Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Band Filled to Capacity, still no restriction.



Recommended Posts

Another Update: I had an appointment with Dr. Kureshi on Wednesday, and we're still scheduled for exploratory surgery on November 25. He says there is no way to know what the problem is without getting inside and looking. So, with that said, I now have to decide on my options: If it's a band malfunction, replace it. If it's something keeping the band from closing properly, such as scar tissue or something else, remove the obstruction. If there is an erosion, even though nothing shows up on flouro or x-ray, then he wants to remove the band, and revise to the sleeve.

I've never been fond of the sleeve idea. I know people that have done it,and are happy with it, but it seems so drastic to me. Cutting out 4/5 of your stomach and tossing it in the trash, well, scares the hell out of me. What happens if I get stomach cancer years down the road? Not much left to work with.

I don't know what I'm going to do, and I'm getting very stressed about it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hopefully they find out what it is & hopefully it's just something minor also, they can do another band , but if you do the band again maybe they can do the plication with it this time , just a suggestion good luck & let us know what they find out & what you decide to do , I for one would like to know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Update as of 11/29/14: My insurance called and refused to pay for the procedure. We have Health Choice of Oklahoma, and believe me, THEY SUCK!! It blows me away that they won't pay for any procedure that will help you be more healthy, but will pay for all the results of obesity. SMH.... Anyway, I didn't have another 15K to toss out, so here I sit with a band filled to capacity, and the ability to eat absolutely anything I want. I am trying to cut back on portions, and have have ordered the Plexus products. My band was supposed to be a tool to assist me, and it's turned out to be a useless chunk of plastic embedded in my body that will create who knows what kind of problems down the road.

I wish I had never had this procedure done. I could have really used that money somewhere else. If you are considering doing this, I can't recommend it, and if you choose to do it anyway, educate yourself better than I did. I was in a buyers frame of mind, and even though I read the negative reviews, I chose to focus on the positives. Only now do I see that the negative reviews make up nearly a 1/3. That's a 33% chance that the band will not work, or that there will be problems.

If and when I can scrape up another chunk of change, and afford to pay for the exploratory surgery to finally know why this thing isn't working, I will post.

Thanks to everyone that has offered support!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would also like to add that since the band doesn't provide restriction, I'm back to basic dieting. As I posted earlier, I've tried all the diets out there. I truly thought the band would be the answer. I've never been a junk food eater, sweets, fast food, chips, soda, etc. My problem has always been huge, multiple portions of southern food: Fried potatoes, steaks, chops, ribs, you get the picture. Raised on the farm, hunting, fishing, raising cattle, hogs, and chickens, I grew up eating real food. I love food, and I don't drink, smoke, dip or chew. Food is my vice. I just don't feel like I'm satisfied until I've eaten to the point of being miserable.

The band was supposed to be my tool, and it worked for 7 months, and I lost 53 lbs, and only had 22 to get to my goal. I looked good, and felt great. Then, something happened. After all the external tests, the doctor still has no explanation. I am very disappointed, and went through several months of depression earlier this year.

As stated earlier, when I can afford to pay for the exploratory, and get some answers, I'll let you all know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×