Thom1955

OK, need to help and going to open up a bit here - I stated at 338lb and went down to believe it or not 185 (lost a bit too much being a 6'4" guy) My surgery was 5 years ago and I was doing fantastic until about 18 months ago - thats when my band slipped and I had to have surgery to fix the slippage. Regretably, in the time my band slip until the repair, my stomach was stretched. The surgeon even told me that after the repair, that my stomach was larger than he'd prefer it to be. After a couple fills, I was not losing weight. I simply gave up and stopped having fills. Well, since then, have put on over 70 lbs. I'm devastated. Still 50 lbs less than when I started but, nonetheless feel defeated. I want to go back to my doctor and start over, but, have two fears - one, although he is a fantastic doctor, he has no bedside manner what so ever and I'm not mentally prepared for the scolding! Secondly, and I take ownership here, I was not able to pay the dr's office my outstanding balance due to some unexpected financial hardships. Instead of confronting the problem, I ignored it and my balance went to a bill collector, then court and now wages garnished - (only 1100 dollars), but, I should have been upfront with my doctor and let him now of my hardship. OK, now that I have that out of the way, I need to do something to get back to healthy weight. Is is even possible to get back on the lapband wagon with new fills and find the right restriction, sweet spot after nearly 18 months. I can't face my doctor (although, I should be a brave man and talk to the office manager) or do I seek a new doctor to do my fills. I'm thinking a new doctor will want my medical records, but, my surgeon won't release t hem due to balance due. Feeling a bit weird writing all this here, but, have to start somewhere. Thanks. Tom

Thanks so much for the straightforwardness Sojourner, sometimes you just need a kick in the butt!!! T om

OK, need to help and going to open up a bit here - I stated at 338lb and went down to believe it or not 185 (lost a bit too much being a 6'4" guy) My surgery was 5 years ago and I was doing fantastic until about 18 months ago - thats when my band slipped and I had to have surgery to fix the slippage. Regretably, in the time my band slip until the repair, my stomach was stretched. The surgeon even told me that after the repair, that my stomach was larger than he'd prefer it to be. After a couple fills, I was not losing weight. I simply gave up and stopped having fills. Well, since then, have put on over 70 lbs. I'm devastated. Still 50 lbs less than when I started but, nonetheless feel defeated. I want to go back to my doctor and start over, but, have two fears - one, although he is a fantastic doctor, he has no bedside manner what so ever and I'm not mentally prepared for the scolding! Secondly, and I take ownership here, I was not able to pay the dr's office my outstanding balance due to some unexpected financial hardships. Instead of confronting the problem, I ignored it and my balance went to a bill collector, then court and now wages garnished - (only 1100 dollars), but, I should have been upfront with my doctor and let him now of my hardship. OK, now that I have that out of the way, I need to do something to get back to healthy weight. Is is even possible to get back on the lapband wagon with new fills and find the right restriction, sweet spot after nearly 18 months. I can't face my doctor (although, I should be a brave man and talk to the office manager) or do I seek a new doctor to do my fills. I'm thinking a new doctor will want my medical records, but, my surgeon won't release t hem due to balance due. Feeling a bit weird writing all this here, but, have to start somewhere. Thanks. Tom

You know what I love about lapband talk and what I've missed by now being on it, is the incredible support. Thanks all for you kind words, straightforwardness and faith. I know its up to me and I am going to make the committment to get things moving in the right direction immediately! Thank you. Tom

Thank y C. - I made an appointment for this am - hoping my doc will do a complete unfill! Awful night of discomfort, acid reflux and well, said to myself - assert yourself with the doctor and tell him what it is I want/need!

I have been so uncomfortable for the longest time - banded March 2008 - down 153lbs from 333lbs - thats great, but, sincerely, I've lost too much and look awful and I can't eat anything without going into an uncomfort state for the longest period of time afterwards - I will now only eat soft foods - I just had 2cc removed and I'm still tight - I don't want to lose anymore - has anyone heard of a complete unfill? Am I nuts to think this - NEver thought I'd say this, but, I'm don't want to lose anymore way - ugh! here is a visual - I'm a 6'4" man, now a 32" waist and 180 some pounds! 54 years old - my high school wieght 175lb 34 inch -

I was banded Mar 2008 - for the past several months I've had acid reflux so bad - now on prevacid, but, still have it, but, not to the extreme it was _ I also just learned I have heital hernia, does that help trigger it? I'm also miserable - lost 150lbs - started at 333lbs - and weight loss is terrific, but, far too much, I look sickly - I'm a man 6'4" and now have a 32 inch waist and 180lb - my goal was 220lb, doc's goal 200 lb -he loosened band by 2cc and still I can't eat - everyone is asking if I'm sick - I'm miserable!!!

I'm thrilled that I've now love over 130 lbs - I went from a 50" waist to a 33-34" - but, now, everyone is telling me I am too thin and I'm actually beginning to think it as well. At 6 ft 4 in, I do need a little bit of meat on my body to not appear to thin - can't believe I'm complaining about being too thin - I asked my Doctor about what happens once goal is met (my goal was 220lb, his 200lb) and he said nothing - you just maintain - I asked about loosening the band and he said, don't like to do that, but, maybe a very little -I'm continuing to lose, have great restriction (no complaints about that to this point) - so, any of you out there get to a certain, goal point and want to stop losing for a bit - A year ago, couldn't imagine having this concern. Thanks. Thom

Thanks everyone - really nice to hear your perspectives and experiences with "being too thin" - who knew? I have to agree that its now time to build the muscle - I feel really good about myself, but, beginning to feel maybe I am too thin - today, my partner told me I was "too flat" and could not tell from looking at me, if I was "coming or going"- good for a chuckle. ... oh, the before/after posted pic - the after is about 7 months ago - I need a new after! Again, thanks. Thom