2muchfun

It is normal to feel hungry. The band doesn't take away that sensation. It just helps/forces you to eat slower so you feel satiated sooner. liquids just pass right threw the band so you won't feel satiated till you eat solid food.

It is normal to feel hungry. The band doesn't take away that sensation. It just helps/forces you to eat slower so you feel satiated sooner. liquids just pass right threw the band so you won't feel satiated till you eat solid food.

This sounds like me. I'm a longhauler, too, 10 cc with 5.0 cc fill. I can eat pretty much everything, just smaller bites and much slower. No one likes to go to lunch with me because I take so long to finish my food! But still....love that my weight is stable and I had a Tummy Tuck last year to complete the transformation. Both procedures totally worth it...it is quite freeing to live in a body that I'm not ashamed of.

Another quiet and happy bandster here!
I'm almost 13 years out and absolutely love my band! It's hard to see so many people suffering from complications and i worry sometimes that even after 13 great years complication-free, that something could just go wrong! Honestly my biggest worry is that if something went wrong, i would no longer qualify for a revision surgery because i am at goal.
I've had my band since March 2008. I lost the majority of my weight in the first 6-9 months (from 200lbs down to 140lbs, i'm only 5'2") and managed to stay within a maintenance range for the past 12+ years, which included 2 pregnancies and a my fair share of fluctuations along the way. In the past year i have made some more habit changes that led me to drop another 20ish pounds leaving me at about 120-125lbs at 5'2".
It makes me so happy to see some positive bandsters out there sharing their stories as there are definitely still a lot of us on this band journey. Please keep posting and i will try to do the same!

I am also banded but am 10 years with it now! I got my surgery around July 2009 and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I haven't had a fill in about 6 years though and have some how managed. I did have some weight gain when I got pregnant both times because my doctor didn't want me to have any Fluid in the band. I think my stomach has shrunk over time or something. I can't eat as much as I used to but I can pretty much eat anything I want. I do get stuck sometimes on bread and potatoes unless it has some sort of condiment on it then I am fine. I haven't had any problems or issues with my band in the last 10 years. Good luck to anyone that is getting it and may you have an easy journey!!!!

Just passed 13 years having my band in September 2007, Still believe it was one of the best decisions I have already made.

Just a note to the person who asked about which foods I have trouble with banded.

I get stuck on pork (?), raw carrots (always) and soft b read if don’t go slowly and take small bites. Toast, no problem.

That's great to hear.....especially w so many band bashers out there........I'm 18 years out myself (was my doctors first patient actually) kept all my weight off all these years UNTIL....5 years ago late in my pregnancy( my baby girl wasn't gaining enuf weight ..had all Fluid removed...gained all the weight back FAST....was embarrassed to go back to my doctor for a refill...which was silly...but finally did 8 weeks ago and weight falling back off again just like it always did...I lived all these years as a "skinny person" with that famous perfect "sweet spot" in my band that I forgot I'm really a fat person in a banded skinny body lol...can't believe how fast weight came back (AND my food addictions)when fluid was removed during pregnancy......and she was premature still..weighing 3 pounds......so I set recommend fluid removal when pregnant ......I now got my refill now and ..been losing like crazy again now that I got my sweet spot w my band again....band for me has truly been a lifesaver...would NEVER have it removed....its all about that sweet spot ....

Very glad to hear this! I'm happy for you Can you eat raw veggies? Would you mind giving me an idea of a typical days diet?

Finalllly someone else in the same position as me. I’m 12 yrs out and still thrilled with my device and maintaining my weight. Best decision for myself. Congrats

There are many of us quieter banders who just keep going.

I had my lap band in 2006. Still happy still continue to work my healthy habits.
Not easy some days!! Mostly just habits after 13+ years.
High school weight feels right for me right now.
I’m hopeful to not lose my band... it happens

Life is awesome and I would Never remove my band. It has been suggested recently so I say NO!

I've disappeared too. I've limited myself on this website because I have experienced too many instances of people who elected other procedures critiquing me or other Banders for the procedure that we selected. It's incredibly discouraging when you are on your journey and you have all these people who are telling you that you are going to fail within a few years. I had to spend a lot of time telling myself that other people's experiences are unique to them and that mine is unique to me. If it didn't work for others, that does not mean that it won't work for me. The band was the only option available to me. I have Celiac Disorder, which means that I cannot undergo a malabsorptive procedure. My doctor is still a big believer in the band. He still has his own without problems. It has been 16 months since I was banded. I have lost a decent amount of weight and I am playing the sports that I love.I have no regrets and at most, I have experienced minor inconveniences from time to time.

Thanks for starting this thread Julie. I'm a reformed Lapbandtalk/Bariatricpal addict. I'll be posting here more often again. Been away enjoying being nearly skinny for a few years.
Some heart problems caused me to not exercise for a while and I've gained some back. Got a refill yesterday so I'm spunky to get back to dropping some lbs. Been on Atkins since the 3rd and dropped about 7 lbs. Mostly Water loss of course. Now comes the hard part.
Now that I've depleted a lot of the glycogen in my body I'll only be looking at 1-1.5 lbs per week and sometimes nadda per week. It's still easier than no band at all.
Looking forward to this new year.

