SAVE YOUR LIFE & MONEY! JUST DIET!

[dietistheway]

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.

What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!

DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

[CalKev]

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.dietistheway - You did not supply enough facts in your post for it to be considered factual. Why was he vomiting? How long did he wait to go to the emergency room? What co-morbidities does he have? Who is the manufacturer on the band? Where is the hospital where he is being treated?

To post information with phrases such as "The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time." is inflammatory, speculative, hearsay and unfortunate at best. If this is a factual event give the details leading up to the band failure. Without more detail you are truly doing a disservice to this man for reporting it here as you have.

"What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". First if this is not a factual story then your question is moot. If this man decided to be banded he is the one to ask why he went through with the procedure. He can help you understand. If as it sounds is rhetorical then point taken.

"I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!" And so you show your true colors in your final paragraph. You have made up your mind already. You are not asking a legitimate question. You have used this hopefully un-factual story to promote your own anti-weight-loss surgery agenda.

"DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

I say to you OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, For the time you are spending, get yourself into a non-judgmental state, hire yourself a therapist. DO ANYTHING BUT TELL EVERYONE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES! You need to be open with yourself on the inside. Do you think judging others is going to solve your problems? NO!

Thank you so much for your post. Many have tried to lose the 60 lbs. as you say you have just to gain it back and more. Their are complications that can arise even from losing 60 lbs. on your own. Many people feel as you do and have never opened their minds to learning what the lapband surgery is truly about. It is a tool to teach the host individual how to eat so they can live healthy happy lives. The band is truly a educational tool and not a way to bypass nutrition or absorption of the food you eat. It teaches the mind to eat slowly and in the correct quantities when correctly used by its host. Combine that with working with a nutritionist to teach you what to eat and you can be successful. A question for you. Would you please give us more information on this man in the hospital? You can email me personally with his name and the hospital he is in. If he truly is hurting as a fellow bander I would like to let him know there are people who care and that want to know the truth of his condition. It is truly sad if this mans condition is as you stated. What is sad also is how you chose to report it here in the manner you have. Kevin

[MandyHotz]

We are all adults and make our own decisions. Dont you think we looked into the risks and made our decision based on our own thoughts? We have support groups and we decided that this is what we needed. You just joined today and made 1 post. Look into for 6 months or more and tell us how many cases you find other than the one you are describing. I am sorry for your friend, it is the risk we all take I hope it all comes out ok. Please, until you know more about the band and US dont leave your opinions on here. We need support not discouragement.

Mandy

[dietistheway]

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.dietistheway - You did not supply enough facts in your post for it to be considered factual. Why was he vomiting? How long did he wait to go to the emergency room? What co-morbidities does he have? Who is the manufacturer on the band? Where is the hospital where he is being treated?

To post information with phrases such as "The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time." is inflammatory, speculative, hearsay and unfortunate at best. If this is a factual event give the details leading up to the band failure. Without more detail you are truly doing a disservice to this man for reporting it here as you have.

"What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". First if this is not a factual story then your question is moot. If this man decided to be banded he is the one to ask why he went through with the procedure. He can help you understand. If as it sounds is rhetorical then point taken.

"I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!" And so you show your true colors in your final paragraph. You have made up your mind already. You are not asking a legitimate question. You have used this hopefully un-factual story to promote your own anti-weight-loss surgery agenda.

"DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

I say to you OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, For the time you are spending, get yourself into a non-judgmental state, hire yourself a therapist. DO ANYTHING BUT TELL EVERYONE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES! You need to be open with yourself on the inside. Do you think judging others is going to solve your problems? NO!

Thank you so much for your post. Many have tried to lose the 60 lbs. as you say you have just to gain it back and more. Their are complications that can arise even from losing 60 lbs. on your own. Many people feel as you do and have never opened their minds to learning what the lapband surgery is truly about. It is a tool to teach the host individual how to eat so they can live healthy happy lives. The band is truly a educational tool and not a way to bypass nutrition or absorption of the food you eat. It teaches the mind to eat slowly and in the correct quantities when correctly used by its host. Combine that with working with a nutritionist to teach you what to eat and you can be successful. A question for you. Would you please give us more information on this man in the hospital? You can email me personally with his name and the hospital he is in. If he truly is hurting as a fellow bander I would like to let him know there are people who care and that want to know the truth of his condition. It is truly sad if this mans condition is as you stated. What is sad also is how you chose to report it here in the manner you have. Kevin

I found this forum while researching the disaster this man brought upon himself, his family and most importantly his children. What so sad about reporting facts. If people want to take a risk just to look good, by all means, do so. What I found when reading the posts is that everyone boasts about how great this surgery is. Why not post some disadvantages? By the way, yes, he was vomitting. He had the flu - something WE ALL get.

