Why I Didn't Get the Lap Band
by
, 03-21-2014 at 06:33 PM (1637 Views)
***NOTE: I'm not promoting the sleeve over the band. These are my research based opinions. I am not in the medical field. You should discuss your options with your doctor to determine what's best for you.****
A few years ago through last December, I thought the lap band would be the perfect tool to help me lose weight. It's minimally invasive, lower risk, adjustable, reversible and nutrient deficiency doesn't have to be a lifelong concern. Even though it doesn't have great long term weight loss results compared to other procedures, I'm a gym junky and the portion control would make it perfect for me. What made me change my mind?
As it turns out, life with the band hasn't been peachy keen for all. In fact, long term, I've seen a complication rate as high as 40% in different group studies I've read. I'm 28 years old, and if I live to the life expectancy of American women, I have some 50 years left. The Lap Band received FDA approval in 2001. With such a high complication rate in that time, I would could not realistically rely on the band to last 50 years. Some of the complications are band erosion, embedding, slipping, and portal flips/infections. I've read about pregnancy and shifting of the port, including discomfort. Fills are expensive/inconvenient and once you've had a slip, scar tissue can make it difficult for you to find that "sweet spot" for portion control again. Not to mention the number of blogs from folks about breathing difficulty due to tightness and things becoming stuck. I've read about people having to fight to have the band removed and another fight for a revision surgery, even for the ones suffering from the pains of embedding. Finally, the scar tissue and embedding factor doesn't make it completely reversible for all.
So it turns out, although some researchers tout it as the best option for younger, more active people, I disagree based on the unknown reliability over the rest of that young person's life. As the Lap Band was THE choice for me, it was difficult to part with my stomach. I considered the gastric plication, which is experimental, but in the end, it wasn't an option for me. I liked the idea of not cutting away the stomach, but if I needed a revision surgery on that or had some gastric problems, there aren't enough doctors who are well versed in the procedure that I could rely on. In Japan, to my knowledge, they don't practice the procedure at all, so I'd have to endure a minimum of 11 hrs in flight to find a doctor who can help me.
With the gastric cramping/diarrhea over the past 2 days, I'm not liking the sleeve right now, but I'd call my sentiment far from regret. Speaking of regret, I should note that along my journey, I've met a few people who were undergoing Lap Band revision. Most did not regret it as a starting point to a healthy life. A few people thought it was a device of pure evil. One girl that was getting banded went on about her mum having it since 1997 and have been successful without problems with it. I mention these testaments to say, although I've read up a lot on the band, there are still people that this is a good option for. No matter which bariatric procedure you go with, they have risks and the potential to fail you, either out of poor choices or your case being unusual and you're stuck at a low excess weight loss over time.
To all, good luck on your journey to good health.