Banders to be - Worried?

[Harley_Q]

Do any of the banders to be ever read some of the posts on here and think 'OMG is this really a good idea?'

So many people seem to have issues with them but a bypass/sleeve just isn't an option for me,

I'm hoping that i'll feel a little calmer after my consult but at the moment i'm feeling deliriously excited one minute and thinking i'm making a big mistake the next.

 

[emmahc1975]

Hi. I do occasionally get worried but i always follow my providers guidelines so i am reducing my risks by not being silly.
I also figure that most banders problems start after the 1st few years & by then I'll have lost my excess weight & if my band needs taking out I'll have had the time i need to learn my new ways of eating & will be able to maintain without it.
Right now getting the weight off is more important to me & this is the tool I've chosen so in gonna use it!
Hope that helps

 

[Crystalrainbow]

Ditto Emma my thoughts exactly

 

[sharon2014]

Hi Harley!

wise words from Emma! x

I am PreBand and am fully committed, but chose not to share with anyone other than immediate family as I did not want anyone's personal opinion to cloud my mind and I have done my research, understand the risks and benefits to which many of my friends wouldn't even be aware of.

If losing weight with assistance gives me a better quality of life and allows me to get out and enjoy myself i say its my decision!

Good luck xx

 

[Harley_Q]

Thanks for your replies,
I haven't told any family yet, i'm not sure how it would go down to be honest.

I'm certainly going to follow all medical advice but I worry that having never really done very well at diets, that having the band won't fix that. Has anyone else felt like that?

 

[emmahc1975]

The band controls your portions & the diet advice helps with good food choices for the band. It will not stop the 'head hunger' & that's the hard bit!
Tbh one of my reasons for choosing the band was that i recognised i needed to change my habits & although the band doesn't always stop that (i could easily eat a tub of ice cream & a whole chocolate bar) just having it there & seeing the results is motivating enough to help kick my head into touch

 

[emmahc1975]

I forgot to add that I have failed at all diets! I have previously lost weight successfully only by lifestyle changes. I lost around 7 stone about 8 years ago but i put on 3 stone in the last 3 years after 2 pregnancies. I'm now down 5 stone with my band with 2 or 3 stone to go to get in the overweight bmi category, my target is 29 bmi because I'm not sure if want to go any lower. I'll see when I get there!
There's been a lot of research done on the 'science of dieting' & it seems to suggest its counter productive & most people end up heavier than when they started. That's why I chose a tool that helps me change my habits & i hope it can be for the rest if my life , at least that's the plan!

 

[Crystalrainbow]

Very well said emma hunni you speak like i feel lol my plan was the same........... the band is to help me learn for my future ...... i always keep in mind something could go wrong down the line, but hope i have learned and changed my lifestyle for the better by then.............. but honestly i've done it already almost 6months post op and hopefully 6 stone down by then lol today i have eaten fish n chips and an ice cream.... ok not great choices, but a treat and small portions..... tomorrow its back to normal where as pre band the food holiday would continue tomorrow the next day .... possible next week and beyond lol

Good luck with it hunni, i don't regret a single day and at mo my band is still empty so its all been mind over matter so far............. its a battle i'm going to win this time x x x

 

[valentine]

hi im not a pessimist but I don't know a single person that has gone long term banded without problems,,

I think that the reality of it curing all bad eating habits if it fails and needs to be removed is very remote..

It is a tool.. once it is broken things revert to exactly how they were prior to being banded physically..

also many people say they have lost weight before with a diet but gained it back again..

You can eat whatever food you want with a band without any fear of "dumping etc".. So if you like sweet things it will be very difficult to sustain your losses..

As your opening line says you clearly are aware that the long term success of the band is not very good.

I am an ex bander .. ten years out it had to be removed.. 7 years out it had to be unfilled and I had no restriction..

needless to say I gained 80% of my losses back within that time ...

when it was working it was a brilliant tool but once it "broke" I was on my own and the restriction was gone.. it was the restriction that helped maintain my loss.. yes it helps re educate your eating habits to a degree but if we had the will power to manage without the feeling of restriction then we would not have sought WLS in the first place..

I really hope anyone getting a band is a lot more successful in the long term than me, my partner and 2 of my friends.... we have all had bands removed due to complications... but all WLS has its risks.. which is why I am being revised to bypass as the long term success is so much better... I certainly would not put myself through another surgery if the research said otherwise..

The irony is that I had the band purely because I didn't want too much of an invasive surgery .... And I ended up having one op to put it in and another op to have it removed.. And 10 years of acid reflux and nausea inbetween..

I really do sincerely hope you have more long term success than me that's for sure... good luck xx

 

[tranquil_butterfly]

Hello all

I am writing this with some hesitation - but here goes. Any WLS carries risk. At the end of the day the success is down to you and how you use your tool - because be it balloon, band, sleeve, bypass etc - it is just that - a tool. It is not the magic bullet - if you use it wisely and carefully AND at the same time do some work on the head issues that no surgery can address - then you will get there. All surgeries have their failures - you only have to look at the posts to see that all the surgeries have their failures. It is unfortunate for those of us who find the tool has failed for one reason or another and have had to look at alternatives - if that is possible.