I gain nothing by telling this story. It was just a warning. Take it for what it is worth. I wish you all well and hopefully you are happy with your decisions, just as I was happy with my decision to diet and not jeapordize my life and possibly leaving my children without a mother. God Bless

[CalKev]

I found this forum ....

dietistheway,

This forum is open to all points of view. You have not substantiated your facts. There is nothing within your post to prove any disadvantages to being banded. So sorry to say it can't be taken as more than it appears. Each who reads it can decide for themselves what that is. Kevin

[mommyrkr]

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.

What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!

DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

Wow, you sure have a lot to say! I hope you think a little more before you spew like that again.

First of all, you said you don't know why anyone would go through all this to look good..yet you felt the need to lose weight. You may be one of the 2% of people who can lose weight and keep it off, but I seriously doubt it, or you won't say such foolish things like thinking you have all the answers. Come talk about your weight lose when you have kept it off for a decade or more. Finally, I was in much more danger not having surgery than I was having it. My chance of a heart attack and such is greatly decreased. Daily, the life of an obese person, is in as much or more danger than the life of a normal weight person who had the lap band. I am also guessing from what you posted regarding your friend's brother that what he had was a vertical banded surgery, which is how his stomach ripped open. That is not the same as a lap band. It is very dangerous, however, the lap band is much less complicated, with far fewer risks. You might want to look into what kind of surgery he actually had.

You might want to rethink some things you said, or at least look into it a little more before you say things like that. There are plenty of both good and bad with lap band surgery, and I have read about all of it here. If anything, this board shows more of the downside, in that people who are doing well, don't tend to post much.

By the way, been to the personal trainer, weight loss clinic, prescription diet pills, fad diets, everything. And yet I needed to do this. Don't knock it until you've lived it.

Becki

[GregNE]

I found this forum while researching...

Your topic name tells me the story. If your message was truly inspired by a man in the hospital, you would not have used 'MONEY' in your rant. You lack credibility. Do tell us what city and hospital the man is in.

I have lost 50 lbs also, in fact many many times. I chose to have a band placed to help keep weight off for the long term, and encourage additional weight loss. Posting negative, and likely false information does no favor for any of us. A factual account with detail could be informative, however.

"I gain nothing by telling this story", you said. Unfortunately, without details, we gain nothing from your story either. And yes, 1 in 1000 persons do die from lap band complications. However, I for one, am willing to beat that statistic.

[Clynn]

Anyone who has truly dealt with obesity all or much of their lives would immediately realize the absurdity of the words "just diet"

[LoriBecky]

It takes a long time for the stomach to "die" after a band slip and you KNOW something is very wrong for a long time before this happens. This person had to have made a decision to ignore the warning signs that something was wrong with their band. We recently had a patient that went for months knowing her band had slipped, but was losing weight so chose to ignore the signs until it was almost too late. She was rushed down to our clinic for emergency removal of her band when she was no longer able to keep even liquids down and the patient is fine and looking forward to healing so her band can be put back into place!

Listen to your body. If your body tells you something is wrong, call the doctor!!! None of the rare complications from the band should cause a life threatening problem! Call if you experience a symptom you don't understand! Our patients are given cell phone numbers for our docs. If you experience an emergency GO TO THE ER or call 911!

I'd be very interested in getting more information on the patient the poster is talking about. Lap-Band is by far the safest weight loss surgery out there! That's a proven fact! Do your research!! Diets fail 95% of the time! So the just diet remark is ridiculous!!

[karenlynn79]

On that note Lori I'd like to say that the one time I felt "weird" post-op Dr. Ramirez was on the phone within 30 min. I had just irritated it and everything was fine, but it is nice to know that we can get one of the great Drs on the phone ASAP!

Karen

On that note Lori I'd like to say that the one time I felt "weird" post-op Dr. Ramirez was on the phone within 30 min. I had just irritated it and everything was fine, but it is nice to know that we can get one of the great Drs on the phone ASAP!

Karen

I mean Dr Martinez! Sorry I must be going crazy..... I am finally going for a fill in a week and a bit nervous...

[Teri]

You sound like a friend of mine who's specialty is drama, always comments negatively on things when she doesn't have all the facts. Just to satisfy a needy urge to be right all the time. :-? Listen, by having the surgery, I will have SAVED money. I have already spent, and would have continued to spend gobs of money, far more than the surgery, like most overwieght people in this country have done, only to continue to keep failing. Diet? sure, I've dieted, worked out, kept it off for a long while, just like you may do, but it will NOT last, if your in the 99% of the people who fail. If your not, GREAT for you!! =D>

You remind me of Company's who stand to loose billions of dollars every year on marketing ploy's to come up with the next best "diet", (the one that will end ALL diets) because you know people will fail and you will gain, all from the greed of wanting to get wealthy from genuinely sincere people needing to loose wieght, all the while knowing the "next best diet" will fail them again and again. If diet is your answer, you need to jump on board with the greedy ones so you can collect your share. Don't waste your time here, when there is money to made.

