weightinggame

Hi George OG, I’ve finished my interviews now but thanks so much for replying.

Hi everyone,
I was banded 10 years ago and have been a member here since then. I am still maintaining my weight despite having the band removed which I know is unusual. As a result I have developed a real interest in what happens to people's identity following all types of bariatric surgery, so much so that I am formally researching this issue as a Masters level student pre PhD in Psychology. I experienced some really interesting changes as a result of my surgery and have seen many people have struggles and succeed over the years. I think understanding that process better may help others - including support services, to navigate their journeys, through what can be an exciting but equally as tough time personally and that's why I am doing this.
Our very kind forum founder Alex Brecher has given his approval for me to carry out my research through this wonderful forum membership. I am looking for people who are willing to talk to me about their journey and answer a few questions just in a conversation. This is expected to take around 30 minutes and can happen in the most convenient way for you including Skype, phone call, messaging or email, wherever you may be in the world, all of which are at my cost of course. You can remain anonymous, the contributions will generate results which will result in an academic paper but no personal details will be divulged.
I know I have received a great deal of help and information from this site over the years and I would like to pay back and contribute to that going forwards, it would be really great if some of you could help me to do that too by giving me half an hour of your time.
Please respond to this post or message me directly if you are interested and I can give more information and organise some time to talk.
Thanks so much for reading this and please do share your story with me.
Rachel AKA Weightinggame.

count me in too but I'm only on here and Quota.

Are you looking for people at any stage of the process?

I’m willing on a Fri or Mon :-)

Thanks so much for being my first respondent, I’m really excited too! Be in touch very soon.

Hey y'all, this is a super cool opportunity for us to contribute to science! One of our very successful long term vets is working on her masters/phd and is need research help with a questionnaire. Super convenient, privacy protection--why not chime in and tell your story!!
Will you please drop by and read about it and participate if you feel it's right for you?
TIA!!!

This is so cool! I'm excited for you and for us!
I'd love to help you with your research and answer your questions!!! Hopefully others will jump on board and you will stay very busy!!!
Looking forward to your email! Or we can chat on FB if you prefer?

Hi everyone,
I was banded 10 years ago and have been a member here since then. I am still maintaining my weight despite having the band removed which I know is unusual. As a result I have developed a real interest in what happens to people's identity following all types of bariatric surgery, so much so that I am formally researching this issue as a Masters level student pre PhD in Psychology. I experienced some really interesting changes as a result of my surgery and have seen many people have struggles and succeed over the years. I think understanding that process better may help others - including support services, to navigate their journeys, through what can be an exciting but equally as tough time personally and that's why I am doing this.
Our very kind forum founder Alex Brecher has given his approval for me to carry out my research through this wonderful forum membership. I am looking for people who are willing to talk to me about their journey and answer a few questions just in a conversation. This is expected to take around 30 minutes and can happen in the most convenient way for you including Skype, phone call, messaging or email, wherever you may be in the world, all of which are at my cost of course. You can remain anonymous, the contributions will generate results which will result in an academic paper but no personal details will be divulged.
I know I have received a great deal of help and information from this site over the years and I would like to pay back and contribute to that going forwards, it would be really great if some of you could help me to do that too by giving me half an hour of your time.
Please respond to this post or message me directly if you are interested and I can give more information and organise some time to talk.
Thanks so much for reading this and please do share your story with me.
Rachel AKA Weightinggame.

