Hey all,

I was banded (realize band) on December 30th, 2009. At this point in my life, almost 5 months later, I am regretting my decision to ever have the surgery. I should have known when the doctor scheduled my surgery within a week of meeting me. One week. He shouldn't have even been able to get it done that quickly. But, alas, I was naive.

Anyway, I was ok after the surgery. HORRIBLE gas pain in my shoulders for about 2 months. I lost about 10-15 pounds in the first 2-3 weeks basically because I was on a liquid diet. I was slowly losing a pound or so a week. And then it just stopped. I have lost 20 pounds total, and that's it. I do not feel full. At all. I have told my doctor this and he calls it "head hunger," "eating around the band," etc, etc. He makes me feel like it is all my fault, that I am a failure and a bad patient, but I know in my heart I have done nothing wrong. I thought this surgery would help me feel full quicker, and it hasn't. I can eat exactly how much I was eating before the surgery, and if I don't, I don't feel full, and want to eat again in an hour. I absolutely hate my surgeon. He makes me feel like a liar. I get nauseated every now and then, and he won't give me anything for it. Instead told me it was my gallbladder and tried to convince me to let him take it out. No thanks. I just feel like crap. I thought the band was going to help me lose weight and it's not doing that. There is nothing that I can't eat. I can't eat and drink at the same time, or else the food comes back up, but besides that, everything else is the same. I am still hungry ALL THE TIME. I just don't get it. I have asked for xrays or tests, or SOMETHING, but my surgeon convinces me that it's ME, not the band. I am so depressed from all this, all I want to do is lie in bed and sleep all day. I don't know what to do. Someone please tell me what could be wrong with my band. Why am I not feeling full? Why can I eat bread and things like that that others cannot eat? Why do I not feel any different? I am at 7.5ccs and I think my band holds 9. Please help. :tongue2:

You have gotten a lot of good advice here; but, it does sound like a new doctor might be in order. I think I would go to some other groups in your area and see if there is a doctor that might be better for you.

Just my opinion but I feel that you have to have a good relationship with your doctor. This means to me mutual respect on both sides and it sounds like he might not be listening to you.

Hi - I wondered if you got any responses to your note.

I had ban surgery March 2008. The band never worked - I never got a feeling of fullness; when they tried defills, there was never the amount in that they had told me they filled; eventually I couldn't eat or drink anything. I had the band removed March this year and it didn't have any fluid in it - but I couldn't eat or drink, was on IV.

I am considering whether or not to have the surgery again but the clinic wants another $3500 - I've already paid $15000.

I hear they're pushing the sleeve a lot now but the big sell of the band was no adjustment to your body - as in cutting away part of your stomach.

I'd really like to hear comments from others.

Since it's been six months since you posted your message, I hope things have gone better for you since.

Gloria

Gloria-- Here is a link to a study that was released about the sleeve. If I lost my band, I would have the sleeve revision. Of course, just because that is what I would do doesn't mean its what you should, we each have to find our own way, but I thought you might like to see the studly.

Initial Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in 292 Patients as a Single-stage Procedure for Morbid Obesity | Bariatric Times

Good luck.