I think most of us had differing experiences. For me, I just started feeling satiated longer. Looking back I probably had too much saline in my band most of the time. Getting stuck and regurgitating food seemed like the norm and now I know it shouldn't be.
I've had most of my saline removed but got a fill a couple months ago. I think some of the lessons of eating slower with smaller bites has paid off for me. I'm on a Keto diet now and the combination of Keto and a band partially filled seems to be working for me.
Just stay away from processed foods, starches and sugars.

I have Silver Sneakers. I get into 19 hour fitness for free.

GoWalking,
I too thought I had a handle on my weight problem but obviously not. I sure love food and it was sweet to imbibe in the foods I'd sworn off for several years but I'll be 70 this year(I hope). Like to live another 10-20 but not gonna happen if I don't get control of this carb beast in my head.
Good luck with a new boyfriend. And no matter what we were told or what I told everyone on this forum, it's still a damn diet, only it's a little easier to manage with the band.
tmf

Man, there are only a hand full of us left...

I know exactly what you mean. If the doctors would have told me I had to have a bypass or take any part of my stomach out I would have not had surgery. It was lapband or nothing for me. I think I would have been more successful early on if I'd been aware of this new Keto Low/Carb way of eating. I think the combo would work well for me.

I have been banded for 10 years and I believe it is the safer alternative than any other surgery. I did not want my body rerouted or changed from what was normal. I know of a person who had the sleeve and was told that even with that surgery, over the years your stomach can stretch again. It all comes down to self-control and learning new eating habits.

I am thrilled to see that there are people being banded like me and are starting this new adventure. I was worried that everybody is jumping on the new bandwagon of doing outrageous things to their body to lose weight instead of just trying a non-invasive way like the band.

I have not been as successful as I once hoped with the weight loss. I am not as thin as I was in my 20’s and still overweight but happy with how things are going. Much healthier. Good luck.

I would agree with previous comment. It’s small bites and slowly chewing. I time myself and don’t eat for more than 20 minutes with at least 20 chews for each mouthful. I don’t count the chews just make sure it is all well ground down before swallowing. The hardest thing for me was not drinking before, during or just after a meal. I love a glass (or 2) of wine with my dinner and when I am out socialising I still have them but you can tell the difference as the wine and Water washes the food through the band.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You made me smile reading your post. Thank you for your nice comments re Scotland, I too think it’s a lovely country it’s just a bit cold at times. It’s a gorgeous morning here today and the view of the hills is just lovely. Still got some icing sugar snow on the tops. Good news you got yourself sorted quickly and glad to hear your wife got you out and about. I too am a younger wife and my husbands always moaning I wear him out with my energy but he loves it really. I saw dr and he said that it’s more than likely inflamed with me having a viral infection. To ride it out and see how it goes. Seeing dr again (another one) on Monday as still can’t tolerate solids. Sipping Water and Soup to try and keep the fluids up. Pain isn’t there now though. Once I have a prognosis I will post it on here as I initially trawled the internet as I was quite worried. Happy Saturday.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A year ago I was feeling some pains right where my band was. We were going to Scotland for 17 days and my wife wouldn't go unless I saw my doc. My PA suggested I visit a cardiologist. I did. After a stress test they concluded that I may have angina caused by a blocked artery.
So, in for a angioplasty I went. They ended up stenting my circumflex artery a week before going to Scotland. Made all the difference in the world. Good think I did it since my 12 years younger wife walked by butt off. What a great country you have. And what a culture although I think your ancestors could have killed a few less people.LOL
Don't hesitate, check it out. If I hadn't, I might not be here to write a response to your comments.

I think most of us had differing experiences. For me, I just started feeling satiated longer. Looking back I probably had too much saline in my band most of the time. Getting stuck and regurgitating food seemed like the norm and now I know it shouldn't be.
I've had most of my saline removed but got a fill a couple months ago. I think some of the lessons of eating slower with smaller bites has paid off for me. I'm on a Keto diet now and the combination of Keto and a band partially filled seems to be working for me.
Just stay away from processed foods, starches and sugars.

A year ago I was feeling some pains right where my band was. We were going to Scotland for 17 days and my wife wouldn't go unless I saw my doc. My PA suggested I visit a cardiologist. I did. After a stress test they concluded that I may have angina caused by a blocked artery.
So, in for a angioplasty I went. They ended up stenting my circumflex artery a week before going to Scotland. Made all the difference in the world. Good think I did it since my 12 years younger wife walked by butt off. What a great country you have. And what a culture although I think your ancestors could have killed a few less people.LOL
Don't hesitate, check it out. If I hadn't, I might not be here to write a response to your comments.