Days 3 and 4, I have woken up headachy, stiff, nauseas and very dehydrated both mornings. I'm making my aim to get hydrated as I can't seem to get enough Water in at the moment. I think it's the most important thing for repair along with Protein. I've slept ok, over 8 hours each night. I guess I'm chronically dehydrated and my body is fixing itself so I'm trying to help it. I'm doing the old colour of the urine test as a guide and it's definitely taking me 2.5 litres to stop feeling this thirst and get it back to straw coloured by the afternoon.
Not really interested in food at the moment. Had my first proper band free hunger pang yesterday. It growled so loudly everyone in the room laughed!
Am making sure I eat some Protein and veg each day which is great to be able to manage without fear but I've lost 5 pounds since the surgery. All I can say is the band was driving some poor eating because I was so malnutritioned and hence craving sweets all the time. They were really all I could get down in the end along with Soup.
The lack of pressure and pain is a relief I feel every day. I'm taking only 2 paracetamol and one omeprazole upon waking. Don't think I'll need either by the weeks end as I'm moving about taking small walks frequently which helps to keep that Fluid moving.
Only on occasion can I feel something in my throat food wise and that's if it goes down at a funny angle but the surgeon said the oesophagitis could take up to 2 weeks to resolve and it does still feel a little sore and swollen.
My port site was a hard lump on day 3 but has softened on day 4. I am lucky, I have very clean scars and no bruising even though I was warned the port site at least would be a hard raised bruised mess.
I'm guessing my appetite will return at some point but I'm sticking on small portions so as not to re stretch my stomach and making sure my food is real food, not processed floury, sugary, carby rubbish. We will see how that works for me in good time I expect.
My best advice...drink lots of Water, eat clean and keep moving. It's not been anywhere near as nauseating as having the band in and I've had no food restrictions either which has made things easier of course but I know that's not everyone's experience.
I hope this helps people to read from a personal experience perspective.

Thanks Parisshel.
Day 2 today and I feel a little stiff and sore. Came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and so was out in less than a full day since the op which is great. They let me go even with low blood pressure because I felt fine.
The surgeon managed to use my previous port scar to get it out but I have 4 new wounds from then lalprascope, my stomach is starting to look like a map of England's road network lol.
My port site is the most sore and the surgeon warned it would be very bruised and raised as they kind of have to "dig it out" Ouch!!!! The other wounds are fine and no bigger than half an inch each so hopefully they will fade.
Eating - well all I can say is, I hadn't realised just how much pain I was in and the amount of pressure the band was putting on my eosophagus. I've eaten very carefully but have been so desperate for salad and dense Protein. My son says I was mumbling in my morpine post op phase about tuna, hilarious, I'd got so bad about not being able to eat Protein that I was dreaming about fish. In my my first thread about the band coming off I was talking about craving salmon!
So yesterday I ate half a slice of toast for breakfast as that was all they had to offer, I ate 3/4 of a chicken fillet and 2 spoons carrots for lunch and I ate a bowl of salad in the evening, my goodness they were then best meals I have eaten in forever.
I think my body is trying to reverse the chronic dehydration as I've been drinking gallons of Water. I keep taking sips and waiting for the reflux which doesn't happen of course so then I take a big gulp. I feel a little kind of bulge when I swallow a big gulp but the surgeon says it is like when you have had a ring on your finger for years, there will be a slight indentation for a while so I guess it's that.
I'm just happy to feel well again so quickly even after surgery. I will never take plain old Water for granted again that's for sure, there's nothing worse than not being able to even get that down. Speaking of which I'm just going to grab myself another glass ...... :-)

