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I have been banded for 2 1/2 years. I have been an addict/alcoholic for 33 years. Last summer I lost my mind and got deep into drugs and alcohol again.:smile: I all but stopped eating lost a lot of weight this way, but do not reccomend it. Went to rehab again and finally started working the steps. I now have almost 7 months clean and sober. I have gained 10 pounds but know I can get it back off. My goal is 150 was at 155 at my sickest point. This time I plan to do it with exercise and diet oh and my higher power.:thumbup:

Wise choice :thumbup: I can not drink alcohol at all it does not agree with me in many ways. I envy you but be careful I got a buzz real fast after the band. Have a glass of port for me good luck on all you do.

I have always loved to drink, however took it a step too far. I discovered if I drank vodka and cranberry it went down real good and I was not hungry. I did this for a couple months eating as little food as possible. I lost 8 lbs but wound up in hospital. To make a long story short be very careful with alcohol it is cunning, baffeling and powerful.:wink2:

Got my band Aug. 2007. I would not change a thing. I need to work very hard to loose my last 13 lbs. the band has saved my life.

I have battled the pain off and on for 2 1/2 years. My Dr. told me when I over the diaphragm swells pushing on nerves. It is quite painful and lasts several hours. I try not to over eat to avoid this torture, but being a food addict sometimes fail. Hope this helps. :smile2:

There is nothing easy about this process. It makes me so angry when people say that. I still have good and bad days was down to 155 and started cheating, now 163. I will start walking again now the snow is gone. Most people do not understand we have tried everything and can not keep the weight off. I try to blow it off now that I have 2 1/2 years in, but still get my panties in a bunch when some skinny girl says something dumb like you took the easy way out. Now I pray for them lol.:smile2:

Not sure how it works but it does. Get the strip that melt on your tongue,

I know how frustrated you are, but it will happen. I have 2.6 in a 4cc band. I am now having problems with a dialated esophagus. I do not know why because my last fill was 11/07/08. Any way hang in there good things come to those who wait.

This is a great thread. I can not eat bread unless it is toasted then only a few bites. However, I can eat crackers and crutons. I can't eat pizza crust or cake either and am kind of glad. I will always be a stress eater and without my band would be right back where I started.

Thank you so much, I am excited and scared.

Hi can anyone help? I have lost 65 lbs. in 17 months. I am very proud of myself it was hard work. The problem is my butt. It is still huge :cursing:. My thighs are also large compared to the rest of my body. I am the typical pear shape and only 5 ft 1 in. All of my pants are too large in the waist and tummy area to fit over my butt. I am seriously considering liposuction. I have a consult 01/30/09 with Dr. Michell Jones in Fishers Indiana. Does anyone know her or have any of you had lipo? Thanks for any info.

Thanks I did not know that.

I am glad to hear you are feeling better. Like Cheryl 1952 I also am concerned why your Dr would over fill your band. My Dr. said he would never take mine all the way to 4cc let alone over. I hope you are doing well take care of yourself. Remember this is a long haul not a sprint.

So sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. When the vomiting happened to me, I waited three weeks before I told my Dr. He was very upset and removed most of the fluid in my band. He explained how I could lose the band due to slipping and or damage my throat. I hope you get better soon you are probably very swollen and will have to take it very easy for a week or so. Good luck.

Hi I like the topic and decided to post. I used to get on here daily, but after having several people react so negatively to me and others, I have backed way off. I do not claim to know it all, and try not to give bad advice, but some people on this site are very aggressive. I look at this site as part of my support system and when I feel like I am being attacked or judged tend to shy away. I do not know if this is why others have quit posting or not. I do not tend to have thin skin, but this journey is hard enough without people jumping down your throat. This has nothing to do with you, as I have never had any contact with you before. Just wanted to put my two cents in.

This is an email from my Dr. Just wanted to share. I shared your email with Dr. Clark and this was his response...I hope it makes sense...it really isn't anything to worry about...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> "The pouch dilates when the band is too tight and goes back to normal when the band is deflated. It isn't like the gastric bypass where the pouch can permanently increase in size."<o:p></o:p>

I asked my Dr. about streching the pouch and he said lapband pouches do not strech. I was shocked :thumbup:. He said the bypass people can strech their pouches, but we throw up if we over eat. My Dr. cautioned me not to over eat because throwing up can cause the band to slip. How could they tell your pouch was streched? I am still confused on this issue.

I had to have an unfill when I got to 2.7 in a 4cc band. like you I threw up everything. some days water was even difficult to keep down. Please call your Dr. for an unfill. Good luck!

I am very lucky, my insurance pays $187 of the $200 fill charge leaving me with only $13. It depends on every individual on how many fills it will take. Good luck!

Sweetmama, I have a 4cc band with 2.6 cc's in it. I am very tight, however this did not happen right away. They started me slow like you. At 1.8 cc's I started getting good restriction. The band is tricky sometimes, I was up to 2.7 and had to have an unfill due to being obstructed. They took me back to 2 cc's after 4 weeks they put .4 cc's back in. After another 5 weeks the put in another .2cc's leaving me where I am at now 2.6cc's. I know how frustrating it can be, there were day's I was so hungry I cried. Please know this will pass. Try to distract yourself and eat a lot of high protein solid foods. Good luck you can and will do it!

I just do not know who else to talk to. I have exhausted all of my friends and family on this topic and have now started seeing a counselor. I hate my job!:drool: the people are so mean. I do not fit into their Barbie doll cheerleader mold. That does not bother me as much as the plain rude actions and lack of respect. I work in what is supposed to be a professional setting, but it feels more like Misfit Island. It is not just the women; the men are awful as well. I will not go into all the gory details, due to no one has that much time to lose reading about these losers. It is very easy to say oh just find another job, but good paying jobs are not to be found in my area at this time. :w00t: It is so stressful both my mental and physical health are paying for it. I am on Lexapro and it helps, but no amount of drugs can make a bad situation better. I try real hard to keep a positive attitude, but by the end of the day I am beat down again. I do not know what I want from you guys except to let me vent. Oh by the way I went to the HR dept. it was the biggest mistake of my career. I am very frustrated!!!

I am already feeling better after reading the posts. The you tube was so funny I almost laughed out loud in front of all of the losers. I will get my resume in order good advice.

I started drinking coffee after the band. I have one grande non fat latte every morning. It keeps me happy for 2-3 hours.

I was banded 14 months ago, and m very hsppy!

I have been on laxapro for several years, both before and after the band. , and after thr first few fills, it will become hard to stuff your face. you will find another outlet more healthy