Okay I have to get this off my chest. There have been a lot of LB Haters on here lately. They have to get their band removed, hate their band, hated their band, had their bands removed...I could go on and on. I have to comment on some of this that really bugs me. This is not directed to those who are on here for help and need support, or those who have had a medical necessity, we've all been there and need a shoulder to cry on. It is directed to those who give up without a fight...

1. If you have had your band a month or two and start squalling that you hate it and want it off, why in the world did you get it to begin with? Did you not do the research and realize this was going to be a complete change to what you are used to? HELLO? You'll never be able to eat again in large quantities. You need to work out these issues before you go to the time and expense of being banded and then change your mind because you can't handle the change. liquid Hell Sucks! Mushies Suck! Band Hell Sucks! We've all been there, deal with it!

2. I've been banded X amount of time and have lost nothing. I want my band off. Have you had a fill? Have you gone in for checkups and appointments? If you have quack doctor that isn't supportive and doesn't care of your progress - find another! Are you eating the right foods? Are you exercising? The band will not make anyone lose weight - you have to do that. This is not a quick fix, wave your magic wand, make everything okay and you're instantly thin. You have to change your behavior too.

3. I can't eat, I can't drink or hold anything down...I keep throwing up...I want my band off! Again, HELLO? Have you thought about calling your doctor and asking for a little help? Did getting an UNFILL cross your mind? That's the first thing I would have thought of. Maybe then you could eat and drink something.

I've seen more negative on here than positive lately and it seems to be the same thing over and over again. I love this forum - it has been a lifesaver for me. I've come here to bitch, cry and have my hand held at times too. We've all had bad days. I love my band and am still a "newbie" and I may one day have complications that cause me to have my band removed, but I can't forsee having or wanting to have it out because of something I could have prevented or foreseen.

Charliegirl, I hope your GP lets you know something soon. Sometimes the hardest part is the waiting and not knowing. I'm glad you have such a positive go getter attitude. You'll have to let us know how you do.

BTW, I'm not a saint. I have eaten around the band myself, then kicked myself afterward. I'm waiting, trying patiently, for another fill while living in bandster hell trying my best not to complain. To do those things are human. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all make decisions that seem right at the time and that is okay. Once you are banded your life will be different than anything you could ever try to prepare for. Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't be perfect all of the time. I aim to be a perfect bandster - life happens though and I sometimes fall short. Good luck with your journey and I hope all turns out for the best.

Leslie, Just to clarify, my comments about a thread being started to basically ridicule people was not directed at you, or about this thread. There is another thread entirely that I was referring to that was not started by you in another section of the forum.

Hi Susan. I guess I'm a bit testy today. I don't think it is PMS, but that's the only thing I can blame it on. I still have another week before it'll be okay for me to get defensive and bitchy...lol...I'm just over-sensative today:blush:.

I think I got too much sun this weekend. My scalp is burnt!

Charliegirl, I hope your GP lets you know something soon. Sometimes the hardest part is the waiting and not knowing. I'm glad you have such a positive go getter attitude. You'll have to let us know how you do.

BTW, I'm not a saint. I have eaten around the band myself, then kicked myself afterward. I'm waiting, trying patiently, for another fill while living in bandster hell trying my best not to complain. To do those things are human. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all make decisions that seem right at the time and that is okay. Once you are banded your life will be different than anything you could ever try to prepare for. Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't be perfect all of the time. I aim to be a perfect bandster - life happens though and I sometimes fall short. Good luck with your journey and I hope all turns out for the best.

Thanks for that Leslie, I feel I am the only one in the world waiting but I know I am not. I will keep you posted as soon as I hear something,

I want people to post about bad experiences...I want to keep tabs on all the facts. If I don't know what to look for (symptoms wise) I might shrug something off that could be really serious.

That being said, people that abuse their band and then bitch and moan about it not working bother me. Similar to a funny thread I saw the other day "I ate 5 chickens, do you think my band will be okay?" Kind of the same thing. I see posts a lot about people eating normal portions (or implying it anyway) and puking all the time...then wondering why their band slipped....duh!

