COSkinnyGirl

Update... It turns out that I did not have to have the band removed. It was simply too tight and my esophogus had dilated causing some pretty ugly issues. My port which I thought had flipped, actually had not, so my new doctor (Snyder-Denver), unfilled me completely and I was fine. I can start to refill in 4-6 weekish. I have been completely unfilled for about 3 weeks and am managing to keep my weight stable. I am pretty excited about that. I told Dr. Snyder that I wanted to try and keep it off myself and he encouraged that. I think I can do it. That said, the confidence is high because I know I can re-fill it if I begin to put weight back on. Anyway, I just wanted to let people know it can be done, at least so far. I know that doesn't help people who did end up having the band removed as there is nothing to fall back on. I will continue to update whether or not I do end up refilling.

I am having complications with my band and will likely need to have it removed. I will know more this week, but am about 90% sure that will be the end result. I have lost over 85lbs and I feel so good. I have been in therapy and still am to deal with some of my eating issues. There is a part of me that feels like I can keep it off myself, but the other part of me is absolutely scared to death. Is there anyone out there that has managed to keep the weight off after removal of their band? Thanks...

I am 5'6"ish and I weigh about 162. I am in an 11/12 juniors as well. I just bought my first pair of size 11 juniors jeans. I am in a 10 regular. Although, I will say it depends on the cut of the clothes, sometimes I have to buy a 12 regular...

Agreed JMS... I actually think I am a a bit too tight and need to be unfilled a tiny bit.

Does anyone know a surgeon in the Denver area that will accept out of town patience? I was banded back in 5/2008 in Austin, TX and am now in Denver full time. I have called a couple, but none of them will take out of town patients. I don't even need a fill. I think my port has flipped and I also think that my band may have slipped so I definitely need a surgeon to look at it. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

My closet full of clothes - it is so empty now My fear that everyone in the gym is asking what in the world that girl is doing here. My need to compensate with humor so people would like me - I realize now how much I relied on that. My chins My fear of calf high boots (they all fit now... My fear of shopping My fear of tank tops

Follow your gut... If you are happy with the rate you are losing and the amount of restriction you have then I wouldn't have one. I only got filled every couple of months and it took me almost a year and a half to lose 70lbs, but that was ok with me. Do what feels right for you and don't let people pressure you into losing weight faster than you are comfortable with.

Girl... I will be 40 in March and I look better now than I did in my 20s as well... Doesn't it feel great?! You go get em girl! Congrats!

I can wear a size 10 CK jeans! I haven't been able to do that since high school. I can see my collar bone... I got my knee high boots zipped up all the way and there was even room left over! YEAH! I have had those boots for 5 years and was keeping them until I could get into them!

I am also tight in the morning. If I go slow and chew really thoroughly, I can get food down, but I have more recently started doing protein shakes in the morning because of the tightness. I also have a problem with milk... I hadn't heard the cold thing before. I don't have a problem with ice water or anything like that, but I do with milk, it's 1% so it's not like it's whole milk, but it must be the thickness or something...

I'm 5'5" and currently 165. I don't remember all the way through but this should give you a rough idea 230 - 16/18 - 1X tops 195 - 14 - Large tops 165 - 10 (mostly) - Large tops

I'll just apologize in advance for being gross... OK... I was banded just over a year ago and my last fill was December. I am only down 60lbs (which I am so happy about) but am not ready to be filled again. I think my issues will get worse if I do... About March, I started having some acid reflux issues, I guess. I woke up one night nearly choking to death due to backup and then proceeded to cough so hard that I ended up getting sick. I do have to say that night I had eaten later than normal and gone to bed soon after. I realize you that's a no no and frankly that's really the first time I had done it and paid the price. However... now it seems to be happening pretty frequently even though I am not eating late and not going until bed 2-4 hours after I eat. I am waking up a couple nights a week nearly choking to death. As a result, my gag reflex has also gotten more sensitive. The acid reflux has not only gotten worse at night. It also happens much more frequently during the day as well. It doesn't happen all the time, but I have been unable to pinpoint a particular food that triggers it. Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else has had these issues and what you do about them? I am going to be forced to eat dinner at 5pm every night?

Completely agreed!! I still struggle with my emotional eating too but do have the luxury of not gaining when I do it... :blushing:

I was down about 45 lbs after 1 year, but I fought my band, I think, for a long time. I mean lost weight, but I didn't follow all the rules. I am just really getting to the point where I am actually doing that.

Ditto on pretty much the entire thread... The surgery doesn't change the way you think, it only changes you physically. If you can afford therapy and are really open to it, do it! It's a luxury and next to the surgery, the best thing I ever did for myself.