Almost 7 years since banded and I am awaiting removal. I've learned a great deal. The band has been a tremendous tutor. I'm not sure I fully knew or considered what it would be like to have the band when all the weight was gone and after so many years. My nurse did tell me they didn't really know how long bands lasted and that there was little research past 10 years at the time and so I was aware of that but it's tough to think so far forward when you are so anxiously consumed with getting your weight off. I think I still would have gone ahead even if they had told me I only had 5 years in it to be honest.
I lost all my weight quickly. I have been completely unfilled for about 4 years but about 18 months ago I started having some vague abdominal problems and the band started to behave erratically with some days feeling as tight as being filled and others wide open. It actually created maladaptive eating as I would eat sliders in order not to drop below 112 pounds, even though it made me feel physically sick. I had a few investigations but there was nothing showing up and I just tried to carry on hoping it would resolve itself.
About 6 months ago the acid reflux started, pain at night, constant nausea, sliming without eating, every mouth full of food sticking in my throat before it even got to the band and just an immensely sore chest. Medication only helped a little. My Barium swallows were all clear. Finally had the scope last week. I have severe eosophagitis and reflux, no erosion thankfully but they know they can't get the eosophagitis under control with the medication and it's just not resolving. I had never had reflux pre banding, it does seem to be a common complaint but that's not to say I wouldn't have had it anyway.
It's been great but the advantages are now being outweighed by constant pain and discomfort and so we have decided it's time for removal. I'm quite stoical about it. I've spent the last 18 months testing my various hypotheses about my eating as I knew it would need to come out somehow. Things I know are
1. I underestimate calories and overeat when not monitoring so need to be vigilant
2. I have developed maladaptive eating to counteract the inability to eat decent foods
3. If I vomit or can't eat, I crave sweet foods intensely, if I don't eat sweets I feel so much better
4. My maintenance calories are 1250 a day (I'm small and have a desk job)
5. The more I eat when I don't need it, the greater my capacity to eat and hunger pangs are
6. I want to nourish my body not feed it non food stuff which is more for my head
7. I miss solid Protein, salad and veg more than I ever imagined I could, I dream of salmon!
8. I need to keep moving
9. I'm still at risk of telling myself quite a lot of bs prior to eating stuff I don't need and so need to keep saying it out loud before it hits my mouth to check its not bs lol
10. Band eating rules are the best for health and maintenance, banded or not. My husband lost and has kept off 45 pounds independently just following them - no surgery.
We now have to wait and see if the application of that knowledge helps me to keep off the weight post un-banding. My whole life has changed since the band. I have a fabulous supportive husband and family who have confidence in me and want to help. I expect it to be an enormous challenge, I expect to be hungry and gain some back but point blank refuse to let it go past a certain point. I will not waste the £15k spent on my band and the plastics, that's just money I can't afford to lose, so wish me luck.........we will see! x

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Well you'll have to get used to managing that anxiety it will tighten your band up all unexpectedly! :-) Don't believe it's easy but if you have a good surgeon who knows his stuff and places it well, get good regular aftercare and respect your bands rules it can just become a way of life after a few years. I read about so many people who struggle with the psychological aspects of it so much and I think all of us who have bands will get that because it does require such a big change but it is really the best thing that ever happened to me and I've never looked back. Good luck to you x

Thank you that's very kind :-) The band takes some adjusting to that's for sure and I certainly had some hard lessons to learn myself so I'll happily help/share my experience where I can.

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Ah don't be anxious, it can make your band tight I would just say to be calm about it, start listening to your body not your head and remember the band can make you make you very unwell if you don't respect it so you definitely need to take care with your eating from when you get it. It's not always easy but after a few years if you have had a good surgeon and good aftercare, it becomes your way of life. I have no fill in my band and haven't had for over 2 years. It still reminds me it's there occasionally though. Good luck x

Hope it's going well for you! :-)

Thank you that's very kind :-) The band takes some adjusting to that's for sure and I certainly had some hard lessons to learn myself so I'll happily help/share my experience where I can.

Thank you that's very kind :-) The band takes some adjusting to that's for sure and I certainly had some hard lessons to learn myself so I'll happily help/share my experience where I can.

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!

Long time no post, just wanted to say hi. I haven't been by for a long time but I'm 6 years post banding and I still weigh 116 pounds. I forget I have my band in for the most part. I did put 4 pounds on recently and when I looked at my diet I knew exactly why. My advice is to look out for those things that become habit, your head has a way of forgetting you've eaten or drunk them because they are routine. As soon as I stopped having that morning latte and the weekly hummus and pitta, it dropped right back off. I'm sorry others don't have such good experiences though.
I love my wedding photos, still can't believe that's my waist!