parisshel

The fills, yearly barium swallows, etc (upkeep) are all things people should take into consideration when thinking about the band.

I loved the very first bath I took once I have dropped some weight. I had been limiting myself to showers for years, because hauling myself out of the tub had gotten to be such a chore (not to mention a risk!). I remember my kids hearing me draw my bath and saying "Mom! You NEVER take baths!"
I love being able to cross my legs again (and often do selfies of my crossed thighs!).
Things I don't miss:
Planning my errands to conserve my energy as much as possible
Planning my subway/bus ride to arrive as close as possible to my destination, and checking to see if the subway station had an escalator rather than a stairs-only exit
Planning my day around my food indulgences, waking and immediately thinking of what I'd eat that day. And then going to bed at night feeling disgusted at myself and the bad food choices I'd made, once again.
Feeling that I'd outgrown the world, and as such, feeling embarassed about myself everywhere I went.

I loved the very first bath I took once I have dropped some weight. I had been limiting myself to showers for years, because hauling myself out of the tub had gotten to be such a chore (not to mention a risk!). I remember my kids hearing me draw my bath and saying "Mom! You NEVER take baths!"
I love being able to cross my legs again (and often do selfies of my crossed thighs!).
Things I don't miss:
Planning my errands to conserve my energy as much as possible
Planning my subway/bus ride to arrive as close as possible to my destination, and checking to see if the subway station had an escalator rather than a stairs-only exit
Planning my day around my food indulgences, waking and immediately thinking of what I'd eat that day. And then going to bed at night feeling disgusted at myself and the bad food choices I'd made, once again.
Feeling that I'd outgrown the world, and as such, feeling embarassed about myself everywhere I went.

Happy bandiversary, and many many more.

I don't mind. I developed a heart arrythmia (atrial fibrillation) around 18 months post op. The band surrounds the vagus nerve which controls, among other things, heart rhythm. I ended up in ER with my heart completely out of rhythm, beating at a rate that was close to having me have a stroke, and blood pressure also sky high. It took seven hours to bring everything around using medication, and now I'm on medication for life.
I had my band's restriction loosened so as not to touch on the vagus nerve and just went back in last month to get a bit of fill as I'm gaining weight and hungry all the time. Immediately following the small fill, I went back into atrial fibrillation.
That's pretty conclusive evidence that there is a correlation, at least with my particular anatomy.
If you google gastric band, or lap band + atrial fibrillation, you will see a lot of people who have now experienced this. There are several on this forum right here.
So yes, I regret what I did. Living with a-fib is no picnic, and the side effects of the three medicines I now have to take have greatly compromised my quality of life: extreme fatigue, memory loss, inability to do any sports that might raise my heartrate...wish I had chosen a different path.

I totally agree with this post and am thrilled that someone has put words to something I've thought about for years.
While of course it is hurtful to be rejected, my sense is that everyone is entitled to have their preferences when searching for love. I know I have my own, and I don't consider myself a shallow person. But I wouldn't date a guy 20 years younger than me, or a guy 20 years older than me, or an obese fellow, or a racist, or an anti-semite, or a bigot. I wouldn't date a pedophile, an addict of any kind, or a man who is unemployed. My "no date" list is extensive, but it works for me.
I'm not saying that being fat is in the same category as those other vices, but I do think being fat is a symptom of underlying issues that I'd not like to invite into my personal sphere. Heck, I have enough issues of my own without having to manage a partner's! (My late father gave me good advice: never fall in love with someone who has more problems than you do.)

I don't have a problem with the fact that a lot of men want me now who would never have looked at me twice two years ago. We can't help what we are attracted to and to be honest I have zero interest in dating a fat guy, so I don't really get to get mad if men have no interest in me because I'm a fat girl. My logic is that dating is a bit like selling a house. Do you put the house on the market when the tile is torn up, the kitchen is from the 60's, and the carpet is stained? No, because you recognized that you are not going to get a quality buyer because the house is unattractive.
Comparably, appearances matter in people too. Do you want to spend the rest of your life with a person who pants and heaves and sweats all over you, while crushing you in bed? Do you want a man who can't sit comfortably in booths at dinner, who can't ride roller coasters with you, who can't shop in normal stores, and who has a serious health condition that you will need to deal with if you are his partner? Do you want to be with someone who can't control their eating, who is not healthy, and who very well may have other complications as a result of their weight? I can't speak for you, but I certainly don't.
Wanting to date a person who is a healthy weight is not shallow, it's simply a fact of life for many people. We cannot help who we are attracted to. I don't like super skinny dudes, fat dudes, or really tall dudes....I'm not shallow I just know what I want so I don't waste their time. Don't you appreciate that someone else does the same for you if physically they realize they just aren't into you?
I'm not saying you're not a wonderful person, a kind, loving, fantastic woman who deserves all of the love in the world. I'm saying don't get offended because guys aren't into you for whatever reason. I got dumped once when I was 130 pounds because my boobs were too big, once because I wasn't tan enough, once because I was too short, and once because I was too fat (at the time I was about 145). Not everyone is going to like everyone, so I personally am fine with a man not wanting to date me if he's not physically attracted to me because otherwise he's simply wasting both of our time. I remodeled my "house" and my buyer's market dramatically improved. It's not being shallow, it's simply understanding how the game works.
Also, as a note, your tracker says you are 200 pounds, which is NOT a big woman. There are plenty of men who are very happy with a woman that size and plenty that want someone bigger or smaller. You just have to find the right one. Good luck!

