I"m really curious as to what kind of things, experiences, information, mis-information or surprises that we learned after being banded. Here are a few of mine.

1. Use of NSAIDS - I didn't know that banded people were highly discouraged from use of NSAIDS. This is definatley a huge problem with arthritis sufferers.

2. PB's and slimming are 2 separate things. I think so anyway.

3. Recovery from LB surgery is not a piece of cake for all!!! Some of us suffer a bit more.

4. For those of us with Insurance coverage, insurance can change from year to year. Contracts are negotiated on a yearly basis and you may end up without fill and follow up coverage in the future

5. Contrary to some posts a port can flip and in my case the port detached. A second surgery was required.

6. Each person is so different with their band.

7. A cc band is different from a cm band. cm bands were the first bands.

8. The inital bands have a higher rate of complications and failures.

9. Getting banded is not an easy way out as we are sometimes accused of.

10. An exercise program is critical to succesful weight loss.

Darn. I'm not getting a single bit of fun out of poking my port. Reckon I'm doing it wrong?

I went to a Chinese restaurant today with my daughter. Half a bowl of Soup and a few bites of Jade chicken was more than enough. I learned I could worry about eating too little and having people think I don't like their food!

I have learned that leftovers are my new best friend. Igrew up with the thought that the plate had to be empty at the end of the mealand now leaving food on my plate is just fine.I learned at home eating off of small plates and using small forks and spoonsare actually kind of fun.

I also learned that fills can take time to do their magic. After my first fillI didn't notice any difference and then a week or so later I felt like I had toretrain myself to eat and I had to experiment with foods that I had no problemgetting down before.

I have learned (and this is a big one for me) that having a band isn't aboutsaying, "I shouldn't eat that", it is more about "I can indulgein this because I.....," followed by went to the gym and burned xxx ofcalories, or I went on a hike, or I have enough in my calorie budget. I feellike I finally have balance in what I am eating and I don't sit in front of theTV and watch the Biggest Loser while eating a whole pizza anymore.

I learned that I have become so eager to weigh myself that I actually have tomake myself wait. I think that I became so wrapped up in themovement of the scale I obsessed a little. Now I am on it every Sunday morning.If it doesn't move as much as I would like I don't beat myself up, I assesswhat my workouts and eating have been like and I adapt accordingly.

Before the band, I thought I knew everything there was to know about dietingsince I had been on one every day of my teen and adult life. I learned that I actuallyknew very little. Getting the band has encouraged me to be more mindful of the quality of food and what it is made of and not just blindly eating because a book or a fad diet tells me to.

# 1 Many people suffer from hairloss with the band.

#2 and this is just my personal experience.........This is much easier than I thought it would be. I know many bandsters have to *work* at it, but I really don't. I never really thought I would ever get to a normal BMI.

Thanks so much for posting this. i do not doubt for one minute the difficult stories I read on this site. AND I want to realize/know that there are probably many people who had a somewhat "easy" path with the band and therefore are less likely to come here and post---they're just out living their lives. I think when I have challenges with something I'm much more likely to seek support and post then when things are going smooth.

It would be great if you could email me to chat. Thanks!