rosettag

I have just had my first fill in 1.5 years. My surgery was performed in May 2014. I lost over 108 lbs and I was so proud of myself. Here's the bad part, I became over confident in myself, thought I could start eating a few things here and there that I knew were bad for me but of course I thought I was invincible. I never went back to the doctor because I felt so embarrassed as the weight creeped back on. Well fast forward to today, I have gained back 55 lbs. of my 108 lb. loss and feel like a complete failure. I have picked myself up though and went back to the doctor today, had a fill and I'm restarting my weight loss journey all over again. Just want to tell everyone to not give into the temptation if you've lost a lot of weight because here I am 1.5 years later 55 lbs. heavier. I WILL lose this weight and get to my goal again. It's good to be back on bariatric pal. This was always such a great support system for me. Thanks for listening

Thanks so much. It really does help knowing people are here for me. Best of luck to you too.

I learned how to "eat around" my band and went a little nuts with it. Happily I didn't gain any weight but I didn't lose any either. I was too loose, I realize, and went in for a fill last week myself! It really made a big difference and I'm working hard at eating mindfully. It's so hard to pace myself and eat slowly (a problem I've always had) because those first few bites you don't even feel hit your stomach for a good 5 minutes after you swallow. My issue was I'd eat too big of a bite, swallow, and rapidly eat the next bite because I just wanted that hungry feeling to go away as quick as I could. With the band, though, I'd feel the food get stuck and take a few swallows of Water to wash it down. Do that every couple bites and you can eat a pretty big meal. No more water with my food!
Anyway... I'm right there with ya. If you lost 108 pounds before you can do lose the 55 pounds again! Important thing is to stick with your surgeon. He/she will get you through and they're there to help if you have problems.

I was banded 2/12/2008. I never did lose any weight. It was mostly because I worked around my band and learned how to eat the way I was eating before the band. Stupid, I know. My head wasn't in the game. Psychologically I wasn't ready to commit. 2/16/2014, I had all the Fluid taken out because I was experiencing Acid Reflux and it scared me. I got up to 220 lbs and was absolutely miserable. Recently decided it was time to commit. I've lost 6 lbs by eating correctly and today I have an appointment for a fill. I have to go to a new Dr. because mine retired. I'm super embarrassed by my failure but decided to get past the embarrassment and get a fill and work with a new Dr. to get this thing going.

I've been banded since May 10th 2011. I was 59 and, despiite my weight (125kg), quite healthy. My life was on the whole good : a hushand, a son,a job,, a house. But I reali ed that, besides being dissatisfied with my physical
appearance, I didn't want to live and die fat.
So I made my decision , which was not easy because my husband (who is a doctor in medicine) was contrary and sure I would either fail or spoil my health..or both . He was sure that no surgery was required. Only good will.
My band is nos my best friend, a bit noughty and overpowering, but caring and faithful

Ulssup,
Good for you! One good thing we can always start over! And don't get discouraged by a bump in the road...they do happen!
Keep us updated!
Blessings,
Jacquie
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I've decided to get back on track too . I started yesterday. It was Monday ( (the best day to begin something new) and the Christmas holidays are over at last! Here in Italy they're too long and too full of food. I was banded on May 10th 2011. Over the first year I lost 55 kilos, but from then onwards I started to slowly gain back weight. ..20 kilos.
You will succeed. So will I

I've decided to get back on track too . I started yesterday. It was Monday ( (the best day to begin something new) and the Christmas holidays are over at last! Here in Italy they're too long and too full of food. I was banded on May 10th 2011. Over the first year I lost 55 kilos, but from then onwards I started to slowly gain back weight. ..20 kilos.
You will succeed. So will I

I wish I had done it sooner.. I DO have health issues.. I have Fibromyalgia (no big deal) but then 4 years ago now I got Lymes Disease which caused me to have lots of pain n gain wait.. Then on top of that I developed Lyme induced arthritis..hips and back are a mess and even more pain.. I'm crippled up trying to lose weight to maybe help with that plus IF I end up having to have hip replacement I don't want to b 300#s.. So, good for you for thinking ahead!! Good luck in your journey -*hugz*
Munky

I love my band. I cant imagine what my life would be like if I was still overweight. The daily 5% inconvenience of being banded is still better than the daily 100% inconvenience of being obese. Yes , I can feel my port slightly, yes I have to choose foods wisely, chew well, and drink lots of Water. Yes I have to exercise 3-4 x a week. Yada yada yada..............but you know what else I get to do ? Have a strong , healthy body with energy to burn, shop for cute slim clothes, like what I see in the mirror, and do normal things without thinking twice about it. Again, I love my band !!

