NaNa

I am a pear shape, and I am 5'7 and I went from a size 26 to size 12 below, I don't have a before on hand, but I went down almost 14 sizes over the years with my band, I got to a size 12 by 14 months post op and pretty much stayed this size over the years, however, I've been as low as a size 8/10, I will post more pictures when I find them, I did gain some weight back last year, still can were most 12's but I would like to lose another 20 pounds to feel comfortable again.

Could be because you've lost weight, your port will be noticeable depending on where it is and how much weight you've lost, as long as you are not having pain, you should not worry too much.

Congrats! You look awesome.

Not normal, please see surgeon asap, and please tell your surgeon what you are telling us. Good luck

OK, you many not like what I have to say, It's called hard love, but here goes. I've seen this happen over and over and over again over the 8 years I've had a band and it's called the lap band trap, where we think having the tightest restriction will yield quick long lasting weight loss, yes you will lose quickly, but sadly weight does not stay off if you lose unhealthy. One thing I really appreciate in your post is that you are owning your problems, and reaching out for help. But sadly, your situation does not look good for a long healthy band life, here is your problem, you went pass the green zone, and staying in the red zone (too tight) for too long and many lap banders are not eager to get saline removed from the band if they are losing weight. You lost your weight the wrong way, and when you lose the wrong way with the band, unfortunately complications can result from that. The lap band has a VERY HIGH complication rate for this very reason, (lap band abuse) this is why many surgeons are moving away from the lap band because so many people abuse, get too tight and never follow up until their bands has slipped so bad it must be removed. Has your band slipped? We don't know, we are not qualified to answer this question, but based on living with the band 8 years and seen others go through the same thing, it SOUNDS like your band has slipped, either pouch dilation. You can actually live with an untreated band slip for a few years, but eventually the band will slip so band and cause horrible reflux and vomiting daily so bad and it cause maladaptive eating problems meaning you will eventually not be able to keep any food or keep liquids down. The reason you are a bit concerned now that you still have "some restriction" even though you've had a few unfills, reason is your band has probably started to slip from being too tight and vomiting daily and when the band starts to slip it gets tighter and tighter, and you have to constantly get unfills until you get all the saline removed. As you can see you can't depend on the band to do all the work, and keep it too tight to stop you from eating, you lost your weight wrong and sadly it will not stay off unless you conjure up some willpower and start using your band as a tool instead of a crutch and eat healthy and exercise. We don't know the status of your band, you really need to get in and see your surgeon ASAP where they can check the position of the band and pouch size, and sometimes Upper Gi's don't tell the whole story, sometimes you need a EGD (endoscopy) to access the damage to your esophagus or pouch. If you are not having many problems now since you've gotten some saline removed, does not mean your band is Ok, Also, If you don't have money or insurance now, the best thing you can do is stop the vomiting, watch your portions before you end up having to have emergency band removal, yes it can eventually get that bad. The only concern now is having tight restriction even though you've removed saline, some people have to continue removing saline until the band is totally empty and still have issues and when there is no where to go the band must be removed if you have horrible reflux and un-wanted vomiting on an empty band, and then you can aspirate food into your lungs, I hate to scare you but want to prepare you for what I've seen so many go through with their bands. Also while you are not having many problems for NOW, it would be a good to start looking for a new job that will offer you some insurance because sooner or later you will probably develop reflux to the point you will not be able to sleep and band damage causes regurgitation of vomiting in your sleep, it can get ugly. I am sending you a cyber hug and giving you tough love and sending you warm vibes, and I really hope your band will be ok, and you learn from this, sometimes you need outside help like counseling and seek a therapist to help cope with your eating and why you eat, you can't use the band as a coping mechanism, that's not its job, although the band is the SAFEST of all the weight loss surgeries, it can get very dangerous and do harm if we don't use it wisely and responsibility. Good luck

It's never too late to get back on track with the band as long as you are doing the following: 1. Are you getting your fills?, do you have adequate restriction? 2. Are you getting some exercise in? Daily walks, lifting weights, aerobics 3. Are you counting your calories and getting no more than 1200 calories per day, ideally between 700-1000 on my days for best weight loss. 3. Are you staying away from junk? 4. Are most of your meals lean Proteins and green veggies? If you answered no to most of the questions honestly, then you can dust off and start over. Good luck!

Big congrats! Get it girl work that band!

Congrats on your success, you should be proud!

