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My band was placed May 2007 and I recently went to the doctor with reflux problems. He did an upper GI which showed no problems but also did an endoscopy which showed my band has eroded. :thumbup: I am being scheduled for a removal this month, but I'm trying to get an idea of what to plan for in terms of recovery time. For those who have had their band removed: 1. How long were you in hospital? 2. How long did you recover at home before returning to work? 3. How long before you felt like yourself again? Thanks, Maryum

I was banded over 2 and 1/2 years ago and I'm here to inspire those that fall off the wagon! After being banded I lost 90lbs in about 9 months... I looked and felt so good, I went and got pregnant. Fast forward 18 months and I had completely fallen off the bandwagon and started gaining weight. I was depressed and frustrated. It finally took me relearning the band rules and following them meticulously.. since then I have lost over 60 lbs and I'm still going. I'm not a complete success yet:wink:, but I want people to see a different perspective. The band is always there and ready to work, when we are REALLY ready to use it!

Thanks AlienBandit for the response - it seems like you were able to go back to work right away. I'm trying to figure out how much time to take off from work. I will not be getting another band, since my erosion is pretty bad I'm not eligible. I'm not sure I would want another one any way.. It hasn't been a bad journey with the band, but the cost and readjustment would be monumental. I have led an extremely active lifestyle since banding (currently training for a triathlon), so I'm hoping I can maintain my weight loss. How does it feel to be re-banded?

Just want you to know that I felt the EXACT same way when I got my band 3 years ago. I was totally convinced that I was going to get it taken out - I really freaked out. I kept thinking that I had broke it and it was off floating free in my body! LOL After some time, I settled into the routine of things and it started to feel normal to have it.

I fell off the bandwagon after having a baby (2008), but recently got back on and weight loss is still going very good. Started my band journey back in 2007 at 333 lbs. Today, I weight 231 pounds! I'm down from a size 26 (top) 30 (bottom) to a size 16 (top) 20 (bottom). I had set a goal of 198, but now I'm wondering if that's too high or too low. My weight loss is slowing to about 8lbs a month (which is still great) but what I really want is a good goal to aim for! My doc had said 60% of excess weight is most likely with band? (that would be 223lbs) Any thoughts? Just for reference, I am African-American woman and have a large body frame (still where a size 11 shoe!). I am only 5 feet, 5 and a half inches tall. Also, I weighed 200lbs by 8th grade, so I don't have any adult frame of reference for a healthy size. Thanks for your thoughts!! MaryumC

I stalled out for a while, the only thing that helped me was relearning the rules of the band. I posted them on my wall and reviewed them every day!! Hope this helps: The Ten Lap-Band Commandments Eat only three small meals a day Eat slowly and chew thoroughly (15-20 times a bite) Stop eating as soon as you feel full Do not drink while you are eating Do not eat between meals Eat only good quality food Avoid fibrous food Drink enough fluids during the day Drink only low-calorie fluids Exercise at least 30 minutes a day

Let me start out by saying how sorry I am that the band is not working for you - I know it must be very frustrating! One of the things my surgeon made me really think about before choosing the lapband was whether my problems with food were emotional or satiety. His opinion was that emotional eaters will find a way to eat around the band and most likely need a more drastic surgery. That being said, I'm an emotional eater! The band has helped me by allowing me to get full faster and forcing me to eat foods that are better for me (breads, carbs, etc. make me feel awful). But I also decided that, in conjunction with the band, i wanted to take up a lot of exercise and strength training to make it work. Even with all that, I stalled out for over a year+ (pregnancy and baby stuff) and am now losing again. The band is certainly not the "easy" way out!! Unfortunately, for some of us, the band won't ever really work right. I really hope the sleeve is the procedure that does the trick for you - I hear only good things from those that have it! Good Luck!!

I was going to post just about the same thing today... I am also really struggling. I was banded back in 07 and lost 90 lbs. I have now gained back 25lbs. I have found too many ways to eat around the band and I wonder if I'm a lost cause and need to get another type of surgery (which I don't have the money for!). I know I do everything exactly wrong... Right now I have no weight loss support, I'm very financially stressed, and I have very little free time for exercising. But like it was just said, today is a NEW day and I'm determined to do something to make things better. I think I need a 12 step program for bandsters!

I have really enjoyed reading these posts... I too am sabotaging my band. Got banded in May 07, with preop went from 333 to 245 in Sept 07. Then got pregnant... had a healthy baby May 08 and weighed 235 in June 08. Great right? No... right now I weigh 268. I eat around the band all the time... I have 6 cc in a 10 cc band. Drink through every meal and wash the food down, eat ice cream, cheesecake, sugary drinks. I'm on the rollercoaster to hell right now! These posts are helping me look at things... I still have a LOT of weight to lose. Thanks for everyone's thoughts, even though they weren't meant for me I appreciate them!

