It has been a few years, just seeing who might still be around from the good ol' days.

Thank you, MouseK...the few years prior to LB surgery, I felt I had one foot in the grave. Now I have endless energy.

It shows. You look delighted with yourself and with life. Bravo!

Humm, not sure how far back the good ol days are...BUT... im about 2 years into banding and am still pleased as pie.

It has been a few years, just seeing who might still be around from the good ol' days.

Hi I believe you were on here when I first started .. I just came back to the forum a couple days ago as I have not stayed on track and not had fills or any thing in 3 years.. started gaining a little so going to get my buttt back into gear.

It has been a few years, just seeing who might still be around from the good ol' days.

I guess I would consider myself a long-timer! I was banded back in 06'

Things were going well...then I fell in love and got married. I have gained some back motivation is hard to find these days. I battled with reflux, being too tight, too loose and just overall frustration! All in all..I would do it all over again.

I'm still 50 pounds from goal....I'm hoping to get there someday!

good to hear the news.....I remain "35# from goal".....and life is GOOD!!!!

Hi Jack, Alex, Wheetsin! (HI MOM!!) and anyone else I forgot--it's nice to see so many familiar names. Just wanted to pop in and say HI. I'm not doing well with my weight, but everything else in my life is as good as it can be so I can't really complain. I'd love to get back to that place where being banded gave me control, but I think I've discovered that I never had any control and still don't. Ah well, anyway, I can't go into a long thing now but will definitely try to get back into the habit of visiting here more often. I'm so glad to see it thriving--Alex, this is extraordinary!!

Hi Alexandra.....good to hear from you, would be nice to catch up. I check in here daily a few times. cheers

Hi, I'm an old timer, was banded in June 2005, so coming up on six years.

It's not been an especially successful journey for me. It was at first...I lost 110lbs. I'd started at 300 so 190 felt pretty good.

But I have an eating disorder that I was well through with before my surgery. And with the band, it was great for a while, then it got bad. I found the band could be my best accomplice. Eat too much, band won't take it, up it comes. Over and over again.

I'd read everywhere that vomiting is about the worst thing you can do for your band, and yes, it is.

I was able to get back in control of the vomiting, somewhat, but then I started trying to eat as much as I could. As a result, I have a dilated esophagus and a slight slip.

Right now, my band is completely unfilled while I try to figure out what to do. Of course, I gained a fast 50 lbs and I'm struggling and fighting everyday to keep that from becoming more.

When it was good, the band was amazing. Now I'm not so sure. I was self pay since my HMO didn't offer the surgery. Now they do, so I'm hoping to be referred into the program. Not sure they'll take me since the surgery was done elsewhere, but by a reputable surgeon in San Francisco. I seriously want to have the band removed as it's not really doing anything right now. It's not a critical situation to have it out, all is well. It's just doing nothing.

I'm thinking seriously about converting to a gastric sleeve, but I just can't get my head around having a surgery again.

So everyday is a struggle. For those on this board who, with the band, got to their goal weight and are keeping it there...I'm truly amazed and impressed. That's a significant achievement. I wish I could count myself among you.

I suppose that I'm still happy to be 238 vs 300 lbs, so in a way, my band was a success. Given all that I know, I would probably get the band again. The band didn't fail me, I failed the band.

Personally I believe "238" is WAY better than "300".....and that can not be regarded as a failure IMHO. When it gets to the actual HARD work part, I'm not at goal either. Then again, I'm not on CPAP, or on insulin shots. Or blind. Or dead. So....whatever my own status is....I'm a HAPPY Bandster and intend to continue as best I can muddle on until the earth falls out of orbit, etc.

I had surgery in December of 07 and lost 50 lbs. I had 70 to lose, so I was pretty happy with the 50 lbs. I kept that off for 2 years (easily due to the restriction), then it became easier to eat more and more at a time, so I went in for a tune-up. I found I had a dilation, and they removed half of the saline (I have a 10 cc band). I behaved and corrected the dilation and currently have 7 cc. It certainly isn't enough and my restriction isn't great. I guess I will call them today and make an appointment....I know I probably have another dilation and will have to go thru the routine again. i'm kinda bummed out. i didn't get the band because I am a great dieter. I CAN'T diet and I have been on every diet ever imagined. I find that I am back on that roller coaster. I have gained back 10 lbs. I really want to feel that restriction again...you know, the feeling that "I hope this little bite of food will make it down okay..." I love that feeling and want to get it back. Guess I will go listen to Barry Manilow :-)

awesome story of persistence and courage....i wish for you all things good and congrats on your success in all things

roxanne

st has inspired me. I am SO happy for you that things are going so much better and congratulations on nearing the 2 year mark. That is SO awesome. I just had to say hello and that I appreciate your post. I also love your quote.

