ABERG

I was banded Feb. 29, 2008.  I have lost approximately 80 lbs, most of which was lost in the first year.  14 month after I was banded I followed up with a tummy tuck and arm lift.  I still wish to have a breast lift and inner thigh lift some day, but it may be a couple of years before I can do that.  I am now at the point of trying to figure out who I am post weight loss.  I definitely am reacted to differently and have a new take on some things, none of which are bad, just different and taking some time to get used to.
I choose to have the lap band because that is the best bariatric surgery that was available at the time.  I have watched my grandma be diagnosed with diabetes.  I have watched an aunt also be diagnosed with diabetes and watched her lose numerous toes and now both of her legs to the disease.  My dad was also diagnosed as being pre-diabetic.  Knowing that I take after that side of the family 100% I decided that I was going to do something about my weight and not follow the same path that they had. 
I am one of the lucky ones that has had great success with my band, and I pray that I continue to have this success.  I have not had some of the major problems that other friends have had with their band.  I have been too snug a couple of times.  The first time I knew within 3 days that I was too tight and got it taken care of immediately.  The second time I suspicioned it within 3 or 4 days but chose to stay the course and keep all of my fill.  Having had the band for 3 years at that point I knew how to work it so I really didn't have any problems even though I was too tight until one fateful night.  I made a bad food choice for most banded people in that I ate pasta.  I had never before had a problem with pasta but I think the combination of being too tight, eating the pasta and the severe case of nerves I had going on that evening got the best of me.  In the end I went in that evening to have some of the fluid taken out.  I have not had any put back in and while I miss having restriction, I also wanted to be normal and I am definitely now normal in that I have to rely on my stomach and brains to know when I am full and not on the band.
In regards to what kind of foods I can eat, I can pretty much eat anything and have.  If something gets stuck it is usually just a one time thing and something stupid I did like not chew it well enough.  Scrambled eggs got me one time, but I quickly learned that if I scramble them on the stove they are okay, it is scrambling them in the microwave that is the killer.  I do seem to have a problem with pickles that have been cut up in tuna salad, regardless of how small they are cut.  I do eat coleslaw but only if the cabbage is cut super fine.  If it the bagged cabbage I have a hard time chewing it small enough.  Other than that one time I have always been okay with pasta and I can do breads as well, but I was a little over three years post surgery before I even attempted a sandwhich from Subway.  I try to live by the motto that just because I can have something it doesn't mean that I should have it.  You will see me eat part of a hamburger bun, but you will not see me eat all of it because I choose not to.
My oldest nephew is so sweet in that he has learned my eating habits and knows that if I am only nodding yes or no while he is bombarding me with questions that I probably have food stuck and will bring me a bowl or cup to spit in.  However, he also knows that I don't drink when I eat so the day I had a small bite of his brother's beef jerky and then took a drink of my drink he reprimanded me.  I assured him that I was okay taking a tiny bite of the beef jerky and a drink in close proximity of each other.  He also told his mother that she needed to have the same surgery I did - now that is a child after my own heart!  These two boys are another one of my reasons for having the surgery in that I wanted to be the cool, healthy aunt that was around to see them live a long life, and so far I have succeeded because even they will tell you that I am cool and spoil them too much. :-)