I had often told myself during my journey that even if I were to ever possibly hit goal I would never post a success story. Maybe I was being modest or perhaps just really hard on myself or…just not able to forgive myself for ever letting my weight get out of control as it had. I guess a lot of it no matter how you sum it up is really just embarrassment.

Well I had a change of heart. That change of heart came because I can remember so vividly the feeling of the hopelessness and despair. At times I felt I was knocking on deaths door and that there was nothing I could do about it. So I am writing this tonight in hopes that if I can help just one person even if only one tiny bit then it is my responsibility to do so. I believe in paying it forward and giving back. If it wasn’t for the people before me that helped me then where would I be? It would be irresponsible for me not to do the same. You are not alone and there are people out there, really good decent people who can help you but YOU have to want it and at some point you need to swallow your pride and ask for the help. Help will not come to you. YOU have to seek it out.

I have told my story several times and you can read it on my profile. I lost 170lbs doing Atkins between 2003 and 2004. I went from 393 to 220 and felt great…and then I got sloppy and let my guard down and weight started packing on. I went from 220 to 488 in 8 years’ time.

At 488lbs doing day to day activities was quite a chore. My knees were taking a beating carrying so much weight on a 5’6 inch frame. I developed arthritis and serious sleep apnea. Walking from the parking lot to my office was a real task and that was even with the use of an elevator. I had to sit out in the car and have my Wife do the grocery shopping because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on my feet. I had to sit and fold laundry sitting in a chair. This list could go on and on about the limited mobility. My amazing Wife stood by me and encouraged me to make a change but we both knew until I was ready to commit to change it would not happen. I am not sure how many other women out there would have put up with what she did. My weight affected us both physically and mentally. I did not feel like much of husband at times and I am sure there were plenty of times she felt more like a caregiver than a wife at times although she never said so or complained.

Something had to give and it finally did and in September 2011 with my wife at my side I attended a local seminar for WLS. We listened to the Doctor discuss all the surgical options available at the time and being new and somewhat naïve we decided Lapband was the way to go. It was reversible and probably the least invasive of all procedures. I signed up for a one on one consult with the Surgeon that night. October 2011 I met with the Doctor and told him I ready to make a life change. He told me he wanted to see me lose 24lbs and work on shrinking the liver. Insurance required me to do a 6 month monitored diet so instead of losing 24lbs preop I lost 38lbs. My Surgeon was impressed and after completing all the preop requirements I finally got a surgery date of April 16, 2012. I weighed in on surgery morning at 450lbs on the button.

So there I was April 17^th and getting discharged from the hospital and all that went through my mind is why the hell did I do this? There was no way it would work and I will be known as the fat guy who couldn’t lose weight with WLS.

As much as you research and prepare for this new life it seems at some point you say OK well I had the surgery why is the weight not coming off?? This is so frustrating!!! Well apparently I had never heard of bandster hell. Bandster hell is that time from when you have the surgery to the time you actually get the necessary fills to get the need restriction to control your portions. Some very few people are lucky they have the surgery and automatically get that restriction. Not me, it took me 6 months. 6 months of frustration.

Probably one of the most difficult pieces for me to learn was patience. Lack of patience made this road even longer. I stepped on the scale almost daily these last 2.5 years waiting on a large drop in numbers that never happened. How on earth could you possibly see a large drop if you’re stepping on the scale daily? Do yourself a favor and don’t do it. To this day I still step on it daily but now it is about accountability not so much weight loss.

Always look for other measures to success. We call them Non Scale Victories or NSV’s. Losing weight is not just about numbers. For a while I was buying new clothes every other month because I was shrinking so fast. I went from a size 62 waist to a 34. I went from squeezing into theater seats to have padded space on each side.

I could go on and on here rambling about all sorts of stuff weight and band related. If you’ve read this far then thank you and thank you to those who helped me get here. I would like to especially thanks @@Alex Brecher without him I wouldn’t have a home here and I perhaps would’ve remained lost.