It has been my experience in life, you get what you put in. Perhaps those numbers for slippage patients are 7%, but how many are random slips, and how many are slips from people abusing their band?

I have a friend that has the band and has since 2003. She has gained 40lbs (after losing 120) and she barfs after every meal...because she still eats like a 350lb woman. She has horrible reflux and constant stomach issues. She's 52 years old...and still won't follow correct procedure (even though she's been warned over and over). She drinks milkshakes ALL DAY, buys Starbucks bottled drinks by the CASE and eats sugar filled, fatty foods. If her band slips I will not be shocked...at all.

I'm terrified of having an object placed in my body, I'm also terrified of surgery....but, you know what I'm even more scared of??? Living (and dying) with this weight.

Some do have complications with the band and they are doing all the right things. I was one of them and that is why I had it removed 3 weeks ago. Unfilled I was barfing and sliming on Protein shakes made with Water and not milk (thin). The band is great for some people, it's not so great for others. Same holds true with any WLS type.

I busted my butt to lose all but the last 15 pounds, I did barf and slime my way down the last 15, but I was already at goal before the problems hit hard and heavy. So it can be done, it takes effort. With the band or WLS in general it's totally possible.

The surgery is a heck of a lot lower risk than obesity, honestly... I understand the fear but it's really a simple procedure.

I didn't post on the "5 chicken" thread either, I didn't even read much past the first couple of posts. What I meant was I realized the thread was posted tongue and cheek and meant to be funny (in a sarcastic way).

I don't find eating disorders amusing, as I've had one my entire life and it's pretty much controlled me for 15+ years.

Are you referring to my thread? There was a reason for that. I used to respond to people that were cheating on the post op diet. That is sooooo dangerous! I would explain time and time again and explain WHY it is soooo dangerous to cheat on the post op diet. Others who cheated on their post op diets would come in and tell everyone it was FINE to cheat, it doesn't hurt anything, go ahead and do it!

This made my head spin and I'd spew split pea Soup in frustration because I know what can happen if you don't do things well. I finally gave up and quit responding to posts about cheating on the post op diet.

So when I had a revision surgery and was on a post op diet it was a dare to go to a newbie section and post that I was cheating. I exaggerated the heck out of it so it was clear I was kidding but there is history behind that and thus, the reason for the thread. ;o)

If you haven't been posting here for a year or so you wouldn't know the history behind that one.

Wasa - I was actually responding to another response where I brought up your chicken thread....I called it "funny" and a few people (at least this is how I read it) thought I thought eating disorders were funny.

Which I don't...obviously.

I hope I didn't offend anyone I just wanted to make myself clear.

But its a serious question, what makes it different here? Is it coz its larger, more public yet more anonymous?

It's definitely a function of size IMO. I'm a lot of boards for more than WLS and the bigger ones tend to be like this.

With the smaller ones, there probably is a whiner or a troublemaker or two, but everyone knows who they are and doesn't fan the flames. Or the board owner cracks down on them (the troublemakers, anyway) and they go away. But sometimes it's a bit stifling. Big boards, on the other hand, can't be policed like that and if 1% of the members annoy, it's a lot more people in terms of raw posts. But they can be a lot more free-wheeling and that's good in its own way.

This is why I'm on both big and little boards.

I called it "funny" and a few people (at least this is how I read it) thought I thought eating disorders were funny.

Not everyone has the same sense of humor. I thought it was funny *and* educational because it really shows the flaws in some of the thinking some people have and maybe it might make them see the light in a way that saying "it's really important not to go to solid food too soon" does not.

Yes, I really think humour can lighten up some of those serious messages.

I love the thread where everyone is overeating and washing food down with soda etc. It's very informative but also, you can giggle about it.

Of course I am a girl who loves humor though.

I love the thread where everyone is overeating and washing food down with soda etc. It's very informative but also, you can giggle about it.

Of course I am a girl who loves humor though.

You aren't a girl! You are a Froggi!

You aren't a girl! You are a Froggi!

Ribbit, ribbit.:redface: