Jack

You have a new opportunity to retrain your Stomach Beast to obey your Rational Mind.
I discover bow & then giw easy it is to allow my eating plan to revert to the old sport eating habits. Even the 18 months I tracked each bite at under 1800 calories my weight didn't drop...but my pants size fell and so did my tshirt size. Don't forget to exercise whatever your meal planning. Cheers!

Life is awesome and I would Never remove my band. It has been suggested recently so I say NO!

I'm another lap band failure story - heyo! Mine never worked to begin with, never found my sweet spot so I only ended up losing 40 pounds max (I need to lose 150 to fall in the healthy range for BMI) and ended up gaining it back plus more after having twins.
I struggle with the same thoughts as you - being a mom to 3 young kids I'm afraid of having more surgery that could cause complications and put my life at risk. That being said, I'm putting my life at risk by staying morbidly obese ? I'm 37 and I already don't feel good. I have a hard time walking long distances and standing for long periods of time. I want to be able to hike, ride bikes, play sports, and keep up with my kids. I love being active but I am unable to do much with the joint pain and I lose my breath so easily.
After doing some research I've decided on RNY I think. It's the "gold standard" and it's been done for decades. The sleeve is pretty recent, and I'm scared it will go the way with the band. RNY made me nervous at first because I thought the "bypassed" organs shriveled up and died inside you but they're actually still functioning like normal. They just don't receive the nutrients and the food travels through faster so you don't absorb as many calories. Kind of a win-win with restriction + malabsorption.
Another consideration for me is setting an example for my kids. I really want to strive to make food a non-issue. It was a HUGE issue for me growing up. My mom influenced me and she had a very negative attitude towards her body and was yo-yo dieting my entire life. I remember she'd make weird food while the rest of us ate normal dinner, she had a new eating philosophy ever year, had a new exercise regimen she'd swear would make her skinny... she put me on Weight Watchers when I was 10, and let me use diet pills (ephedrine) when I was 16. I will fight tooth and nail to stop my daughter from starting this cycle. And I think that has to start with me. She's going to be watching me and I have to be careful to make sure she sees me eat normal, healthy food and I have to keep negative body talk out of my conversations. I think having bypass may help me with that too.
Whatever you decide, good luck!

'stretched my pouch'???
good question, there's ways to measure that; my own restriction remains 'FICKLE' as sometimes I'm sure it works perfectly while other times seems absent. Haven't added any fill since 2011 due to motility issues.
The reality of 'gaining weight' to my rational mind means nothing other than "I've found a way to eat more than my body needs"....ie...."Sport Eating". Yes, I recognize this as an Old Enemy.

It took quite a while to realize I was no longer the biggest person in the room. Even now I have to confirm by checking size of the pants I wore to op day so long ago.

It took quite a while to realize I was no longer the biggest person in the room. Even now I have to confirm by checking size of the pants I wore to op day so long ago.

It took quite a while to realize I was no longer the biggest person in the room. Even now I have to confirm by checking size of the pants I wore to op day so long ago.

It took quite a while to realize I was no longer the biggest person in the room. Even now I have to confirm by checking size of the pants I wore to op day so long ago.

It took quite a while to realize I was no longer the biggest person in the room. Even now I have to confirm by checking size of the pants I wore to op day so long ago.

well, those days were long ago and we were all new to this kind of elongated complex help-ourselves era....I'm, pleased that my other 'co-morbidity' factors are under far far more rational control than in that early Bandster rush, akin in some ways to the Oklahoma Land Rush when the territory was becoming a state & the playas lined up in their wagons to race to the best land they could get to before others moved in...
The relative excitement & hope for a New Era was prominent and not a day passed I couldn't count on at least SOME stories of Bandster Victories!!!

...can't believe I'm the only one lurking hereabouts....

wrassling with this weight demon continues for me as well....although I haven't had to deal with birthing kids. That must have been a bit challenging.

