DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Quite honestly, I decided I didn't want to die before I was old enough to be a grandma someday. I wanted my life back and I wanted to actually be an active part of my family's lives not a bystander. I didn't want to spend my life a fat, miserable, bitter woman watching my life go by without me.

I would definitely start tracking your calories. It's the only way you can be sure you're not eating too much or too little.

It's funny, but I started snacking on cheese and fruit recently too. Now my weight is moving downward again. Coincidence? I almost never ate fruit before, btw.

Kathy is SO right! I don't buy the whole "oh they mean well" crap. Unless they're completely socially inept and a total moron, they know exactly what they're saying and they see how it effects you. When someone says "oh they mean well" they're doing nothing but maxing excuses for poor behavior. I don't know who this person or how close they are to you, but if this person makes this a habit then perhaps it's time to get some distance from them. You don't need toxic people in your life. Best wishes and hang in there.

How long have you been "stuck" for? Do you track calories? How many calories to do you eat a day?

I agree with Kime-Lou, the very first thing you need to do is go back and see your surgeon. I don't see why he'd want to empty to your band to re-do fills but I do know it's never too late too start over. The next thing I'd do is go see your nutritionist. Be honest in the areas where you struggle and what your needs are and let them help you establish food guidelines that fit into your lifestyle. Remember that weight loss boils down simple math- you lose when you burn more calories than you consume. Perhaps you could start tracking calories? I know for myself, tracking calories is the only way I can be sure I'm not eating too much. It holds me accountable, too. I also measure everything I eat to be sure I'm sticking to band sized portions. These two things have been a very big part of my successful weight loss. I would also look into a support group either near your home or college. I know I'm going to sound like a mom (I have a daughter your age) but it's so crucial you have good support as you restart this weight loss journey. If your family can't do that for you then a support group to lean on will be a truly invaluable resource. Just remember, it's never too late to start over and you can do this

Well..honestly...yes. There are rules even with the band. You will always have to make good food choices, stick to band sized portions, and change your entire way of dealing with food. You have to be committed to change and right now that means sticking to your liquid pre op diet. But right now, your concern should be whether you'll be able to have the surgery. Not to scare you, but the pre op diet is to shrink your liver. When they do the surgery they have to be able to move around your liver. In obese people the liver is very enlarged and fatty. The doctors put you on this liquid diet to shrink your liver so it's safe to do the surgery. If you continue to cheat and your liver isn't sufficiently shrank, you run a very real risk of the doctor canceling the surgery. There has been multiple people on these forums who've gone into for surgery and come out with all the scars but no band- because the doctor couldn't continue once he saw their enlarged fatty liver. If you truly want the Lap Band, stick to your pre op diet. Best wishes.

Ask your surgeon why he says no steroids. Is it medical or for weight reasons? I'd even have your primary doc discuss it with your band doc so together they can decide what's best.

You could have heart burn, reflux, unable to eat and/or drink, pain, vomiting. ...or you could have no symptoms whatsoever. The only way to know is to have your bariatric surgeon check your band.

Honestly no, but hey if it works it works!

You should be proud!! You lost a lot and you look great!!!

See? Now aren't you glad you went and got it checked out?

I'm no doctor but but if he did a CT scan he would've seen if it was your gallbladder. If it was appendicitis then your white blood cell count would've been significantly elevated. Furthermore, when he got into your abdomen he could've seen by examining the organs whether or not they had gone bad. It seems to me your doctor screwed up multiple times along the way. That's why I wondered if the same doctor who put in your band is the same one who did the other surgeries. And btw, if your current condition was caused by your band being too tight as you said, then your doctor is partially to blame because if he'd done the necessary diagnostic test he'd have seen the band was too tight before you went through all these surgeries. Your stomach isn't supposed to cooperate with anything, your doctor is supposed to make sure your band is doing the cooperation. I'm glad you figured out the problem and hopefully you'll be much better now, but I would seriously reconsider ever going back to that doctor again. You went through a lot of hell needlessly.

I'm truly sorry you went through this. I'm confused about your doctor. You don't "guess" whether a patient has appendicitis or a bad gallbladder. You definitely don't just randomly remove them on a "possibility" either. There are tests that can confirm both problems, including blood tests and CT scans. No credible doctor just starts taking out organs based on a possibility. I also don't understand why he'd remove both your gallbladder and your band? Was your band slipped from all the vomiting? Was the doctor who removed your appendix and your gallbladder the same doctor who put in your Lap Band?

I hope you can lose yours too! For what it's worth, I have Multiple Sclerosis and didn't think I'd ever walk without a cane again either. It's amazing what taking all the extra weight stress off my legs did.

As far as I know, they're fine. I've taken both without problems.

Nooo don't get nervous! It's probably nothing. But, it's always better safe than sorry and (God forbid) something isn't right the sooner it's caught the easier it's fixed.

If you're eating until you're full you're likely over eating. With the band, we're supposed to eat until we're satisfied not full. Have a look at this link, I think it'll help: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

I know you don't think you're too tight, but heartburn and/or reflux are a red flag when you have the band. They can be a sign of being too tight or even a slip. Plus, left untreated it can lead to erosion. Give your doctor a call, it's always better safe than sorry, you know?

Definitely general anesthesia. They cut you from hip to hip. Not a fun recovery. Your pubic line is approximately your hair line

Your Protein shakes are crucial for healing right now. Either stomach the ones you have or get new ones but you have to have something. Talk to your doctor about exercise, most won't let you do much beyond walking for the first 4 weeks.