I had my original band about 25 years ago: It worked for a while and then I became a gym junkie, lost heaps more weight, it eventually all went back on when I did cartlidge damage to my leg and the band and I co-existed for many years. A couple of my friends had the lapband surgery and it was easy, successful and seemed the answer, I had my original band removed about 3 years ago and the lapband inserted. For me, it was never successful, I was mostly uncomfortable, could not get the fill right and only lost about 6kgs over the entire time. A couple of months ago I felt as though I had a virus then I had trouble with my tummy, it felt really tight and I was just unwell, I woke up one night and thought that I had either been stabbed or was having a heart attack. I saw my doctor and had all the fluid out, eventually I had a barium swallow and an endoscopy which showed band erosion. The band came out about 2 1/2 weeks ago and I am still reovering. There was a lot of inflammation and adhesions as well, so it will take a little more time to heal. For me, the mental aspect is a really big deal, I have had an "insurance" policy for nearly 30 years (I keep thinking - just imagine how big I would be without it), I have to learn to live without it. Before I got sick I was sticking, quite successfully to a low carb diet, which I will continue to do, but it feels so strange to not have it there, I think its a good thing, for me anyway, but it still feels very strange. I have a new beginning and I am trying to make it a good one but I have to admit Im scared!

Good Luck to all

Where do you live and what type of band did they use 25 years ago?

I now live in Townsville Australia. I had the band done in Sydney, it was a permanent (sleeve like) structure that was in much the same place as the lapband but it was not adjustable