jduck

My Dr. wanted me to go back to eating the way I did when I was finally able to eat solid foods, One cup per meal, three times a day. I'd say if you make up your mind that you really are ready to recommitt yourself to this lifestyle, then start all over from square one. You might want to ask a medical professional but what we have been doing is probably a dangerous game. We are increasing our chances of having the band slip and increasing the risk for another surgery to fix it.

Hello to all. I am new to this site but not new to the process. I was banded by Dr. Adam Kaplan July 22nd, 2009. I have lost a total of 93lbs according to the weight I was at the day of the surgery. But I did gain 39lbs in the 6-8 month period that elapsed between my initial consultation and the actual surgery date. I admit, I have not been what my doctor would call "compliant" to his rules, but I have lost quite a bit and have not had any set backs or problems. I am now on my last leg of my weight loss journey. I have approximately 40-50 lbs to go before I have my abdominoplasty and I am now recommitted to this process and want to finish what I have started. I have not had a fill for almost a year and I have lost most of my weight without the help of my doctor. However, I realize I need to do more and its time for a fill but in order to do this, I had to go back to eating one cup total of food three times a day. This is a challenge! I need some encouragement and do not have time with my busy lifestyle to go to the support group meetings scheduled by my Lap Band doctor's office so here I am. I look forward to learning and helping to encourage if I can.

Yes! I would do it all lover again. I am 46yrs and it has been a year and a half since my surgery. I have lost a total of 93 lbs. I am at a stand still now but I have not been following the process rules like I know I am supposed to. This is a decision you make and it is for a lifetime. But the alternative is death or a very poor quality of life. I becane diabetic and once you are diagnosed diabetic, you can never go back. Now I am diet controlled and no longer take medication. I no longer take medicine for high blood pressure, and my asthma symptoms are totally gone. I no longer suffer from depression. I have the will to live life now. I feel pretty now. And I can shop at the mall at all the cool stores! Although I have about 40 to 50 more lbs to go, I know I can do this. My younger brother is sentenced to a lifetime of dialysis infusions three times a week due to diabetes. He will die at a young age and dialysis is a million dollar expense. I will not allow myself to go there. My kids are following in my bad habits and over eating and have been diagnosed Insulin Resistent which is borderline diabetic according to our family doc. I have taught them these bad eating habits. I did that. I have to turn my life around so I can turn theirs around too. Not only are you going to be making yourself healthy again but you are setting a precedent for how your children eat and take care of themselves. So yes, I would do it again in a heartbeat! Good luck!

I am exactly where you are right now. I am sure we are not the only ones who have found ways to cheat. Like drinking sips of liquid with your food to help it slip thru the band. I started doing this because my band was too tight and I was "sliming" all the time and the liquids helped. What I should have done was go directly back to my dr and have some saline extracted but nooooo, I was so stubborn! I actually lost more weight after my doctor yelled at me for not losing fast enough and called me non-compliant. My surgery was about a year and a half ago and I have lost 93 of the 133 lbs I want to lose. I only have 40 to 50 more to go before I can get my abdominoplasty and I feel better now than I have since I was in my twenties. I am now a diet controlled diabetic which means I no longer need to take medicine to control it. I no longer have high blood pressure, my asthma symptoms are gone, I quit smoking 6 mos before my banding surgery. My life has totally changed and it is only going to get better. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and though I have not been allowed to be filled for almost a year, I now have found the will to continue. I had to wrap my head around the fact that this takes discipline, something that I have never been good at. I am ready now. I have to be honest with myself because I am QUEEN of cheating and shortcuts. Although I have had a lot of success, I have failed in some ways too. I will probably always battle the urging to cheat but then I rely on my faith for strength as well. WE CAN DO THIS!

I am not an FEP employee, but a BCBS employee, having had Lap Band surgery and getting ready for the last leg of my weight loss and a full Abdominoplasty. My plan will cover this procedure because it is a medically necessary surgical procedure for skin removal. Good luck!