I can see and feel my port but the only time it's a problem is if I'm leaning on something hard and it's up against my port. Otherwise, it's no problem. Don't think the band will make it so you're not hungry any more. It only works when you follow the rules and work hard.
If you're looking for a magic pill or surgery that eliminates all hunger, I don't think it exists yet. Some people find that gastric bypass takes away all their hunger but it's a big price to pay and you must be totally aware of what you're doing and make a total commitment. Might be hard with so many urchins running around?
tmf

My port sticks out like a golf ball under my skin but I'm proud of that bump. When I first got banded, I was so fat, you couldn't see or feel the port. It's visable now because I've lost so much weight. I might get the lower profile port in the future, but for now, I don't let it bother me.

I cannot even feel my port, barely have a scar where it is. I suppose it depends on your surgeon but even getting a fill for me has been easy peasy. if you can't sleep because your port hurts you need to get another surgeon or someone to fix it.

Love my band!

Please bear in mind that I am a very happy and very successful bandit now 9 years post-op. I do not regret my band, would do it all over again and if I ever have to have it removed, I would hope to have a replacement.
You shouldn't be sick unless you eat too fast. I can feel my port if Intouch it but, being a lot older than you, I have kept some fat round my middle which means it doesn't show. It has never hurt when I lie on it,
When I was banded in 2006, it was a miracle surgery. And for some people, who accept that they will still have to work hard, it is just that. It was and still is for me. But over the years it has become clear that serious complications necessitating further surgery are much more common than originally thought. Some of these are avoidable by careful eating and by not keeping the band tight; unfortunately others are beyond our control.
We used to be warned about band slips, leaks and about ( very rare) erosion into the stomach tissue but it turns out that a build up of scar tissue round the band (causing it to tighten) is quite common. It can be very difficult to get the right level of restriction and some people are tempted to keep it tight enough to physically limit food, in fact it was once thought this was how it should be. But this causes food to back up into the oesophagus and that risks problems such as oesophageal dysmotility which may be irreversible. It can also damage the vagus nerve.
Some doctors have stopped implanting bands as they found the removal rate was unacceptably high and it was too easy not to lose enough weight. Revision from band to sleeve is not uncommon!
EDITED TO REMOVE A CHUNK. This was a copy of a post I made on another site and this section referred to the other, very anti-band site. My apologies for including it.
The band makes it easier by dimming hunger, but it does nothing for head hunger and, contrary to popular opinion, it does not and should not physically stop us eating. If it does it is too tight!
Having said all that, I love my band, I know many successful long term bandits in real life. My own experience has been good and so has that of almost all those I actually know and have met. I know IRL around 50 banded people; all over four years out, many over 8 years. I admit I have lost touch with some but of all those I know about only two have lost their bands. One of these admits she abused her band deliberately, the other had a no -related medical condition. My own doctor tells me he has removed a very small number of bands. He didn't specify what that meant but, unlike US doctors he is salaried and has no financial incentive to perform band as opposed to other surgeries (which he also performs). He still believes banding is a good option.
No surgery is perfect. I know two sleeved people whose lives are now truly miserable because of their sleeves and one bypass patient who very nearly died because of her operation and two years later is still severely affected by it.

I think I know what you mean.. You feel its moving but it's actually just the pressure of the band pushing inwards when you lean forward maybe.. The feeling is normal.. But technically It shouldn't move..

NSV this weekend. I flew first time since surgery in 11/2014 and I was actually comfortable and had 2 inches of belt left over. Last time I flew it was right before surgery and I was miserable and tight. Barely got the seatbelt to close. Actually, the reason I even looked into surgery was a flight where I where I realized how heavy I had gotten and how it was affecting my mobility.

Ah, just wait! My husband laughed like a drain the first time I got on a plane and complained because the gap between my stomach and the pull down table was so big that I had to lean right forward as everything was dropping in to my knee.
Great, isn't it!!!!!

I have gotten a lot out of the sources below in my signature -- it has helped me to reread and rewatch from time to time so I get the information in my head. Almonds work for me as a snack. I get the 100 cal pack and limit myself, chew each one a very long time, etc. And I eat when I'm hungry don't eat when not hungry -- no sliders. I benefitted from seeing a therapist to break down my triggers. It was tedious but I'm really glad to have gotten down to the nitty gritty of very specific things that caused me to reach for food so automatically. I had to know what those things were in order to retrain myself. Best wishes to both of you as you recommit to your health. Don't give up!

Don't let the scale get you down. It's a number. I try to go by the way I feel, the way my clothes are fitting, etc. Sometimes I weigh myself multiple times. I'll get up with the dog at 5:30 AM and weigh in, then go back to sleep. I weight myself again and I'm a pound and a half down. From what? It's just a number. My rule for myself is to eat when I'm hungry and not eat if I'm not hungry. Good luck with all and here's to spring!

