chubbychecker

I just reread your post. I got banded March 25, 2008....you had your revision on March 25, 2011. oops. Anyhoo, I am impressed with your story. I recently started to get reflux within the past 6 months, it was so horrific and traumatic. I had all the fluid taken out of my band. I too really stuck to the rules. Now I am trying to decide what to do. I am gaining again...not to sound depressing, I have just gone through a very traumatic life experience, and I am definitely using food to cope. Eventually and sooner than later, I am hoping for a revision. I think the band has prepared me and has mentally paved the way for future weight loss, there are many reason why people are over weight. Being banded helped me remove my emotions and issues with food like an onion. Each layer at a time..and yes I love food references.

You inspire me! I was banded the same day as you. Wonder if we had the same band doc. You give me hope.

I have seriously considered getting my band removed. I have also considered getting roux en y. I see a march 2008 bandster converted. I feel like the band was a huge mistake. I can curb my sweet tooth. I hate fills and were traumatic for me...I would most times swell shut and can not tolorate my own spit, so maybe converting to another procedure would be better.

emerate its supposed to be tolorate.

I have had my band for 4 years. I have not had any luck with fills. I usually swell shut. Sometimes I can't even emirate my own spit. Recently I got heartburn, with vomiting in my sleep. I had a complete unfill and am not sure I will ever use it again. I am starting to feel like I needed gastric bypass. The band is like a choke chain to me. I did almost everything correctly. I also felt I ate close to nothing and I was far away from my goal weight with no weight loss. I am now worried because I am gaining weight rapidly. I have not really been restricting to much. So I need to work on that. Anyway...just venting.

Hi Special K, I am now well aware of the psychological aspects of my eating. It has been an interesting unwinding process since I was banded, and I have set backs too. I am now on a set back but plan to get my head in order by next week to get filled and start losing again. Just made myself a sandwhich in the middle of the night ha! (Woke up after going to bed to early) Took one bite! Silly me for thinking I could actually eat a sandwich. All one bite was delicious! ha! I too find this forum very helpful to get me back on track or keep on track. Keep on posting I am listening.

Sounds like great progress! After July 4th I want to get filled again. I am on a backslide of a few pounds and want to lose 30lbs before I go on a cruise in November! Great to hear your posts!

Happy Holidays. So all my babble about eating good and bad over the holidays certainly has not paid off. I weighed in tonight and I have definitely gained. This will come off come in the new year and then some. I would like to be down 40lbs by March. That probably is not realistic, but I will try. =) Happy New Year everyone.

How small are you cutting up your protein? My doctor recommends each piece is the size of a black bean. Now you can eat 3 of these in one bite however each piece should be no larger than a black bean.

I am here. :thumbup: It sounds like you have lot's of stress in your life or literally for us on opur plates. Why is this woman your foster Mom? Just curious. I am down 65lbs total and about 56lbs to go. I am almost under 200lbs which is a huge milestone for me! Hooray! SpecialK, I eat when I have pain in my body, like cramps or a headache. I was just filled again and it's almost impossible to eat anything at all. I am fine with Soups and shakes. Stress is another trigger for me. It is so hard sometimes to have the urge to eat carbs when things get tough. I know the feeling. Sometimes I just eat a little chocolate to take the edge off. I am not perfect and will never be type A enough to be on a strict strict band diet. I do pretty well losing, when I do Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch then eat a sensible portion controlled dinner, but I make it really flavorful and healthy. I lose pretty well. The Holidays are always hard to make good choices. Thanksgiving is such a part of our culture, is it possible to stay within our calorie range and eat Thanksgiving? I think so. How much can we eat really when filled properly? Not that much. In addition I do intend to make Cookies and all that yummy stuff over the holidays. My doctors office is a health food concious place (health food nazis really), and preaches that all of the sweets are sooo bad for you. Well I meet them in the middle and say I have to be human too. Ideally we shouldn't be eating any carbs at all. I am making exceptions this year. And again how much can we really eat anyway? As long as I have my band filled (or as I refer to it as the "choke chain"), I can't eat that much that would make me gain a significant amount. Sorry for the babble. I hope your issues get better. Do you have anyone you can talk to in your area? You need someone. Keep in touch. Getting less chubby everyday, Chubby Checker

You sound very normal to me. Stress eaters will always find something to comfort them. It is good you recognize this and you should pat yourself on your back. Finding a job is so stressful. I hope this ends soon for you and you can get back on track. You will. Looks like you have come so far with your weight. You know the band won't let you get to off track. That is what it is there for.

