Band-Failure or Me-Failure ?

[TimZor 3]

I was banded in October 2009 at my highest of 290 pounds. Over the course of just 6 months I made it down to 230. That's when I started having problems. For a while, I wasn't able to eat anything except for Protein Shakes, so made it down to about 205 - but not the healthy way. Had a complete unfill and that's when it all went down hill. I was able to eat again! So, I ATE!!!! gained 20 pounds in just two months (how embarassing). Was able to regain control a bit and basically yo-yoed the same 10-15 pounds since then, now at 235 and feeling FAT!! The band is definitely not working for me. HOWEVER.... I am also not working the bad. I have learned how to "eat around the band" - choosing foods that I know I can easily eat, adding lots of oils/greases so that it slides through, etc. If I eat the lean Protein and veggies, then I get stuck, have horrible pain, and sometimes vomit. But, that's usaully becuase I am not eating them properly (not chewing to a paste). Even when I am chewing to a paste, I still feel so akward that it takes me 20 minutes to eat what other people eat in 20 seconds. I work on a ship and spend 6 months at a time eating food which is cooked for me, 3 times per day, with my colleagues. Though I know for sure that the band is not working for me, I'm worried that I will do exactly the same thing with the sleeve. Somehow figure out a way to eat around the sleeve (don't even know if that is possible). I am self pay, and am trying to decide if I should pay $5,000 to have the band removed, or just $3,000 more to have the sleeve put in at the same time. Or, just keep on suffering and getting more fat? Or, maybe I need an adjustment (both my band and my head). Or maybe just try doing an actual diet while still having the band? I feel like I'm searching desperately for a tool to help me, but that there simply isn't one that actually works. I'm thuroughly confused and simply mad at myself for failing. Help!

[marfar7 1,528]

I got my band in Oct 2009 also (the 1st). The first 2 yrs I lost 104 lbs (within 9 lbs of my goal weight). Then I started getting everything stuck and then came the frequent vomiting. Then my band slipped. They took out 1/2 my fill. Stopped the reflux but I also didn't have the restriction I once had. 20 lbs gain. A yr later, my band totally herniated (I continued to vomit almost everything I ate). Total unfill. Gain of another 10lbs. Revision 9 weeks ago. Wow. Your total cash price is $8,000? Just my share of my drs charges was $5400. I paid cash for my dr but my insurance paid most of the $26,000 hospital bill (it would have been a total of $16,000 for dr and hospital if it was all cash). You got quite the deal.

I needed a revision. I knew I couldn't do it on my own. I already proved I couldn't be trusted without any fill. About eating around the sleeve: Yes, it's possible. You can graze all day, I suppose. I can only eat a few bites so I get hungry every 90 minutes, so I eat alot during the day, but if you count it up, it's still under 1,000 calories. But it's not hard to go over. The other day, hubby and I went to the movies. Had popcorn for the first time since being sleeved. It was a slider for me and my band and I was hoping it wasn't with my sleeve. No such luck. Probly could've eaten the whole bucket. That day I went to about 1200 calories. Had to stop myself from continuously eating it.

It CAN be done with the sleeve, not as easily as with the band however. Your stomach can only hold so much. With the band, if it could make it past the band (drinks, ice cream, shakes, puddings, etc), you stomach was the same size. It was much easier to overeat. Now ur stomach is only so big. While you can nibble all day and overeat, it does help.

I haven't lost any weight in about 3 weeks. I'm about 26 lbs from goal so I'm not worried about it so much anymore. I know I'll eventually get there. If I don't oh well. I wear a size 8 and I'm much happier at 156 than at 248 and a size 22.

The band HAD to come out tho. It took my dr an extra 30 mins to dig my band outa my stomach. It had embedded in there.

Good luck with ur decision...

[Catherine707 253]

I think the first step to life long change is to realize you have a problem with food. Congrats you have completed that first step. For any WLS to work, you have to have a handle on your food issues. Understanding why you eat to excess, why you sabotaged your band and how you cope with emotions if you can't use food to numb are important things to get clear before taking the next step. Have you tried any counseling or other means to understand your relationship with food? Any WLS is a tool and can be "worked around" once you heal from surgery. If you don't know why you are making bad food choices, then your likelihood of being successful is reduced. There are some good books and online courses to also help you get a handle on your food issues. Good luck to you, I hope you find the success you are looking for and deserve!

[Band07 374]

Any tool can work or not work, it's true you have to work on WHY you eat just as much if not more than what you eat.