kgloverii

I self-paid for my band and it has been a great tool for my weight loss. But, if you had the band and lost it, I don't think many doctors out there are advising a replacement of a new band. re-slippage rates for those who are rebanded are ridiculously high. And the sleeve is another option, but there are not a lot of doctors who are doing them in the US with good self pay prices and stats, which means traveling abroad. And some people like that idea, and some not so much. And the credit markets are VERY tight right now, so people who got financed a year ago, with very good credit are having a hard time getting financing now, even with stellar credit. OR, the terms they are offered are less than stellar. My husband and I have said if I ever lose my band, I will immediately revise to something else, but in today's credit market, its not as easy as it used to be.

Just weighing in here...

Here are my statistics:

The band got me skinny.

I didn't know about the sleeve.

I have a sleeve-fund set up for **when** my band goes south.

I will ride my band till the wheels fall off.

I never know if/when I will be able to eat on a day to day basis. IF I can eat. I CAN EAT, if I can't, I can't. It is a PITA.

My band is my best friend and my worst enemy.

I encourage everyone do to the research into a sleeve.

keep drinking that broth today!!! along with a little motrin, you will be better in no time!

motrin, in small amts will help with the inflammation, but tylenol will not. again, we are talking pediatric doses, to be on the safe side.

it might have been heathero... she was the one that clued me in on this tip and my doc DID give it the thumbs up...

Just wanted to jump in here... When i get irritated, I take the liquid motrin dose for an 11 year old, every 4 -6 hours for a 24 hr period. I DO NOT TEST MY BAND and ONLY drink HOT HOT HOT chicken broth. I give my band a full 48 hours of rest, first 24 hours only consuming chicken broth. 2nd day, start my day with chicken broth and move on to SOFTIES like yogurt, etc. NO REAL food. The reasons for the chicken broth are various: a) it is a clear liquid :smile2: I can drink it HOT and like it and C) it is high sodium. High sodium is good for help in retaining Water which will help maintain and build water levels in the body until the irritation is gone. I am a 'expert' in this irritated stoma thing cause my band is easily irritated. I usually go through this routine once every couple weeks. It is annoying, but I have always had a sensitive stomach. This routine works like a charm.

The band dims my appetite. As some of the previous posters have said, it makes it so that food doesn't rule your life. If you get to the right spot, you don't wake up thinking of what you're going to eat for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. You're not consumed with the next meal. And that new brain-wiring helps you when making your food choices. You are not 'so hungry you've gotta eat' and just fill up on Pasta cause you're famished. You have the ability to make better choices. I know I do. It is a whole new world out there with my band. And as an FYI, I am almost 2 years out, so I am quite realistic. The 'love affair is over.'

I am doing GREAT, RM!! Are you ready for this... A girlfriend of mine had some pants to return in a size 2 cause they were a wee bit big. Well, since I'm wearing a 4/6 comfortably now, I asked her to let me try them... They FIT. They weren't the right cut, and emphasized my muscular calves and ankles, so I didn't want them, but the point is... I got a size TWO on me. A fluke... but nonetheless... unbelievable! I never wore a two, EVER. I went right from 'big girls' to misses size 8 as a kid, and only went up...

The summer is GREAT for eating. Living on almonds, fresh fruits and veggies (I eat Tomato and mozzarella salad daily, with FULL FAT dressing!!)... Loving blueberry season.

I had a period of random tightness, and my doc was in China, so he told me to go to the ER. I found an AWESOME urgent care doc that used to be a trauma surgeon who was familiar with the ports cause of cancer patients. I called her, she told me to come right in, and gave me a small unfill of .3 ccs, and charged me $50. That woman is a saint, and I am all better now. I am a little looser than my 'sweet spot' but it allows me to eat lots of FRESH stuff, which is GREAT. And I haven't put on a pound... even eating my Haagen Dazs! :smile2:

How are you??????

