting with complications will galdely take those over their heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes.......

[ohjuly7878 20]

As usual, Jacqui's post is right on. I've personally have been banded since August 2008 and have had no complications... no PBing, no vomitting... I slimed only once and that is the day I came home from the hospital (I had stayed overnight).

I also don't follow all of the "rules"... for example, I'm much more of a grazer than a three-meal-a-dayer. I also sometimes drink at the same time as I eat. I just go sloooowwwllly with everything and chew really well. I do try to stay away from the carbs but I have Cereal every day (for the fiber).

Good luck to you!

[kiz 1]

No complications for me either. It's been the easiest weight loss I've ever experienced. (minus the surgery and the $13,000 self-pay, lol.)

I don't PB, I don't have reflux, I can eat the same foods I did pre-band except slower and in much smaller quantities.

I <heart> my band!!

[TQUAD64 9]

There is a risk of complications associated to any surgical procedure. You should be fully aware off all aspects of any surgery before going into an operating room. With that said, there are several scientific reports available on line via the mayo clinic and JAMA, which provide statistical data about the risk of complications for WLS.

Based on the studies I have read, the complication rate is less for gastric banding than for gastric by-pass. There are several areas of complications you might keep in mind; the surgical procedure itself, recovery, and aftercare.

Below are links to the Mayo Clinic and JAMA. Usually there are costs associated to their reports. However, they do offer a lot of full pdf reports on WLS on their web site. Utilize their search tool and type in key words such as gastric banding or gastric bypass.

JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal published by AMA

Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living - MayoClinic.com

As far as risks, yes I had two complications at surgery which required me to stay in the hospital for 2.5 days. But I am doing great now and don't have any health issues.

Good luck.

Edited February 21, 2009 by TQUAD64

[luluc 6]

I'm worried about port infections, if your body rejected the lapband, always throwing up, those kind of things!

i had a very small port infection that was caught & treated properly.

dh is also banded - no complications whatsoever