I know a lot of people who are specialists in creating drama!

[ms883]

I do not need the food police telling me what to do and how to do it. I've fought my weight since I was 12. The same 50 pounds have come and gone at least 10 times. You lost 60 pounds in the last year, but the failure rate for dieters is over 90%. Let us know in a year how much of the 60 pounds you have gained back. And, by the way, you'll most likely gain more back than just the 60.

Next, we'll be scolded for having surgery done in, ohmigod, Mexico!

How little some people know and how arrogant they truly are.

Ms883

[SmileyTaty]

Hey I totally agree w/ you. We shouldn't just go for the easy way out and have the lap band done. But for a lot of us its the last resort. I just got approved by my insurance to have it done, I've been trying to lose weight for 2yrs. I've gone to a nutritionist and the gym for 2 yrs. It hasn't helped. I'll lose like 10 pounds gain it then lose it again. I was going to the nutritionist once a wk, the gym 5 times a wk, and my doctor bi weekly.. It has been nothing but an uphill struggle. Then finally my doctor said that I should try the gastric bypass, but that was way to intess for me. So my surgeon, told me about the lap band system. And for a lot of people this surgery is about more than just being skinny, its a chance for people to live healthier lives. Yes people can die, and yes people do die. But this surgery has cured people from knee pain all the way to something as hectic as diabetes. So hopefully u understand where a lot of people are coming from.. And u can gaurantee that there are 1 million stories of bariatric surgerys gone well. All I'm saying is to have an open mind everyone going into this operation knows the risk. I had to see over 10 different doctors because of my insurance and age and each one kept repeating to me the risks. I know what I'm getting into. And losing the weight can solve a lot of peoples problems. Just keep an open mind.. Good luck with u and urs. God Bless..

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.

What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!

DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

[Bill]

After 20 years service to my country in the U.S. Army and weighing over 325 pounds I had the Band placed in me too. I read your banter about "this fat person" you say you are concerned about. I weigh 240 now. My BMI is much lower at 33.2 then it was at 53.7. I do slip into booths now where before I had to "surround" a chair. I like this tool given to me by a wonderful person named Dr. Levine. I even like his Nurse who had Gastric Bypass and not a Lap Band, (poor thing).

Trust me, oh bantering one, we who have read your statement know how scared you really are. The person having the problem I hope becomes healed. I am quite happy with my band, have been since January 25, 2006. Yep, almost a year now. No one in our Group here in Florida has major problems. Sorry you are such a non-caring jerk and have not an ounce of compassion, even for your friend. You did not ask for help for them, you condemed! Shame on you.

Bill

[barbflorida]

Any surgery carries risks, we all know that going in. Why do you assume that none of us had the intelligence to research what we were doing before doing it. Through my life I have lost hundreds of pounds on every diet imaginable, I have also gained hundreds of pounds. I finally realized I needed a tool to help me and did research very thoroughly. Whatever risks I found, my feelings, as well as my doctors, my husband and the rest of my family that my weight was a bigger risk. I am no where near my goal weight and have already been able to lower dosage on pain medications for back problems, I'm breathing better and although I have a long way to go, I am already starting to pull out clothes from the last diet that have been packed away. I feel sorry for your brother of a friend, but for me and it seems just about everyone on this forum, we truly feel that we made the right decision.

[EJ01111]

Any surgery carries risks, we all know that going in. Why do you assume that none of us had the intelligence to research what we were doing before doing it. Through my life I have lost hundreds of pounds on every diet imaginable, I have also gained hundreds of pounds. I finally realized I needed a tool to help me and did research very thoroughly. Whatever risks I found, my feelings, as well as my doctors, my husband and the rest of my family that my weight was a bigger risk. I am no where near my goal weight and have already been able to lower dosage on pain medications for back problems, I'm breathing better and although I have a long way to go, I am already starting to pull out clothes from the last diet that have been packed away. I feel sorry for your brother of a friend, but for me and it seems just about everyone on this forum, we truly feel that we made the right decision.

[EJ01111]

WOW... I am not certain WHY anyone would write such a highly charged post. Of course all surgeries carry a risk.

I was more concerned about going under than I was about the placement of the Lap Band. The risk of being put under was less than not being here for my child due to obesity induced medical problems.

Save money by dieting ? hmmmmmmmm don't Americans spend in excess of 1 billion dollars in exercise cd's, equipment, diets, diet cookbooks ?

[JeriB]

Thank you Lori!

It takes a long time for the stomach to "die" after a band slip and you KNOW something is very wrong for a long time before this happens. This person had to have made a decision to ignore the warning signs that something was wrong with their band. We recently had a patient that went for months knowing her band had slipped, but was losing weight so chose to ignore the signs until it was almost too late. She was rushed down to our clinic for emergency removal of her band when she was no longer able to keep even liquids down and the patient is fine and looking forward to healing so her band can be put back into place!