Just jumping in here... You CAN lose weight without completely giving up the 'bad food.' However, you have to make a point to choose healthy foods for you, and eat in moderation. My band gives me the opportunity to have a healthy relationship with food. I eat food, any food I want, in small amounts. My food choices since the band have changed though. I choose more whole, less processed foods. This includes more fruits and veggies, and less white crap. I eat HIGHER FAT food now, too. I do not subscribe to the low fat, low sugar mentality. That stuff is toxic to your system. I eat REAL food. When I choose ice cream, I eat Haagen Dazs. I eat nuts everyday. This goes against what Americans have been taught about food, but let's all face it. low fat, high carb is not working. we're getting fatter. Getting back to basics and eating closer to nature is where health comes in. And I do that. I just don't eat a whole jungle anymore. :smile2:

Jeannie,

Yes... I wish I would have had the sleeve. The band is outdated, compared to the sleeve. But, when I had surgery, the sleeve was not well-known. I will ride my band till the wheels fall off, and it has been very good for me, but I'll bet the sleeve would be a bit better. Easier maintenance long term.

But you must do your homework and find someone VERY reputable to do your surgery. Price is NOT the name of the game on this. Do your research. Wasabubblebutt has a good guide on where to start.

Hydration is a big factor, as Restless said. But, fluctuations DO happen, for no reason sometimes. PMS is a big factor, I know every TOM I have major tightness. On those days, Breakfast is a can of chicken broth HOT. The salt pulls the Water in, and I can usually eat better those days. But, sometimes not... that band has a mind of its own sometimes.... :rolleyes2:

I agree with itschoice 100%. It is probably time for a fill. Use that tool as much as you can. If you're counting everything, you're transferring one obsession for another.

If you have good rapport with your doctor and they are willing to manage your aftercare and advise you if you have issues, then it seems reasonable to go to your doc. Especially if it is less hassle to go to him and/or cheaper. Make sure he has Allergan/ Johnson & Johnson fill guidelines, so they are not too aggressive, or not aggressive enough.

Fills are pretty straightforward. I went to a local walk-in urgent care to have an emergency unfill done because my doc was out of town. I'd called ahead and talked to the doctor and she'd dealt with Mediports all of the time and I had complete faith in her. I wouldn't hesitate to use her again if I needed to.

My follow-up doc keeps my records and will always give me the 'fill juice' when I need it because my perspective is this: eventually my band is going to go south and I am going to need him to help me with some sort of revision/etc. I need him on my side. So, I'll pay the price so he can be my advocate in the ER.

Its your call. I do not think you should stick with a group of doctors just because they did your surgery if there are more convenient options for you.

You might want to try Fill Centers USA. There is a location in Deland, which is not terribly far from you. You can also go to Lap-Band's website and find some local surgeons and call around and ask... Lastly, you might call your mexican surgeon. I called mine before my surgery and they made some local recommendations. I had my aftercare lined up before I even went for my surgery. Make sure you ask whomever you call for all pricing details, because some doctors want a 1st time consult fee, etc. Fill prices vary widely by provider.

It is not too early to be wanting a fill. I got my first fill at my 4 week mark, exactly. It didn't take a lot of the cravings away, but I counted calories diligently until I got to my sweet spot so my weight loss continued until I got to that point.

Good luck on your band journey.

Are you talking about eating only SLIDERS?

I have a taste for finer things now.. finer cuts of meat, better produce, lots of nuts. Our grocery bill has probably gone up cause there are no breads or pastas filling up my stomach, and only good stuff.

Nah the honeymoon won't be over. I have seen the light.

If I had a nickel for every time I said I saw the light about my weight... :thumbup:

I didn't see any light until my band go to the right fill level and it dimmed my appetite into that of a normal person. If I lost my band, I am sure my brain would morph back into that of a fat person. It sure is nice to think normally for once in my life.

Here are a couple: Natural Edge Products - All Natural Fat Burner and Meal Replacement

https://www.enerhealthbotanicals.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MR

Rice 'n Shine

You need to talk to your doctor about getting another fill. Often, a bit more restriction will do you a world of good as far as your appetite is concerned.

As a longer term bandster, I'll tell you that I LOVE hot foods... and I am loving them even more post-banding. No issues here...

Sarae,

There are no guarantees with the band. At all. I will be honest with you... I am over a year and a half post op, and consider myself a success story. I will ride my band until the wheels fall off. But I do figure, statistically, something will happen down the line, that will make me end up having to have it removed. There are more and more statistics that are showing that by the 10 year mark, almost 50% of people have to have their band removed for some reason, whether it is a complication, a slip, erosion, or insufficient weight loss. I don't PLAN on being in that 50%, but I do know it is a reality. And if that is the case, I'll be revising to the sleeve. I hope everyone is realistic and has an alternate plan for if their band doesn't stick around forever. I know if mine doesn't, I'll put the weight right back on. So, I've got a sleeve fund started, just in case.