Great, all continues well? I've lost track of so many Bandsters from that time.

as a Vintage Bandster, I've had many opportunities to confront my own anxieties related to food.
I was initially very surprised to learn how much my own over eating was related to a whole raft of emotions. And even now, when I focus on what my trend to such 'sport eating' consists, often I find some nagging anxiety that was hiding from my Rational Brain. It's like being in training again.
When I discover failing into the recurring eating-without-hunger habit, I have to realign my eating behavior. Perhaps I should go get a little fill adjustment, since its been years.
Yet what I believe is really important, is for me to unmask those hidden behaviors that roll into a compulsive eating routine.
Good luck with your own journey.

as a Bandster I've had similar periods. The similarity I've noted is when my 'stomach brain' ignores being 'not hungry' while my 'head brain' is determined to nibble something anyway.
Long ago I was introduced to the idea that 'hunger that isn't satisfied by eating is not physical hunger'. That leads to endless speculation. I get the best control when my 'head brain' only allows eating behavior when actual 'hunger' dominates. And surprisingly often, a mere bite or two is adequate for several hours. Old habits of overeating try to revive themselves too often for me.

OP:
I've had a couple of worrisome episodes over the years, but never any confirmation of 'slippage'. After extended study, my Docs came up with the notion of 'possible Barretts esophagitis' diagnosis. I'd had the 'first bite syndrome' and a series of 'more or less normal' eating, with periods of distress & definitely NOT normal, even with unfill.
Mostly my Band continues to work 'as intended' but is still a Fickle b***h at times.

" Success does not come from having to follow Bandsters Rules but from wanting to follow Bandsters Rules. "
most excellent!

and CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goal!!!

My own post Band care near Christmas 2004 didn't allow solid food before valentine's day. Learned a lot along that stretch, about my food habit. First solid was poached egg. Heavenly.

" Success does not come from having to follow Bandsters Rules but from wanting to follow Bandsters Rules. "
most excellent!

and CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goal!!!

I've been wondering about 'what if' I have my own Band removed.
Obviously I'm gonna have to read more.

Good luck OP, hope all goes well.

Aug 12, 2008 banded. Lost 95 lbs initially but over the last few years and I gained back 17. Now at 222 as of today. Went to see a new surgeon as the original one no longer takes my insurance and is over an hour and a half away now. Had to get a complete unfill because of really bad GERD and vomiting and most things getting stuck. Went in to see about revision to rny but would have to go through 6 months of supervised diet and all the other hoops for my insurance to cover the revision. Well, so far so good, drank a protein shake and will have some soup soon. No problems yet. I'm hoping that I just needed the unfill and let my stomach calm down and find the sweet spot again. Maybe I can get back on track with the band, slowly. Keep your toes crossed for me. I Really do not want to have another surgery if I can help it......I would love to keep in touch with you 2008 Bandsters!!! [emoji171]

Sent from my XT1565 using BariatricPal mobile app

I also believe that the band has saved my life. No doubt I would be over 400 lbs by now.
My quality of life has greatly improved these last 12 years.

I tracked everything I ate for 3 years running & didn't lose an oz. Tight control of 1800-2000 calories. Various issues such as Barrett's esophagitis came & went....mostly.

At 70 ++ I'm mostly convinced the Band not only saved my life but continues to help despite moments pondering whether further surgery has likely benefit.
Haven't followed much here lately.

Last weigh in a few weeks ago was 281. This seems to be a gravitation issue rather like the hold Saturn has on the tiny satellites about the ring formation.
I've had a 'keep the Band/rip it out' debate for the last few years.
Still down from my highest weight by 90 #; not enough as my 'size 42 pants' didn't quite happen. Size 44 lasted for years, as did size 46. Now 48 seems a little more snug. Yet I managed a 1.5 mile walk last week, & continue remarkable daily activities. I spent several years as virtual house bound as other skeletal issues must be accommodated.
Daily focus on Health helps.

Last weigh in a few weeks ago was 281. This seems to be a gravitation issue rather like the hold Saturn has on the tiny satellites about the ring formation.
I've had a 'keep the Band/rip it out' debate for the last few years.
Still down from my highest weight by 90 #; not enough as my 'size 42 pants' didn't quite happen. Size 44 lasted for years, as did size 46. Now 48 seems a little more snug. Yet I managed a 1.5 mile walk last week, & continue remarkable daily activities. I spent several years as virtual house bound as other skeletal issues must be accommodated.
Daily focus on Health helps.