DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

You look absolutely amazing!! Congratulations on your amazing success!!!

I used E-cigs to quit 2 years ago. I'd tried everything before and failed but the e-cigs worked.

I agree, call your doc

Ok don't pity me, enlighten me! What is a refrito? Inquiring minds need to know!

Hello! I was just banded a week ago, January 6th. I'm a 38 yr old single mom living in Michigan with my two children. I was originally supposed to have Gastric Bypass surgery 18 months ago, but I backed out at the last minute. It just felt too extreme to me. I knew I had to do something, and LapBand seemed like the best choice. On a side note, I also have Multiple Sclerosis. That was a big part of my decision to get banded. Granted right now I am totally mobile, and to look at me you'd never guess I have MS. However with a disease like MS my future is uncertain. I could go another 20-30 years still doing as well I am now, or I could end up in a wheelchair and require special care. No one knows. All I know is if the worst does happen, being this fat will only make the situation tons worse, so it's imperative I lose this weight while I'm still young and healthy enough to do it. I look forward to getting to know all of you

Wow are you always this needlessly rude and nasty? CarolinaGirl has lost over 100 pounds. She is far from a beginner and her success proves she knows what she's doing. No one was "dogging you" for your complications. Numerous people simply stated they've never had those problems after an unfill and stated the obvious- you don't gain weight from an unfill you gain weight from eating too much.

I agree with hely88- go back to the basics. Measure and/or weigh everything you eat and track every calorie. I would even consider going back to your nutritionist and letting them help you get back on track. Best wishes!

What you're going through is totally normal. I know I was second guessing my decision right up until the time they wheeled me into the ER. I had failed so many times before that I just didn't believe this would actually work for me. I weighed over 400 pounds and was miserable. I couldn't picture myself any other way, either. Now, I sit here recovering from another surgery. 3 days ago I had a major hernia repair, tummy tuck, and skin removal. I started this journey in a 7x or 8x shirt and right now I'm wearing a ladies size large. For the first time in a decade I'm not wearing a shirt that goes to my knees to cover my gut. When my boyfriend saw me his jaw literally dropped. He's been going on and on about how awesome I look and what a cute figure I have. My 18 year old daughter saw me and said "holy crap mom, you're skinny!!" All this and I am still very swollen and have drains in from surgery. It's extremely surreal to lose over 200 pounds and now to be healing from this recent surgery- and none of it would have happened without my Lap Band. Contrary to my own stinking thinking 200 pounds ago, I am not destined to be fat. You are not destined to be fat, either. You are destined for success and happiness. Believe that and believe in yourself. Hang in there. We believe in you

I think the reason people gain back all their weight even with the band is simple- because they can. The band isn't meant to physically stop us from eating anything. Plus, even when there are foods that don't go down well, if someone is determined enough they'll eat it anyway. Of course, there's also slider foods that people can eat like they never had the band at all. The band is a tool not a magic fix for fat. When people gain it's because they're not following the rules and doing what's necessary to maintain their weight. This isn't strictly band related, either. This is true for any WLS. Best wishes

Totally normal because they put a tube down your throat while you're anesthetized. It makes it rather raw and sore.

You need to get back into your doctor ASAP. That could be signs of slip.

If your doctor doesn't have an emergency after hours number, go to the ER immediately. Wretching this soon after surgery is extremely dangerous.

I agree, it sounds like you need one.

I say do what works for you. Some do Atkins (low carb), some do paleo, some just track calories. Weight Watchers is just another way of eating. If works for you- go for it.

You need a fill if you're hunger isn't well controlled. If you can go at least 4 hours on a cup or less of food without hunger, you don't need a fill likely. If you can't then you probably do. Just remember plateaus are normal and that adding Fluid to band won't make you lose weight. The weight loss comes from burning more calories than you consume. The band is there to control your hunger. Best wishes

That depends. Are you taking small enough bites, pausing between them, and chewing til it's mush? (Bites should be about the size of a fingernail btw). If you are already doing these things then call your doc. You might be too tight.

I'm writing from the hospital now. I'm in considerable pain but I think the hernia repair is causing more pain the tummy tuck. In fact, I don't have pain down low except when I cough our sneeze, they pain it's all up high where the hernias were.

I honestly don't know, my insurance is covering it because I've lost so much weight, have a ton of skin to be removed, and have abdominal hernias to be fixed.

It is true. A tummy tuck would be the way to tighten it back up. I'm actually going in for a tummy tuck and hernia repair tomorrow.

I've had two unfills and never experienced any of those side effects. As far as "rapid weight gain", that only happens if you start eating more than you should be. The band itself doesn't make you lose weight or gain weight. The band simply allows you to be satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Whether you lose or gain weight depends entirely on how much you eat.