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Glad to see that you have worked this out. It would be wonderful if we could do nothing and for the band to work like magic but unfortunately that does not happen. But if we recognise it as a very powerful weapon that will help us in our fight to win the weight loss war then it is invaluable.

I wold just tell them that I was unable to do any situps.

Yes too tight - not a slip. But if you haven't been able to keep any Water down for a couple of days then you can become dehydrated which is an amergency. You should go to the ER, hopefully someone there will be able to do an unfill. At the very least they can get you onto an IV and get some Fluid into you.

I do not personally know Dr Huacuz but I have read stories both good and bad.
BUT.
There is such a thing as patient responsibility. If you have been having problems since your surgery you should have been back to your Dr before now.If your original Dr was unable to help then you should surely have found another Dr.
It seems strange that you have not lost any weight since your surgery. Were you given any postop instructions? Were you told what you should and shouldn't eat?
I do not want to seem unsympathetic but I have always had a bit of the sceptic in me. I find it hard to believe that someone would suffer from serious complications for so long and not do anything about it. The last thing I would be doing if I was in this position would be posting a message on an online forum.

I do not personally know Dr Huacuz but I have read stories both good and bad.
BUT.
There is such a thing as patient responsibility. If you have been having problems since your surgery you should have been back to your Dr before now.If your original Dr was unable to help then you should surely have found another Dr.
It seems strange that you have not lost any weight since your surgery. Were you given any postop instructions? Were you told what you should and shouldn't eat?
I do not want to seem unsympathetic but I have always had a bit of the sceptic in me. I find it hard to believe that someone would suffer from serious complications for so long and not do anything about it. The last thing I would be doing if I was in this position would be posting a message on an online forum.

I do not personally know Dr Huacuz but I have read stories both good and bad.
BUT.
There is such a thing as patient responsibility. If you have been having problems since your surgery you should have been back to your Dr before now.If your original Dr was unable to help then you should surely have found another Dr.
It seems strange that you have not lost any weight since your surgery. Were you given any postop instructions? Were you told what you should and shouldn't eat?
I do not want to seem unsympathetic but I have always had a bit of the sceptic in me. I find it hard to believe that someone would suffer from serious complications for so long and not do anything about it. The last thing I would be doing if I was in this position would be posting a message on an online forum.

I hate rocket which I believe is the same as arugula. It is so trendy these days you go for a meal and they shove a heap of it on the side and call it a salad. YUCK
just shows we are all different.

I don't use a juicer.To me juice = high calorie. I have always been taught that it is better to eat the whole fruit than to drink juice. The whole fruit is more satisfying and you eat less than you would if you are drinking it.
But I know lots of people do use juicers and they swear by them.

Yes too tight - not a slip. But if you haven't been able to keep any Water down for a couple of days then you can become dehydrated which is an amergency. You should go to the ER, hopefully someone there will be able to do an unfill. At the very least they can get you onto an IV and get some Fluid into you.

I love coriander, can eat spinach,broccoli is Ok (so long as it is soft and the flowers only) but cannot stand the peppery bitterness of rocket. Pesto is great, I use it in mash as well as on Pasta. Beetroot is yummy but I wouldn't really want to drink it. The other vegetable which is really trendy atm which I thing is highly overrated is fennel - I cannot stand the aniseedy taste.

This doesn't make sense to me. I struggle to understand starvation mode. If it really exists then we wouldn't have starving people in Africa and lots of people that are anorexic.Also if you were consuming so little then it would be really hard to find the energy to workout that hard and it does not sound as though you are struggling.
My inclination would be to keep up the exercise but to watch what I was eating. You could inadvertently be eating more than you think as it is hard to correctly log every calorie.Also when you have lost a lot of weight sometimes your body needs time to catch up. Plateaus are normal.

This doesn't make sense to me. I struggle to understand starvation mode. If it really exists then we wouldn't have starving people in Africa and lots of people that are anorexic.Also if you were consuming so little then it would be really hard to find the energy to workout that hard and it does not sound as though you are struggling.
My inclination would be to keep up the exercise but to watch what I was eating. You could inadvertently be eating more than you think as it is hard to correctly log every calorie.Also when you have lost a lot of weight sometimes your body needs time to catch up. Plateaus are normal.

That is what I always though and it is listed as a contra indication on the lapband site. I have noticed lately however that a few members on this group do have Lupus and have been banded. As to whether or not they are successful and whether or not the band has caused any of their lupus symptoms to worsen I don't know.
I would do lots of research, speak to the band Dr and then speak to your immunologist as well. You don't want to do anything that would make your Lupus worse. You may find that in your situation it would be better to have a gastric sleeve or bypass. See what the experts say.

It sounds to me as though you are considering the sleeve because you think that it will be easier, that you won't have to make the good choices etc.
Although I am not sleeved I believe that you will find that you actually have to make the same choices as you do with the band. The sleeve will not stop you from eating junk, it will not stop you from grazing, it will not make you exercise etc.
If you are considering a revision because there is a problem with your band then I would say go ahead, but if you are considering it just because you think it will be an easier option I would say you should be very careful. Remember there is still no magic wand WLS - they all require work.

I am wondering if part of this might be psychological? I do not have experience with this but the symptoms that you describe when you say food hits your band sounds as though it could be a form of panic attack.I think maybe you need to talk to a specialist about this.
If you can sort this out then you may find that you are able to work with your band.