Maybe I'm just here for moral support, hopefully someone will turn a sympathetic ear my way. Here goes... I was banded in May 2007, at the time I weighed 330 lbs. By September 2007 I had lost 90 lbs and weighed 240 lbs. I never got a fill because I was losing weight so good, I figured I'd wait till I needed it. Then I got pregnant... Over the course of the pregnancy I gained a whopping 10 lbs, but when I weighed myself a week after baby I weighed 235. I had the baby in May 2008. The story is sounding good so far, right? Over the past 6 months I have not gotten a fill and some lbs have crept back on. I now weigh about 253. I know I need to schedule a fill but, I'm scared! :rolleyes2: I've never had one and I'm paranoid now that all my regular eating over pregnancy and the past six months has broken the band... you know - a flipped port that's somehow infected plus a stretched pouch and all sorts of things I have made up in my head. I just keep thinking it won't work or something is going to be wrong.. Any words of motivation so I can call and schedule my fill? My goal is to get to 200 lbs, although 180 would be really nice. Thanks for listening... Maryum

I got pregnant 3.5 months after getting my band. I never got a chance to get a fill! So far it hasn't been an issue. Your body needs more calories, so I've just had to use the rules of the band to "cheat" the band and get more food in. Example: I drink with every meal so I can get more food in. Another example is that I graze all day, which is a band no-no. And I totally indulge in soft foods all the time! Also, had to get a chewable prenatal Vitamin that isn't too tasty, but not a big deal. Right now I'm 31 weeks pregnant and have gained a whole 8 lbs or so. Even though I havent gained much, the baby is fine. She already weighs over 4lbs and they're estimating her weight will be 9lbs if she goes all the way to my due date! Try not to freak out too much, you'll be fine. I had been having fertility probs for years so I figured it would take me a while to get pregnant. Which is why we decided to go ahead and try so soon. But some things you just can't control! Good luck! For more advice, post in the "pregnant come join me" thread. Lots of very nice pg and banded ladies! Maryum

I'm 31 weeks pregnant and my port looks like a lump. If I see a new dr or nurse they always ask if I have a hernia... It's also somewhat tender, but then again my little girl likes to kick it along with ribs and sternum. She's got big feet (as seen on the ultrasound). Maryum

I was banded in May 2007 and lost 100 lbs without a fill. So when I got pregnant, I never needed an unfill. So yes, I'm unfilled! Maryum

Name: Maryum How far along: 29 weeks Due Date: May 31st, but she'll most likely come early Boy or Girl: Girl! Anything else? Currently on bedrest for short cervix... ugh.

I'm currently 7.5 months pregnant. I have gained 5 lbs. My belly is huge, but the rest of me is getting smaller. And the baby is fine, she's actually measuring 2 weeks too big! If you're interested, I'll update on you on how much I gain overall.

Hi All! I haven't posted in a while, but so far things are going well. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and honestly wish I was like 34. I'm ready! So far, I have gained less than 10 lbs but I eat all the time. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm tired of being hungry! My biggest complaint during this pregnancy is an ongoing problem with passing out. And it always happens on Sundays... Wierd huh? I'm promised pictures of the nursery so I'm going to attempt to post them. We decided to name the baby Madison Joelle. Her nickname will be Ellie. Toodles!

Hello all! I'm re-surfacing to say hello. I've been reading through the posts and I'm glad that everyone is doing so wonderful! I am 21 weeks preggo and so far, haven't gained anything. I'm excited and scared about that at the same time! I try to eat, but I just can't eat much at a time. I've fainted a couple times, probably from not enough food. I'm going to ask my docs about it all.. Found out that we're having a GIRL! We weren't supposed to know until this weeks appointment, but at the 16 week appointment she decided to spread her legs in front of the camera and make it very clear what she was! I will post pics of the baby's room soon. We're painting now and I'm picking and buying furniture. Then we'll do the decorating so I can start clothes shopping by month 7. Tell me - does anyone else have a hard time eating good? Any tricks you can tell me? I've already been clearly breaking every band rule (drinking with meals to get more food down, grazing, eating all soft foods) and I'm still not getting very much food in. Help!

Hello all! I'm re-surfacing to say hello. I've been reading through the posts and I'm glad that everyone is doing so wonderful! I am 21 weeks preggo and so far, haven't gained anything. I'm excited and scared about that at the same time! I try to eat, but I just can't eat much at a time. I've fainted a couple times, probably from not enough food. I'm going to ask my docs about it all.. Found out that we're having a GIRL! We weren't supposed to know until this weeks appointment, but at the 16 week appointment she decided to spread her legs in front of the camera and make it very clear what she was! I will post pics of the baby's room soon. We're painting now and I'm picking and buying furniture. Then we'll do the decorating so I can start clothes shopping by month 7. Tell me - does anyone else have a hard time eating good? Any tricks you can tell me? I've already been clearly breaking every band rule (drinking with meals to get more food down, grazing, eating all soft foods) and I'm still not getting very much food in. Help!

