Kelliebelly

I have been banded for over 10 years and no problems so far (touch wood).

I actually just came on to look into info about this. I was banded April 2005 and still have my original band. I have lost 65kgs give or take 6 or 7kgs. I go up and down, but get my eating back under control if my pants start getting too tight. I have to stay on top of my eating and exercise because the weight comes back on very easily. I seem to be surrounded by anti band people at the moment. A lot of people converting or bagging the band, but I really dont have a lot of bad things to say. I mean at times I wish I didnt have to take nexium every day due to horrific reflux or the occasional blockage, but overall my band serves me very well and I will be eternally grateful for everything it has done for me or helped me do (touch wood). In the beginning I was on forums constantly, but in the last 6 or so years I have been ...well, living. It was very suprising when I caught up with some previous band friends who all had their bands removed due to issues. They have basically told me it is inevitable that I will have issues and have the band removed, hence here I am researching again. Who here is +10 years with a band? How are you going?

Hey everyone. Have just popped in to see how everyone is going. I am coming up to my 10 year bandaversary. Currently considering having my fill removed as I have recently started weight training and I am unable to get enough in to build quality muscle. I am hoping the clean eating and exercise I have done for so long would continue without fill. Kel

Hi Everyone, I havent been around for a bit, so I thought I would pop in. I have just had my 7 yr anniversary and I am still going strong (touch wood). I have been sitting at give or take 10 kgs for about 4 yrs now. It took me quite a while to lose the weight originally and I still have my struggle days (hence the 10kgs up and down). I havent had a fill in about 5 yrs and am sitting at about 10.1 in a 10ml band. Life has never been better for me since getting the band. I was always depressed and shy. About 2 yrs after getting my band I got my first proper job. I had always been a stay at home mum with casual jobs. I worked my way up and my confidence grew. Last yr I got a big promotion and I am now a Manager. This is something I never ever would have considered let alone dream of getting. I am still waiting for my head to catch up and I dont know if it ever will. I look in the mirror and I still see fat, but not as much as I used to. I need to get into the mind frame of maintaining and not "need to lose weight". Anyway hope to see you around. Any questions, please feel free to ask. If you think Kiera and I look a like, Please click the link and hit like on our pic Its a Mother/Daughter look a like comp!! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150798982442903&set=o.232023536820269&type=1&theater

Hi At this stage I have not had any problems at all. I have been comfortable at this fill level for yrs and its been pretty smooth sailing (touch wood again). I have been on nexium since my first fill for reflux and continue to take that daily.

Hi Guys I just had my lapband 7yr anniversary and I have lost 65 kgs. I have entered a comp through work(something I would never have done before) for a Mother/Daughter look a like comp. Can anyone with facebook please click on the link and like the pic. I am coming 6th at this stage but would love 1st prize ...a digital camera!!! Thanks everyone Kel If you think Kiera and I look a like, Please click the link and hit like on our pic Its a Mother/Daughter look a like comp!! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150798982442903&set=o.232023536820269&type=1&theater

Thank you so much. Can you tell I really want to win lol

Feel free to add me on FB too if you would like

I have just presumed for the last few months that I have reflux or something...Dr did a barium swallow 2 visits ago and everything was fine so I havent worried much about it. I went and seen him about 6 weeks ago and he gave me some meds for the burning which I have taken, but it has got to the stage that just about everytime I eat I get this burning in my chest, it doest go into my throat or bring anything up with it, its just like really BAD heartburn. Does anyone else get this? I dont want to get any more fills because I am scared this will get worse. I am at a loss.

Hi, Thanks for the email. I still check in every now and then, but have just been so busy with work, kids etc. I am maintaining my 121 pound loss and next month will be my 6 yr anniversary!! I do find myself riding a rollercoaster at times. I will gain 5 pounds and then diet my way back down. I have been on nexium since my first fill and am still on it. I suffer from reflux if i dont take it. I havent had a fill for about 4 years and find my band can be very finicky. I will go months with great restriction and then find for a month or so I dont have much restriction at all. I am very happy with my band and I would not change a thing. It has been one of the best things that I have ever done. I do admit it did take me a good 3.5 yrs to get to goal, but I feel better slowly than never I dont really diet, I just watch what I eat as the soft easy yummy things go down ohhh so well. I had plastic done about 4 years ago and would love to go back but ... $$$ Good Luck, and Ill try and pop in more often. Kel

Hi Guys I posted the other day about my chocolate addiction, It has been roughly 2 weeks since I have had chocolate. It hasnt been hard at all since I started the chromium as suggested by my pharmacist. Now the whole point to my post is I have discovered something else with this supplement. I have no appetite. I havent lost weight in a long time and I know alot of it has to do with my very bad eating plans, but I have that under control now. I cleaned the house out and replaced all my junk with fruit and healthy snacks. I have never had the "oh its 3 pm and I have forgotton to eat" type feeling that some people have with the band...I can eat 1 - 2 cups full of food with a snack in between 3 times a day. About day 3 of starting the chromium I was literally forgetting to eat, which I know in itself is bad but I was thinking post op for people who dont have good restriction maybe this would be beneficial until they do?? I am taking it because it takes away sugar cravings which it has but with the added bonus of helping me stick to smaller amounts of food it seems really good. I just thought I would share, maybe someone else out there is struggling too and this may be of some help. Hugs 21 days till my wedding wooohooo :clap2:

