Are you only a month or two...or three after surgery and feel you made a mistake with the band? Then it's time to take a reality check. My .02...there is absolutely no way someone will know within the first few months whether or not the band has failed them. It takes time and tweaking to get to the point where the band is even working...and even longer to be sure it's the band and not just our own unreasonable *or* misinformed expectations and/or time to allow our band area to heal from the abuses we heaped on it with constant stuck episodes...and try again.

If you decide that it works by restricting the amount you eat (instead of curbing your hunger after a meal), then you'll most likely have enough episodes of pbing, sliming and urping up the offending stuck item to continue to cause your band area to swell...and to continue to make it more likely you'll have even more of these episodes. I speak from experience because that was exactly where I was right before a complete unfill.

I was one of those who came on 9 months after surgery saying the band wasn't working for me. That it absolutely did not restrict how much I could eat and it didn't curb my hunger even though I was constantly getting stuck and sliming. I had a complete unfill in preparation for a revision to a vertical sleeve...but within 24 hours of that unfill I was *starving* and suddenly realized that the band was doing its job all along. A week later I went in and they put 6cc back in my band and the hunger immediately abated. Further proof that the band was doing its job.

There may be people who are failed by the band...but this is only discovered over time and with continued effort.

.

I am just over 4 weeks post op, I lost weight y first week, then stalled. In no way do I believe the band failed me. I believe it was the low calorie intake the first few weeks provided. I had been going to the gym and burning like 400 calories while only eating 600 calories per day. Last week I only went to the gym once, and I finally lost, it was only 0.6 lbs, but I was happy the scale moved. This week I am eating more calories, around 1200, so I am back at the gym and working on it, added in the weight machines. I am hoping I lose a little more before my first fill next Tuesday. I know the band works, I can eat my 3-4 oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, and poss 1/4 cup starch and feel that I am not hungry, does it last 4 hours, not if I am at work, it does kind of if I am at home.

I went for my initial consult in June and starting reading these boards at that time, so I definitely was informed about what the band entails

Very True ElfiePoo!

Thanks for the reality check. No doubt about it, being newly banded opens up a lot of questions, and for me, HUGE fear of failure. It is such a learning curve and it can be hard to trust in the process. So much to learn, so much to take in. And I say this after researching 3+ years before getting the procedure. It's like actually living it is a whole different thing. Thanks for posting this - invaluable.

i am four weeks out and i am satisfied with everything that has happpened so far except for the stuck issue this morning (my fault completely) but have been pleasantly surprised how i have dealt with the issues and the amount of food i take in. i am satisfied and full and enjoy my food now. still losing weight. i just have not changed my ticker because i want the dr scale weight. i look forward to this journey and all that is in store for me.

ElfiePoo, you've lost a lot of weight! Can I ask how long it's taken you? I think you've done great!

Are you only a month or two...or three after surgery and feel you made a mistake with the band? Then it's time to take a reality check. My .02...there is absolutely no way someone will know within the first few months whether or not the band has failed them. It takes time and tweaking to get to the point where the band is even working...and even longer to be sure it's the band and not just our own unreasonable *or* misinformed expectations and/or time to allow our band area to heal from the abuses we heaped on it with constant stuck episodes...and try again.

If you decide that it works by restricting the amount you eat (instead of curbing your hunger after a meal), then you'll most likely have enough episodes of pbing, sliming and urping up the offending stuck item to continue to cause your band area to swell...and to continue to make it more likely you'll have even more of these episodes. I speak from experience because that was exactly where I was right before a complete unfill.

I was one of those who came on 9 months after surgery saying the band wasn't working for me. That it absolutely did not restrict how much I could eat and it didn't curb my hunger even though I was constantly getting stuck and sliming. I had a complete unfill in preparation for a revision to a vertical sleeve...but within 24 hours of that unfill I was *starving* and suddenly realized that the band was doing its job all along. A week later I went in and they put 6cc back in my band and the hunger immediately abated. Further proof that the band was doing its job.

There may be people who are failed by the band...but this is only discovered over time and with continued effort.

.

ElfiePoo, you've lost a lot of weight! Can I ask how long it's taken you? I think you've done great!

Mattie,

I've lost 40 pounds since surgery (a little over a year). The rest I lost prior to surgery.

I have no doubt I would have lost more than that over the last year if it wasn't for the fact that I was one of the hardheaded folk who didn't think I should have to diet (since I was eating half what I did pre-band) or exercise. If I can help even one person not 'waste' that year, then it was a year well spent.

Melody