Hello Junbies ......

I haven't seen a June Band Crew thread yet so thought I would start it .

I'll be banded on June 9th in Texas. I'm getting very excited about it. I know that the band is just a "tool" to aid in my weight loss journey and it will take a lot of hard work on my part to make it successful. I've been overweight my whole life with the earliest memories being around age 4. Although no one else in my family is overweight, I am extremely fortunate to have full family support in my decision. I know that there are many people who's family doesn't offer the support they need. I would love to meet other pre-bandsters being banded in June to walk with me to the banded side of life and offer each other support.

I wish you all the best.

Melissa Lea :hippie:

Pre-bandster 240 lbs

June 9, 2006

Spivak

self-pay

Well I went to the doc Saturday, 1/10/08 and my band has slipped! I was told I have to have another surgery to either take it out or have it replaced! GREAT! I am a self pay! $10,000 bucks to Dr. Ortiz in Mexico for 2 1/2 years of weightloss is a pretty hefty price! I originally lost 67 lbs but am still at a healthy 50 lb loss, but was not feeling satiated so I went in for a fill. They did a flouro and my stomach is SO pooched out above my band! The barium didn't even go through the band just sat there in my upper stomach. I've not been sick though, which is good, and also which means it's not an emergency. Thank God. I don't want to get fat again!!! I was wearing size 22's and am now in 14's!!! This stinks!

Halobabe,

What are you going to do? Mine slipped and I had to have it removed in June. I have gained almost all of my weight back and don't know what to do. The band worked but I was never able to eat so not sure I want to go back to that.

So good to see so many of you back on the thread. Happy New Year to all of you.

I am sorry to hear that some of you are having so much trouble with your bands. And I sure know what it means to be a self-pay. I worry all the time that my band might slip and I would have to spend that money all over again.

I agree with you Barbara465 - I know that I can't be trusted without the band either. I hope that you are able to obtain a level of restriction that will allow you to eat something and yet not gain weight.

The band is a good solution but sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to do the bypass. I was talking to someone the other day and they were telling me that they can eat whatever they want with the bypass - they don't have the problems with eating meat like we do. Has anyone else had these thoughts?

Good luck to all of you.

Okay, this is my 3rd attempt at a post-it better work this time!

Halobabe-I am so sorry that your band slipped. Unfortunately, I know exactly how you feel. I hope you are able to resolve it.

Stella- I am also so sorry to hear that you lost your band. I know I would be back at my old weight without mine. Let us know what you decide to do and I send you my best thoughts and wishes!

Lucymann-I never really thought of doing gastric bypass because I didn't qualify originally. Also, I know 2 friends and I have 2 cousins who had it. One of my cousins is back to her original weight. The others have gained as well, but not all of it. If I did anything else, I would do the sleeve. Hopefully, I will be able to keep my band for a long time, but if not, the sleeve would be my next choice.

I was 158 this morning, so I am maintaining pretty well. I would like to get back down to 150 or less this year, hopefully by my bandiversary. But, with the struggles everyone is having I need to just be thankful I am where I am.

I wish everyone the best. This is a lifelong struggle for us all, but I am glad we have each other to lean on!:thumbdown:

Thought I'd say a quick hello to everyone.

I had another .3 fill and it is working. Of course, I'm not able to eat many things and I'm struggling to eat anything healthy. But on a happier note, I've lost five pounds in the last two weeks. Hope to be back below 200 next week. Feels great to be losing again.

I've been down with low back strain for a few days and I'm looking forward to getting back to my Yoga classes. They are so good for me mentally as well as physically.

good luck everyone!

Just thought I would pop in and see how everyone is doing. I am still the same weight I was when I was pre-op. No fill. Have been approved for the RNY, but scared to death of actually doing it. Have it scheduled for the first of June, if I don't chicken out.

Hubby says to give the band ONE MORE TRY before my surgery, so I am going in for another fill. (like it will work)

Will let you know how it goes.

Poodles-

I am so sorry for all your struggles with the band. I am sad that it didn't work for you. It makes me thankful that it worked for me and reminds me not to take it for granted. Let us know what you decide regarding gastric bypass. Remember, you will always be a Junebie!

Ended up that insurance paid for my revision, thank God, done in Feb. All healed up but NO RESTRICTION at all yet. Eating everything while I can b/c went so long not able to eat hardly anything. Not eating a lot, just things I couldn't before, like MEAT and rice and bread...gained about 10lbs...Going in for 2nd fill today...hoping it will give me some restriction. Got the new Allergan LAP-BAND AP---the large one---holds 14cc. only got 3cc. 1st fill which did nothing. It's hard to be hungry again ALL THE TIME-which is why I got it in the first place.

Glad you had a successful revision Halobabe. Let us know if you have restriction yet. Hopefully you are healing well and back on the losing trend!

Hey people! Check in with me! I miss you all and wish you the best!

Let the 3 year bandiversaries begin! Please post when you day arrives as to how you are doing-good or bad. We can support those who are struggling and celebrate with those who are succeeding! My bandiversary is June 29, so I'll be back then! Don't leave me hangin'!!

So sorry I left ya hanging!! I have been thinking about each and every one of you and had EVERY intention of getting on here my bandiversary date of June 9, 2009. I am 3 years out, 80 pounds down, still 20 pounds from my first goal and then about 15 more pounds for my ultimate "dream" goal but will be happy at my goal. I have no struggles except I am a turtle pace loser. I am happy to report that the tortes did win the race :-). I too will win this race.

In December, I have already decided I will start to scope out plastic surgeons to interview and ask questions about procedures whether I am at my goal or not. I am extremely fortunate to have such a supportive family and close friends. I have to admit, for the most part, I am still a "closet" bandster and I prefer to keep it that way. It makes things simpler for me.

I will see if I can figure out how to upload a recent pic of me.

I hope more peeps come on and post. I've been really bad about posting lately. But I haven't forgotten about you all.

Hugs & Happy Bandiversary!!

Melissa

Most recent full body pic. You can click on the picture to see it larger. I just learned that :wink:

Wow, seems we've all quit thinking about our bands. Hopefully that means that our surgeries were all that we hoped they would be and it's no longer a huge issue in our lives.

I still have my moments, like today when I tried to eat an Arby's roast beef (without the bread) and was sent running to the bathroom. But times like that are good reminders. I am down 90 pounds since surgery and would like to drop that other 10.

I am seriously considering plastic surgery so if anyone has recommendations for physicians in the Houston area I would love to hear from you. Mostly tummy tuck, inner thighs and flappy arm stuff. HELP!

Wow, it has been a long time! I was banded in June 2006. I lost about 50 lbs but never anymore than that. I was just told at the beginning of this month that I had a band slip and I am waiting on a surgery date. They want to put some new fangled band in. They took all of my fluid out and while I love not choking in my sleep and constant acid reflux, I miss my restriction.

Hello all. Just wanted to give an update on my progress. I did not have the RNY done. Still scared to death of it. But, I am in the process of getting the Duodenal Switch approved. Had an EGD last week which showed a slip and a hernia. Still don't have a fill and have maintained my pre surgery weight.

Three years and still hover around the same 10 lb mark.

If the DS is not approved, I will be forced to either take out the band and have nothing, or revise to RNY. Please keep your fingers crossed for me to be approved for the DS.

If you are having issues and are looking into a revision, please read the studies on DS vs. RNY. The website dsfacts.com has some wonderful information. I like the DS because you don't have regain 2 years out. You still have to take your Vitamins like the RNY'ers, but with greater freedom of food choices and a better long term success rate.

Will let you know how I do WHEN I get it. Hope, Hope!