Yayyyyyy!!!! As you can see from my title nearly 4 yrs it has taken me but I have finally hit goal. I have lost exactly half of my original weight. The band is the best thing I have ever done for myself, I wouldnt trade it for the world :tt1:

Thanks everyone!!! I have been here myself so many times wanting to give up. I have had so many plateaus, one lasting 12 mths. I remember in the beginning with no restriction and the fills trying to get it. It took 10 fills for me to reach it and I havent had a fill since, that was about 3 yrs ago. Its not all easy and at times it can be really hard and you just want to give up.....but dont!!!! The band will work if you work with it, if you fall off the wagon, get back up brush yourself off and get back on. xxx

Ok mate - good luck...the situation is a little diff, my DH was a good Dad when he was around....most of the time a good hubby too... Hugs

Hey BBK... I am going to just type here, and it may not make sense but I hope you get the drift. I had up until 9 mths ago been with my DH for 9 yrs. I was banded nearly 4 yrs ago. We had our ups and downs but most of the time it was great, I worshipped the ground he walked on most of the time...as I lost weight, I cant really explain it but I changed. I wanted excitement and well...more. I cant explain it but we started going through issues. He had trust issues as I lost weight, I never did anything to make him have them. Anyway fast foward to March this yr and he was away for work (again)...he was always away for a week or so at a time. I work too so we werent seeing each other. He came home from his trip and I sat out in the car port and told him it was over. It had been building up and I had done alot of thinking while he was away. I thought the grass was greener, I thought everything was going to be perfect when I lost my weight, when in actual fact its well worse in some ways. There is issues and situtations that come up now that never would have when I was big and one thing I realise is that I really have no experience in how to deal with them. I feel like I am going insane. I keep making mistakes, mistakes that I shouldnt make. I am so impulsive, I dont think things through properly, I just do it!!! To say the last 9 months have been the worst in my life is an understatement. I realise I made a mistake, but its too late. He wont give it another chance. I moved out with the kids and it has been very bitter on and off between us. I cant move on, I keep thinking about the life I had and why did I throw it away. I dont want anyone else...I want my hubby. I really cant eat, sleep or think without him in my thoughts. Basically I just want you to really think about it, because 9 mths ago I was feeling and saying exactly the same as u and boy do I regret it, I regret it all. Although I dont know if I would have the regrets if I hadnt experienced life without him for the last 9 mths but I cant turn back time and I cant take it back. Life after WLS and massive weight loss for me has been well....so hard and nothing like I expected. I wish u luck in whatever decision u make, but pls really think about why u r doing it and if there is a grain at all of doubt dont jump into anything...maybe a trial seperation to start with? Hugs xx

Thanks for the advice and do agree I should get some counselling. I love the idea of finding a job that would stimulate me more...I loved the job I had but it wasnt very stimulating.

As some of you know my marriage broke up about 7 months ago and I have been seeing someone for a few months now. I am am having some major issues going on in my life right now, things I never dealt with when I was big. Why was everything acceptable, why was everything ok... I was happy with my life except that I was fat. Now its like nothing is okay, things have to be perfect, I cant be happy with the things that used to make me happy. I dont feel I can discuss any of this with anyone because well I am kind of humiliated at the accusation that both my husband and new partner have made. They have both used pretty much the same words that I love drama, when things are going smoothly I need to create drama to feel stimulated or alive. Now I have thought about this over the last week or 2 trying to work it out. I think I do...I dont know why! It is turning my life upside down - I need excitement and am destroying all my relationships to get it. Can anyone relate to this at all? Any words of advice?

I took some new pics yesterday - I am sucking it in a bit but still its hard to even believe at times its me!!

Its been quite a while since I dropped in - I have had a huge 12 mths. My marriage ended, I lost my job and my daughter left home against my wishes. I have finally got my own place now and have settled back in so thought Id pop in with an update. I am now down 50kgs/110lbs woooohooooo!!!!

Haha yes I know what u mean - havent tried it myself. I am on Nexium for mine but just the thought of drinking it turns me off. I have real issues drinking anything unpleasant - medicines, barium etc - I always end up bringing it back up TMI i know.

Do a search on google for apple cider vinegar and acid reflux - there seems to be lots of evidence it works - <CENTER>Vinegar and Acid Reflux - The Natural Home Treatment </CENTER> A third approach (a popular natural home remedy) to help reduce or eliminate acid reflux is to take the following apple cider vinegar tonic: <CENTER><TABLE borderColor=black cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="90%" bgColor=#ffffff border=1><TBODY><TR><TD><CENTER>Natural ACV Tonic</CENTER> <CENTER>2 or 3 teaspoons (10-15 ml) in an 8 ounce glass of Water, before meals or whenever heartburn is experienced.</CENTER> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER> One underlying theory here is that the acetic acid in vinegar lowers stomach acidity (increases its pH) since acetic acid is a weaker acid than hydrochloric acid. It is also believed that vinegar (acetic acid along with its acetate salt) may help buffer and maintain stomach acid at a pH level of about 3.0. In this milder acidic environment, the stomach can still efficiently digest food but it causes less problems with the esophagus and thus less heartburn. Improved digestion and mineral absorption from regular intake of the apple cider vinegar tonic may also play a role in reducing acid reflux.

This is only what I have heard and I am not sure whether it works but liquids and apple cider vinegar for a couple of days then onto mushies. Hope u r feeling better.