I am sorry my post is not all positive 'Suzy Sunshine' cause in real life, I am a super positive person... but on this forum, I want people to know the positives AND negatives of this surgery so they can make a completely informed decision.

A lot of people have a size range in mind, and not a weight. If they get to that size, then they are satisfied with the results of the band, and when they stop losing, accept themselves at that weight and don't push to go farther. The farther you push, the more restriction you have, usually...

In order for me to maintain my weight as is, I eat VERY small portions, and cannot tolerate some foods. I keep a pretty tight band, and some people simply don't wish to live like that. My way is NOT the right way, each person has to figure out what works for them. A lot of people lose 60% of their weight and are satisfied...

My doc said, if you have it taken off or unfilled when you hit your goal, you'll get fat again. I agree with this. All statistics show this, and every banded person I have ever seen that has had a significant unfill/removal has put the weight back on.

I think what you need to do is get serious. You can believe that I don't cheat. I stick with 1000 to 1200 calories a day. It is difficult but if you eat something "bad" you need to minus something else for the day. Counting calories is the only way you are going to lose weight.

I have not been able to exercise for the last month due to an injury. I have still lost weight because I have stuck to the proper caloric intake.

You need about 2k a day in calories to maintain your weight, you go below that and you will lose. There are plateaus but you need to remember the lapband is a tool not a miracle. If you are eating the wrong food you will gain weight or stay even.

Mine is not even adjusted yeat where I have restriction and I am losing on pure willpower

I want to jump in here because, with the band there are many ways to lose the weight. I DID NOT COUNT CALORIES when I was in my weight loss mode. I got my fill level to the proper restriction, which dimmed my appetite and I did not need much to eat. If you eat the proper foods, you'll get filled up on a small amount, as long as you have the right restriction. I also DO NOT subscribe to the 'bad foods' or 'wrong foods' mentality. No foods are 'bad' if eaten in moderation. Once you start swearing off foods cause they are 'bad' you are setting yourself up for failure.

The whole point of the band is to create a new relationship with food and yourself. You need to view food from a healthy perspective, as a fuel source, when you are hungry. When I was fat, I woke up thinking of Breakfast and planning what I was going to have next, and when I could eat again. With my appetite dimmed, I eat when I am hungry and my mind is no longer consumed with thoughts of food.

Counting calories at the beginning, is fine, until you get restriction. But know that long term, you need to just think of food as a thin person, eat when you're hungry and in small portions. That is your ticket. Some people want to create that healthy relationship earlier on in their journey, and rely on getting proper restriction, thus having slower weight loss in the beginning. Each person must make their own road as they go on this journey.

And last, that 2k/day to maintain that weight is a bunch of bunk. For some people, that might work. But for most bandsters who are maintaining, they are not eating nearly that much on a daily basis.

I maintain my weight on approx 1200 cals/day. That's maintaining. When I was losing, I was only eating about 800, if you calculate it. For me, that's what worked.

It takes a long time for your head to get wrapped around the new size you are. I still have a lot of issues surrounding what I REALLY look like vs. how I think I look. There is often a big difference. And as Jacqui said, when I was really heavy, I never saw myself like that. I convinced myself that the fat pictures were usually bad camera angles, lol.

Dressed, my excess skin is not that noticeable, but I DO have excess. And I may look hot in a bikini, but I have a LOT of excess skin hanging on the lower stomach. I have arms with extra skin and my thighs, well, they jiggle extra now, and dimple too. But I look WAY better now than I did before, so I am NOT complaining... Self tanner and good fitting clothes make a big difference.

Jacqui mentioned the boots thing. I am the EXACT opposite. I have 'fankles' with fat still on my ankles. And my calves, even at a size 4, require big girl boots. They are ALL muscle. Its like my body is waiting for me to get fat again. But, it is a small problem to have, and even though it is out of proportion, others don't notice it, so I don't fret. You are way harder on yourself than others are on you. Promise.

As you lose weight, you will be more confident. Your method of dress with change, to reflect your new body. And you'll notice people will treat you differently cause you are not overweight. Some of it is due to your new confidence, but some is due to people viewing thinner people differently.

I've attached before and after pics.