moonbeam

I would say YES you can. I still have my band, but it's been empty for 2 years. I am trying to get my band removed, getting a huge run around in manitoba. They keep trying to talk me out of it. I had it emptied of all fluids almost 2 years ago due to massive complications. Since then I joined a great gym and have turned my health around. I am healthy fit and slim and it has nothing to do with the band. I want the band gone. Since I am now slim with a strong core the port is super obvious and can easily be seen. It looks like a golf ball sized Tumor.

Hi, I am 8 years out from initial surgery. 2 years ago I had my band emptied as I got very ill. I had developed an aspiration pneumonia. It was a terrifying experience and everybody including my pulmonoligist and oncologist thought it was lung cancer. The CT scan done in the ER Showed my lungs full of ground glass masses (not entirely sure of term). Thankfully a young resident put two and two together and we figured out it was the band causing this. I had been coughing and vomiting at night and gone to the ER twice already thinking it was an asthma attack. Long story short the band was emptied an has been sitting idle. Have since changed my lifestyle and am fit and slim without the band. Now however the port of the band is very visible and looks like a golf ball on my torso. I hate it. Want it gone. When I called last year to see about removal I was strongly discouraged from doing that. Now I just want it out. I live in manitoba, CANADA. Has anyone been through this? Any idea on costs? Was it a hassle to arrange? Thanks!

Hi Everyone! Wow haven't posted here in ages. How is everyone doing? I'm 2 years out this April. I've lost 70 pounds and am gaining and losing the same 10 pounds over and over again now. I have 20 more to go until goal. Guess I should buckle down and do it. I'm hoping that with summer and more activity things go a bit better. I feel older and wiser with the band, and agree that it's not a solution but only a tool. Those 10 pounds that keep coming on and off are due to slider foods that I can't seem to say no to. I would do it all again because I'm a slimmer happier more confident person, but there sure were more hurdles than I thought there would be. One really good thing about the band is it's ability to be un filled. I had surgery and radiation treatment in the fall for cancer (all seems to be well now) and having the option to become unrestricted with a godsend as I recovered. The cancer was in the lymph nodes in my neck and throwing up would have really hurt. Anyways, all is well, hope to see lots of posting on this thread!

I've found it depends on the skill of the person doing the fills. At my Dr's there is a NP that does it occasionally and she hurts me every time. She makes lots of excuses about the port being surrounded by scar tissue, it being tilted, me being to skinny (what?!! I don't get that one) etc. When the Dr's at the office do it, it's pretty much painless and fast. There is a numbing cream called amla (sorry don't know how to spell it) that you can get from the pharmacy. It's not cheap though and has to be applied about an hour prior to procedure. When the NP does my fill, I invest in it. Last time she did it, it took many pokes and I almost passed out.

With regards to flying, it shouldn't affect your band. I fly often and have not noticed a difference.

I know exactly how you feel. I am with you on the food addict part. That's just my personality I've found. I'm a recovering alcoholic (7 yrs sober) an ex smoker and now an ex binger (although those darn slider foods like chips still go down!) I too wondered what I would replace this addiction to. I have found though that I am now forced to deal with my feelings and thoughts rather than avoid feeling by using an addiction. The band, well I would do it again, but I have to agree, some days I just don't want it. I looked at a great juicy burger on tv last night and was just whistful. I think the hardest part is that some days things go down, and some days they don't. It's not consistent. I've had this thing 2 years now and I've maintained my weight within 5 pounds, so I'm happy with the functionality of it. It is however not as I thought it would be. It's not as simple as feeling full faster longer.

When did this band together support group start?? First of I've heard of it, I would definitely have gone to the corn maze thing in Sept! It's been a rough go of it for me, had to have all the fluid taken out of band over a month ago in anticipation of surgery of a different kind. I've gained 7 pounds. AACKK!! Have a fill next week and looking forward to getting back on the wagon. I hope I can convince them to go up faster than 1cc at a time! More info about the support group needed please!

Yes, there is a bump where my port is. You get used to it. lol

Thanks Beach. Originally my doctor found a lump on my neck during a routine physical. No other symptoms.

Hi All, I'm hoping there are others on here who have gone through this and can give me support/insight. I had thyroid cancer 9 years ago and had my entire thyroid removed and have been on hormones since. Now that I'm almost at goal weight with the band, I've just found out my cancer is back and although I don't have a thyroid anymore it's classified as thyroid cancer and in the lymph nodes in my neck The surgeons are saying I need a total neck dissection and from what I've been reading the side effects of that are nasty. Has anyone here has any experience with that? :thumbup:

heat could do it. I've had months now playing with restriction going up and down by .25 of a cc. Feels too tight, too lose, and it changes in-between. Sometimes ice cream won't go down and sometimes a doughnut does. There doesn't seem to be a magic number for me. Going to buckle down hard in the next little while and break this darn plateau! 9 pounds away from goal, geez! I have to do this already!

Congrats to you! How is everyone else doing? I've hit a plateau and haven't moved past a 2 pd up and 2 pd down stage in almost 2 months!

I can definitely relate! I marvel at how nice it is to sit outside in comfort and not be the one begging NOT to sit on the patio.