Hello Everyone:

I was banded in February 2008. This makes me 4 years post op. (I still can't believe it!)

I think that I am doing pretty well. I am down more than 100lbs and have maintianed that. I still have about 30lbs that I am working on losing.

How are the rest of the 2008(and earlier) bandsters doing? I know that when we all initially were banded, we reported to this forum/website like it was our parole officer. Now that we have been banded for a while, I am seeing less and less of those who have been banded for a year or greater.

This site is still an excellent and frequently used resource for me. Hearing from you guys keeps me going.

So here is my roll call to see how the 2008 and earlier bansters are doing? Share your up, downs, advice given, or lessons learned.

I am Jan 21 2009 . I have lost 75 lbs gained 4 back would like to lose 15 more. I am happy with my band. Am contemplating having a smidgeon fill. But dreading the pb ing that comes with every fill until I get the new restriction requirements down. Off all meds. but struggling with vitamin B12 needs, I have had ups and downs with fills and unfills. I am one of those folks that has a 10 and can NEVER go above 6ccs. right now at 5. love my life love my band love my Doc. Hope we hear from some more folks

Feb 15, 2008 here. Loving my band. 75ish down, give or take. I've been maintaining for over 2 years with great ease. I eat moderate amounts of whatever I want...except for white meat chicken and doughy breads.

I am about to have a slight unfill. The fill I had in September is just a bit too much. It was fine for a few months then got VERY tight. Then got a bit looser. So, I'll just have a bit taken out. I had a flouroscope done 2 weeks ago, all looked very good, except for how tight I am.

I LOVE normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar, normal cholesterol.

And the vain side of me LOVES wearing a size 10!

I was banded 9/08 back east and was going great for awhile. I lost the job right after the band, went back to school fulltime, lost Mom to cancer then left my now ex husband in 8 months post surgery. I still lost some after the fact but got down to a 16 close to a 14 from a 22/24. I then decided to move back to California and had a little over 1cc removed from my band because i was losing insurance (and my plan covered PA/NJ and was on the edge figuring out if I was too tight. I didn't want to end up in the ER on my cross country drive to move here and have everything taken out due to lack of knowledge.

My cobra plan I have now after losing a job in December again due to the economy, did cover me to get an Upper GI and go see a bariatric doctor who is 2 hours away. That is fine, I will do the drive and I got my new fill so i am up to 7cc in my 10cc band and I have good restriction again. I started to notice the difference in a couple of days and seeing the pounds drop on the scale.

I did backslide due to having fluid removed, but went up to a 18 or 20 in some things, however not fully into what I was at or weight. I figured it is what it is, I did what I had to or felt was right at the time. Now I am back!!!

My boyfriend/domestic partner is extremely supportive and tries to figure out ways to help and loves to cook! But he tries to follow my diet and we split chicken or meat dishes. He knows the cup of food idea and when he cooks keeps my food amount at what I am supposed to have. So I am really lucky with the support I have. He has seen me thrust into learning how to eat AGAIN after the fill and the chew, chew chew, and had to go through a couple of PB episodes in the week following my fill when I took a large vitamin and it got stuck. So it is a journey and I am back!!! I have been coming here almost on a daily basis or if I need to work through a thought process or way of thinking and it helps.

I am not thinking I was a failure at it but I had a Life detour. Now I am back on the path!