Hi everyone! My name is Melissa. I was banded by Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico back in the spring of 2010. This is a bit long, but I gotta get it out... Maybe it'll help people who end up in my situation. Who knows?

Unfortunately, I went into the surgery with a HORRIBLE attitude. I just sat back and expected my band to do ALL of the work for me without me actually making any changes. If I ate too much or too fast, I just threw it up. No big deal, right? Of course... I wouldn't even admit that to myself. I for the LIFE of me couldn't figure out why I was sick EVERY SINGLE TIME I ATE!

In spite of all of that, I DID manage to lose about 60 pounds, but... Because of the vomiting (that again, I just couldn't make sense of) my band was ultimately drained and I was diagnosed with gall stones and had my gall bladder removed to help with the constant sickness. Lo and behold, I had my gall bladder removed last Thanksgiving (2013) and the vomiting didn't even slow down. Stress made it worse. I'm currently in nursing school and I WAY know about stress.

We had finals a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't focus to study because I was literally throwing up everything I put in my mouth. So... To try to take my mind off of my stomach pain and puking, I switched myself to a liquid diet. That lasted from Saturday night until my final Wednesday morning. Amazingly, I felt a lot better. I wasn't throwing up. My constant sinus pain-- apparently the result of reflux while I was sleeping that was burning my sinus cavity-- vanished. I DID NOT DO THE liquid diet FOR WEIGHT LOSS. Remember? I was in denial. My band was just broken. It did nothing. Who the heck knew why I always threw up? Maybe I had stomach cancer... (LOL I swear I'm not usually so melodramatic)

When I started eating solids again, I was reluctant. I felt a lot better and was kinda sad to think I'd be giving it up. So I did was professional students do. I researched. Guess what? People who don't respect their WLS and don't change their habits tend to have the issues I was having. A more. And giving my banded stomach time to heal with no puking allowed my band to actually make its presence known. So, I figured what the heck...

I started back like I had just had surgery. Soft foods eaten slowly. No drinking with meals. Smart food choices. You know.... All the stuff I was meant to do the FIRST TIME around. And holy crap, it's like I've actually had WLS. Even with an unfilled band. I have restriction. I'm content with a cup to a cup and a half of food. I haven't thrown up in weeks. I've lost 20 pounds. Head hunger exists. I don't like it, but I can cope. Because dang it, I paid for this surgery and even if it was 4 years ago I'm gonna get my money's worth!

So, that's where I stand. That's my story. And I'm back. And this time, dang it, I'm gonna do it right!

~ Melissa ~

I am glad your back,and you have not given up. Well for me I just got back to the pain in the knees again. That was the reason I did it in first place. I read some post on this site , told me about dr obrien video on youtube. I found new dr who would give me a fill. Learned a lot from nutritionist , then let my band do some of the work. I joined a gym , I go 5 times a week. Started 10 minutes on bike , then 10 on elyptical.now I do 10 bike and 30 elyptical . I work some weights three times a week. The food is easy 80 protein , little to no carbs a day.

The only other thing to help you is stay on site, get motivated by reading others stories, you can do it again, the band is a tool, you have to make it work.

Great write up bandedinbama. I'm 4 years post op and have lost 40 of the 75 lbs I wanted to lose but I've been at or around the same weight for 3 years now. I eat comfort food or slippage food as I call it. I eat around the band and throw up when I don't. Feel like crap all the time. Just not fun. Today starts a new chapter. Liquids first then back to the rules. Thanks again for writing this. I'm not alone and that in itself helps.

Thank you for sharing this I'm so happy that I FOUND this post!!!! My issues if you do not mind I will share my stroy I was doing great with my wls in [2009] when I had it done I lost almost 50lbs in the first few months of getthing it done, then I ended up having knee issues that kept me from workingout, once I figured out it was back issue causing the knee issue I got back on track but into funk of not wanting to work out and I worked in nursing home that time so I GOT into to the bad food habit again I was like on my band will fix this, whelp it went from knee issues to finding out it was my back then to hurting my back my first year out I did pretty good now fast track to 2012 I'm like what is going on I'm losing weight but not like I was my wls DR dose not want to see me till I lose 20lbs then I started with the worst foot pain in my life during this time I turned to yoga walking biking hiking zumba [but not changing me dite] wondering why am I not losing weight and why the first year I great restriction on my band. Well we find out my foot issues I lost my job in 2013 of couse over the course of hte year not begin ableto work out let along pay attion to wht I am eating, then today at work it hit me I'm not working with my band but against it and your post hit home to me, I'm going to take it back to basics again because I know that will work. Thank you for sharing your story you have helped me and best of luck to you I hope you keep us updated.

PS I do not feel alone now

i am in the same boat as you sweetie....maybe we can do this liquid diet together and get back on the wagon and keep each other honest...lol do you go and exercise?

I'm glad I came across this! I really needed to read it.

Did 'starting over' still provide you with appropriate restriction? No injuries to stomach or band from vomiting?

I'm so glad I found this post. I had my band placed 5 years ago never lost more than 30 lbs, was frustrated and angry, then I gained 20 back and have been in limbo of 5 lbs up and down. I started to suffer from horrible reflux, I vomited every day. I finally went back to the surgeon I was sure my band had slipped. NOPE! all my fault I was making poor choices and had thrown my diet plan to the wind....no wonder I failed. I had some fluid removed yesterday, and really reflected about my journey. I'm currently on liquids todsay, protein shakes andsoups. I'm trying to pretend its 5 years ago and the journey is just beginning. I had no reflux last night which is phenomenal. MD appt again in 6 weeks. I spent a year afraid of going to MD because I had gained most weight back......I needed the help of my team to succeed.

Thank you all for your comments, I too, had my band put in several years ago. I did well at first and then multiple back/leg surgeries kept me off my feet, but nothing was wrong with my elbows, they kept putting "pity" foods in my mouth. I have been slowly gaining back my weight. Well, today I decided to do just as you said "start over" I have a re-start from my dr. and it is like you said - 4 days liquid, 3 days soft, then back on portions - PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN. Good luck and I hope to keep up with your journey, and achieve success with you. : ) addy

Thank you all for these posts!! I was banded in 2012...lost almost 50 pounds. I am so proud of myself and was living a great LAP BAND life style. In the past few months, I have been acting like I can eat the "normal" way! As a result, I have gained about 8 pounds. I cannot let this go on! I am a teacher and devoting my summer to getting back on the LAP Band way of eating. I cannot allow myself to go back to that way of eating. Before I know it I will have gained back all those 50 pounds I lost. I am going back to basics and making my lap band friendly recipes. I did not suffer thru that surgery to allow myself to go backwards! Thanks again for sharing! Good luck to all!!