Jim1967

Alex is the lead singer in our Bariatric Band....yes the pun was intended LOL Congrats my friend!!

I agree with Lisa and tmf. I would go in at least for a sanity check and also to weigh in so you know exactly where you're at. You at least need a baseline in order to gauge future progress but I suppose there always NSVs to go by. Looser clothes and such. I know it's not all about numbers on a scale but when it comes to measuring real progress numbers are important. As for needing a fill I guess the questions I would ask myself is... 1. How long can you go in between meals before getting hungry? 2. Are you grazing throughout the day?

Link still works. Rosie isn't saying much...

So true.... Just like the time Tom Selleck went on her show to promote a movie and she attacked him about his association with the NRA. She found an open window to allow herself to inject her political beliefs. Check out the youtube video.

I think I may have my band removed. It is failing me.....

I think some of you are clearly missing the point. His band is not working at all...period. Telling him consume less and follow a band plan is great advice but if the band is doing absolutely nothing then he is on a diet. I implore you to show him a little compassion. So he can consume two steaks with 14cc in a band. First thing that jumps out at me is a serious band function problem not a 'band compliance' problem. You have to fix the band and get the restriction then you can modify the consumption. Otherwise....it's a diet. I can't even eat steak at all because of my band. I've gotten stuck every time after only consuming a very little and that is with a partially filled band. For once we have someone posting a real band issue where it is clearly NOT working BUT he has not given up on it and he WANTS it to work. He is not eating around this band...it is just not working. Is it possible some of us have been banded so long that we forgot what it was like with out it?

@@4everyoung Sorry you're going through this but do not give up. Press your Doctor to work with you to find a solution. Like others have said after 14cc you should have some form of restriction if even only a little. One thing is certain you should not be able to consume that much food in one sitting and in regards to "band rules" it's not a matter of what you should or shouldn't be consuming at this point it's about your band not doing its part to aid you. Band rules can be followed but if the tool is not doing it's share of the work for you then your just on a diet and guess what....we all fail at diets long term. A solution must be found for this problem. Maybe it came undone like it did for Catfish? Maybe there is a blockage in the tubing which is why Fluid is being pushed back out? At this point does your Doctor have a plan moving forward? I know he's stumped but there has to be answer and if he cannot come to a conclusion then he should be collaborating with peers to find you one and if he's not doing that then a new Doctor needs to be sought out. Perhaps you just have a defective band, port or tubing or the whole thing? It is not unheard of after all they're human made products. I wish you well and I hope you find answers and please let us know how you're doing.

You have WANT it right CG?

Hi Dan, My band has never prevented liquid of any form from going down unless of course it was right after eating which is just a no no anyway as far as band practice. One time I did it I actually spit it all back up. I was dumb and a rookie. Sandy has asked some very good questions. Which answering will help you figure out where you're at. Remember it is not about band tightness but rather feeling satisfied for a long time on a smaller amount of food. You shouldn't be eating until Thanksgiving stuffed because at that point you've most likely over eaten. Check out this great read on the band. It is very straight forward and I go back to it every now and again. it just in the simplest terms and it helped me when I was in your position. It basically cleared up all my misconceptions. http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Everyone is going to be different as far as band adjustments. For fill it took me 5 fills in 5 months to find proper position for me. Since that time I have had two additional small fills as maintenance. My band is 11cc and I currently have 9.6 in it. I rarely eat between meals and I can go 4 to 5 hours without eating. Here is my band stats 11cc Realize Band: 1st fill 5/29/12 5cc 2nd fill 6/12/12 1cc 3rd fill 7/02/12 1cc 4th fill 8/14/12 1cc 5th fill 9/4/12 1cc 6th fill 1/29/13 .5 7th fill 4/4/14 .1

Dreams can come true...You got to want it, fight for it and most of all believe in yourself!!

I loved this response tmf.... Statistics piss me off and they piss me off because statistics cannot account for every possible variable/scenario and that goes for every WLS procedure not just the band. When I decided to take the plunge and go for the band I went at it head first. My life became about WLS, lifestyle change and everything band. I've thrived on the maintenance and adjustment appointments and became heavily involved in support groups. I used those appointments/meetings as a driving force throughout my journey. Some of the meetings I have been in people talk about how they want a specific procedure, drop the weight and forget they ever had surgery or even a weight problem for that matter. I find that absolutely crazy and I walk away wondering if they'll make it. We're all obese and even with this tool we may lose weight and look like a thin person but that obese monster will still continue to live inside us and needs to be kept in check throughout the rest of our lives. I agree with you though the band is not for everyone and is certainly not a 'set it and forget it'. Band requires a lot of dedication. I don't know how many times I've heard "you have so much weight to lose I wouldn't do the band". Amount of weight has nothing to do with it and I find the statement almost insulting.

