dawalsh

At age 66 I'm glad I went for the lapband but would not rule out the sleeve

I never had a problem from yogury but cannot eat anything like bacon without a dumping problem . I'm OK with yogurt in small portions

hi, did insurance Cover the revision or were you self pay?

Yes I'm happier but get frustrated at the slow process. I'll be happiest however when I lose 60 lbs more and maintain it. Losing weight is one thing but maintaining your new ideal weight is key.

My doctor says it's a lifelong journey and there should be no goal weight set technically. In your mind you can have a goal weight but you have to eat healthy for a lifetime. It doesn't mean deprivation but you've gotten the band to lose weight and that means controlled portions forever.

I hope it works out for you. I inquired with Weight Loss Agents and they can do a sleeve. Revision for $8900. It's in Mexico though. They do offer financing and a layaway plan in case your insurance does not cover a revision. I only brought it up because I'm losing so slow with the band that I might consider the sleeve. My daughter had the sleeve last July and she is doing fabulous! Anyway I hope your problems are over soon.

I had regular coffee from day one. I told my doctor that I could give up food but couldn't give

Hang in there perfectly normal!

I'm 17 months post op and still struggling ! I am so frustrated because it seems like I'll never get to ONEderland. ( under 200 lbs ). I can't seem to lose weight lately and I am terribly frustrated . Sometimes I feel like I want to give up all together but my head keeps saying I'm going to do it. My goal of getting under 200 lbs has been the biggest struggle in my life. Good luck to everyone!

Awesome! Congratulations!

It sounds good but too tight a band is not good. Be very observant of how you react after your first fill. Take notes if anything does not feel right and if you feel you're having issues don't hesitate to go to your doctor before you're next fill appointment. Wishing you success and good luck on your lapband journey!

judych I wish you well also :-)

It's normal for me still and I was banded in Dec 2012. Still going for monthly fills and I'm able to drink 16 oz of water eAsily. I drink quite a bit, burp then drink again. My doctor is so conservative with his fills. I do believe I'm starting to feel restriction after my last fill. I tried having some seafood gumbo yesterday and felt full after a few spoonfuls. I wish you well!

How often do you go for fills? I'm 16 months post op and still going for monthly fills. I wish I could go to the doctor every other month because my doctor is a 3 1:2 hour drive. I told my doctor it was taking so long to lose weight . He told me that losing weight is a lifelong process and that I will keep going for monthly fills until he feels I can go every other month. It is so frustrating! Good luck to you!

I'm in agreement, no way can the band break. The bNd can slip BUTnot break

I just got a fill today and my doctor always make sure I burp twice while I'm drinking a glass of water. I've ad my band over a year and I'm still going for monthly fills. I was hoping I'd be getting filled less frequently by now but I always burp no matter what I drink.

Thank you Alex!

Congratulatiions on your NSV! (Non-scale victory). That is a major accomplishment! I'm off my diabetic medicine as well. It is so nice to periodically check my blood and it's within the range it should be in.Be proud of yourself! That is awesome!

thank you, my sentiments exactly. I have a very good rapport with my lapband doctor and I actually look forward to seeing him on a monthly basis. I need that connection to my surgeon for aftercare.My daughter on the other hand had the sleeve but her aftercare is minimal. She doesn't get weighed in monthly and she has no accountability to anyone but herself and she does not have a diet anymore. She eats what she wants and she actually gained weight the first month post op. She's losing weight now but she does not have to see her surgeon unless there's a complication. If I didn't have to see a doctor every month I do believe I would be on a care free diet and I'd probably gain weight. I'm happy with the band and the accountability I have with it. That's not to say I'm against any other type of WLS. If it works for someone else all well and good but I chose the least invasive procedure and I'm happy with it. No changes for me!

Karen, You look fantastic! I have another 60 lbs to lose and I'm finding it hard but I have issues with flabby skin and flappy arms but I'm trying to reach goal before I consider any further surgery.

My daughter got brainwashed into having the sleeve. Her surgeon told her she would most likely fail with the lapband. Well, my daughter did not know I had lapband so I told her. She was shocked I had WLS. However, her surgeon told her he stopped doing lapbands because of the high failure rate with his patients. That got me mad and I told her that her surgeon was wrong because there are success stories in all WLS. My daughter has lost a lot of weight with the sleeve but I worried about it because it is more invasive. Thank God I have a surgeon who is pro-lapband!

Well , I'm 65 and 15 months out on my surgery. I've lost quite a bit of weight but am at a standstill right now. My highest weight was 289 and I can't get past 207! I however, follow up with my surgeon and it 's a 3 hour drive each way. I'm still getting fills and I spoke to my surgeon about going to see him every other month. As soon as I can get below 200 he'll consider it. I have many of the same medical issues as you and due to a disability cannot actively participate in heavy exercise. However, I am now walking in stores holding onto a shopping cart. I no longer use a mobility cart unless absolutely necessary. No, the band has not failed me and when I don't eat properly and have a slight gain it is me, myself and I who have failed the band . I know I need more exercise and less food to succeed. It 's not easy but I am so determined to keep trying until I succeed . Please do yourself a favor and go back to a bariatric surgeon closer to you if you feel 300 miles is too far. Don 't give up and make sure your thyroid medication is working properly . Will your insurance cover you going to see a new doctor ? If not, try and work out a payment plan. I had to have $4800 worth of dental work so I paid what I could in cash and I was approved for Care Credit to handle the balance. Please don't give up and perhaps you should start a 5 day liquid diet to see that your pouch is working properly. Don 't ever give up and I wish you much success. God bless on your endeavor.

Best of luck to you!

Hi Libby, I can totally relate to you. I have a very unsupportive PCP. I was banded on 12/28/12 and I'm 14 months out. My highest weight was 289 and my pre-surgery weight was 267. I'm down to 209 and am at a standstill for two months now. My PCP says that it's ridiculous to keep going for fills if you're hardly losing weight. I leave his office feeling defeated most of the time. My surgeon is what keeps me going. He is so encouraging and he thinks I'm doing fine. I could change my PCP eventually just have to get the courage to do it. I'm a young senior also but I have health issues that prevent me from doing heavy exercise. I am a post stroke patient and I've had brain operations so I'm limited in what I can do as I have no equilibrium and depend on a cane to get around. Anyway, hang in there and don't let that surgeon feel defeated. We're here for you!

Hey, I had lapband surgery and NEVER told my daughter ( more for fear I might fail at WLS). Anyway, she calls me up and says she's having gastric sleeve surgery and the mother in me takes over and ask if she knows what she's doing and yes I break down and tell her I had WLS. Well, I got blasted by my daughter for not telling her and what if something happened to me. Mom's worry about their children and I would never say somebody died from it, however, the concern a mother shows her child is really a form of love I guess.