ruthyfisher

:help: Hi everyone, I had an x ray today as the surgeon had thought that I had a tubing problem but worse he said that I have a problem in the ballooning,. and that it is no longer connected. Sorry I don't know if there is a technical term for this? but that my band would need to be replaced. I am not thrilled at the thought of having to be re banded, my weight pre banding was 250 lbs and I am now 206, I was banded in September 04 and to be honest I can say I don't really know what it is like to be banded as I have had to really diet and watch everything I eat just to maintain this weight. I would appreciate all your feedback as I am really anxious about this and I know a lot of people on here have lots of knowledge. thanks Ruth

Yes I have got restriction in that I can still get blocked if I eat too fast or don't chew properly but I never have that full feeling after eating a small amount of food, we thought I had a tubing problem as I had many fills and kept going back for more. ON reflection I think I may have had a problem with the band from pretty much the start as I never got that feeling of i'm really full or experienced any fill problems. My surgeon is not charging me for the new band as my health fund will cover this and usually he charges out of pocket cost but I suppose as the band is faulty he's doing it at a lesser coast. ( I live in Sydney Australia) and the medical fund cover the band. I was just needing support and wondered if anyone else knew of or had this problem Cheers Ruth

Hi Amy I too also enjoy a few glasses of wine and ofcourse as we all the apart from the calories it isnt a problem, remember after you eat when not drinking to wait at least one hour as fluids make the food pass through the band quicker and you loose that full feeling quicker. Cheers Ruth

Hi Everyone Its been some time since ive posted, I had my band fitted in september 04 and have lost about 20kilos(hope you can all understand that) I live in Sydney Australia and we work in kilo's not pounds but if anyone can tell me how to convert great. Anyway I was going really well and then I kept getting fills but struggled with my weight the whole time and really need to diet to loose weight but I make many wrong food choices, such as ice cream and potato chips I can eat most things the doctor took all the fill out and said that I had only kept about 3ml's in the band and that I have a problem with the band the tubing needs to be fixed, this means another operation which to be honest im not thrilled about the idea. I still can get blocked it I dont chew but really have no restriction I am so unhappy with this all as I fell that I went through the whole banding process and havent got the results I wanted Its summer here and IM still fat. have others had problems with their tubing please share as I have some negative thoughts about getting the tubing fixed and wonder if this would help and I would get the results I want. Cheers Ruth

My daughter and I were banded together 15 months ago and although she begged and cried at the time to be banded I wonder whether I would in some ways get her done again the biggest problem i feel for her is that she could loose heaps more than she has if she had more restriction but she is not ready mentally if that makes sense she wants to be slim without making any cutbacks, i suppose we all do but at least the band will be there when she is ready to really get motivated herself as no one can do it successfully unless they themselves want to. She did not have any problems with soups shakes and musshy food but I can understand what you are saying as when Jennelle is hungry she will still eat all the wrong foods types and you can tell her but after a while its just "I know mom" Hope this helps and im sure when she is ready to loose as my daughter they have the tool Cheers Aussie Ruth

Hi I am from Australia I live in Sydney and its so hot here at the moment I dont think you would want to be here, its a great place to live. I have been to America twice in the past 8 years and was there in October this year. I was banded in Sept 04 and have posted under complications - hope you can share some advise and support Cheers Ruth

HI and greetings from Sydney Australia I just wanted to thank all who helped me make this decison and for the great advise I found on this site. I did find a wonderful aussie site where we have monthly meetings and chats, but I havent forgotten all those who responded to my posts and thanks i thought if some of you remembered me it would be nice to let you know about my date tommorow(its Monday in Aussie) My 15 year old daughter Jennelle will also be banded with me, so again thanks

Hi Jeanie, im looking foward to being able to do the same thing get rid of all the bigger sizes when I get banded. I have lost weight in the past and given all my big sizes away only to regain and wish Id kept them - oh well the good news is I have a draw full of lovely clothes that as I loose I'll be able to fit into. What about getting some things altered, made smaller, I think if you have something special its worth looking into. I cant wait until i can fit into what I like too not just what would fit. Good luck to all and continue the good work Cheers Ruth

