I had a band for around 2.5yrs.
Okay, so I'll start by saying that I don't regret having it, but I don't think I'd do it again if I had my time again.
I went from 17.5 stones to 12.5 stones (Size 18/20 to 14/16). That took probably 18 months.
The worst thing about the band is the port fills. Maybe it's changed now, but you pay your money and they fill it, it might be okay and the restriction is good, or it could still be slack and you have to go get another fill. Also, if they overfill it, you won't even get your saliva down. The fills are a little painful in so far as you have a big needle prodded into your tummy, and sometimes it can take a little while to get the port, if you don't like needles you won't much appreciate that part of it.
I found that I couldn't eat much when it was just right. I would throw up a lot, that included when eating out too.. and I was always wary of eating in case I had to bring it back up. The feeling when this happens is like severe heartburn, and like a big rock is stuck in your chest, it's not pleasant at all. I got very good at bringing stuff back up though, but I felt awful afterwards, the good thing was it hadn't got to your stomach, so just tasted like food and not sick. (Sorry if TMI).
Eventually my band slipped, probably because I was sick too many times? Not really sure, I didn't feel any difference in restriction, but at night I couldn't sleep laying down. My saliva would sit in the pouch and then every hour or two it would come back up into my mouth and choke me in my sleep. I would wake up coughing and spluttering. I lived off Gaviscon advance, and couldn't eat or drink past 6pm really, otherwise it kept me up. I knew if I got the band de-filled it would stop, but I enjoyed the restriction and I was losing weight, so no ways was I going to get it unfilled.
Eventually it got too much and I went for an appointment where they watch the liquid going down your throat.. they said the band had slipped and they had to take all the liquid out. This basically leaves you with a plastic ring around the top of your stomach, it slightly hurts when you eat but doesn't stop you eating/drinking what you like.
After a while of this I decided to get it repositioned and to have my Gall Bladder removed, as I had suffered badly with Gall Stones after losing the weight (very common). So I had that done and it made no difference (another 5k wasted).
A few years ago I wanted to get it removed, I didn't want it in me if it was broken and was worried about it damaging my stomach. Plus I was embarrased at having to mention it for anything medical, and it still felt a little painful eating.
I've had it out for maybe 3 yrs now.
I miss it, when it was good it was good and eventually I didn't even care for food. I remember having my Easter chocolate still hanging around in the summer! I miss that feeling of not being bothered for food and just probably feeling like a "normal" person does.
The worst thing is, I regained the weight and some more.
I think I would advise against a band, just for the simple reason of the aftercare required. Also, my mum had one, also now removed, and she really didn't get on with it and lost almost no weight with it for some reason. I had to work very hard to pick the right foods, get the fills done and generally was sick most days because it wouldn't go down.
You WILL NOT be able to eat salad, vegeteables, fruit, fish, steak or anything nutritious. It won't go down in my experience. I had to eat some food, then have a bit of bread, then a drink to try and push it through the band... like I say, probably not the best thing to do, but the amount of times bits of salad would come back up when I was sick and I'd not had salad for days.. it just sat there in my stomach and wouldn't go through the band.
I don't think it's healthy at all, there's the operation which is a risk, and then you can't eat healthy food anyhow. They make out you can eat anything, just small portions and it's just not true at all. When I had it out I ate so many apples, because I hadn't been able to have them for so long.
If I were to do bariatric surgery again, I would possible go with the gastric sleeve I think, although the long term implications of malnutrition worry me a lot, as do complications with surgery, so for that reason I would carefully consider any weight loss surgery.
I completely understand how you feel though, I dream of having that nagging "food food food" voice in my head gone.. but I'm not sure a band is the answer, I would research the other operations.
Just to add, it cost me in total £7,000 for the initial operation, £5,000 for the revison + gall bladder removal, £6,000 to have it removed, probably at least £1500-£2000 in fills.