Testing my ticker.

Hey Leesburg ladies. Are you all still meeting up these days? Would love to do a meet up. I live near Coolsrping Elem. off the new Battlefield. :cursing::smile2::smile2:

I would call them back and tell them that, in the nicest possible, calmest voice. Tell them they need to be better people than they are.

Great story. I like hearing from people who are banded. I find it hard to move past listening to a therapist/psychologist who has not been banded, then they talk about what I should be doing. Thanks again for your thoughts. You are human go easy on yourself. Your honesty was the best part of this whole story.

My surgery was a breeze, I was working within days of the surgery. I am a mom so i had no real down time. Make sure your doctor has a good aftercare program. Good luck.

I was banded almost a year ago and I am so incredibly discouraged with my outcome. So much in fact I am thinking of having my band removed. I have only lost 35lbs. My total weight loss is supposed to be 121lbs. I really believe now the band was the wrong choice for me. Anyone out there with these similar issues? I would love to talk. Or just talk to anyone who has extremely slow weight loss. Incredibly disappointed.

I am going through the same worries. I have been banded 9 months and have only lost about 30lbs. I just started to journal and I will see how well this works. If I can't lose weight eating properly and exercising then there is something else seriously wrong with me. I have a feeling I need to buckle down and use my band to work for me. Look at the positive side you aren't gaining.

I too am disappointed in the slow pace which I am losing weight and have almost regretted getting the surgery. However, I am dedicated in seeing how this band can work for me this year. I was hoping it would be quicker like by-pass, but in the long run I think we will be better off for having the band. Just remember you are not gaining weight which is what would happen if you were not banded. So, the band does work in a sense. I wished I was more prepared for a slower weight loss when I signed up. My fills have not been so called aggressive for me. A month was way to long, so I am going every 10 days until I hit my green zone. I want to lose 30 lbs before the end of March which is my surgaversary. Good luck, I understand your frustration. (a support group might help too and Therapy just helps everyone) Chubby Checker

I have been banded 9 months and have lost about 30 lbs. It's very slow. You can do things to speed it up. The new year has been my inspiration. The band is not like by-pass, where you lose the weight very quickly. Some people do though. Good luck.

Hi I am up for meeting whenever you all are? Where would you like to meet? Chubby

I was banded in March and have lost about 35lbs. I am discouraged too. Maybe I need to find a new doctor that is more aggressive. I have been filled about 8 to 10 times. I have an un-fill right now. I had the stomach flu and my stomach swelled so bad I couldn't get water down for awhile. I am sort of having fun, but have realized my relationship with food has not changed. I need to go to therapy. Although I feel like I am doing the right things, I am discouraged at this point with my band.

I have had over 10 fills and wasn't anywhere near my correct fill. I am currently unfilled due to the stomach flu. Having fun with it and can eat pretty much whatever. Going back in to start my refills this week. My relationship with food has not changed, and I need to start therapy soon. I feel like a dry drunk when I don't eat. I am also very discouraged with the amount of weight I have lost. 35lbs and banded March 25th. I thought I would be down more by now and feel I have been doing all the correct things to keep my weight down. I am very discouraged. On the positive side, I have not gained any weight, which I know was a problem before the band. I probably need to start really really exercising, but was hoping to see the band do more of the work. As of now, the scale won't budge. So hopefully these refills will get me going in the right direction. Good luck to everyone. Chubbychecker (yes still chubby) - Banded March 25th 2008 - 121lbs altogether - 35 lost-85 to go.

There is a post in the remove band section on punctured ports. However, not being a doctor but giving you my thoughts, my doc always pulls everything out of the band then refills it every time, if it was hitting something else the tube (plastic iv tube from the syringe to the butterfly needle) would run a different color...I assume. The band is an awfully expensive investment for a mistake like that to happen, money and health are both at risk. Maybe you should consider switching doctors if you don't trust them.

You probably need protein. And drink water. I got dizzy pre-op due to lack of protein.