Patti703

It's out! I had the band removed last week. The surgery went fine, and I took 3 days off of work. A big help is using a pillow to press against my stomach when I sit or stand up. The day after the removal, I stuck to liquids and moved to soft food the next day. I find it best to bring my own lunch to work now so I have no gastric upset. It's good to have a bland, low fat, non-greasy food while healing. I love being able to eat and not feel like belching or vomiting. Good luck everyone.

Thanks for the well wishes. The band is gone, and I'm recovering from the surgery. I can tell this was the right decision because I can take deep breaths again, and no longer feel the foreign object in my chest. Best of luck to everyone on your journey. I'm going to take the holistic approach now, before considering surgery again. Take care, Patti

Thanks for the words of encouragement. This is a LapBand AP system. Thursday's the day it comes out. If anyone has converted to a gastric sleeve, I'd be interested in hearing your story.

I'm scheduled to have my lap-band removed. After struggling with pain for the past 4 1/2 years, and minor weight loss (30 pounds), I am ready to say goodbye to the band. When I got banded in 2008, I had all good intentions. Follow up with the doctor, follow the diet guidelines, and get support through classes. I tried to find the sweet spot. After being filled, unfilled, refilled, there was never any sweet spot. In fact, with the band unfilled, I still have restriction, and pain. The pain is centered in my chest, and feels like someone is standing on my sternum when I wake up in the morning. The band has my stomach so irritated, I cannot eat eggs in the morning, and must stick to liquids. Any vegetables I eat must be heavily steamed. And if I'm in a social situation, and take a bite of food without chewing thoroughly, I will throw it up. Even the most unlikely foods (like Japanese seaweed salad) reacts with my band. Rice? Forget it. Steak? Nope. How about a chilean sea bass? It's not tolerated. This is no way to live life. I am tired of the burping. I'm tired of the pain. So, enough is enough, and the band is coming out. Yes, I know it's a tool, and not the answer to my weight loss, but it was a tool that hurt more than it helped. Wish me luck. Out it comes next week.

Thanks for the responses. I did meet with a nutritionist recently for some tips, and I have an appointment next week with a new bariatric doctor. I need to read up on how to live with this band before making any drastic decisions. Does anyone recommend any good books for post-band living?

It's been over three years since getting my band. Original weight was 274 and today i am 247. I am not happy with the results and feel I have done nothing but fight with this band. I have had numerous fills and unfills. Currently I at 1cc. Certain foods do not react well with me, and I find it easier to eat mushy food. Last week at a party i had one bit of stew beef. I immediately felt stuck and my band was swollen for four days. I am so disgusted. It was a social occasion, and i was enjoying conversation. By sticking this one inch cube of beef into my mouth, and not chewing well, i had four days of pain to deal with afterwards. I am going to see a different bariatric surgeon about getting a gastric sleeve. I don't want to spend the rest of my life on mush and getting slimed.

I am completely discouraged. I have gained 12 pounds since May. After my surgery, three years ago,I started losing weight right away and got down 45 pounds. Then, I had to have hernia surgery 4 months later, and the weight loss stopped. Over the past three years, I have been filled, unfilled, never finding that "sweet spot". The latest news is my band is partially filled. It had been unfilled in July when I was living with a too tight band since last May's fill. A couple weeks ago, I had a partial fill, though the doctor said it wasn't a "theraputic restriction' and he didn't want me to be miserable. I'm tired of this lapband yo-yo. I paid over $16,000 for this band, and it has not been a success for me. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Everyone! It's been almost 4 months for me since the lapband surgery and I'm down 32 pounds. I developed a hernia since then, and surgery this past Friday to correct it. The anesthesia kicked my butt! I was so intensely sick, I was miserable. Now I'm in a binder to keep my belly from flopping around, and I go for a post-visit next week. That's when I'll be getting my second fill. I can tell that I can eat more than usual, and the weight loss has been slowing down. Happy Holidays to everyone. Patti

I think it's from the LB. I had gallbladder surgery last hear, and the hernia is not hear the GB incisions....but the LB incision near my belly button.

I was born at the Faulkner Hospital.

I noticed my hair is thinner too... but I associated it with menopause.

:biggrin: I have a hernia the size of a small grapefruit above my navel...and need to go in for surgery next week.

:thumbup: I have a hernia the size of a small grapefruit above my navel...and need to go in for surgery next week.

That makes a lot of sense. Yes, bread does expand in water, and it certainly made me feel expanded. How miserable.

Yesterday was a bad day. I decided to try eating a tuna salad sandwich for the first time. Bad news! I immediately had chest pain and it lingered for 8 hours!!! Today I'm back on mushies. I guess I can't tolerate bread!