Julie norton

Amie.... like Tom Petty said: The waiting is the hardest part! I was truly scared the night before surgery, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life! Almost 12 years later.... still happy and healthy... best of luck. Push through it!!

My port does get sore... mostly when I lean forward against it. I occasionally don’t protect it from kitties and such. ( my placement is between boobs about 2” lower) Good luck on less pressure. Ps. I sometimes have to switch bras due to underwire etc pressure

I’m way past 50. But glad to be here! Surgery: 12/11/06 Banded and healthy. 85-90 lbs gone (depending on if I go out to eat and drink ) Hope to see other long term older bandsters here Not a lot of us chat...

I also am from the lay on your left side (with a heating pad) to ease Lap band discomfort . I believe only about 20-25% of banders get long term results... there are product malfunctions, dr ‘s placement problems, operator error, and other issues . The continuing dr visits have helped me, and truly, checking in here also helps. I am a long term bander, and I understand I may not have her forever. For me, thank goodness it works with me.

I do enjoy a manicure or pedicure reward. But a real treat is a long massage at the end of my week... I really need to take better care of myself...

Well. Some options seem to to be : WATER, fiber, miralax, stool softeners, enemas, suppositories, overnite mild laxatives, and a nurse or office consultation? Anything that works... as long as it isn’t days and days... THAT can be painful and frustrating. Hoping things move!

So happy to see posters here again. We all have successful/ non- successful months or years... (I stopped saying days/weeks). Just hearing someone else who really KNOWS how this banded life is a bit different helps me. Please keep posting. (And Lisa...a hundreds $ plus rock??)

I can chime in. I’m almost 64 and been banded well over a decade. Very happy with my decision.... however... they’re are days my band is NOT agreeable, so liquids ( ok frozen yogurt or indulgence frozen) may help I get through it , and it can still be frustrating because I can’t see it coming. All and all, I delight in being 90 lbs lighter thru life. I find this world easier to negotiate at a “normal” size... whatever that means to each of us .

Please... I just want one thread that has good things to say about lapbands... There are many horror stories on other posts. Just not here please. I’m happy 11 years later.... lost about 90 lbs. kept off 70... I need my tool. Emptied, I put on 25 and didn’t change too many habits. I’m back with fills and life goes merrily along!!

Some post here. But it is a bit sluggish at times. Sadly, many not -happy banders around as well for many reasons. Not sure of other sites I believe Facebook has some groups. . It is a very special dance I must follow to not irritate my band. I drink protein shakes and exercise....and Try!! I fail also! Hoping You will remember the high protein from the last round. Best of luck!

That was a very nice tribute to your old friend. The band. I also liked that your goodbye was not peppered with “wrath of my band” add -ons. It was fun through Lapband talk.. and BariatricPal. I’m still happily going along the band trail. December mark 12 years, and I always listened to your great advice. I guess it is true that nothing lasts forever. Thank you for your devotion to this WLS community. Julie Norton

Made the choice in 06. Not many other options available then. Also wanted least invasive and adjustable and removable so lap band fit my prerequisite. Slight hair loss at 4-5 months. It did grow right back. I have a hard time with very dry chicken and salads don’t like me sometimes. I knew when I lost weight steadily and it did NOT COME BACK!! That this was the right choice for me. My tools are: this board to and ask things and check in, Drs appts scheduled and kept, sharing a personal trainer 2x weekly, and also going back to shakes when my band acts up. It is the best I can do and I try everyday.... some days or weeks are better than others! Nothing in this life is perfect! Lastly, it is usually the same 5-10 lbs I deal with.... Not 85 lbs!!. Best of luck with your WLS decision.Pick what the Dr and you agree on..

Carrie p That is perhaps the best advice from a veteran to all who consider WLS. Specifically helpful for banders... it is a life changing decision IF you can reset your response to food like you said. I have been in “band school” for almost 12 years .... and I find she is a fickle bi*ch at times. I just keep going along... happy about maintaining 85 lb loss... sad because it sometimes feels like an eating cult -like diet . Please keep posting about your adventures with WLS. It helps me to read about others’ ongoing treks. Jules

Good post... might I add that for me, weight is lost first in the grocery store. Sad....however if it is not in my home.... I can’t eat it. Just my system

I find it doesn’t work well when my back is irritated... But to help me get to dreamland, I’m trying.

Silly kitty I have heard this come up from wls friends and this board. Don’t fret. Bodies can find a comfortable set point... keeping it there may be a struggle... but thank goodness it is 10lbs ... not 80!! Best of luck

My son and his wife do follow fasting 8-16. They do well. They are young and very active and fairly lean. I try but ams I cant eat much. So pms are tough. Carry on and keep trying!

Truly, I am so thankful that food has lost its siren song to me. To me, that is one of the best rewards of WLS. I’m over a decade into this and still very humble and still learning. Sure, I get hungry... I eat well( most )of the time. I like the use of ‘love ‘ food being replaced with better lifelong terms. I truly try not to shop much...mostly do not watch food shows(ok. Mary berry) don’t peruse food mags or recipes. Just keeping a distance.... And please don’t mistake me for someone who “gets it”... I still just try Life goes on, and the WLoss community can teach us much.

Congratulations jfc. I’m happy you are down to a comfortable weight... some of us ahem.. mature ones like to think of high school weight as a great area for us. This world is easier to navigate at a “normal” weight. Whatever that means to each of us 11years. Wow .

Ok. August is upon us. It would be nice to see a few posts ... however brief... from some veterans Successful or not quite, I miss you!!

I don’t think it is uncommon to start with smaller fills. Keep going!! You will know when it is good. Hopeful

Seems as if bands have their own ideas for what will agree with them.. and mine is not consistent. I deal with it every week... It has been many years, but I won’t give up!!

Vets are the only ones that usually seem to not post overly dramatic themes. Some of us wait, like big viffer , reading and wondering when the bickering will stop, mostly counting on the fiercest members moving on. We’re still here (11+ years)working our OWN programs. Best of luck to all.

Just a few banders post these days. Happy to see them!! Nice positive posts.

I’m still around... happy to be maintaining 11 & 1/2 years later. (Up a few, down a few) try to be compliant daily... Some days are better than others.. just like some months are better... ok some years are better than others when you been at this awhile , vets. This site helps me+ drs appts+work out appts. And on we go...