I loved the very first bath I took once I have dropped some weight. I had been limiting myself to showers for years, because hauling myself out of the tub had gotten to be such a chore (not to mention a risk!). I remember my kids hearing me draw my bath and saying "Mom! You NEVER take baths!"
I love being able to cross my legs again (and often do selfies of my crossed thighs!).
Things I don't miss:
Planning my errands to conserve my energy as much as possible
Planning my subway/bus ride to arrive as close as possible to my destination, and checking to see if the subway station had an escalator rather than a stairs-only exit
Planning my day around my food indulgences, waking and immediately thinking of what I'd eat that day. And then going to bed at night feeling disgusted at myself and the bad food choices I'd made, once again.
Feeling that I'd outgrown the world, and as such, feeling embarassed about myself everywhere I went.

@apaige203: Thank you for contributing to this topic. I'm sorry you have been experiencing such horrible complications and would very much appreciate following your post-op. Particularly interested to see if removal resolves these issues (I hope so) so please do check back in with us.

I noticed from the moment I woke up I felt better! So glad you are feeling better!!

I have like no inflammation now that my band is out. So weird. I cant wait to have blood work done to see what the difference is. I havent taken any meds for my lupus or RA since i had my band out. So happy i had it removed

I think your concern is legitimate. I have never read of anyone who had their band removed and was able to keep their weight off. Even unfills seem to provoke weight gain, as I have experienced.
Have you considered a revision surgery? There are many on this forum that have revised from the band to a sleeve or bypass, with excellent results and no issues.

I don't mind. I developed a heart arrythmia (atrial fibrillation) around 18 months post op. The band surrounds the vagus nerve which controls, among other things, heart rhythm. I ended up in ER with my heart completely out of rhythm, beating at a rate that was close to having me have a stroke, and blood pressure also sky high. It took seven hours to bring everything around using medication, and now I'm on medication for life.
I had my band's restriction loosened so as not to touch on the vagus nerve and just went back in last month to get a bit of fill as I'm gaining weight and hungry all the time. Immediately following the small fill, I went back into atrial fibrillation.
That's pretty conclusive evidence that there is a correlation, at least with my particular anatomy.
If you google gastric band, or lap band + atrial fibrillation, you will see a lot of people who have now experienced this. There are several on this forum right here.
So yes, I regret what I did. Living with a-fib is no picnic, and the side effects of the three medicines I now have to take have greatly compromised my quality of life: extreme fatigue, memory loss, inability to do any sports that might raise my heartrate...wish I had chosen a different path.

I regret my choice in WLS only because it led to a complication I would not have developed had I not had surgery, or had I chosen a different WLS.
That said, regret is pointless. I can't know for sure that I wouldn't have developed this (or another) complication had I not had surgery, or had I chosen a different surgery.
Thirdly, if I hadn't had WLS, I'd probably be sitting here today saying "Oh I wish I had gone ahead with my decision to get a lapband, because now I'm the heaviest I've ever been!"
I took off a chunk of weight thanks to my band. Only wished I could have been one of those who could say today "No regrets!" But you never ever know how these things are going to turn out...no one can predict who is going to get hit with the complications, and who is going to remain problem-free.

Absolutely. It's great that you recognized that you had been overfilled right away, and that they team removed some saline immediately. It's best to build up your fills slowly, imho, rather than get overfilled and have to resort to soft calorie syndrome (perhaps even gaining wait because you can't get down dense Protein, but ice cream goes down just fine).
You can still practice good band habits as you build your fills. "Pretend" you are at optimal fill level until you get there.

Happy bandiversary, and many many more.

If you can, I'd advise going straight to the cortisone shots. Don't let anyone tell you that they are "dangerous" or they will "make you gain weight." They are not like steroids that circulate in your system...the cortisone stays localized (that is how it works!) and will eliminate the PF inflammation while it heals. What a godsend this stuff is.
I've done them twice. Once the PF heals, you can then keep it at bay with all the above PT. But get yourself out of the acute pain now.
I cannot understand why people don't go immediately for the proven cure and fool around with all the other methods.
That said, make sure the shots are administered under xray or other, because the person shooting you needs to target the precise area or it will be of little relief.
Also (they often forget to tell you this), you will have a lot of pain 24 hours after the corisone is injected. This is merely the stuff setting up in your foot and sparking nerves. It goes away, and then....blessed, pain-free walking.