It sounds to me as though you are considering the sleeve because you think that it will be easier, that you won't have to make the good choices etc.
Although I am not sleeved I believe that you will find that you actually have to make the same choices as you do with the band. The sleeve will not stop you from eating junk, it will not stop you from grazing, it will not make you exercise etc.
If you are considering a revision because there is a problem with your band then I would say go ahead, but if you are considering it just because you think it will be an easier option I would say you should be very careful. Remember there is still no magic wand WLS - they all require work.

I have flown to South Africa from Australia a number of times and never had any problems. It actually surprises me that your Dr wants to take your Fluid out before you go as an empty band is more likely to cause problems in flight. The air in an empty band can expand in the air whilst if it has saline in it the saline does not expand.
Where in Africa are you going? If it is to a 1st world country like South Africa I would not have the Fluid removed. If it is one of the 3rd world countries then I probably would consider having the fluid taken out because I wouldn't want to risk having a blockage, their hospitals would have no idea how to take the fluid out and you wouldn't want to risk them using a dirty needle.

I eat wholemeal bread and find that if it is toasted it is easier than if it is soft. I can do english muffins but usually only half.They are not particularly healthy so if you do want bread go for the grainy types - they are far more nutritious.

It sounds to me as though you are considering the sleeve because you think that it will be easier, that you won't have to make the good choices etc.
Although I am not sleeved I believe that you will find that you actually have to make the same choices as you do with the band. The sleeve will not stop you from eating junk, it will not stop you from grazing, it will not make you exercise etc.
If you are considering a revision because there is a problem with your band then I would say go ahead, but if you are considering it just because you think it will be an easier option I would say you should be very careful. Remember there is still no magic wand WLS - they all require work.

Today is my one year band anniversary and I am down 58kg (about 130lb). I have stalled in the last month but have a fill in two weeks so that will help.
this year I have dropped from a size 26 (tight) to a 14 on top, 16 on bottom. From dancing a couple of songs then telling my husband it was time to sit down, I am now staying on the dance floor all night.
from being embarrassed to be seen on my bicycle, I am now a 60+ km a day lycra cyclist and loving it.
from avoiding clothes shopping because nothing fit me, I am now the first person into the clothes store and I just keep on buying.
and from avoiding all photos, I am looking forward to my son's wedding next week where not only will I be proud to be in his family photos, but I will also be the focus of attention as MC of the reception.
from three BP tablets a day, I am down to just one blood pressure tablet which should go at my next Dr visit.
and best of all, I have discovered again just how wonderful my husband is. He is my biggest champion and has joined me in getting healthier. We exercise together and he has trimmed off three kg but also improved his cholesterol levels dramatically so we will both be around to enjoy raconteur for many years to come.

It sounds to me as though you are considering the sleeve because you think that it will be easier, that you won't have to make the good choices etc.
Although I am not sleeved I believe that you will find that you actually have to make the same choices as you do with the band. The sleeve will not stop you from eating junk, it will not stop you from grazing, it will not make you exercise etc.
If you are considering a revision because there is a problem with your band then I would say go ahead, but if you are considering it just because you think it will be an easier option I would say you should be very careful. Remember there is still no magic wand WLS - they all require work.

Now that is SAD!

It is possible but generally losing weight without exercising is slower and you will have to eat less than if you exercised as well. Swimming will be good as it is weight bearing. What injuries did you do? Walking is generally good for you even with a bad back but it will depend on what you have done to your back. Can you use an exercise bike as that will take a lot of the weight off your leg.
I think the most important thing is to remember to be more active.
Go and talk to people in your office instead of emailing them.
Do not park right next to the entrance to the shopping centre.
Get up to switch channels instead of using the remote
etc etc.
Lots of little changes can add up and help to make a difference.

Oh, multiple times.
This simply isnt about getting a band and being perfect for the rest of your life. Its about being healthy and sensible most of the time, and getting back on the wagon each and every time you fall off it.. There's always going to be events, holidays, stressful periods, whatever.
I have some habits I can keep up no matter what - those are small portions and exercise. Others - such as food choices - wax and wane. Sometimes I eat **** for weeks on end. I have a real problem with sugar and can survive for weeks on Cookies, muffins, Cereal and Pasta. I dont often gain more than a pound or two because I do exercise it off. But its not healthy for m,e.
I do believe ,many people can be pretty faultless for a year or even two, but in reality the effect of the band on your body DOES lessen over time - no matter the restriction you will find that years down the track you can eat more and can even eat things like bread that you couldnt eat before. So it is, to my way of thinking, more important to work on those life skills - how to get back on the wagon, how to fit exercise into your daily routine forever, how to manage eating out, holidays and the like - much more so than patting yourself on the back because you're living on Protein shakes and egg whites three months into the journey. In the end, you have to live a real life in the real world and most people cannot maintain their enthusiasm for a life of Protein Shakes and egg whites.
It is NEVER too late to simply start over and get back in the groove.

Okay I am almost 3 years out and have been maintaining for about a year and a half. I never made it to goal, l got to size 10 pants and said, “this is good enough”. So tomorrow I am returning to basics and losing the last 15 or 20 lbs I want to lose. Gonna start with liquids and work my way up just like I did after surgery. Workout 7 days a week, just like before.
I was one of the lucky (blessed) ones who lost all hunger with the Band . . . .except “Head Hunger” . . . which never goes away. So we all know it is easier when you do not have to do something alone? Anyone want to join me?
Cheri