lellow

The short answer is yes, you can stretch the pouch above your band by over-eating. While the band (when filled to a good level for you) will 'kick back' and tell you that you've had enough, you can ignore it and continue to eat OR wait for a little while, let the food pass through the band and then continue eating OR eat until you're sick etc etc. There are lots of ways to work against the band instead of with it. The desire to overeat doesn't disappear when you get the band. What is does is control your hunger but obviously not what you put in your mouth. If you're an over-eater, you know that even now you're eating even when you're not hungry. The band isn't going to change that for you. That's something that happens in your head, not your stomach. What it will do is help you to NOT get hungry after eating a small amount of food. For some (like me) not being hungry means that I don't feel like eating. But if you eat even when you're not hungry, that's something you'd need to address within you because the band doesn't stop you from doing that.

I agree with you in that I believe discussions can be respectful. Or they should be. And that is regardles of whether or not someone has a complication, because I've seen it in other threads too and both sides of this have not been respectful on occasion. It's certainly not one-sided at all. I don't have any apologies for the way I've posted just btw just to be clear. I came into the thread to read about complications (as I do often, and yes, I've seen all those other threads too) because as a long term bander, I like being informed of any new possible complications that come to light. But like I said, I don't respond well to fear-mongering. I've said this before and I'll say it again, give me your experiences, tell me your story and I will be the first to hold your hand. Don't give me hysteria, because if you do, then being an open and public forum, I may have to call you out on it.

I do have friends who have complications, some have had their bands removed or suffered damage. One I used to know recently had hers removed due to an erosion. She doesn't say things like 'the band doesn't work' and 'the band is a lie' or 'it's all the band's fault' which is surprising because in her case, I don't think it was anything she did that caused the erosion to happen. It was bad luck, plain and simple. The support she has received from LBT has been wonderful. And I personally think she made a bigger impact in her low key, factual story than anyone else I've seen here in recent times. It's one thing to have complications. It's another to then tell everyone else that it will happen to them, or that they're been sold a lie, or that life with the band is a miserable existence for everyone, because it promotes an atmosphere of fear, not knowledge or support. It's sensationalism and it's not actually true either. And if someone says something that isn't true, you kinda have to expect that someone will call them out on it, whatever side of the discussion they're on.

It's actually common that as you lose, the band can get looser too, so you're right in that respect. Plus exercise can make you hungrier too, so yes, it's a double whammy!

I swear, some doctors... Mine said 'on average lapband patients lose 60% of their excess weight. This statistic includes those who lost all their excess weight and more, and those who didn't even try and lost nothing. You decide which one you want to be'. So I did. I was going to lose it all. And I did. I agree with Mis. Find someone who is more supportive because support and aftercare is incredibly important with the lapband and you want someone who will have your back, not undermine your decision.

I credit my band with helping me lose, but I did the bulk of the work to lose. I will not discredit by band for my gain, coz it doesn't choose what I put into my mouth. You think it's sad that people take responsibility for not following the band rules and gaining? Who else is responsible if not them? I'm more saddened that anyone thinks that nothing that happens to them with regards to their weight is their responsibility. Maybe that's the difference here, and I'm glad that I don't think that way. Anyway, back to the topic, I'm 5 years banded now, did spring a leak about 18 monthsw ago, had 2 port replacements and 1 band replacement to finally resolve it. I gained 35lbs in 10 months when the band wasn't working and I lost about 40% of it when I realised how much I'd strayed from my initial goals. I then got rebanded. The reasons for chosing a band over sleeve are in this post: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/165592-full-band-replacement-experiences-sought/ I won't say that initially it was an easy decision to make, which way to go in terms of revision. But when I talked it out with my physican and my family, it then became a no brainer. The band gave me a great, easy 5 years and if I get another easy 5 years out of it, I'd be grateful. If it lasts longer, than yay for me! It worked the first time and is working just as well this time for me. So I am absolutely sure I made the right decision.

People with a lot of weight to lose generally lose faster. And it depends on whether they're exercising, whether they feel any restriction etc. So absolutely everyone is different. I lost about 7 - 10lbs a MONTH, not a week. But with only 80lbs to lose that was a lot for me, but I won't lie, I exercised like a dog and ate like a bandster even without restriction. I lost all my weight in 7 months. And I would have people tell me I was lucky coz I was losing relatively steadily and quite fast for a low BMI bander. No, that wasn't luck, that was work. SO I think people should align their expectations with how much they actually put into it. That's realistic. Look at what someone else is doing and before you compare weight loss, maybe compare how much work they're doing compared to how much you're doing too.

It's pretty great, I agree. I forget how good the people are here sometimes. I've been here over 5 years now and generally speaking, it's a great place to be and connect with others. I think sometimes the negativity is actually people really wanting to get their points across and they view any opposing opinion as marginalising their suffering, and that's tough for anyone to take. So for me in the past, it's seemed smarter for me to walk away and not keep engaging. So I have left the forum on many occasions. And I almost did again a week ago, but then decided that without voices like mine, the newly banded would be bombarded with nothing but unhappy stories. So I sucked it up and stayed. If I get too jaded though, feel free to slap me upside the head. Coz posts like this make me think it's worth me staying.

