I am about to have my band removed and I am petrified my old way of feeling and thinking about food. Before my band I was preoccupied with food thoughts. I wanted to eat all the time. I was constantly planning what to eat next even when I was eating. I was beating myself up for eating too much. I was sneaking food. I hated myself for lack of will power. With the band I stuck to my eating plan with no problem. Sometimes I would even forget to eat. How has band removal effected other people emotionally and psychologically?

Hi Meg!

I had a lapband for 14 years and successfully kept off 100 pounds. I was never hungry with it. Sadly, it died in 2023 and had to be removed.

The first weeks without it were glorious-- I was able to eat things I missed--- salads, brocolli, bagels. I told myself I would stil eat smaller meals but it was impossible without my tool. I started eating bagels weekly, would have a second slice of pizza, etc. I tired to keep my calories to 1500 but even then I was still eating more. than the 800 cal a day with the band. The weight packed on quickly. I gained 30 pounds in 4 months. And all 100 pounds within 10 months. I totallty failed. With the added. weight, came all of the medical problems again. My blood pressure went up, I had the rashes and skin rub, my plantar facuitis made it impossible to walk far.I hated myself again.

I was finaly approved for a revision and converted to RNYGB a week ago. I am taking my life back and only wish I had pushed for a revision at the get go.

Edited December 22, 20241 yr by joya09.24

Thanks for your reply. Were you able to get insurance to cover RNYGB? Also is your surgeon assuring you this is going to last. I have two friends who had the RNYGB and both gained their weight back?

I don’t think a surgeon will ever assure you of your loss or your ability to sustain the loss because the surgery are not always a perfect fit for everyone nor is everyone compliant in doing their part to make the surgery successful. I had the gastric sleeve several years ago and that was not a good fit for me. I lost weight a pretty significant amount, but I gained it back. Recently, I had a revision surgery and the difference has been night and day in terms of how it has helped with my metabolism this time. I have energy that I never had before and I am exercising like I never have and healthy food still isn’t preferred over pizza, but it isn’t awful like it was before, which makes the choices to have good nutrition and fitness a bit easier. Nothing is going to make them easy. I’m sure but the surgery does make them easier if it’s a successful fit for you.

On 12/22/2024 at 2:40 PM, joya09.24 said:

Hi Meg!

I had a lapband for 14 years and successfully kept off 100 pounds. I was never hungry with it. Sadly, it died in 2023 and had to be removed.

The first weeks without it were glorious-- I was able to eat things I missed--- salads, brocolli, Bagels. I told myself I would stil eat smaller meals but it was impossible without my tool. I started eating bagels weekly, would have a second slice of pizza, etc. I tired to keep my calories to 1500 but even then I was still eating more. than the 800 cal a day with the band. The weight packed on quickly. I gained 30 pounds in 4 months. And all 100 pounds within 10 months. I totallty failed. With the added. weight, came all of the medical problems again. My blood pressure went up, I had the rashes and skin rub, my plantar facuitis made it impossible to walk far.I hated myself again.

I was finaly approved for a revision and converted to RNYGB a week ago. I am taking my life back and only wish I had pushed for a revision at the get go.

You didn't fail, most people seem to have less success with the band than other procedures. It just means it wasn't the right tool for you.

Hi Meg. How are you doing now?