Happy to know that I am not alone with this battle. Pre-surgery I was a once a day in the morning person and it was like clock work. Now I struggle. I take softner twice a day and while it does help a bit I can sometimes go 4 days without going and when I finally do go it is painful. If I take fiber powder it makes me go but then it leads to gas pains and cramps and lots of flatulence and sometimes even diarrhea. Seems I cannot win at times and it can be down right frustrating. Sorry for the over share but if there is anything negative surrounding my weight loss it is my bathroom routine. It is not routine by a long shot.

Your Doctor is absolutely right. Band is awful. By the way has anyone seen the 300+ pounds my stupid band misplaced? It's September and I am already freezing without all my excess fat!!

Not sure who your insurance company is but mine sent me the policy via email when I called them and asked for information. Even if your insurance company does not cover it doesn't necessarily mean you're done. All insurance companies have appeal processes. You can bypass your husbands mouthy co-workers wives by simply getting some documented proof for your husband to read over. Just a thought...

That is certainly a different circumstance I didn't consider. Your profile is incomplete so I was unaware you were teetering on qualifying.

Why can't you do both? Weight loss even with the surgery will not happen over night and it sounds like you're just getting started. I would take part in it and also keep moving forward with the process to get approval and a date.

Just curious but why the change of heart? I chose the band because I did not want my insides cut and plumbing re-routed and at the time sleeve was not yet being offered nor had I ever heard of it before. I was also 488lbs and I thought at the time my chances of survival on the table was better with the band. To be perfectly honest I am very happy with my band and my results but if I had to do it over again and the sleeve was offered as a choice then I am not so sure I would choose the band again. could it be that you're not really ready for any surgery? This sounds a little more than just pre-op jitters. My recommendation would be to slow down and digest additional information. Don't hold yourself up against a 10 day window feeling like you must make a decision because in the end you maybe rushing your decision because of a timeline. If it were me I would make a pro vs cons list for both surgery types and spend more time thinking about it. It is no doubt a life changing decision. I wish you well with whatever you choose

I started off with an empty band. First fill of 5cc was about 6 weeks post op.

Jeez, I actually forgot about this. I had a few of those false positives along the way. I can't believe I forgot that. Feeling of restriction and 4 days later it was gone. Happened to me twice.

Hi Steveo, I found that as I lost weight I needed frequent adjustments throughout the first year. As you lose it makes sense your stomach shrinks and the band loosens up a bit. That being said I would assess your intake and be certain you're not eat around your band and that you are paying attention to the stop signals and not eating until your overly full. It would also make sense as you're increasing your physical activity your body will want more nutrition.

Hi All, Hope you don't mind a NH person chiming in. I am currently living in Salem, NH but grew up and spent most of my life in Newburyport, MA. I had band surgery on 4/16/12 in Lowell MA.

I don't think I would use the word complaining in regards to this thread but call it what you may. Lellow was simply stating her experience with loss of appetite and is basically asking if any of us have had the same issue. It is quite understandable you may see it as complaining but really it is a matter of questioning how or why is she experiencing a loss of appetite. I to have no appetite (and I am not complaining) and it baffles me as to why I have no appetite. I was a serious junk food addict and would go on binges for days. My binging was so bad that when my appetite disappeared I felt emptiness and I don't mean the hungry kind of emptiness. Not missing food per say but I felt like something was literally missing in my life. I guess the easiest way to explain it would be to come home from work every day and discover my dog is gone. I was not an emotional eater but yet I had an emotional attachment to food. My Wife is also banded. She doesn't understand how I do not get hungry. She is still working on getting properly adjusted and there have been times where she will get hungry and then frustrated because I do not get that way. One Saturday morning a year or so ago we had Breakfast out at a favorite diner. Later, We were driving along she mentioned she was hungry. My quick reaction to that was "really? Already?" and I said it out loud just like that. Well, she gave me a reality check. We had breakfast 5.5hours earlier. She was not happy with my reaction but in my defense it was purely reactionary. I was not hungry but yet I was not aware of how much time had passed. Believe it or not sometimes remembering to eat is a chore and not eating is not good for you and can actually slow down your weight loss because you could end up putting your body in survival mode and hang on to its fat stores. Also, banded husband and wife team has its benefits but it can also have its pitfalls at times. -Jim

Keep your eye on the prize and remember why you did this. It has been a long time since I walked in the similar shoes as you all but I did it just as we all have to. This is the tough part and it will only get better from here. It is so worth it. Be strong and push through. You're nearly there. Best wishes!!

I started with a size 62 and today I am in a 33. If it wasn't for all this loose skin I have to squeeze I could probably be in in 32 - 30. 310lbs later loose skin is getting to be an issue.