One doctor's opinion is just that: one doctor's opinion. I got told by my doctor that average weight loss with the band was 60% but it didn't mean you couldn't lose 100% of your excess weight (and I did), that 60% was the average across ALL banders including the ones who didn't lose a lb due to non-compliance. That's why it's called an average. In Australia the lapband is still the most used wls in the country, and Australia surgeons have been placing bands for a lot longer than US doctors. And in Australian studies, the prognosis for banded patients, and the longevity of the band, come up very favourably. It often makes me wonder why there is such a difference? Is it anything to do with the fact that Australia has socialised medicine and most private insurance usually automatically cover the band that we get focussed, frequent aftercare that doesn't cost the earth? Or the fact that we don't have to suffer with complications because we can see our doctors NOW if something doesn't feel right? Or that our surgeons give us rules we can live with for life that makes Australian banders generally do well? I hear ALL the time how the longevity of the band is in dispute but talk to any premier Australian bariatric surgeon and you'll probably get a different answer. Weird, huh? My suggestion is if you want a band, make sure you get the best, most supportive physician you can. That's absolutely crucial. Aftercare and experience is important with a band, so you want the best team backing you up as you can possibly afford.

You're kidding me right? WHY doesn't he want to fill you if you're not feeling the band's help yet? Getting a band and not filling so that it assists you in hunger management it is like buying a bicycle and not pumping the tyres up. The only thing I can think of is that he sees you losing and thinks that it means your band is working. You need to disabuse him of that notion and explain that you're struggling with hunger and need help with some fills. Especially seeing as you're going to have to pay for fills soon. I lost most of my weight before getting to the green zone but getting there meant that weight loss became easy. That's what both you and your doctor should be working towards.

But I HAVE lost. And so has many thousands of other people. I'm not sure how you not losing means that the band doesn't work. Can you please expand on that? And can I just say I read ALL the complication posts. Because I'm not at all resistant to hearing about possible complications. I like being aware. But you can't MAKE me say band things about the band when I'm not experiencing bad things. It's like saying 'men are pigs and will cheat on you, and while you think you have a good man, just wait until he cheats on you, because he WILL cheat on you." Umm, how about you treat me like the responsible, capable person I am and allow me to weigh the (so far considerable) benefits of my choices with the risks they pose? Everyone should be doing that. Everyone. But both sides of the story should be told too. And every time I come in and say 'oh look I don't have pain, I lost all my weight, I did great with the band" i get this "you just wait, you're going to find out soon' rubbish. Except I have NONE of the problems that people talk about when they suffer these types of complications. Seriously, I accept that you have complications, can you not accept that the band has and continues to work for me?

sure

Hi Megan, I suppose at 5 years post banding, I am not what you would call someone in the 'first flush' of the glory days of my band. Nor am I by any means a newbie, and as time goes on I am more interested than ever in posts that discuss the longevity of the band, especially with regards to symptoms experienced, in the hopes that I can in fact be vigilant of possible complications. First let me qualify that I'm Australian, and Australian surgeons have been placing bands for a lot longer than American doctors. My surgeon has well over a decade's worth of experience and to this day, still thinks the band is the most effective wls there is. I just wanted to make that clear so you understand where I stand on this. I recently had band replacement surgery as a result of a leaky band. I had the option of revising to a sleeve but both my surgeon and myself agreed that the band was a better choice. I have lost 100% of my excess weight, I have not experienced pain, reflux, nothing at all that has caused me concern, and even when my band was leaking for 15 months, I only gained 35lbs of which I then lost 40% of without the band's help before my replacement. All the recent posts I have read regarding complications experienced by banders who have had the band for 5 years or more have the same theme to it: pain, reflux, weight gain, discomfort, damage etc. I have experienced none of these. I maintain my weight easily when my band is working. I live with my band very easily. I have had a multitude of tests as a result of my leak and I have no physical issues or damage caused by the band. I have no reason to believe that will change, either, seeing as it hasn't happened yet, and if it was going to, I'd expect it to have happened before now. I also have a good lot of bandster friends on FB who have been quietly living their lives with the bands without complications, who have had their bands as long or longer than me, who just don't talk about it that much any more, unlike when they were first banded. So just to provide some balance, I do believe people have complications, and in many cases, serious ones too. And I do believe you have and it's always a wake-up call to see it talked about. But I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that everyone will, or that it will even be as common as some people make it out to be. Nothing you've said about your personal experience or anything I've seen posted about complications just recently has convinced me of that at all, especially since I see so few similarities with my own experiences with the band. So I'm piping in, I guess, to give a different view of what long-term life with the band is like so anyone reading understands that there is more than just one point of view to everything. And I personally have nearly nothing bad to say about my experience with the band.