Hi again i didnt mean I wanted to "read horror stories" I just have only seen positive comments about the band otherwise would not be going foward with this myself as Im sure I will so sorry if I appeared to be negative Im hopeing that when im banded it will be all positive and wonderful but just want to learn as much as possible and be fully informed and as my friend seemed so against the band stating she choose the bypass as the best option and stated she had read so many horror stories on the net re the band - just thought Id ask, believe me the risks of the op really scare me. I was reading the profile of someone yesterday who said the reason she decided to be banded was that her mother died in sleep at 52 due to high blood pressure, that me me think about the risk of not been banded I have really high blood pressure my mother although not overweight had diabetes(excuse spelling) and I have protein urea, and Im 49 so health wise I know if I continue to gain weight as I am getting older the health risks to myself increase. I asked my husband yesterday if he thought I should have the operation as I'll admit it scares me and he said yes deal with it once and for all and loose it and never have this ongoing up and down weight problem, as I can loose it i lost 66 pounds 2 years ago on a diet but put it all back on again very quickly. So im just looking and reading and waiting. Cheers To All Ruth

Hi Donali, I have been reading all your info and just wanted to say thanks for it - it has been informative. I am going to my first appt in 2 weeks but am going to see 3 different surgeons as I want to talk to all 3 before deciding who to go with. I have a question ??? I havent read to much negative stuff on the banding but have been told by a friend who had the bypass that she decided to go with the bypass as she had read many horror stories about the band, I know about slippage, ersosian, and ofcourse the possibility of blood clots, are there other risks or information that would be good for me to know or read about. Thanks How are you? and how is it going being solo now? I think about you and wondered how you were. Why do you think the band makes a difference? Bye for now Ruth

Any suggestions on how to pick the best surgeon and what questions would you ask? what if the surgeon doenst use xray for the fills just feels for the right place to do the fill ? would this sit ok with you? please experienced bandsters please help with your knowledge and what are good suggestions to get by for the first month of no eating. Cheers Ruth

Hi Dee im like you waiting to get the band done ive waited 12 months now my insurance kicks in - Im in Sydney and the op will cost me out of pocket between $3000-$4500 depending on who you go too I cant advise you about the op in the states but there are many lovely ladies who could I think if you want the band then this is your choice and your decision and stick by your guns- go for it, look into everything, I also would not want to bypass I work with a girl who had this done and so far she has lost about 132 lbs and still wants to loose about 44lbs or so but this op is not reversable and can cause some problems like dumping ect How much is the band in the states and is this covered on private medical insurance or do you have to pay it all out of pocket ? good luck with things and if you really want it I believe it will happen for you Cheers Ruth

hi again do you have much follow up care - here we can take a whole package which includes dietiens(excuse spelling) psychologists and on care help a whole team that provide after care follow up as they reckon you need it otherwise you wont know what to eat, and I am defintely going to only do solids for the first month as id be afraid of a slippage or something going wrong. I was told a while ago that oranges or citrus can cause a heartburn type feeling so some people need to avoid these and ive read that bread is hard to tolerate? Well I am looking foward to getting my band on and now just have to wait take care and take it easy Ruth

hi yana greetings from Sydney. Well i think you sound as though you are doing well and its a huge lifestyle change and ofcourse there will be concerns and worries as it all new ground isnt it, as you know Im going to get banded I hope in late september as I'll need to have time off work and have already booked holidays for that time. Im enjoying reading everyone's experiences and learning more all the time keep up the good work and try I think to keep on the liquids as much as possibe you dont want problems with the band through eating too early,just enjoy the weight loss. I wanted to ask can you drink meal replacement drinks that people use for diets as they would really fill you up wouldnt they are these ok? take care Bye for now Ruth

Hi Everyone Ive just found this site and am interested in hearing everyone's experience's. I am in Sydney Australia and am wanting to have the lap band done but ofcourse its a really scary decision isnt it???? Could some of you please share your experiences up to and including your surgery and was it worth it would you do it again? Im 49 and really am sick of the yo yo of being fat. There is a thin me wanting to come out. Looking foward to hearing from you all Cheers Ruth

Hi everyone and thanks for your reply's. In Sydney there are very experienced doctors and some even do it free if you have medical insurance but i am thinking of having a dr Ritchie do it as he does the band and the surgery for weight loss and out of pocket costs are about $3000 plus ofcourse your medical insurance and I took this out 12 months ago as i have been considering this op for this long, but i think out of that $3000 I can probably claim some of that back through the insurance and yes we can get this op done in our home town by many experienced surgeons but it comes to choice and i think the cost doensnt matter id rather pay for the expericence. Cant the band stay in forever if no complications and im surprised that so many have had weight losses and huge without any fills i thought you needed these to lose?? do you feel full without them?? and why do you all think some people have great success and I know a girl I work with and she was banded last october and has only lost 12 kilos about 20 pounds. is it easy not to eat your usual way?? thanks all Ruthy