First of all, it's normal not to be losing until you find your optimal fill level, so don't beat yourself up about the gain. Until your fill level is correct, you are "just dieting" with all that implies.
For me, I usually have a headache following a fill (not sure why) for a day. It's easily mitigated by taking Tylenol so I don't worry about it. I also get stomach-sick from the barium they use for my fills (my fills are done with fluorscopy, hence the barium milkshake) so I always schedule a fill for one of my days off...'cause I know I'm not going to be feeling well.
Congratulations on the start of your banded journey. Stay on those liquids for the time prescribed...the fill-area will now be irritated and swollen for a bit and you don't want to go putting any food down there while it recovers.

Sounds like his band is too tight. I'd suggest he get a small unfill so he can eat salads and dense Protein without discomfort. He'll probably start losing...and I'll bet he keeps his band.
When the band is too tight, we can resort to "soft calorie syndrome" which is what your BF is doing. A small unfill and he will be able to eat in a healthly, band-friendly way.

If you can, I'd advise going straight to the cortisone shots. Don't let anyone tell you that they are "dangerous" or they will "make you gain weight." They are not like steroids that circulate in your system...the cortisone stays localized (that is how it works!) and will eliminate the PF inflammation while it heals. What a godsend this stuff is.
I've done them twice. Once the PF heals, you can then keep it at bay with all the above PT. But get yourself out of the acute pain now.
I cannot understand why people don't go immediately for the proven cure and fool around with all the other methods.
That said, make sure the shots are administered under xray or other, because the person shooting you needs to target the precise area or it will be of little relief.
Also (they often forget to tell you this), you will have a lot of pain 24 hours after the corisone is injected. This is merely the stuff setting up in your foot and sparking nerves. It goes away, and then....blessed, pain-free walking.

If you can, I'd advise going straight to the cortisone shots. Don't let anyone tell you that they are "dangerous" or they will "make you gain weight." They are not like steroids that circulate in your system...the cortisone stays localized (that is how it works!) and will eliminate the PF inflammation while it heals. What a godsend this stuff is.
I've done them twice. Once the PF heals, you can then keep it at bay with all the above PT. But get yourself out of the acute pain now.
I cannot understand why people don't go immediately for the proven cure and fool around with all the other methods.
That said, make sure the shots are administered under xray or other, because the person shooting you needs to target the precise area or it will be of little relief.
Also (they often forget to tell you this), you will have a lot of pain 24 hours after the corisone is injected. This is merely the stuff setting up in your foot and sparking nerves. It goes away, and then....blessed, pain-free walking.

If you can, I'd advise going straight to the cortisone shots. Don't let anyone tell you that they are "dangerous" or they will "make you gain weight." They are not like steroids that circulate in your system...the cortisone stays localized (that is how it works!) and will eliminate the PF inflammation while it heals. What a godsend this stuff is.
I've done them twice. Once the PF heals, you can then keep it at bay with all the above PT. But get yourself out of the acute pain now.
I cannot understand why people don't go immediately for the proven cure and fool around with all the other methods.
That said, make sure the shots are administered under xray or other, because the person shooting you needs to target the precise area or it will be of little relief.
Also (they often forget to tell you this), you will have a lot of pain 24 hours after the corisone is injected. This is merely the stuff setting up in your foot and sparking nerves. It goes away, and then....blessed, pain-free walking.

I loved the very first bath I took once I have dropped some weight. I had been limiting myself to showers for years, because hauling myself out of the tub had gotten to be such a chore (not to mention a risk!). I remember my kids hearing me draw my bath and saying "Mom! You NEVER take baths!"
I love being able to cross my legs again (and often do selfies of my crossed thighs!).
Things I don't miss:
Planning my errands to conserve my energy as much as possible
Planning my subway/bus ride to arrive as close as possible to my destination, and checking to see if the subway station had an escalator rather than a stairs-only exit
Planning my day around my food indulgences, waking and immediately thinking of what I'd eat that day. And then going to bed at night feeling disgusted at myself and the bad food choices I'd made, once again.
Feeling that I'd outgrown the world, and as such, feeling embarassed about myself everywhere I went.

I loved the very first bath I took once I have dropped some weight. I had been limiting myself to showers for years, because hauling myself out of the tub had gotten to be such a chore (not to mention a risk!). I remember my kids hearing me draw my bath and saying "Mom! You NEVER take baths!"
I love being able to cross my legs again (and often do selfies of my crossed thighs!).
Things I don't miss:
Planning my errands to conserve my energy as much as possible
Planning my subway/bus ride to arrive as close as possible to my destination, and checking to see if the subway station had an escalator rather than a stairs-only exit
Planning my day around my food indulgences, waking and immediately thinking of what I'd eat that day. And then going to bed at night feeling disgusted at myself and the bad food choices I'd made, once again.
Feeling that I'd outgrown the world, and as such, feeling embarassed about myself everywhere I went.