I guess it's a matter of perspective, some would say this is perfect, but I warn you, if you keep this fill, you'd better walk on a tight rope and not eat but soft liquids and not solids. This type of fill is a slippery slope, probably will produce more weight loss, but will also cause long term band damage if you are not extremely careful and not eat too much and don't vomit often. Problems usually don't start until a few years later, some people will keep this too tight fill and get their weight off and then reduce saline once they reach their goal, but you still take a risk for dilation of the esophagus and pouch which causes horrible reflux long term. Usually when people post about being too tight they usually are. Most people follow the fill zone chart to determine if they are too tight (you can google that), but the choice is yours to remove saline, which many people will not do if the scale is moving down. I can't tell you what to do, you should use your own judgement, if it were me and knowing what I KNOW now going on 8 years and have seen many horrible band complications, I would not keep a fill that tight for long periods of time. Good luck!

Take a deep breath, it will be ok, over the 8 years I've had a lap band, each fill was different and I never experienced the same side effects. If you've only been experiencing these side effects since your last fill, it's probably not band slippage, you are probably just way too tight, which can cause misery. As I've mentioned before sometimes it takes about 2-3 weeks before a fill will settle in, and now you are feeling it now and it is too tight. You are doing the right thing about seeing your surgeon today, you probably won't need but a little bit out like maybe .2cc, but let your know you only want a little out, sometimes the surgeon will take too much out and it may take a long time to get where you want to be. Typically band slippage happens over time and not immediately and usually happens when you've been too tight for long periods of time and eat too much and purge your food daily, but this is not case in you situation. Good luck

What helped me post op, was taking chewable GasX, walking, and if you are experiencing burning, you may want to ask your surgeon for a PPi, like prevacid to control the acid. Also,my post op meal were 1st week Clear liquids and full on day 4, and then week 2 full liquids and week 3 were mushies, also I did not eat no more than about 2-4 oz of any food to avoid any type of pain. You have to go slow in the beginning while healing. Good luck

Congrats on your new band! Please keep in mind that your band is not working yet, you are still healing, if you lose weight at this point it is a bonus, your main concerns now should be about healing. Most people get their first fill between 4-6 weeks post op. (hopefully you researched all this). Your calorie intake sounds good for weight loss, most keep their calories between 500-1200 calories during healing. Your band does not start working until after the fill process and it could take 3-5 fills (4-6 weeks apart) before your band is working optimally.

I remember a girl done the exact same thing, and sadly she lost her lap band. The problem with this approach is that fills can sometimes take 2-3 weeks before they settle in and you don't want to piggy back fills and get too tight. Sometimes unfilling the band and refilling constantly can damage the band, your stomach needs rest between fills, fills are nothing to take lightly, they are the cause of most lap band complications, you have to be very careful with fills. You can't tighten the band so tight to speed up weight loss without risking complications. But again, it's your band and your body, if things work out that is great, but please do not bash the band if you have any issues down the road because this is not how aftercare and fill adjustments should be with the band. Ideally fills should be every 4-6 weeks in the beginning to prevent complications and you and your surgeon are going against the band manufacturer recommendations. Good luck

It sounds like you are already in the green zone, you mentioned you can eat anything as long as you chew well and your hunger is controlled. The lap band is NOT designed to do anything else, your tool IS working. What you have to ask yourself now are YOU following the band rules if you are stalling? 1. Are you exercising or moving your body to produce a sweat at least 30 minutes per day, brisk walking is great too. 2. Are you REALLY logging everything that goes into your mouth, remember it's still calorie in calorie out, the band does not change this. Those who lose quicker and don't stall much stay within 700-1000 calories in the losing phase. 3. Are you drinking Water or no sugar beverages? Ideally you should drink 8 glasses of water each day. Remember the band does not work until about 1 hour after you eat, if you eat dense Proteins, the bands job is to keep you satiated for about 4 hours between meals. Also you should not eat no more than a pixie cup or about 4 oz per meal. The band is not about restriction, it is about hunger control, and apparently it's doing that, over the 8 years that I've had my band, everyone that uses the band to stop them from eating most foods end up with a revision or no band at all so be careful and use your band wisely you want to keep your tool forever, not short term. Good luck

