Jachut

Sorry, I forgot to tell you that I used to ask the questions you are asking. I was never able to get amounts from any of the three doctors I have asked. Not even the nutritionists can tell you. I told them, I have a stomach pouch the size of an egg, how much of that egg should be filled with the each different food group, per meal. One mouthful or teaspoon, two mouthfulls ect. No answer, all they could answer me with was what an unbanded person should be eating. Well, that was just so much stupid that I quit asking. My son has about the same size pouch I do and the rule for a young child is about 1 teaspoon of each at every meal. However, a lapband nutritionist will not put themselves out there to give that kind of detail. If you are a lapband doctor's nutritionist, shouldn't your recommendations be geared towards the banded? LOL, I mean REALLY. IF you find out, let me know.

I didnt have one foot in the grave, and the cosmetic effect of this surgery was probably the largest factor in my decision - and I'm not ashamed of that. I hated how I looked, hated myself, was miserable. Now I'm proud of what I've achieved. I was a low BMI too, 36 at surgery but to me that was the fattest I had ever been and the fattest I ever wanted to become.
BUT - huge but - how many health problems have I forestalled by doing this? I still got cancer, but my colorectal surgeon said to me outright that the likelihood of a permanent colostomy if I hadnt lost all this weight was very very high - reason being that my cancer was low in the rectum, very difficult to access so far down in the pelvis. Yes, I have a nice wide, shallow pelvis that is a big factor, but being able to a) get into the area though a huge mound of abdominal fat and b ) stretch the remaining colon past all that flubber is very difficult in obese people.
High blood pressure, cholesterol and heart attacks run in my family, strongly. But my stats are perfect. They sure werent six years ago, not terrible, but not great either. My excellent fitness is the strongest factor I have going for me to prevent cancer recurrence - exercise is a huge preventative - I never could have achieved that without the band, it was a complete package for me.
My energy, my health, my ability to beat a deadly disease, I'm just not sure I would have even had the courage to go to my doctor to report that my bowel habits had changed because I was so ashamed and embarrassed of my body. I've had every man and his dog up my backside in the past two years, I've had to be naked on an operating table four or five times, I've had to have treatment every day for six weeks naked on the lower half in front of two very nice youg guys - all horrible invasive, traumatic but so so much more bearable because I wasnt totally consumed with thinking that THEY were thinking what a horrible fat old slug. It sounds so trivial in the face of how sick i was but it really realy mattered to me and made the whole thing easier. It could have all been so different, I could be sitting here today with a permanent colostomy hanging off my huge bulging gut, weighing god knows what now, I'm pretty sure in my old life the stress would have caused me a large weight gain. Instead I had the focus of keeping a strong hold of what I'd achieved and that got me through it, even though people thought I was insane to still be running and going to the gym whilst having chemo.
Nuff said, its life changing no matter WHAT your reasons for doing it.

I didnt have one foot in the grave, and the cosmetic effect of this surgery was probably the largest factor in my decision - and I'm not ashamed of that. I hated how I looked, hated myself, was miserable. Now I'm proud of what I've achieved. I was a low BMI too, 36 at surgery but to me that was the fattest I had ever been and the fattest I ever wanted to become.
BUT - huge but - how many health problems have I forestalled by doing this? I still got cancer, but my colorectal surgeon said to me outright that the likelihood of a permanent colostomy if I hadnt lost all this weight was very very high - reason being that my cancer was low in the rectum, very difficult to access so far down in the pelvis. Yes, I have a nice wide, shallow pelvis that is a big factor, but being able to a) get into the area though a huge mound of abdominal fat and b ) stretch the remaining colon past all that flubber is very difficult in obese people.
High blood pressure, cholesterol and heart attacks run in my family, strongly. But my stats are perfect. They sure werent six years ago, not terrible, but not great either. My excellent fitness is the strongest factor I have going for me to prevent cancer recurrence - exercise is a huge preventative - I never could have achieved that without the band, it was a complete package for me.
My energy, my health, my ability to beat a deadly disease, I'm just not sure I would have even had the courage to go to my doctor to report that my bowel habits had changed because I was so ashamed and embarrassed of my body. I've had every man and his dog up my backside in the past two years, I've had to be naked on an operating table four or five times, I've had to have treatment every day for six weeks naked on the lower half in front of two very nice youg guys - all horrible invasive, traumatic but so so much more bearable because I wasnt totally consumed with thinking that THEY were thinking what a horrible fat old slug. It sounds so trivial in the face of how sick i was but it really realy mattered to me and made the whole thing easier. It could have all been so different, I could be sitting here today with a permanent colostomy hanging off my huge bulging gut, weighing god knows what now, I'm pretty sure in my old life the stress would have caused me a large weight gain. Instead I had the focus of keeping a strong hold of what I'd achieved and that got me through it, even though people thought I was insane to still be running and going to the gym whilst having chemo.
Nuff said, its life changing no matter WHAT your reasons for doing it.

