LKitsch

Congrats! I see the original surgeon every other year, when he puts me in front of an x-ray machine and has me drink the yucky stuff so he can see how it goes down. I recommend that just to be on the safe side, and it's covered by insurance. About 6 years ago, he wanted to see more, so he did an endoscopy and said everything looked good. Yes, I miss certain foods -- fruits and veggies that are good for me, as well as meats and breads that are not. It's important to do fiber and protein supplements.

Sorry to hear. Yeah I am lucky. The surgeon, who checks it out every 2 years, asked me this last time if I get acid reflux, but I don't. The other thing I can only eat small amounts of is bread -- which probably a good thing!

Yes, pretty amazing. I suppose I am an outlier, which my surgeon said when he saw me the other day. He told me that many people went to something else, but he basically said "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." So I won't -- my only complaint is that I cannot tolerate more than a few bites of certain dense foods like brussels sprouts, apples, steak. I take home a lot of doggie bags when I dine out.

I just got this reintroduction email -- totally forgot I was a member since the lapband has really become so much a routine part of my life that I don't think much about it. I had the surgery in mid-2009 when I was 56, and initially lost 75 pounds in 4 months. Since then, I have kept my weight at about 185. I have learned how to eat with it and think it was the best thing I ever did for my health. My only complaint is that I wish I could eat more fruits and veggies. I had one adjustment in 2011 and none since until this month. I see the surgeon every other year for a routine checkup and X-ray, and he considers me a success story. As I am now 72, I wanted a bit more flexibility so went to him this year to get the band loosened slightly, which he did as much as he could (turns out that over time the fluid leaked out, although I never felt much lessening of the band's restriction). I don't see much on lapbands on this forum, and I know that they are obsolete and no longer done, being replaced by more effective methods. I will probably die with mine in place, happy that it did its job for decades.

60 pounds. Gained back 10 over the following 3 months and have stayed at that same weight for over 2 years. Sure, I could lose more, but I'm satisfied where I am now.

Thank you for the birthday wishes. Thought I'd take the opportunity to say that I had the band done in the summer of 2009, lost my targeted amount of weight in six months, gained just a smidgen back, but have maintained at a good weight for over two years. No complaints!