I am curious how did your surgeon know your band slipped if you did not have any symptoms? Did you have a fill under fluoroscopy? If a surgeon sees that your band has slipped the first thing they usually do is totally unfill the band -- to remove pressure off the pouch, not leave all the saline in. If your band has slipped, it's only time before it may have to come out/fixed or rebanded if possible, everyone is not a candidate for rebanding depending on how much damage is done and scar tissue. It also depends on the severity of the slip, some slips can't be fixed without surgical intervention, but if it is pouch dilation, sometimes removing all the saline and let things rest for about 6-8 weeks, and the surgeon needs to perform a Upper Gi to check the pouch size, and often times you can get refilled - slowly and carefully. In the meantime, it may be a good idea to search for a new job that will cover bariatric surgery. Also you may want to check with an attorney, although your insurance may not cover bariatric insurance, if you have a life threatening complication, it may be covered under medically necessary. Good luck

Yes, sometimes it takes about 2-3 weeks before a fill settles in, this is why it's important not to get piggy back fills, and wait the recommended 4-6 weeks between fills.

A cough with the band, that is not related to a cold, indicates reflux, and a cough can eventually lead to aspirating food into your lungs. You need to talk to your lap band surgeon about your cough. A consistent cough also is a early sign of reflux and pouch dilation. I am not a doctor, but I am just sharing what I've learned and seen others have/or experienced in the last 8 years with my band. Good luck

You mentioned: Perhaps the area of the country I reside in has ethical medical professionals. And the many doctors, attorneys, and judges I have interfaced with through the course of my long career also abided by the professional ethics set forth by their respective professional boards as well. Your signature indicates you live in Florida, I've heard enough about Florida lately and their laws that the rest of the country think is a joke these days.., so enough said about Floridians and THEIR LAWS and their professionalism ...lol

Carole, Anything I say on the internet I can back up with studies, and cited reference material, I don't generalize I post FACTS. If you are naive enough to believe there are no "unethical" surgeons and they are all so "professional" you are living in a small bubble, and very soon it will pop. If you have not heard about MANY "unethical and unprofessional surgeons" out in California that sparked a congressional hearing regarding deaths of lap band patients and many suffered complications and Billboards were everywhere out in California a few years ago, and if you are naive enough to believe all surgeons are so so professional, I really feel sorry for you. I don't believe everything I read on the internet also, but I've known of Dr. Simpson over 8 years, he used to be a regular poster on the OH, before the lap band forum on OH was destroyed with band bashing which is a shame. Dr. Simpson has seen a lot of lap band abuse from both patients and surgeons, so have I. If you've had a lap band complication, I am sorry to hear that, of course I am no doctor, and I don't care to be, I am a software engineer by trade and I am very happy with my career. I've had enough issues with my old band to have EARNED my strips and have seen others with various lap band issues over the 8 years to try to help others. Again, anything I say I can surely back it up with studies and cited material.

Bandista, Thank you and that blog of Dr. Simpson is right on the money and so true, from what I've seen over the 8 years, having a band-friendly surgeon and aftercare is more important than getting the band.

Jim, You are right on the money! Let's get real here, most surgeons like to cut, they like to operate and be done and not have to deal with filling a lap band and dealing with unfilling/refilling the band. Also, the Sleeve is the big thing now just like the band was about 5 years ago, and I see the same thing happening with the band, now happening with the Sleeve, that was one of the reasons I went with the band again, if anything happen I can get it removed, whereas, if anything go wrong with the Sleeve, I am SOL. The Sleeve and the Bypass can be a good surgery for certain circumstances, but they also come along with long term issues that I've researched. Once the surgeon has cut you and rearranged your guts, they really don't need to see you again, but with the band, they MUST see you since it is a specialized surgery and only a band surgeon can identify and treat any lap band related issues, but surgeons can push Bypass and Sleeve people to other internist, and doctors to deal with their hypoglycemia and Vitamin deficiency and a lot of these issues are under reported whereas any blip with the lap band such as vomiting is cited as a complication. This is why is it critical for anyone who is seeking a band should research their surgeon and seek lap band-friendly surgeons who will take the time to follow the patient progress and proper fill adjustments.

You are welcome Missy!

