Linds

Firstly congratulations on 13lbs weightloss...it really is a great start. Now then, it is hard work until you get to your sweet spot but it can be done...just watch what you eat and exercise more and the weight will move...protein first, then veggies then carbs (if there is room) and never drink with or for 2 hours after meals. Make sure you get in 2lts fluids a day and diet....you can't pack in the high calorie foods...the band will only help reduce the quantities you can eat. Good luck and keep your chin up

I was like this last year...my barium swallow showed all was well with my band...but it wasn't and I knew there was something wrong but my surgeon didn't believe me. He refused to take all my fill out like I requested and left me 5ml in (I have an 11ml capacity band) and then in May I threw up that much blood I have to have a transfusion...nearly died.....it was only when they put a camera down my throat that they realised the band had eroded into my stomach (have seen the photos)....so now face removal. The barium swallow does not show this so insist on further tests and get this sorted please.

Why are you eating easy foods? is your band too tight? if so get an unfill otherwise you could be facing erosion or slippage. You will put weight on eating the easy option high calorific foods...or lazy foods.....so get your band working and work with it...you haven't been through all this to fail now. The band is hard work but it can work...you need to diet and exercise but the rewards are great.....and you'll feel so proud of yourself. But do not put up with an overtight band...it is way too dangerous.

Have you looked at what ou are eating? I was told to eat no more than 1500cals a day and to eat protein first, then veggies then carbs if I was still hungry. Don't drink with meals but make sure you get your 2 litres in. Exercise as much as you can. The band is a tool....you still have to diet and exercise with it....it will help you control your portions and that is about it...the rest my friend is down to you.....so if you can honestly say hand on heart that you are abiding by the bandster rules then go back to your surgeon and ask him/her why it is not working for you.

This takes me back....If I had been bad (eating wrong things) over a period of time, or was in the wrong frame of mind and perhaps put a bit of weight back on, I used to pretend I had just had surgery and went back to basics....and it worked every time. Gave me a new lease of life and the weight would drop off. Difference was that I had restriction whereas after surgery I didn't...so go for it....it really is a boost!!

I agree with the others advice....I like you am 6 years out...lost a lot of weight and then gained a lot back. Felt a failure so just put up with the problems I was enduring with the band...reflux, self tightening, pain around my port etc....well I eventually got to the point where I couldn't eat anything so I went to see my surgeon and he did a barium swallow and said all was well (!!!???) so he did a small defill and sent me on my way. I asked about erosion but he assured me my band was in the same place he'd put it 6 years ago. That was in December 2008...in May this year I suddenly through up a heap of blood.....long story short, I nearly died....my band has eroded into my stomach and is going to be a pig to remove. Please, please, please get this sorted.....it might be nothing but don't go through what I have/am going through at the moment.....I have been so ill since the transfusion I had to have, I am on morphine for the pain and I cannot wait for the band to be removed now...9 days and counting.

Just wanted to say how sorry I am that you have had to go through this at only 8 months out....it seems so unfair. Well done though on your weight loss. The only thing I can say is that the band was not meant for you and thank God they realised this before it caused you major problems. I nearly died a few weeks ago throwing up a lot of blood ang my blood pressure plummeting due to my band eroding so you see you have been lucky. It has given you a great start and now it is up to you to fight on with diet and exercise to lose those other 40lbs...you can do it....just imagine the band is still there!!! Good luck...ad have a great life

I had no choice 6 years ago as my surgeon then only did the band which is what I wanted at the time and loved. However, in hindsight with my love of chocolate it has been my downfall as you do have to diet/exercise and work hard with the band (don't get me wrong I lost a lot of weight when I ate the right foods but when I didn't the weight soon piled back on). I am due to have my band removed due to it now being on the inside of my stomach (erosion) and am hopefully having a revision to RNY which will stop me eating chocolate for the fear of dumping and the malabsorption aspect will aid my weight loss....I need this after 6 years of struggling but the band works for those that work with it.

Good luck to you too Nancy...my hubby had his RNY 2 years ago and has never looked back....he has his tummy tuck in a few weeks to finish off what he calls the Brad Pitt look (don't I wish)

Alyson you poor love...what a nightmare you have been through...but please be thankful that you have lived through it. I have almost died twice with related problems caused by my band over the past 6 years and to top it all I have regained a lot of weight. I still have to go through a surgery to have it removed but I understand why you wanted to hang on to it as it became your lifeline....I know that feeling...it has been mine for 6 years but no more....it has let me down now (whereas I had previously always blamed myself). I really feel like John Hurt in Alien and that this thing will explode out of me.....don't laugh but I have dreams about it and it looks like a band with teeth!!! I wish you luck with your continued journey wherever that may lead you.....God bless x x x

Thanks for all your replies. I have had an indepth discussion with my surgeon and expressed my concerns about having a restriction only sleeve so we have opted for RNY as I will always have the malabsorption to help me lose the weight as long as I don't over-eat and stretch the pouch. (that's right apparently the malabsoprtion doesn't go as the bowel doesn't alter...it's just that when we get nearer our goal, we eat the wrong things, more of it and stretch our pouches so the weight can go back on...nothing to do with there not being any malabsoption) I will hopefully have the revision done at the same time as my band is removed on the 16th June...depending on how my stomach is...if however, some healing time is needed, I will have to wait a couple of months and return to have the revision part done. I just want theband out now as it really is uncomfortable and alien to me.

Well in hind sight (and it has taken me 6 years and a lot of problems and tons of weight regain to come to this conclusion) I wish I had had the option (which I didn't) to have RNY as I think it would have been better for me. Don't get me wrong, the band during the most part has been great, but it hasn't done what it said on the label for mke and believe me I have worked darned hard with it. I have almost died twice with associated problems (kinked tube and erosion) so I guess enough is enough. I wish all my fellow bandsters all the luck and success in the world....it does work....I lost 168lbs initially but have put over 70 back on and very quickly. I will hopefully be revised to a gastric bypass in the next couple of weeks or months so will begin my journey again all being well.

Hi...thanks for your reply. I am so sorry you too are suffering and having to have your band removed. My surgery is booked for 16th June and if it is possible, my surgeon will do a revision to RNY at the same time. He would have preferred a sleeve but I said I had lived with a restriction only method for 6 years and had not lost sufficient weight and thought that I needed the malabsorption help now...so he agreed. If, however, my stomach is too sore to do the bypass, he will let it heal for a couple of months and do it then. I do tend to put on weight at a very fast rate...not because I gorge myself on takeaways etc or fatty foods and chocolate, just eating more than 1200 cals puts weight on me cos I have eaten so little for so long. What have they offered you operation wise? My hubby had the RNY two years ago (and I have many friends with it) so I know what to expect. I also know you can regain but again that I believe is down to what you eat. I just want to lose the weight in the first place and take things from there. Good luck....it's hard saying good bye isn't it!!!