I really appreciate the honest comments from people on this board. I am committed to moving forward with this procedure and appreciate that most do not regret their decision. But I want to be prepared for the realities of living with a band. So...

What would you say your biggest complaint is or what is the hardest part of life with a band? I am not looking for data to make me change my mind, just really trying to be completely prepared!

Thanks!

I'd say the hardest part is not drinking with meals. It takes a lot of getting used to! Especially since I've been so diligent about getting my fluids in, seems like I'm thirsty all the time....I always have a drink in front of me....so it's hard to NOT drink!

Sliming and PB's are not a whole lot of fun either, but they are a good learning tool for keeping your eating behaviors in check.

Other than that, I really have no complaints.

My hardest part is knowing that someday I will have to deal with losing my band due to complications or bandlife. I wish I didn't feel so much like a ticking timebomb and wish the band was designed for lifelong rather than longterm.

Jenna, that's the second time I've seen you post this. I am just as flummoxed about it this time as I was the last time. I was always instructed, and everything I've read in the literature and at Allergan's website says that this device is meant to stay in forever, so I'm cornfuzzled.

I agree that not drinking with meals is VERY tough.

Well, of course the best thing is losing weight! The hardest thing for me so far is learning to stop eating the minute I feel full. I am so used to just eating and eating until the food is all gone. The band is a tool to lose weight, you still have to commit to taking care of yourself and eating right. I have absolutely NO REGRETS!

The port hurts me! Does anybody else have that problem? I was banded in Aug '06 and I still have pain in that area.

Drinking with meals is something that takes some getting use to, but all in all, I can deal with that...I just have to remember when I last took a drink and then 30 minutes later I can eat...and then I have to look at the clock when I am fininshed eating and I know that one hour later I can have something to drink...It is all so worth it....

I would say the hardest thing for me is still loving food so much! My alien baby(band) lets me know my limits and I know what will happen if I overeat. Eating out is hard because its financially not worth it anymore because I eat so little now. Sometimes when I am eating food I love and have loved all my life I want to be able to eat more but I can't and at the end of the day I feel better because I'm not stuffed. I hope I explained and this didn't sound silly.

Band longterm not lifetime??????????? I asked my Doctor and he assured me it is lifelong. My biggest issue is the drinking with meals also.

My biggie is sometimes i just really want to eat everything in sight and the band stops me. Now this is a good and a bad thing. At that moment I get so upset because i want whatever it is but i can't have it, usually because i am full I can pretty much eat everything. But once the moment passes i realize how great the band is and how it stopped me from eat a huge quanity.

Thanks everyone for sharing! It's too funny because I was just having the first official consult today and when I left the eating and not being able to drink thing has really been on my mind. I am just thinking about eating out socially and without wanting to tell everyone that I have a band - it could be a bit awkward. Not a showstopper, just a bit awkward to be eating and not drinking anything at all. Will take some adjustment.

Also, curious about the long term/lifelong comment. Everything I have read is that this life long as well. Yes, no one has had it that long because it hasn't been around that long, but there is no evidence for it needing to be removed at a given point. It's just like any other implant in your body I would expect.

Thanks again!