It is down to the individual - YOU and only you can decide what is best for you. Spend some time thinking about you and why you are on the journey. I sometimes feel we are not kind enough to ourselves. Take some real 'me' time - research, think about what you have read/discussed. If you are unsure and you have the time to delay then take the time out. Be sure whatever procedure you have chosen is right for you - think about the curve balls - what would you do if your chosen procedure is not possible for some reason or how you would cope if you elected for one procedure and ended up with something else. There is a lot to think about.

I personally do not think band failure is higher than any other WLS although I do not have any facts to back that up. Any kind of surgery is a big deal in so many ways. Just be clear about why you are opting for it and be clear about everything you can be on your chosen procedure. It is your life - and that is a very precious thing.

TB x

 

[Mazza]

Hi

I think we all have these feelings and there's no denying that for some the band doesn't work. Either through no fault of their own or through pushing the boundaries.

We do get members who it hasn't worked for post on this kind of thread and yes it is good to get a balanced perspective but what you don't get so often is the success stories. People tend to lose the weight, not need the support and get on with their lives. This applies to all surgeries, there was a thread recently about where are the long termers.

I am five years out and have recently had a full check up of my band because I have a hernia (not band related) and band wise everything is fine.

If you are prepared to make positive changes to your lifestyle you can make it work. I know a fair few banders further out than me how are happily maintaining BUT they still have to work at it - its a in it for the long haul kind of thing!

Good luck xx

 

[valentine]

I was fine for 7 years and persevered for another 3 with an empty band...

Data does suggest bypass/sleeve is the long term success story nowadays...

But as ya say ALL WLS has risks...

I just have personal long term experience of a failed band and my partner had one erode and one slip... That's 3 failed between 2 people ...

But I do wish any new banders success and hopefully it will work for you x

 

[Harley_Q]

What worries me if something does go wrong I don't think I'll ever be in a financial position to have it changed to a bypass,

 

[Banderbird]

There are a handful of people on here who've had bands fail, but there are many more for whom it's worked very well.

Mine has caused me no trouble at all in the 10 months I've had it, and hopefully it will be the same for you.

Good luck!

 

[SingerMo]

I'm really interested in hearing what happens when the band erodes or slips. I'm sure there's other places on the forum this is discussed. Is this a on pain killers the rest of your life scenario or hundred of surgeries to fix it. What happens with your band failure Valentine?

 

[valentine]

I'm really interested in hearing what happens when the band erodes or slips. I'm sure there's other places on the forum this is discussed. Is this a on pain killers the rest of your life scenario or hundred of surgeries to fix it. What happens with your band failure Valentine?

I had a slight slippage as my band was reasonably well stitched in place.. The initial slip wasnt diagnosed as my local A and E dept don't have a bariatric unit... I spent a week in the liver unit there being unbelievably sick and was bright yellow from an infection in my liver... The slip Iitself was a ripping painI where the band was placed originally... It was worse than any contraction during birth and actually happened whilst I was driving ... I had to exit my car and vomit in the middle of the road (projectile vomit I might add)..... I have never know pain like it and went home to bed for 2 days before I ended up in hospital... Was lucky that it settled after a week and I went home.... When I had it removed the slip had caused the band to rub on my liver which is why I was so sick and yellow.. It was only due to the band surgeon actually doing a good job of securing it that it didn't slip completely.. My partners did and he couldn't move for the agony or even swallow his own spit... He was an emergency removal the same day by a bariatric unit in St Mary's London ... He had his replaced with another band... This one eroded into his stomach and was same symptoms as the full slippage except his recovery took slightly longer from the removal... His brother also had a band and his eroded causing dreadful pain and damage... As it eroded it cut off the blood supply to his liver and was really life threatening .. Resulted in emergency removal and quite alot of damage to his liver... During my bypass last week I had over and hour and a half of surgery to free my stomach from my liver caused by adhesions before they could even start the bypass... My surgical team are based at St Mary's in paddington and carry out thousands of surgery sleeve/bypass in a specialist unit and he told me he had never seen so much damage caused by a band as was in my stomach.... The lucky thing is all the scarring to my liver should repair itself over time .. You have to remember I was banded 10 years ago by a clinic in France and I can't say it was the surgeons fault because it wasn't.... The long term success of the band staying in situ and not eroding/slipping is quite poor... It is only now that the data is becoming available ... I loved my band when it worked and for seven years I had great success with it .. Had it unfilled due to another complication 7 years in of a dialated esophagus ..... That too caused quite a lot of sickness and also dreadful acid reflux... Acid reflux was my best friend for 3 years and only disappeared when the band was removed.. Hope that answers your question... I know there are lots of banded people who are having great weight loss ... But are any of them past 10 years post op????? I've yet to meet one other than on here and I think she is called Roccosmum or something similar ... You can find her story on the revision section of this site

 

[kurstywursty]

Harley my surgeon told me today that 15% of people feel disappointed in their band in the long term. I am going to trust his info. That gives me an 85% chance of long term success. When you consider the stats for people who loss the weight keeping it off I think the band is a good option, these are good odds

I was at my consultation today. I left the hospital without booking the band because the info I was given scared the bejesus out of me. But I contacted them to give them the go ahead once I sat down and thought about all the reasons that had got me to that consultation

Not saying I'm not terrified still...but I'm going for it ;-)

I am comforted by the fact that my best friend and her sister had it done 6 years ago and they have had great success.