If anyone has any questions or comments or just need someone to talk to don't hesitate to message me regardless how personal you think your question may be.

My name is Jim and I am junk food addict. I have lost 300lbs and the lapband saved my life. 2yrs and 8 months 488 to 188.

Peace!!

Bandster hell was the toughest phase for me. I think it was 6 or 7 months before I really found the zone and the weight really started moving. It was frustrating as hell but I stuck with it because it was all I had. Anything was better then the alternative. If you find yourself stuck in bandster hell or even going in the wrong direction with the scale the LAST thing you ever want to do is cancel appointments out of embarrassment. Doctors and adjustments cannot help you if you do not go to those appointments and let it all hang out. No excuses, no embarrassment just tell them what is really going on and let them help you.

Nice to see you online again @Jim1967. This paragraph has to be pinned somewhere. Banded folks have got to understand that this surgery can be slow and frustrating at times but that you can't give up. I see it way too often and I wonder why doctors don't explain this part of the process better...or if we are guilty of 'selective' listening and just don't hear this part.

Great post Jim!

Thank you. I try to think back and I honestly cannot remember if the slow part, bandster hell was ever explained to me. I remember reading about on here when I was pre-op but I honestly don't recall being told by my doctor and staff. Maybe it was selective hearing. Still went and had surgery and about two months in and the frustration kicked in. Even though I read about here I still let it get to me. Thankfully, I just stuck with it and kept up the appointments and fills. I was determined. One way or another I was going to exhaust the resource I invested time and money in and take it as far as it could go and if it didn't work out at least I gave it my best and would start looking at other options.

Sleeve at the time was not an option for me. My Surgeon was not yet offering it back in 2012. In fact I think I was a year post op when they started offering Sleeve as an option.

Everything I learned about the band I learned here, from you guys -- certainly not the packet of info from my hospital. I saw who the successful motivated people were and jumped on the bandwagon with you. Thanks so much for that!

Everything I learned about the band I learned here, from you guys -- certainly not the packet of info from my hospital. I saw who the successful motivated people were and jumped on the bandwagon with you. Thanks so much for that!

So glad I can pay it forward. Missy and CG were my angels when I started and I wanted to be able to help others as they helped me. Still sad that they have left the forum...

I talk to Missy very often. She is doing great and living life. Like most of us who live in the 'winter' states she is waiting for warmer weather to come and thaw and get outside and play again :-)

Sadly, I do not speak with CG much at all. I visit her blog every now and then but I don't hear from her much.

Please tell Missy I say hello. I keep in touch with CG and check up on her. She's going through some difficult times with the loss of her mom and now her father-in-law but she's hanging in there. Thanks for the update Jim.

I agree with you all, CG and Missy were my lifelines. I got so much information, energy and motivation from them CG's no nonsense attitude and Missy's education and information were what I valued. I appreciate everyone who contributes their experiences and wisdom. I do not believe my Dr. fully explained the good , bad and ugly part of being banded. But, I have to say that I have been happy with my decision and would not change it. Thanks again guys for your part in helping this old lady get her life back.

Congratulations to Jim1967 for your inspirational story. I hope you continue to be a success story forever ! !!! I cant say enough "thank you s" to everybody on this forum. As great as my Dr. and his staff and info was ( and still is) its the people who live daily with WLS that I found to be the most helpful. I knew I could always read/ask about anything, and go away happy that I was well within "normal" . Reading others questions and answers was a huge reason I think everything went so smoothly for me. A big THANKYOU to all !!

I was banded this past December and have gone in for fills every two weeks since then and still haven't seen much weight loss. I'm feeling discouraged because I'm at 6.25 cc of Fluid in my band, and I'm still not feeling enough of a restriction. I know I'm close, but I can't imagine even losing 20 pounds, let alone 300. I've only lost about 8 pounds so far and still can eat a pretty decent portion, although it's significantly smaller than what I used to eat. I think this is due to my plication and not my band.

