Scared

Hi:
This is my first post. I'm from Vancouver and I've had to tests done for the lap band and now I can go for a consult. Maybe I have been reading too much stuff and now I am scared. I've read that the upper part of the stomach stretches , the band can twist, after 5 years you start gaining weight back .

Help???

Thanks
Sphil89

Hello. I can imagine your horror after reading so much from this site. I joined the site before my surgery and I was banded on Thursday, April 3rd. Keep in mind that everone's body reacts different and what happened to one patient doesn't always happen to another. It's important to be informed but no afraid of a procedure that has been clinically tested with much success. I wish you luck.

Welcome Sphil,

Don't worry so much :) and stop reading in the Lap Band removal and the complications areas! The instances of those kinds of problems are really low if you look into it... and you know you're always going to see more people talking about what goes wrong than what goes right, right?! It's good to be informed and know what COULD happen, but now you know, move on and start looking at all the success stories!

Mandi

Don't worry so much, complications are rare but they do happen, I have had almost every single complication there is excepting a few... and I still lost 150lbs in 18 months and kept it off over 6 years now I am in my 7th year of banding... and a size 8-10 I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Good luck not everything you read on the net is true and even if it is, it may not apply to you.

Heather

sphil: The band has been in use in Europe for 20 plus years and in Canada for some time now. Complications are rare. One thing about the band, everything is fixable. I commend you for looking into both the upside and downside of the band but don't let the downside scare you off. Before making such a life style changing decision, it is best you look into the whole picture. Even when you make your decision right up until you climb up on the OR table you may have flashes of doubt. I certainly did, but the outcome of being able to eat normally and lose weight without the fear of puting it back on instantly kept my resolve. Good luck in your decision and if you decide to have the band, which surgeon in Vancouver did you pick. I am from North Vancouver and you are welcome to attend our meeting once a month at Lions Gate Hospital. We are a small group but would be happy to try and answer any questions you may have. Doddie