Lap Band 11 years out

[busybander 2]

I'm finding that I have difficulty early in the day, but typically by dinner time I can eat whatever I want. My band is on the full side and I've always had more problems in the morning. My weight is up about 20 pounds from my best post surgery weight, but still very manageable.

I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing similar and if so, how you are dealing with this.

[Matt Z 4,140]

9 hours ago, busybander said:

I'm finding that I have difficulty early in the day, but typically by dinner time I can eat whatever I want. My band is on the full side and I've always had more problems in the morning. My weight is up about 20 pounds from my best post surgery weight, but still very manageable.

I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing similar and if so, how you are dealing with this.

I got to that point about 4 years in or so. Nothing I did would get me to stay under the 300 mark. Ultimately, I was revised to the bypass. My surgeon advised me that the Lapband was over hyped and under performed, that 2 of the largest manufacturers have sold off or stopped making new or replacement parts for their versions of the bands. When they removed the band, even though I didn't have any major issues going to the revision, the band was 100% encapsulated in scar tissue and took my surgical team more than 3 times longer to remove it than it should have taken. I'd hate to think what would have happened if I left it in!

[jfc193 719]

I had my lap band surgery in September 2007 so I am almost at 11 years.

I have a 4 cc band with just a little 1 cc of Fluid in the band anymore than that and it is too tight.

I am usually a little tight in the morning so I normally have a Protein and banana shake in the morning.

For the better part of the 11 years the band has kept me from overeating. My problems have been my on doing eating to fast. Meal times are not usually a problem for me I normally eat what I am supposed to eat. Before the band I would eat late at night so I combat that by going to bed by 9:00 pm and getting up at 4:00 to go walking.

If I do not exercise I tend to eat a lot more and if I drink with my meal I will eat more.

I tend to make more good choices then bad choices. it is amazing to me that what I consider a binge is completely different. Where before I could eat 10 to 12 tacos in 20 minutes. Now 3 tacos in an hour is a binge for me.

Congratulations on only being 20 lbs over your lowest weight. I would say that you are in a good place.

[labwalker 1,177]

I had my surgery back in 2011... I've learned that the band is a tool that helps to control my weight, but in the end I have to carefully count my calories, carbs and Protein intake.

I went through a few years of having the band tightened and loosened. Either I was getting stuck all the time, or had no restriction. The magic spot for me was when I had a fill that allowed me to eat one slice of pizza in comfort (a rare treat these days!) without feeling the need to eat the whole thing! I have had years where I've gained some of the weight back, but that was due to my lack of diligence.

At this point there are no foods I cannot eat as long as I chew properly. I've learned that counting carbs was very critical when I hit a stall. I've managed to lose weight continually by carefully monitoring and controlling the quality of what I eat. Giving up sugar and switching to fat free Half and Half in my coffee was enough to cause noticeable weight loss. Little things add up. That means I have to keep a computer log of my daily food intake and activities. I've learned that becoming complacent leads to weight gain.

I've learned a lot reading these forums. In my humble opinion too many banders think the band is going to do all the work. Living with a tight band and being in discomfort IS not what the band is about. I have not been stuck if over five years. I don't have any sensation that the band is there, except that I know I feel satiated sooner because I do have the band. I am now averaging about .7 lbs a week weight loss, which is pretty good for a guy in his seventies and who is several years post surgery. I want to lose another 20 pounds before I leave this earth, makes it easier on my pall bearers.

Good luck on your journey, it is worth it.

Edited September 22, 2018 by labwalker

[elcee 3,343]

I got my band in 2009. Initially I was very successful but I have regained , slowly at first but heaps over the last couple of years.

The band no longer has any effect on my hunger levels. I can eat just about anything except steak or chops. More fill doesn't help it just gives me reflux so bad I wake up choking an acid.

One of the disturbing things my surgeon told me at my appointment last week is that what they have found with a band is overtime a lot of patients develop oesophagal failure. This is due to having to work so hard to push food down and it can get to the point where it will no longer be able to do that. That wasnt something that was widely talked about when I got my band. They are now realising that most bands have a lifespan of 5 - 10 years with a max 15 if you are lucky. Bands seem to have fallen out of favour and sleeves seem to be going that way too.