I had one moment when a piece of broccoli felt like it wasn't going down the right way, but so far all food goes down without any problems. I don't eat as much as I used to and I've noticed that drinking Water will sometimes fill me up, but I'm still not seeing much as far as weight loss. It's discouraging. I'll go in for another fill in two weeks and hope that another 1/2 cc or so tightens things up. I think it's so strange that it takes some people so much more fluid to have their lapband kick in while others, like me, have to go back for 5-6 months for fills.

Sometimes I question if this band really works?? I'm not giving up, just waiting to find the illusive green zone. Thanks for sharing your story. You're an inspiration.

Edited March 31, 201511 yr by bkchick88

bkchick88,

Give it time. I was banded 11/28/11 and had only lost 12 lbs till late March of 2012 with 2 fills. I had a consult with my nutritionist and she made a few adjustments in what I was eating. I was filled at the same time for the 3rd time and suddenly fat started to melt off.

I attribute my weight loss to eating the right foods and exercise, lots of exercise. Talk to your nut!

tmf

bkchick88,

Give it time. I was banded 11/28/11 and had only lost 12 lbs till late March of 2012 with 2 fills. I had a consult with my nutritionist and she made a few adjustments in what I was eating. I was filled at the same time for the 3rd time and suddenly fat started to melt off.

I attribute my weight loss to eating the right foods and exercise, lots of exercise. Talk to your nut!

tmf

Thank you, 2muchfun.

I'm going for my 5th fill today. I have problems exercising because of my knees. I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement on July 1st. Unfortunately, I'll have to have everything taken out of my band for the surgery, so I'll have to start over. At least I'll know how far my band will have to be filled the next time around. Maybe today's fill will be exactly what I need and I'll have the next three months to peel some weight off. I'm certainly ready to see some results. I don't have a nut, so I'm figuring this out on my own.

.

Edited April 2, 201511 yr by bkchick88

My weight-loss was slow... but steady... and that's what wins the race. Keep positive and surround your self with great support. Look at my signature... Slow and steady...

You can do this.

Thank you for sharing your touch story and awesome success. Many Blessings to you and yours.

Thank you, 2muchfun.

bkchick88,

Give it time. I was banded 11/28/11 and had only lost 12 lbs till late March of 2012 with 2 fills. I had a consult with my nutritionist and she made a few adjustments in what I was eating. I was filled at the same time for the 3rd time and suddenly fat started to melt off.

I attribute my weight loss to eating the right foods and exercise, lots of exercise. Talk to your nut!

tmf

I'm going for my 5th fill today. I have problems exercising because of my knees. I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement on July 1st. Unfortunately, I'll have to have everything taken out of my band for the surgery, so I'll have to start over. At least I'll know how far my band will have to be filled the next time around. Maybe today's fill will be exactly what I need and I'll have the next three months to peel some weight off. I'm certainly ready to see some results. I don't have a nut, so I'm figuring this out on my own.

.

My doc didn't require me to take any Fluid out and I had my left knee replaced on 10/20/14 and my right knee done on 12/22/14 and had an appendectomy on 12/14/14. I lost 15 lbs after my surgeries but I think much of it was muscle loss.

BTW-I've had about 9 fills to finally get to the point where I'm comfortable with my band and in the green zone.

My doc didn't require me to take any Fluid out and I had my left knee replaced on 10/20/14 and my right knee done on 12/22/14 and had an appendectomy on 12/14/14. I lost 15 lbs after my surgeries but I think much of it was muscle loss.

I'll talk to my knee surgeon and tell him I'm banded and see what he thinks. If he thinks I'll be okay, I don't want to mess with my fluid level. I'm at 6.65 cc as of today. The knee surgery scares the crap out of me, but it's got to be done. I'm not sure I would be brave enough to have the other knee done two months later like you did. Yikes!