Hi I am not banded yet and have been researching the band for over a year. Probably too much. I have read some discouraging things about the band as well as some good things. Some bandsters on this site that are not happy with their band say it is all about will power.......and receive no restriction whatsoever from their band. this is quite discouraging as I have never had will power to lose weight and need help. That is why I am chosing to go thru surgery for this. Does the band really help you lose the weight? Also, would you do it again knowing what you know now? Sorry for the negatives but I am nervous about my decision. As you all know it is not an easy one. thank you for your honest replys.

200 lbs gone in 2 years. No, the band doesn't work. I work the band.

lol

200 lbs gone in 2 years. No, the band doesn't work. I work the band.

that is awesome

slimming, you spit like a llama, foaming you burp or throw up foam, very attractive and finally the throwing up, my personal favorite, you HAVE to throw up in order to feel better, nothing else works, and as soon as you do it's a instant..AHHHHHH

These are things Docs skim over, learn EVERYTHING about lap band, know what your getting into, and be fully informed...

good luck

Dave,

That is exactly what happens to me. I have been banded now 11 months and have only been sick 1 time. It's hard when you are hungry to not eat fast, chew your food well and small bites. If I do everything correctly I can eat anything in moderation. Obviously everyone is different and each body may react differently. Some people have to work harder than others to really loose the weight. My biggest fear is if I work out like everyone seems to be on these boards and I quit, I will gain it back. So my exercise is slow, mostly walking but loosing weight slow and steady. I have lost 69 lbs in 11 months. May not sound like much I started at 222 and now I'm 153 and a size 8! Considering I started 16-18. Although I may not exercise like everyone else I actually do so much more then I ever could have the past 10 years. I've hit my own milestones. I am off my diabetic medication which is huge for me. I am off my cpap machine and sleep great. Sure I have the munchies even when I'm not hungry and it's hard sometimes. Personally for me it changed my life in ways I cannot express. I'm sure lots of people can tell you when they were banded the Dr. will fix your hianal hernia. That alone immediately got me off my heartburn medicine and a few months later I could already tell I felt so much better. I feel healthier every day that passes. Everyone is different and how fast you loose it is up to you. I prefer to be consistant but I have had real slow periods then followed by good periods. Good luck! Michelle

As you can see everyone is different! I think the first 5 months or so post op were the hardest - as the first 6 weeks you are in healing mode (NOT losing mode) and then you start getting fills to find your ever desired "sweet spot". Some find it sooner than others, and from what I read, others don't seem to ever find it. I am not sure why that is? I know that the humidity, hormones, and sickness all affect me and how tight my band is at any given time - which makes it hard to know when you need a fill....but it is a tool, as everyone says, and either you work with it or it will work against you.

I have probably slimed a handfull of times....and thrown up a dozen or so...mostly it was in the beginning as I was learning what to eat and how to eat....but every once in awhile I do something stupid like grab a bite of my daughter's donut or a roll at dinner....and if you don't chew it into oblivion it will get stuck and come back up. Live and learn! I would do it again in a heartbeat - as nothing else was working to lose weight.

I have 6 friends who have the band - some are doing well working it, others are stuck and not doing so well, and one has gained all her weight back....the latter was from making poor food choices and not getting fills. It IS a tool....and it will take some willpower, but once you find your sweet spot you really do lose the desire for junk food, etc, and are satisfied with a Protein packed small meal....it is amazing! It takes patience and perserverance.

Good luck!

Kim

I am so sorry insurance won't pay. I was very fortunate that my insurance paid 100%. Since your post was dated Aug. 3rd I am assuming you should have had your surgery by now. I hope all went well. It is very tuff the first two weeks but it gets better. I have no regrets at all, it was the best thing that happened to me. I am lucky I have not had the problems many people seem to have. Just remember in the end it will be worth it. Even if I don't loose another pound I have achieved so much just loosing 70 lbs. My health is so much better and I have so much energy compared to this time last year. I just want to tell everyone how benefiical it is. I understand everyone is different and I've seen people where it really hasn't worked. It was their choice to continue to eat the quantity they ate before and not change. I still can eat what I did before but in moderation and of course the portion size is much smaller. I don't miss the junk, I found other things to replace it, besides I just don't buy it. Please keep us updated. I think everyone at one point was scared, excited all the emotions you can think of all at once. Weird how that works. What else is weird. lol Your top stomach will be full but yet you hear hunger sounds. Don't worry I just drank Water which is my new friend. lol

I am getting banded on August 23rd and the down side to the band is very scary. I really had to pray about getting banded. What I do know is my weight is killing me and my quality of life. So with that said I need to do something to change what I have not been doing and that is taking care of my obesity problem.

I pray that I don't have problems with the band but I know that I am have problems with my health Without the band now. Thank you for all of the honesty that was shared on this forum.

@Jeepygurl: If you are having such issues as getting stuck and sliming so often that you feel you should have been warned about it, you may want to look closer at how you're eating, or talk to your doctor about physical issues with your band or fill level. The ONLY times I ever get stuck and start sliming is when I'm eating too fast, not chewing properly, or swallowing too large of a bite. If I slow down, chew better, and take smaller bites, there is no getting stuck, and I can eat anything I want.

Dave

I agree 100% I learned bad eating habbits from the Army which my Drill Sgt kept yelling at me for eating slow and I just became a speed racer when it came to eating so now I have been trying to teach myself to eat slow and chew more cause like Dave said you only get stuck when you eat fast or dont chew your food. Just take small bites and savor your food instead of trying to stuff your face.

sassyfrass

I was the same way, very excited about having surgery but very scared too. I was sick of being ashamed about the way I looked and avoiding people that knew me when I was normal weight, because I didn't want them to see how fat I had gotten over the years. Life is too short and I decided I didn't want to live the rest of mine being unhappy with the way I look and feel. I was banded 5 weeks ago and I am convinced it is the best thing I have ever done for myself in my life! I 'only' had about 50 lbs to lose but I knew I wouldn't be happy if I didn't do something about it. In 5 weeks, I have dropped 23 lbs. and I feel absolutely amazing! I finally have HOPE. I have no regrets.