Startingoveragain

My story is similar to yours. I was banded 6 years ago in 2005. I had a starting weight similar to yours around 285 or so. I too lost over 100lbs the first year. Then my band slipped and I had to have revision surgery as well. That was in 2006. After that I was so scared to have a fill. I was at my goal weight and I thought I could keep the weight off. 5yrs, a divorce, remarriage, and new baby later...I have gained all but 20lbs of my weight back. I was self pay for my band as well so I started feeling like there was no hope and I am a failure. I finally went back for a fill 2 years ago and it wasn't enough. However, last week I had a wake up call. My stomach had been hurting and very sore for two weeks and I just could not take it anymore. I was convinced my band had slipped even though I had no restriction. I went to the ER and of course the doctors there were "band phobic" and they did not want to even try to take a look. Then I made an appointment with a band doctor who I had never seen before. I chose him because he was closer than my previous band doctor. WHat a mistake!!!! He didn't care about the problems I was having. He made me attend a seminar and tried to convince me that I need the sleeve. I don't have the money, or the time for another surgery, although it sounded so tempting. Well, long story short, I went to see my original band doctor and he took an x-ray. My band was in perfect condition. The pain was being caused by a torn stomach muscle and it had nothing to do with the band. I was so relieved because I had already prepared myself for band removal....and to be honest I wanted it out. But what a wake up call! He gave me a fill, and I finally finally after 6 years, have a little restriction. I do think I need one more fill, but I have already started trying to go back to the original band habits that helped me lose the 100+lbs the first year. Since Thursday, I have lost 6lbs. We have been through too much girl, to give up now. Lets give this one more shot...together. We did it before. We can do it again. Lets be patient with ourselves....we are not failing our bands...they failed us. So it is up to us to take control and make it right. If you need a weight loss partner I would love to stand by you through this. I wish you luck with your fill. I know what you are going through so please msg me anytime.

Missyt.....I feel like some of these people are being a little hard on you. If you have had your band for 4 years as you say, then it is likely it has become less effective over time, studies show this. So those of you who are being a little insensitive toward Missyt, I sure hope you never experience what she is going through. Also, it is true that the band works differently for everyone, or perhaps not at all for some. As for myself, I have been banded for almost 6 years. My first year banded I lost 140lbs, and the next year I my band slipped and I had to have revision surgery to have it repaired. I was lucky that the slip was not terrible and did not lose my band. However, the second part of my story is not so successful. After having my band slip and seriously starving for two weeks without being able to keep down even one bite of food, and then having to have surgery again....I was scared to utilize my band properly for several more years. I didn't even get another fill until three years later because I was terrified this would happen to me again. Long story short, I gained all but 20lbs back of the weight I had lost. Those of you who say the band is a "tool", maybe that is true for you, but not for everyone. Looking back I feel like I could have lost the weight without the band. At the time, I gave the band a lot of credit, but hindsight is 20/20. I see now that I was working out at least 6 days a week, and I was eating low carb, low calorie, and so on. There were very few times I felt that "full" feeling that everyone describes with the band. The only time my band became that "tool" for me was when it slipped and I was unable to keep food down, but at this point it was too late, and not healthy. Now I have recently gotten a fill, and under flouro, my doctor says I have very good restriction, however when I eat the recommended amount of food, I still do not feel full. I feel no different than I did when I had the band. I do not drink liquids for a period of time before and after eating, yet I still do not stay full for very long. My fills are almost maxed out at this point. I will be able to have one more, and my band will be completely full. I am not saying the band does not work, but for some people it's not the "tool" that they were expecting. I think some people(such as myself) get carried away with the fact that they had SURGERY, and therefor, they MUST not fail....I paid for my surgery out of pocket, so failure was not an option...which is what somewhat motivated me(among other things) So for those of you who the band works perfectly, congrats...I am so happy for you ....But please please be sensitive to those whose bands aren't working quite as well for them. Of course there are people who totally sabotage their own weight loss efforts by not following "band rules", but in our own arrogance, let's try not to accuse everyone of this.....Thanks