loridee11

Hi all,
I'm having issues with my band and my doctor is saying we may need to remove it. If so the option is to either simply remove or to remove and if possible switch to a bypass. I'm very nervous and am wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experience?
A little background: I had my lapband in 2007 and for the first few years I did great. I lost 145 pounds. At about the 4 year mark I started having issues with heartburn and night cough (basically, I would wake up choking on fluid0 and had a series of unfills that put me at about 50% restriction. I've been there for awhile and over the last 6 years I've gained back about 100 lbs. However, after a cold in January I started having serious issues. I could eat food, but when I would drink fluids without food they would get stuck above the band and I was again waking up choking. Doctor did a complete unfill last week and I am feelig better. She wants me to wait 2 months with NO fill so I can heal some, and then we can try small refills to see if I can g3t restriction again without the issues. She is doubtful of success and wants me to start thinking about if it fails do we remove or do we remove and convert to Bypass.
For those of you who chose the conversation, what helped you make that decision? And, how has life with Bypsass been different than with the band? I really appreciate any insight anyone can share!
Lori

thank you all so much for the feedback and sharing your stories. It's good to hear the overall change was positive for all of you.
LaLa Ladybug, keep me informed how it goes with your surgery in July!

Thank you all for the feedback and support!
Even before I took the Fluid out I was gaining weight as I was eating around my band - too many sweets and slider foods and I wasn't exercising. Loosening the band just made it worse.
I will make an appointment with my dr. and talk with him. It's expensive for me to get my band filled as I've moved and am with a doctor who did not do my surgery --- but better slow and a little expensive than going up an down. I'll also see if he thinks there could be a placement issue.
I have a good friend who is a dietician who would probably help me out - that's a great suggestion!
Again - I really appreciate the support!
~Lori

Hi All,
I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet.
A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265.
I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects.
I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation.
Thank you all,
Lori

I can relate about falling off the wagon due to issues impacting you. I won't go into details, but after doing great I had a few things happen and started to eat more and stop working out due to emotional issues. I'm trying to get back on track, and it is significantly harder than it was the first time. I feel like I can't get started.
I am going to go in and get a fill (i had a significant unfill after some issues with being too tight). In addition, I just joined Weight Watchers. Looking back, I wasn't eating the right foods when i lost the weight last time, I was just working out enough to compensate. I am going to try to really learn how to eat right in addition to the exercise to see if I can't make it stick this time around.
Feel free to message me - I could also use the support!
Lori

Hi All,
I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet.
A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265.
I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects.
I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation.
Thank you all,
Lori

Hi All,
I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet.
A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265.
I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects.
I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation.
Thank you all,
Lori

Hi All,
I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet.
A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265.
I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects.
I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation.
Thank you all,
Lori

Hi All,
I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet.
A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265.
I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects.
I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation.
Thank you all,
Lori

Hi All,
I'm more than 5 years out with my band, and have a minimal fill (less than 2 in a 4 cc band) I am going to be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in January and am wondering if the altitude will effect my band? I don't want to get halfway up and not be able to eat or drink - but I also don't want to unfill if I don't need to.
Anyone know?
Thanks,
~Loir