Hello all! Wow, this thread has really taken off, I'm excited! It's great to see so many pg bandsters, you are all further along than me. I'm 10 weeks and still having the morning sickness. BUT I've seen my OB and had an ultrasound this week and the baby is doing great. Heartrate was 169 and you could see the baby moving on the ultrasound. It was moving it's head and kicking it's feet, that was so amazing to see. I'm still trying to figure out how to eat, this band makes things wierd. I don't have the option of getting any fill removed b/c I never got a fill. I lost about 95 pounds without one. So now I feel tight and have a hard time eating and there's nothing I can do! :faint: I'm jealous of all you who got de-fills and now can eat! I want to eat! Mainly just Taco Bell... Anyways.. my next ultrasound is on November 21 and the Doc is going to do the first 3D ultrasound. He said we'll be able to see the face - I happen to have a doc that is addicted to ultrasound so we do one at every visit! I've had like 5 already! Take care all! MaryumC

Hello all! As I've mentioned, I'm pg and banded and starting to have a hard time. Like a couple of you said (Bexley and someone else) I feel like I'm hungry all the time, but nothing wants to go down. My band almost feels tighter... Do any of you have that? I don't have any fill in my band, but I never have. I've lost weight without a fill, so I don't know what to do if I start feeling too tight. I feel like all I can do is figure out what to eat and when all day. My other issue is morning sickness, I think that's what this is! This is my first pg.... All I know is that I feel sick to my stomach and just generally ILL all the time. Plus gassy as all get-out! Not to mention irritable, moody and tired.:faint: Does anyone else feel this way? Most pg folks say they feel wonderful, but most days I don't and I'm wondering if the band is making my morning sickness/hunger/food issues worse. I've gained 3lbs so far... I've just refused to update my ticker!! MaryumC 7 Weeks PG

<p>SLIMING... I hate that some of you are going through it, but so glad to see I'm not alone. That's seems to be where my morning sickness is! If I eat something just a little to big it will get somewhat stuck going down and then I'll be throwing up the slime. It's disgusting...</p> <p> </p> <p>SLEEPY DURING THE DAY - Yes!!! I'm up having fun at night but then I want to sleep all day. At least two naps would be nice, but that doesn't go well with 8 hours of work. I've found it's better if I sleep in complete darkness and sleep on my left side. I tend to sleep more soundly and therefore not feel as sleepy the next day. Although I slept at least 10 hours last night AND took a nap AND still felt sleepy later. </p> <p> </p> <p>food - I fall in the wanting to eat everything category! I find myself grazing... I get hungry every few hours but can't eat much at a time. I try to eat lots of Protein.. As for the Protein shakes, I do pretty good with the strawberry unjury mixed with crystal light lemonade. It's tastes like a tasty strawberry lemonade. Unfortunately, I'm out of the strawberry and all I have left is chalky chocolate. So right now, no protein shakes.</p> <p> </p> <p>Question - Did someone mention a chewable prenatal? If so, what's it called?</p>

I started out with a BMI of 55 and the band has worked very well for me. You will find some great folks over in the super size bandsters forum. Good luck with your decision! MaryumC

Hello all! I posted a while back to say that I would be starting TTC in January or at 225, but we decided to start early. I had some trouble getting pg in the past so I figured it would take me until January or so to get pg. WELL... here I am in the first official cycle of TTC and I just got a + test. So I'm a pregnant bandster too! Pray for me that all goes well with the little bean. Right now I don't have a fill (I've lost my weight without one) so it will interesting to see how my eating habits change... MaryumC

Well, things are still going quite good. My workout routine is lots of fun and very effective. I just tried kickboxing tonight and it was a blast. I'm in the process of planning a 100lb weight loss victory trip to Maui - and I wondered how everyone else is planning to celebrate? Or have you already celebrated? Even though I'm planning this trip (for December) I'm still looking for ways to motivate myself in the meantime. This is the hard times of weight loss - just comfortable enough to start picking up bad habits! MaryumC

I forgot to share my NSV's! First, I had to take a flight last week, which I hated in the past because I had to use these embarrassing seat belt extenders. Well guess what? This time I didn't need an extender AND I had extra room in the belt. You would have thought I won the lottery to see the look on my face! And my second non-scale victory is that I've realized I'm only 8 pounds away from my license being correct! That's a big deal for those of us who consistenly lie about how much they weigh on their driver's license... MaryumC