Sojouner, It's ok to disagree with me, but I will tell you, you are a "rookie" at the lap band, and I've seen a whole lot regarding the lap band. There are MANY "bait and switch" surgeons, they know MOST patients WANT the band, and they will either talk them into the Sleeve or Bypass and tell them that the band will not work for them, which it probably won't because they will offer them horrible aftercare, I've SEEN it too many times over the 8 years I've had a band seen others with horrible issues due to horrible aftercare. So does Dr. Simpson agree with "bait and switch" surgeon based on his lengthy blog of his thoughts about the TRUTHFUL demise and issues that many lap band surgeons have caused including that 1800- scam clinic that sparked a congressional investigation. Most banders lap band experience will be as good as the surgeon who installs it and the aftercare they receive, and patient compliance. Here is the link http://www.yourdoctorsorders.com/2013/05/lap-bands-perfect-storm-and-turn-around/

Well, if you go to OH which is a anti-lap band website you will hear nothing but negativity about the band. Anyone who post there nowadays are seeking revisions and are very bitter about their band experience. Also, you have to take into perspective the type of complications that occur with the band, most are simple things, like vomiting, reflux, heartburn, port leaks and tubing leaks, these are the majority of issues that occur with the band. Frequent reflux/vomiting is a symptom of lap band problems, such as slippage or dilation. Some people live with a slipped band for years, who don't have good aftercare, and end up needing emergency surgery to remove the band. Port and tubing leaks are not dangerous, but annoying and can get costly if someone is self pay and don't have money to fix or replace the band, this is why many people who are self pay should have a rainy day fund for any unforeseen lap band issues. However, these things can get severe if not treated promptly, like food obstruction can get life threatening and cause repeating vomiting and dehydration if someone does not seek medical attention by a lap band surgeon immediately. There are many people that do not have aftercare with their bands, many went to Mexico and don't have a surgeon to see them regularly in the US, some people have very poor aftercare with the surgeon that sees them in the US also, some lose their insurance, and no longer can afford the aftercare with their bands, so if you dig deep in how most people suffer complications, they are usually not really caused by the lap band. Also things like food obstruction which usually can be easily treated easily, can turn into a horrible complication if the patient does not see their lap band surgeon immediately to remove saline from the band. Also, everyone's body reacts differently with the band, some people have a weak or short esophagus and are not good candidates for the band, and they can't stand the pressure of a tight band and sometimes this will cause esophageal motility issues long term, but from all the studies I've read even people with a weak esophagus and motility issues return to normal after the band is removed. , Also I agree with the above poster Lellow, Australia have better lap band stats than the US because they have better aftercare surgeons, many surgeons in the US do not like offering aftercare and filling the lap band-- many surgeon view aftercare with the lap band to be annoying, many in the past have pushed them to Primary Care Physicians for fills, and other fill givers that do not fill the band properly, who know nothing about the band. Many of these surgeons were Bypass surgeons and only did the band as a "side project" because MOST people WANT the lap band and the bypass surgeons would do a bait and switch on patients, not fill the band properly and many people never get to the green zone, either too tight or not enough and patients would get so frustrated and remove the band, and the Bypass surgeon would gladly remove the band and revise them to the bypass, and that happens WAY too much in the US. I've had a lap band for almost 8 years and I would not change to any other procedure, I could have revised to the Bypass or Sleeve last year when I got my band replaced due to a hiatal hernia, but I see too many Bypassers and Sleevers struggling with weight gain long term, and dealing with other long term health issues such as reflux, Vitamin deficiency and hypoglycemia. I will risk lap band complications any day before I would risk Sleeve, or Bypass complications. Also check out the revision forum on OH, many people are desperate and seeking help from weight gain with the Sleeve and Bypass, many long term Bypassers are NOW seeking bands over their bypass, my surgeons also says many Sleevers are asking for bands too, but they can't because they don't have enough stomach left, but their small stomach has stretched too much to be effective without serious deiting, but some surgeons are putting some type of mesh bands over Sleeves, never let negative people fool you some have other motives for band bashing. Good luck.

Unfortunately, slime comes along with being banded period WITH a restricted band. EVERYONE at some point in their banded life will slime, some more than others, so get used to it..LOL. It's the bodies way of lubricating your food to try to slide it down instead of it coming back up. It's the price you pay for tight restriction, if you don't like sliming, you can also remove a little saline in order for you to eat better, but I am sure you don't want to do that, so you will have to suck it up and find ways to minimize it. It's the same with Bypassers most will dump soon or later, same with the band most will slime sooner or later. You can minimize your sliming incidents by either drinking something warm prior to a meal, the band is tightest in the morning for most bandsters and many will have something light like yogurt, or a Protein drink for breakfast instead of trying to eat eggs and sausage. Also sliming is DIFFERENT than actually Pbing, Pbing is acutally bring the food back up -- similar to vomiting, which if done every day for long periods of time can cause pouch dilation and other issues. Sliming is not that serious since your mouth just waters and you start spitting out gobs of slimy spit, and you don't bring force upon your stomach or band. Welcome to being a full fledged lap bander .