Hi All,

My last post here was several years ago, and that was probably the last time I was going down in the weight department. I'm trying to get back on track and I'm hoping posting here can help me. I had my surgery in Dec 06 and lost 45 lbs (of the 100 I need to) in the first six months, stayed at a stable weight for two years, then started gaining slowly when I quit smoking last Spring, and now I'm back up 15lbs.

I haven't been to see the doctor in two years, I haven't been sticking with the rules and I'm scared that I've caused damage to the band or my stomach, that returning to the surgeon will lead to scolding and finger waving - all of which would be fair, and no reason to avoid taking care of myself.

I think I'm just starting to take the first steps by coming here, and I could use a kick in the pants and some support.

Any of you fall off the wagon? Have to get back into the habit of not drinking carbonation, not drinking with meals and all the other rules I haven't been following. How did you do it?

Thanks so much for reading!

Hi All,

My last post here was several years ago, and that was probably the last time I was going down in the weight department. I'm trying to get back on track and I'm hoping posting here can help me. I had my surgery in Dec 06 and lost 45 lbs (of the 100 I need to) in the first six months, stayed at a stable weight for two years, then started gaining slowly when I quit smoking last Spring, and now I'm back up 15lbs.

I haven't been to see the doctor in two years, I haven't been sticking with the rules and I'm scared that I've caused damage to the band or my stomach, that returning to the surgeon will lead to scolding and finger waving - all of which would be fair, and no reason to avoid taking care of myself.

I think I'm just starting to take the first steps by coming here, and I could use a kick in the pants and some support.

Any of you fall off the wagon? Have to get back into the habit of not drinking carbonation, not drinking with meals and all the other rules I haven't been following. How did you do it?

Thanks so much for reading!

Dear LapHappy,

I too have fallen off the wagon. I was banded 11/07 I started out at 225 lowest weight with band was apprx 183 now I am back to 195 after losing 5lib over the last fw weeks.

I will admit I have cheated, drank h2o while eating so I can eat more etc... I never really felt restriction. Approx 2 mths after i had the lapband surgery, i started with so GI issues. I was told I had IBS Irritable bowel sydrome. This was/is very difficult to deal with. i have not see my dr in about 18mts. I too am afraid of wht he will say. I am afraind he is going to tell me that i hve to have the band removed due to the IBS, but then i think maybe i want it removed because of the IBS... It is fustrating. I am soo sorry to just go on and on about this. I dont know anyone who has the band. I have one friend that had the gastric bypass she lost 150lb looks andfeel great and just doesnt understand or remember being overweight, etc...

may be we can start the process over as a group of banders who are recommiting? LEt me know how you do and keep in touch

RiceChex:crying:

(christina)

LapHappy -- First on the agenda....go back to the doc! Over this period of tim, you likely have had a slight decrease in the amount of fill in your band. For lack of a better explanation, call it evaporation.

Then start journaling. Nobody sees that journal but you so please be 100% honest about everything you put in your mouth. It will help you see what your weakensses/weak times of day are. That's the first step to getting back on track.

RiceChex ... not sure about IBS and lap band, but I'm betting there's somebody on this site that has experience! Why don't you post a separate thread so that people immediately see your issue. That way you'll have a better idea of what you're going to need to discuss with your doctor. But the above comment still applies!

To not have any follow-up care and gain only 15 pounds in two years is verrrry good. But now you're back and ready to dive in again - good for you.

I totally agree with Cathy. Get to the doctor. You're not the first person to go missing for awhile and definitely not the first person to have weight gain.

I stopped going for follow-ups and gained, too, but I'm back on track. When the nurse gave me a little bit of a rough time about not eating right, etc, my response was a casual, "I know I've not been doing everything that I needed to do, but I'm here now. At least I came back."

I got back into the good habits by following the post-fill instructions to the letter. By the time that was over, the cravings were gone.

Good for you for getting your head back in the game.

Good luck!