keiko

Hi Nimble Bean, I'm so sorry to hear of your health problems! I have not been at this forum for a long time, but I am so glad to hear from you. I have had various medical issues over the years, but like you, I tried to fight my band instead of working with it. I never got close to my goal weight, but with weight watchers and exercise I had done OK. Then I had a bunch of surgeries and gained weight, UGH! I also had my band totally unfilled, which was horrible. I was hungry alllllll the time. However, I'm done with surgeries and rehab ( back to "normal") and slowly got fills until now I'm at a good point. I started listening to my body instead of fighting it, rejoined weight watchers and started back on an exercise regime. For me the following has been what has been successful for me working with my lap band: 1. Listening to my body instead of lying to myself 2. Joined weight watchers which I consider the only program that really works with real food. (I wish I had known to do that after surgery instead of floundering around with half-a**ed weight loss programs and ideas.) 3. After a long search, found an exercise regimen that I could live with and stay with without feeling like I'm being run ragged. 4. Finally realized that at that my age I'll never be Angelia Jolie, nor do I want to be. I want to be healthy, relatively fit and healthy for my age, and happy with where I am with myself. If any newbies read this, I would only say that I wish someone had told me these things a long time ago so that I wouldn't have wasted time with nonsense thinking and wishing. Good luck to you and I hope your recovery continues and your health remains good. Keiko (Diane)

Hi all, I still haven't seen the new doctor to get a second opinion on surgery. My DIL just had a new baby and we've been babysitting our 3 year old grandson. Great joy but boy what work! I forgot how tiring a 3 year old can be, especially since he's staying with us for a week. Anyway, after all the hoopla dies down and my grandson returns home, I plan to see the doc for a second opinion as to why my original lapband doc wants to have me go through a gastric bypass surgery rather than replace my band. Stay cool and happy summer to all. Keiko

Congrats, Jsrico! I hope everything continues to go well for you. I am especially interested in how you are doing since it looks like I'll have to have revision surgery also. I go to the informational seminar Saturday and check out all my options. I am also trying Weightwatchers, based on Nimblebean's success. I really, really, DON'T want to have more surgery, but it will depend on what my insurance and the doctor says. I feel that I'm just kidding myself that WW will work this time, when it hasn't any other time in the past. But I look forward to your updates to guage how I might do if I have to go you're route. Fear can be sooooo debilitatiing, which is what I experienced before choosing lapband surgery 5 yrs ago. Good luck and keep us posted! Hugs, Keiko

Hi Everyone, I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner, but I still haven't had my discussion with the lapband counselor at my doctor's office. It's been a very hectic week and she and I keep missing each other with our voicemail. I'll let you know when I know something. Keiko

Hi Everyone, I just got back from my doc and he said my band is slipping. I have to get info. from the insurance gal at his office, go to a seminar to see what's available, check what my insurance will cover, and try to come to a decision about what to do. I don't want my band removed without having some other solution for my weight problem. While I've lost 50 lbs., it had been 70 lbs. until I started gaining weight with my band slipping. I'd still like to lose more weight but I really don't know which way to go. He said Medicare won't cover gastric sleeve, though I do have supplemental BC/BS insurance that may cover it. Any other information or suggestions for me as I try to work on this? I don't want to gain my weight back, and I do want a bigger weight loss than what I have experienced. I really would prefer not to have gastric bypass. Help! Keiko

Hi everyone, I tried replying to your posting, Nimblebean, a few weeks ago, but I was having problems either with my computer or this website, so I couldn't reply. I can't believe it's going to be 5 YEARS!! Well, I have not come near where I hoped to be at this point after surgery, but I'm still better than before. I continue to see my doctor (since November, 2011) to try and get my band filled correctly. It's still not where it was, nor as effective. However, since the alternative is to not have lost any weight in the last 5 years, this is OK. I hope others have had good results. Nimblebean, how are you doing? You said you joined weight watchers and it seemed to be helping. Devcopley, how have your results been with lapband? Yes, we still need one another...support is so important as we continue our journey.

Great news, Margaret! You're results with WW are inspiring. I went back to the doc in January, and the results were pretty poor. He filled me just a little, (1/2) and told me to come back in 6 weeks. I will go back to get another refill, then continue to try to make better choices than I've been doing. I know a couple of things I've been cheating with and lying to myself about why I'm not losing weight anymore. This site helps to keep me honest with myself and to try to improve. Keep up the good work! Keiko

Hi everyone, I've been reading everyone's comments and wanted to give you an update. I did go to my doctor, who told me I should see him once a year for a checkup on my band. I, too, thought I had somehow "lost" fluid in my band, and that was why I was able to eat more and slowly putting weight on. Had an upper GI (right in his office) and it turned out my band hadn't slipped but I had developed a "bulge" above the band that was allowing me to eat more. Needless to say that was not good. He did a total unfill in October and has slowly added some restriction back. I am now 1/2 filled. I'm supposed to see him at the end of January for an update on my weight loss. With the holidays I've not been doing too well. It seems as though I can still eat more than before. I'll let everyone know my update after I see him. At least I'm relieved to know that my band didn't slip. BTW, when I was completely unfilled I hated it! I felt I could eat the world, and didn't like that uncontrolled feeling. But yet, I was still hungry and wanted to eat so I wouldn't be hungry any more. GAD, HOW HORRIBLE. I hope I never have to have my band removed. I would definitely try to get a sleeve. Keiko <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w08Lf7w/"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w08Lf7w/weight.png"></a>

Hi Devera, Your story sounds very similar to mine. I've been thinking of going back to the doctor for a fill, since I haven't been back in 2 years. I guess I didn't feel that I needed it. I was at a good place and slooooowly losing weight without any work on my part. However, since I have gained 6 pounds back, which I've never done before, I, too, think it's time to get real, face the music, and go back to see the doc. BTW, I'm so glad this thread has been revived. Keiko

Wow, I haven't been on this site in quite some time, but I'm glad that I received the email alert. I am so sorry, soulful Grandma and NimbleBean, that you have had so many problems. While I have not lost the amount of weight that I wanted, I have lost about 70 lbs. In May and August of 2010 I had both my knees replaced, and feel that I have received a new life. I had been in pain and unable to walk well for a couple of years, so the knee surgery was a godsend. Since knee surgery I have plateaued, which I find very strange, because ever since my knee surgery I have been exercising religiously and watching what I eat, so that I can remain healthy and limber. I exercise much more regularly and completely than I ever did after lapband surgery, so I can't say that exercise is the answer. Lady Lana, I'm glad this has worked for you. Soulful Grandma and NimbleBean, unfortunately I have no great words of wisdom for you, except to say that after lapband surgery I did change my eating habits out of necessity, not from any great desire. I can no longer eat rice, and have very little refined carbs such as bread, as I get terrible stomach pains which can last for hours if I don't force myself to throw up and get rid of the offendiing food. I also eat a lot more fish now, and I can't say that that was by willpower, I just find myself choosing fish A LOT, since I digest it so easily. I, too, have to ask how someone knows their lapband has slipped. If anyone has an answer, please let me know. I will keep you both in my prayers, and would love to know how any other May 2007 lapbanders are doing. Keiko

:biggrin: OK, Manatee, I give up. What does the word mean? I used the Microsoft thesaurus, as well as their other search options and it couldn't come up with a synonym. Are you talking about a disconnect between how you think you look and what the mirror, scale actually says? If so, I can understand that, since I've experienced that. However, at my age I'm not concerned so much about how I look to myself or others, it's how I FEEL now. Not that I don't care if I look slovenly, I just don't care if my skin is wrinkled or my boobs sag. What's important to me now is how much my knees and feet don't hurt so much, how much less winded I am when I walk up the stairs. These are the things that interest me now. I'm not discounting what you might be experiencing, but perhaps you might look at it from a different perspective. I hope you find an answer to what you're seeking. :svengo: Good luck, Keiko

OK, just to get up to date, in June the doc didn't think I was losing good, so he sent me to get an upper GI to see how well my band is slowing the liquid. Last week I went to see the doc, and the test results showed there's very little restriction! So the doc somehow measured to see how much fluid was in the band and it turned out to be measured at 5 instead of 9, which is what he supposedly has filled me with over the yeaar. So he filled me up to 5 1/2. Now, I'm supposed to see him in 5 weeks, but what I'm going to ask him is what happened to all the fluid in all the fills he supposedly gave me? Do I have a leak? All I know is now I'm hungrier and eating more than before I saw him. On the one hand that means I can still be filled a lot more, but now I'm worried that there's a problem with my band and it will need to be replaced. BTW, I'm glad to see that others have been losing in spurts. Manatee, what a terrific job you've done. If I had a 33" waist I'd be taking pictures of me too!:embaressed_smile: Cheers, Keiko