Oh, multiple times.
This simply isnt about getting a band and being perfect for the rest of your life. Its about being healthy and sensible most of the time, and getting back on the wagon each and every time you fall off it.. There's always going to be events, holidays, stressful periods, whatever.
I have some habits I can keep up no matter what - those are small portions and exercise. Others - such as food choices - wax and wane. Sometimes I eat **** for weeks on end. I have a real problem with sugar and can survive for weeks on Cookies, muffins, Cereal and Pasta. I dont often gain more than a pound or two because I do exercise it off. But its not healthy for m,e.
I do believe ,many people can be pretty faultless for a year or even two, but in reality the effect of the band on your body DOES lessen over time - no matter the restriction you will find that years down the track you can eat more and can even eat things like bread that you couldnt eat before. So it is, to my way of thinking, more important to work on those life skills - how to get back on the wagon, how to fit exercise into your daily routine forever, how to manage eating out, holidays and the like - much more so than patting yourself on the back because you're living on Protein shakes and egg whites three months into the journey. In the end, you have to live a real life in the real world and most people cannot maintain their enthusiasm for a life of Protein Shakes and egg whites.
It is NEVER too late to simply start over and get back in the groove.

Oh, multiple times.
This simply isnt about getting a band and being perfect for the rest of your life. Its about being healthy and sensible most of the time, and getting back on the wagon each and every time you fall off it.. There's always going to be events, holidays, stressful periods, whatever.
I have some habits I can keep up no matter what - those are small portions and exercise. Others - such as food choices - wax and wane. Sometimes I eat **** for weeks on end. I have a real problem with sugar and can survive for weeks on Cookies, muffins, Cereal and Pasta. I dont often gain more than a pound or two because I do exercise it off. But its not healthy for m,e.
I do believe ,many people can be pretty faultless for a year or even two, but in reality the effect of the band on your body DOES lessen over time - no matter the restriction you will find that years down the track you can eat more and can even eat things like bread that you couldnt eat before. So it is, to my way of thinking, more important to work on those life skills - how to get back on the wagon, how to fit exercise into your daily routine forever, how to manage eating out, holidays and the like - much more so than patting yourself on the back because you're living on Protein shakes and egg whites three months into the journey. In the end, you have to live a real life in the real world and most people cannot maintain their enthusiasm for a life of Protein Shakes and egg whites.
It is NEVER too late to simply start over and get back in the groove.

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

You are sooooo right. Theres a couple of posts up today and have been manyover my six year involvement with this board about what you do when you ge to the point of maintenance. The answer is nothing. Because wht you do to lose, you need to do FOREVER. Simple as that.

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

Thats what i dont get either, and the reason for my sarcasm. Does one person really think shes stumbled on information none of the rest of us could find? Its being taken as an attack because it takes a bit of an ego to simply come out and state your opinion to what is likely to be a hostile audience assuming others wont already have considered your genius arguments and could therefore benefit from your benevolent wisdom.
Youve researched, youve considered, youve made a different choice, one thats right for you. Great! So go do it and discuss itnwith others who have made similar choices.
Ive been banded almost seven years. No problems. I am perfectly aware of the fact that my band will not last forever. No doubt it will fail at some point. As of right now I would replace it without hesitations. But I do live in a country where revision surgery will incur me no out of pocket expense. Thats a big factor.
My view is Ive had several very major surgeries and several small electives. I walked three miles the nxt morning after my lapband surgery, it was a breeze to get over. Im not afraid of a revision. But Ive had a dream run, i got restriction easily, i dont vomit, i overcame my eating demons easily, i lik bein in control if how "normally" i can live by choosing my own restriction. And i really like the do-over factor.
Threfore, i hang around a lapand forum. If i felt the sleeve was better, i might hang around the sleeve forum. And it has never once occurred to me to go over there and start a thread about why i didnt choose the sleeve!

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

What I think people fail to realise with any weight loss surgery is that the effect lessens with time. Your body adapts. You can eat more. Your evangelistic enthusiasm wanes, you gain a little weight. It happens with every surgery.
The major advantage of the band is that you can adjust it. And the physical tightening up really us a mental tightening up too. Suddenly you focus again and get on with things. Ask any bandster seven years out. Ive really had cause to appreciate that.
And mo doubt about it, if I had not been able to unfill my band during cancer treatment, i would have had to have had a PEG tube inserted, I got so skinny. Being able to unfill is a major advanage if you are unlucky enough to be struck by injury or disease.
Nonetheless, the constant upkeep is problematic for some, especially with the US health system. Insurance hassles, doctors being unwilling to treat other doctors' patuents, people getting andedin Mexico etc. The OPs points are considerations.
But few of us are so stupid as to not have considered these things. I would respectfullu suggest if the OP feels that way, go hang around the sleeve forum and keave us poor ignorant souls to wallow away in misery with our ineffective bands.
Spoken by omeone who lost 120lb, had kept it off for over five years and a has a bmi of 20, so what would I know really?

No, but I could sure add up 10,000 worth if crap that Ive bought that in truth I neither wanted or needed over the past ten years.
Look at the bright side, you ave much less of a gut than you w ould have done. That makes you more mobile and means your weight loss is going to be much more visible and not hidden by a huge apron of skin. If, like the majority, you have a bit of loose skin, it may be little enough that youre happy to live with it. Dont forget also that the most stretched out skin in the worst condition us gone, what you have left may cope better. You may indeed want revision surgery, which like most people you may have to scrimp and save to afford. Either way youre better off with most of that flubber already gone.
So dont regret the outlay, most of us in reality have spent a lot of money over the years on all sorts of crap that hasnt really benefitted us much.