I'm the same when in green zone. Eating is what I had to do to live. Unlike B-52 though I then wanted my food to only taste AMAZING if I had to eat it. But I didn't really experience hunger at all. I'm actually not seeking the green zone now that I've had a band replacement because my lack of hunger means I lose more weight than is probably healthy for me, but after years of fighting hunger, fighting to gain weight and maintain it was really novel!

With a properly working band, I don't feel that typical 'fullness' you feel from over-eating like pre-band either. I say my band 'kicks back' as opposed to being 'full' because it's not the same feeling. Now I'm not at green zone and there are times I can still get 'full' but it's not a comfortable feeling for me now and I try to avoid it.

I'm sorry that the removal is so tough on you Sue. Opiates make me very nauseous as well and like you I'd rather bear the pain than have to contend with dry heaving. I hope you recover soon, Sue. I've had you in my thoughts just lately.

I think you're going to see a high proportion of complications on a site like this. Because if things are going well, what would you post about? I've had my band 5 years and I've had complications - a leak (mostly covered by insurance but I'm in Australia so can't speak for your insurance company), but more important than that, I've lost 100% of my excess weight and kept it off in that time. No reflux, no pain, no constant tiredness (quite the contrary in fact), no bs. The band gave me my life back, plus some, in more ways than just weight loss. If not for my leak I probably wouldn't have come back to this site. Then would you have heard of my story? Or the stories of the MANY thousands of others for whom the band has worked? So read the complications and know of the possibility of them and then put them in context. Complications are not as common as this site would make them seem. My suggestion is ask your insurance about what they do cover in the event you do suffer a complication, but always balance that out with what you're NOT seeing, which is people who were like me until recently, who have the band and are out there living our lives without having to talk about it in a forum like this.

if you're searching for 'fullness' (as in I ate so much I feel like I'm gonna burst) then imo you're always going to struggle with the band. The band promises satiety. Or not being hungry again for at least 3 - 4 hours when you are in your green zone. When in the green zone, I can't eat any more than a certain amount. My band will 'kick back'. But if I waited for a bit until the food passed though, then of course I could get more in. The point is NOT eating like that because that's called eating around your band and doing that continually will mean you will not lose. You can eat a good amount of food, band or no band, and still feel hungry. This is why so many of us seek 'fullness'. We take it as a sign that we're no longer hungry, when it fact it means we've eaten WAY too much. It takes your head up to 30 mins to get the signals from your stomache that you're no longer hungry. So stop, wait 30 mins, and if you're still I-could-eat-my-own-leg-I'm-so-hungry then by all means eat more. But you'll be surprised, you probably won't be. Before your green zone, you can eat that way and in a few hours be hungry again. In your green zone, it will be 3 - 4 hours before you're hungry again. That's when the band is working at it's optimum, and it may take some fills until then, but until then you can still learn about satiety vs fullness.

I think I'd die if I had to give up spicy food. I'd never be able to eat at my mum's ever again. It doesn't bother me at all actually. Never has.

I get that. I get wanting to lose, because I, of course, wanted the exact same thing. But you can lose even when you're not in green zone. I lost most of my weight before I found it. But finding it made it EASY to lose the rest and easy to keep it all off. So I can't stress how important it is to find it, and how much easier it makes it for you when you do find it.

My first dr was pretty conservative, he went slow right from the beginning. I never had more than a 1cc fill ever. But I don't think that's a bad thing. It's very easy to push past the green zone to the red zone. I went from being yellow to green in 0.1cc. So especially if you're a new bander, slowly can mean you're more likely to find that green zone, especially when you don't really know what it feels like yet (unlike someone like me, who does). Even knowing as I do, three fills ago, with a 1cc fill I was pushed too far and starting throwing up my own saliva. I had to get unfilled by 0.5cc and now have that same amount back, just in two fills instead of one big fill so that I could 'manage' the swelling after the fill. I probably need a little more than this even but big fills can cause more swelling and more problems in the short term even if you're not yet at green. So don't be in a huge hurry to get big fills. That's my opinion anyway. Control your diet between fills and concentrate the fills on finding the perfect restriction instead.

I was actually thinking about this post when I was out today. I thought I'd better come in and explain too that while I'm happy with my weight I'm actually looking to be healthier than I am now. I am strength training to increase my overall fitness and to reduce my body fat percentage. I think goal weights should keep in mind general health too, coz there are plenty of strong and healthy overweight people and plenty of 'skinny fat' people. Just think health and not just weight should be something to aspire to. Sorry went off on a little tangent but it was bugging me.

I told everyone. I gave me the pressure I needed not to fail lol. It's been a mixed blessing, and you have to have a thick skin for all the hating you get, but I'm glad for my decision. I think I represent a good outcome for the band, and I'm glad of that. Too many people only hear the bad stuff.

I've heard all those things. But you can't argue with success. And I'm 5 years out now so I would LOVE anyone to tell me that the band doesn't work. Funny how no one says that to me anymore.

Have they tried unfilling you to try to alleviate the symptoms at all? So that they can at least rule out that it IS your band?