Lisa

Hello all, I got the email and figured it would be nice to stop by and say hello and give a long-winded update. Feel free to skip the boring parts!

I got my band on 03/28/07; four years ago this month! Feels like I've had it longer, actually.

I'm still overweight, but my weight is very steady around 300-310lbs (6'6" tall) for years now. This is down from my all-time high of 420+ lbs., although constant Atkins dieting and exercise were keeping me well below that weight in the years prior to the surgery. I think I was bouncing around in the 360-390 range in the months before surgery, but I tell people I lost over 100 pounds with the band because without low-carb dieting and running that would be very true.

The band did what I wanted- it stopped my ravenous hunger and stabilized my weight so I wasn't CONSTANTLY gaining pounds or dieting back down. Ironically, what it changed most was my mind, not my body. I feel like a normal person now, somebody who should really hit the gym and drop that beer gut, instead of somebody haunted by a fatal metabolic disorder and a love/hate relationship with food.

I'm at 9.6cc fill on a vanguard, reasonable restriction. I never got the hang of eating without fluids and in fact I drink lots of Water with my meals. I know I'm flushing the band but it works for me. I can and do eat normal-sized meals, just very slowly. This is a big change from my pre-band diet where I would eat a meal for two- or three- and still be hungry after.

I'm a bit picky about what I eat now; my friends and I joke that I have "surgical bulimia" on those bad-band days (no, we are not very p.c. and I do understand that's a serious eating disorder), but I have had a couple of somewhat-comical upchucking/spewing events that won't be described here, usually after trying to down some tasty but heavy / glutinous food. For some reason hamburger patties and hand-tossed pizza crusts are utterly intolerable to my band no matter how much I chew them. Thankfully about a year after surgery I found lettuce/spinach/salads could finally go through the band just fine. I do not religiously avoid sweets. I just eat these things in normal amounts now.

As far as band side-effects or issues go, like I said I have very occasional bad days where I hurl most food up. These days are always solitary and they never prevent me from taking water in, there is no associated pain with this other than hunger. I don't think my band has ever slipped. I don't have any heartburn issues. Sometimes I bump by port and it gets sore but overall I would say I've had no serious complications and I'm very happy with my band. I've had the flu twice, promethazin suppositories kept the retching to a minimum.

I do have a standing arrangement with my surgeon that if my band ever messes up and needs further surgery, he will take it out and revise me to a vertical gastrectomy.

inspirational and insightful, thanks

i'm an old timer mostly, banded in 2-07 by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana

its kind of a constant process, i personally had a big restriction last time (2 years ago) and its maintained

currently i feel the need to reduce the restriction as its making me lose too much weight

at any rate good luck and if anyone knows of a fill doctor in missouri, memphis or chicago who will take outsice bands i'd appreciate the info

thanks

roxannnw\e

Alex, Jack, Wheetsin, Giveyouthemoon, and all the other "old timers", wow, it has been a long time! I'm blessed to still have my band. I pop in from time to time, but I miss my old buddies. We had some great times here. Everyone thinks Facebook is the social network, haha, Lapband talk was my social network for years before FB or Myspace. I still stay in touch with Betty, Diane, Sherry, Eileen, and a few other oldies on FB, but truth be known, Alex, I think your LBT was without a doubt, the original social network!

I often wonder about some of the original gang, I hope they're doing well. I feel bad so many lost their band, without the my band I shutter to think what life would be...Yikes. I just got back from bike week in NC, what a great feeling to hop on my bike and feel good about myself! To quote Jack, "Life is Good"...

Thanks for the memories Alex and LBT and helping me adjust to my new life as a bandster, although it was over 6 years ago. Also, allowing me to share my trials and tribulations with others going through the same thing. We had some great times and some crazy times, and lots of drama, (you old timers know who I'm talking about).

Alex, I hope you realize the lives your site has touched...from the bottom of my heart, thanks again!

Banded Dec 2004!!!!!!

Member since Oct 2004!

Anyone out there a October 2006 Bandster?

I was banded 10/31/2006.

Had a lot of problems with the Dr's aftercare,and then no Insurance.

So I gained a lot of it back, but I moved, found a new surgeon, got Ins., so now I am back all over again.

I have that 4cc band, and I was very glad to hear that it was in new shape.

So now I will do it again.

Nice to see some of you people. That's for sure !

If your out there ! this is sstasevich writing you.

Get back if you can, Shirley.