Listen to your body. If your body tells you something is wrong, call the doctor!!! None of the rare complications from the band should cause a life threatening problem! Call if you experience a symptom you don't understand! Our patients are given cell phone numbers for our docs. If you experience an emergency GO TO THE ER or call 911!

I'd be very interested in getting more information on the patient the poster is talking about. Lap-Band is by far the safest weight loss surgery out there! That's a proven fact! Do your research!! Diets fail 95% of the time! So the just diet remark is ridiculous!!

[karen24]

WOW LOOKS LIKE THEY TOLD YOU!

WHILE I AM SORRY FOR YOUR FRIENDS BROTHER, HE AND THE REST OF US DID KNOW THE RISKS GOING INTO THIS. AND THATS THE CHANCE WE TOOK.

K

[sharon1g]

Anyone who has truly dealt with obesity all or much of their lives would immediately realize the absurdity of the words "just diet"

Lori, how do you know if your band has slipped? What are the symptoms? What causes it?

[PAMMIE]

Lori, how do you know if your band has slipped? What are the symptoms? What causes it?

THIS ARTICLE SEEMS PRETTY STANDARD IMO:

What is a slipped Band, and what causes it?

There are two types of slippage; anterior and posterior. This refers to whether the front or back side of the stomach slips. There is something else called concentric pouch dilation, but this is not the same as slippage. Slippage or prolapse is when the stomach slides up through the Band, making the pouch bigger. If this happens the Band usually becomes too tight, and patients experience symptoms of reflux (heartburn) as well as nausea and vomiting. This is because the amount of stomach being

[jancajun]

Got a call from a friend earlier this week that her bro, who had the surgery about a year ago, was in intensive care. He was throwing up when the band split (from what I understand). He was rushed to the hospital and put in intensive care on heavy morphine. During the night had an emergency surgery to try and repair the damage. Ultimately, he had a part of her stomach removed. The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time.dietistheway - You did not supply enough facts in your post for it to be considered factual. Why was he vomiting? How long did he wait to go to the emergency room? What co-morbidities does he have? Who is the manufacturer on the band? Where is the hospital where he is being treated?

To post information with phrases such as "The doctors see no improvement. He is dying slowly and in great pain. Unfortunately, he is aware of everything going on and knows it's just a matter of time." is inflammatory, speculative, hearsay and unfortunate at best. If this is a factual event give the details leading up to the band failure. Without more detail you are truly doing a disservice to this man for reporting it here as you have.

"What I need to understand is why anyone would put themselves through something so horrible just to "look good". First if this is not a factual story then your question is moot. If this man decided to be banded he is the one to ask why he went through with the procedure. He can help you understand. If as it sounds is rhetorical then point taken.

"I was 60 pounds overweight, went on a diet and in a year looked great. Anyone can diet; the problem is everyone looks for the easy way out and put their lives in danger. I will guarentee that this is one of million stories of weight loss surgery gone bad. What happens is that people who have had serious complications generally don't post or are dead!" And so you show your true colors in your final paragraph. You have made up your mind already. You are not asking a legitimate question. You have used this hopefully un-factual story to promote your own anti-weight-loss surgery agenda.

"DIET DIET DIET! For the money you are spending, get yourself into a weight loss clinic, hire yourself a personal trainer, DO ANYTHING BUT DON'T GET SURGERY!

You need to be happy with yourself on the inside. Do you think getting skinny is going to solve your problems? NO!

I say to you OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, OPEN YOUR MIND, For the time you are spending, get yourself into a non-judgmental state, hire yourself a therapist. DO ANYTHING BUT TELL EVERYONE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES! You need to be open with yourself on the inside. Do you think judging others is going to solve your problems? NO!

Thank you so much for your post. Many have tried to lose the 60 lbs. as you say you have just to gain it back and more. Their are complications that can arise even from losing 60 lbs. on your own. Many people feel as you do and have never opened their minds to learning what the lapband surgery is truly about. It is a tool to teach the host individual how to eat so they can live healthy happy lives. The band is truly a educational tool and not a way to bypass nutrition or absorption of the food you eat. It teaches the mind to eat slowly and in the correct quantities when correctly used by its host. Combine that with working with a nutritionist to teach you what to eat and you can be successful. A question for you. Would you please give us more information on this man in the hospital? You can email me personally with his name and the hospital he is in. If he truly is hurting as a fellow bander I would like to let him know there are people who care and that want to know the truth of his condition. It is truly sad if this mans condition is as you stated. What is sad also is how you chose to report it here in the manner you have. Kevin

Thank you Kevin for speaking up for all of of us bandsters.

jan