WillyC

Hi All - I'm sure this has been asked and answered - but here goes: I was banded in January of 2007 and had pretty good success with it. I lost 140lb - and maintained my weight at around 230-240lbs (I'm 6'2") for many years but after COVID lockdowns my weight started to creep back up to around 260lbs and I developed night coughs/reflux. I went to my surgeon a couple of months ago and he unfilled me which cured the reflux, but I immediately gained 10 lbs. He also did an endoscopy to make sure nothing was wrong. During the endoscopy he discovered I had a hiatal hernia and minor slippage with no erosion but he recommended that I consider removing the band and revision to a gastric sleeve (which I've agreed to do in order to be proactive and avoid any emergency complications if I do develop any erosion or other issues in the future). So my question is - what do I need to know about the differences between the two? I'd managed the band pretty well - occasionally dealing with PB's, sliming, and other fun - inconvenient but nothing I couldn't handle. I've read a couple of comments talking about foaming (or something)? Just want to make sure I'm going into this with my eyes wide open. Thanks in advance for any helpful hints!

Hi, I was banded in January of last year. Since then I've made at least 95 flights, including several overseas and a round-the-world voyage (14 flights in 9 days - UGH!) and didn't have any issues. I think you'll be fine.

I've made over 62 flights this year (including several overseas) and I've not had a single issue - although those international flights make you pretty paranoid about what they're serving.

Greetings, I was also banded by Dr. Spiegel, and while I don't necessarily think he's the most personable guy in the world he's never been anything but polite to me. He's always answered my questions and listened to what I've told him. But at the end of the day - he's a SURGEON! They're not really known for being very nice people folks. Plus - I don't mind a doctor taking a hard line with me. The shock of my doctor telling me that I was going to die young if I didn't do something about my weight is what led me to getting banded and I would hug my old doctor if she were here now (she's kinda hot anyways). :-) I guess my view is that he's trying to help motivate you by taking that attitude. Maybe fire you up enough to try harder to lose weight? Anyway - my $.02.

I've told anyone who bothered to ask. I struggled with my weight since I was 16, and I'm not ashamed about finally doing something truly proactive to change my life for the better - and I've even spoken to friends and co-workers very openly about the benefits from the surgery. My take on it is that if you could spend $16K to live 10 years longer, would you? Ultimately - I decided that I would field all kinds of questions anyway and that the best way to handle them was to answer honestly. I have yet to get a negative reaction (at least to my face).

Greetings Ladies, Am I the only male bandster in the Humble area? I got banded on the 25th - and I remember being one of only 3 men at the original seminar I went to. I guess us guys are a minority here...

Greetings, First of all - I want to thank all the regulars on here. I've been monitoring this board since I decided to have this done (about 2 months ago) and all of you sharing your experiences has helped me a great deal. I was banded by Dr. Speigel at University General Hospital (that place rocks - the staff is excellent). I'm home now - enjoying a small bowl of broth. I've got a little more pain than I thought I would - mainly in my abdominal muscles - but I've been walking around - taking some GAS-X, and I'm about to load up on the Hydrocodone (really looking forward to that). Anyway - Keep up the good work folks - I truly believe that this is the final answer to my weight loss problems.