 

[valentine]

Harley my surgeon told me today that 15% of people feel disappointed in their band in the long term. I am going to trust his info. That gives me an 85% chance of long term success. When you consider the stats for people who loss the weight keeping it off I think the band is a good option, these are good odds I was at my consultation today. I left the hospital without booking the band because the info I was given scared the bejesus out of me. But I contacted them to give them the go ahead once I sat down and thought about all the reasons that had got me to that consultation Not saying I'm not terrified still...but I'm going for it ;-) I am comforted by the fact that my best friend and her sister had it done 6 years ago and they have had great success.

Hi kW I wish you every success I sincerely do... I was just answering a question ... And I was fine till 7 years out ... Only question I have for you is are you private or NHS ? ( can't see on my phone) gl with your surgery if you have booked it

 

[kurstywursty]

Hi kW I wish you every success I sincerely do... I was just answering a question ... And I was fine till 7 years out ... Only question I have for you is are you private or NHS ? ( can't see on my phone) gl with your surgery if you have booked it

Hi Valentine. I am private. I don't meet the criteria for my area on the NHS. My BMI is 36. But my mother died of a MI at my age and her father had two heart attacks. So I think this along with my joint pain got me in on the private side

I was sorry to read about your band troubles. And my post was not intended to minimise your situation in any way - I know this is a risk. I am lucky to have two folks close to me who have had great success with the band but they are only six years in. Mi just see the difference it has made to their quality of life and self esteem

I am just so weary of the daily fight with food, the feeling of self loathing when I fail at the latest attempt. Switching between various diet clubs, fad diets, sensible eating plans, low carb, low calorie...at one point a visit with the nurse for a year, where I lost two stone.....but nomatter what success I have, I always end up back at where I am right now - so desperation stakes here is making me willing to take the risk

Going back to your question about NHS or private? Do you think that makes a difference? What did you do.

Cheers

 

[SingerMo]

I had a slight slippage as my band was reasonably well stitched in place.. The initial slip wasnt diagnosed as my local A and E dept don't have a bariatric unit... I spent a week in the liver unit there being unbelievably sick and was bright yellow from an infection in my liver... The slip Iitself was a ripping painI where the band was placed originally... It was worse than any contraction during birth and actually happened whilst I was driving ... I had to exit my car and vomit in the middle of the road (projectile vomit I might add)..... I have never know pain like it and went home to bed for 2 days before I ended up in hospital... Was lucky that it settled after a week and I went home.... When I had it removed the slip had caused the band to rub on my liver which is why I was so sick and yellow.. It was only due to the band surgeon actually doing a good job of securing it that it didn't slip completely.. My partners did and he couldn't move for the agony or even swallow his own spit... He was an emergency removal the same day by a bariatric unit in St Mary's London ... He had his replaced with another band... This one eroded into his stomach and was same symptoms as the full slippage except his recovery took slightly longer from the removal... His brother also had a band and his eroded causing dreadful pain and damage... As it eroded it cut off the blood supply to his liver and was really life threatening .. Resulted in emergency removal and quite alot of damage to his liver... During my bypass last week I had over and hour and a half of surgery to free my stomach from my liver caused by adhesions before they could even start the bypass... My surgical team are based at St Mary's in paddington and carry out thousands of surgery sleeve/bypass in a specialist unit and he told me he had never seen so much damage caused by a band as was in my stomach.... The lucky thing is all the scarring to my liver should repair itself over time .. You have to remember I was banded 10 years ago by a clinic in France and I can't say it was the surgeons fault because it wasn't.... The long term success of the band staying in situ and not eroding/slipping is quite poor... It is only now that the data is becoming available ... I loved my band when it worked and for seven years I had great success with it .. Had it unfilled due to another complication 7 years in of a dialated esophagus ..... That too caused quite a lot of sickness and also dreadful acid reflux... Acid reflux was my best friend for 3 years and only disappeared when the band was removed.. Hope that answers your question... I know there are lots of banded people who are having great weight loss ... But are any of them past 10 years post op????? I've yet to meet one other than on here and I think she is called Roccosmum or something similar ... You can find her story on the revision section of this site

Thank you so much for sharing.
I hope you are well on the way to a full recovery. Your experiences are sobering.
I will definitely have a long discussion about the other options. Until I came on this site I would never have considered a sleeve or bypass.
I'm hoping that advances made in the last 10 years have made a positive improvement to safety and long term outcomes.