I gained 4 lbs....I am thinking it's my own fault...I mean the lapband didn't do anything different. Now I have to figure out what I did wrong and Why and admit to myself so I can get past it.
I am grieving over the unexpected loss of my dad 4 months ago. NO that is NO excuse to eat wrong/more
but it doesn't mean I listened..
My PCOS also hampers weight loss, it makes it much slower/harder than normal. Again NOT an excuse.
I admit, I have done something...too many calories? I ate too much? Do we calorie count? I know I ate too much at Easter dinner because I felt So FULL for hours and hours and I felt gross...I am trying to keep that memory alive so I don't repeat it!
I wasn't active at all because I had shoulder pain then back pain which made me sedentary...I am thinking now I should of ate less because of that.
I wasn't keeping a food journal...uh huh...looks like I'm an idiot. ..I should have!! I DO NOW!
All I can think is I ate too much, I know I wasn't following the PFC plan 100%...
I needed to admit to myself what I have done wrong, then to this forum so I am accountable...
After all the lap band hasn't changed..if too much is put in...oh it comes RIGHT BACK UP and or I get that Not fabulous burping gurgling....ugh.
*slaps self* Ok...I must get past this.. it's not easy...but I know I have to live with life's upsets and get past this...know my mistakes and move forward...
So...am I supposed to calorie count? or do I just stick to the PFC way of eating? <<getting used to that is hard<<
I still find it hard to not drink while eating, I get so thirsty, but food & liquid do NOT mix with the band...ooooo noooo it does not...
That is my confession for today...

Thanks everyone, it's so great to hear the stories of others. I am such a compulsive eater (such an impulsive person in general) and I know I'm not being successful because I'm eating junk. I get so desperate about food. I need to realize that I'm not going to die if I don't give in to my thoughts to eat junk. I bought a mindfulness CD. I am so tired of getting in my own way. I need to start fresh! So hard!

During my research phase I really benefited from seeing a therapist. I wanted some one to go through the process with me -- an objective third party -- and I knew I needed to sort out some issues. It's not as though I hadn't done a lot of work on myself already. I am 53 and have read so many books about food and eating issues and I had done some therapy here and there over the years. This was the first time, however, that I was able to admit to myself that I had a real problem. A problem big enough to require serious intervention. By choosing to pursue weight loss surgery I was facing issues head-on for the first time instead of making excuses and feeling betrayed. We looked at all of my behaviors and broke them down one by one. It was tedious and most times I just wanted to move ahead, but the therapist kept me at it and I discovered some interesting patterns that I needed to break. It was one thing for me to say, "I eat when I'm stressed" but another to take specific incidents and notice how/where/why/when I was going for food to address it. To tamp that stress down. I would use food to "prep" myself for something I didn't want to do. For whatever reason, I find conference calls very stressful so I discovered two things -- first grounding myself with something to eat prior to a call and then afterwards using food as a reward. That's just one example. Another is driving in the car and seeking out some kind of treat. Another was to eat very lightly at a party but then while cleaning up afterwards eating way too much. It turns out the stress of not wanting to be seen overeating and concealing my appetite was making me feel deprived and then I'd want to rectify that as soon as I got the chance. Now I really think about these situations that I am in regularly -- whatever they are. I am looking at the stress factors and assessing them, facing whatever it is and finding out that it's not really that big of a deal -- and of course the food wasn't helping anyway. Sorry this is a little disjointed, but maybe something will ring true for you, too. We are all so different but we're all the same in many ways. Sending best wishes your way!

For me, the struggle is part of the journey. I needed to change how I ate and lived life. And I did.
I was compliant, but still took many years to figure out band life. Good luck????

Yes, it is very allusive....a very fine balance between band adjustment, how we eat, and what we eat....
There was a time when it was not unusual for me to get stuck.slimed a few times a day....there were some very hard lessons to learn, and some old habits, beliefs I had to break....and it's very hard to determine if it's me or am I too tight. And it could have easily been interpreted either way...after calling my Dr. he said if I come in and get that last small fill taken out. 1/2cc, that would put me back to where I was before I had that last fill....and was that the place I wanted to be?
The answer for me was No...so it must be something other than the band...which turned out was Me!
I am in my 60's...that's a whole life of eating wrong! Some very deep ingrained habits that I was expecting to change withing a few months and a few fills?
Very hard to do....I'm still learning.....
I read posts here everyday about people eating certain things, and asking if it's Ok....I have to shake my head, but then, everyone is different and if it works for them, then who am I to say differently....