I noticed a lot of people are reading peoples posts, but few are commenting. So, I figured I would break the ice for some to speak up and break their silence.

Where are you from? Are you banded or hoping to be?

I've been banded for 8 1/2 years. I'm from Northwest Indiana and am sooooo ready for warmer weather to return and stay! LOL :-)

Hi! Banded in 06 and enjoying it. Central California coast

I’m banded since 2012. I’m from NJ

I got my band in 2012 also. I live in Northern Virginia

Are you still happy with it? I am working hard to get back to goal after a year and a half off the wagon. And I mean fell off and got dragged behind the wagon! Lol! I saw my surgeon today after a fill 2 weeks ago. Lost 11 pounds following the post op diet again. Wasn’t easy but getting easier. Seems everyone is going to the Sleeve and it’s hard to find too many other lapbanders.

I am happy with the band itself but not happy with my current status. I've been on and off the wagon over the past 5 years but am currently trying to stay on. I have an appointment with a behavior modification therapist in a couple of weeks and hope to get my head back into the game. Who knew that getting a lapband was like taking on a new hobby? Meanwhile, I'm anxious for summer so I can hit the pool again. I'm ready to convert to bypass but I won't pursue that until I can say I've given the band my best effort which I have not yet done. Good luck getting back to goal!

Was banded in May 2010 by the guru Paul O’Brien in Melbourne. Didn’t follow his golden rules and frequently overate, vomited and cheated with shakes and lollies. Had revision surgery yesterday to correct pouching, and ready to go again.....this time with a better attitude towards the tool! 93kg, BMI 35.4

You can do it!!! Good for you

Banded 10 years ago in central NY. Happier than ever. Lost 65 lbs out of the 90 lb goal shortly after banding but then stopped losing and hovered there for 5 yrs. Then -- slowly gained 30 lbs by gradually eating bigger portions and too many goodies. Tried several times to get a hold of myself but just couldn't. I really couldn't feel my band much anymore. Finally - went on a medically supervised 800-calorie liquid fast a year ago. Whoa!-- that good ole' band just kick right in there again! I'm not sure I could have done it without it - but all of a sudden - my band said -- HELLO THERE!!!!!! Lost the 30 lb regain and then just kept going till I got to the original goal. I learned a lot losing the 65 lbs after getting the band but I learned a lot more this past year about how to get to 25 BMI and maintain it. Just finished my plastic surgeries ------so far - so good. Whew! What a 10 yr journey!

Edited March 15, 20188 yr by Desdemona

It's crazy, I think no matter the surgical route, we all seem to have those potholes and detours reaching our weight goals. (I'm certainly no exception and I still have yet to reach my goal. I'll touch on that in a moment.) I haven't had any issue with my band... no leaking, no slipping, and I seem to still be in my sweet spot. I don't overeat like I did pre-band. However, I was eating more than I should for my band. My hiccup was my knee surgeries. I had been in such a groove and rhythm too! I was no stranger to knee issues... one knee underwent numerous outpatient surgeries from an accident at 9 years old. Fast forward to age 39, then I had a microfracture on what was the good knee. Six weeks later I had a knee replacement on what was the bad knee. Bring on the complications from a surgeon that made an error in placing the implant... fast forward two years to a knee replacement on the good knee (dubbed Robot Knee) and then a revision on the bad knee (dubbed FrankenKnee). Prior to the surgeries I was nearly a gym rat and worked out so much. I felt great and the weight was flying off... I had lost 164 pounds. After the surgeries, it took all my energy just achieving the most mundane daily tasks. I had such bad swelling in FrankenKnee it was shutting my muscles down and I now have some atrophy in that leg. Yay. Here I am, 2 years later and finally in a groove. I still can't ride my road or mountain bike and probably never will because I don't have enough flex for the rotation. But, you know how the saying goes... when life gives you lemon make lemonade. Now that I've learned to adapt to what I can do and stopped feeling sorry for myself, I'm back in my groove. I've got 54 pounds that I'd gained to shed... and then it's back to where I left off on my journey prior to my "detour". (I started out the year 74 pounds heavier... so 20 pound loss in 2 1/2 months is something I'm happy with!) Wouldn't it be nice if it was just a straight shot from surgery to goal? We're all strong and resilient and we can do this!!!

Thanks for sharing this Desdemona! I’m very encouraged now that my band will take me to my goal too even after a couple of years of struggling ( my own fault ). I went in a very strict diet also and I can relate to my band “ kicking in again”! Finally feeling hopeful again

NanaJoy, you CAN do this! Our bands are working with us, not against us! So, stay strong and know that you have this!

Shared this in other threads, but.....

Banded in 2010.... got down 100 lbs. Had an issue in April 2017, lost all fluid, gained 50 lbs, now back on track. Looking to lose another 30 before the wedding in Sept.

I’m scheduled to be banded on 4/9. I’m both excited and scared but I know I have to do something to get my weight down.

Banded in June 2007 ...went from 212 lbs to 126. Love my band and my doctor. I'm from NYC, NY

I’m scheduled to have a band fitted in June. I expect to get more and more nervous the closer I get! I’m from London.