Devera

I have been wondering how you were doing "Manatee". Sorry that even the sleeve has not helped you reach "goal". A year ago I would have said and did, that my band was the best thing I had ever done for myself. (other than 2 children and husband) but in August I developed a blockage and had to have all the fluid removed. I had been gaining for the last year, but after the fluid was out I gained 20lbs so fast. Back to eating breads and anything I wanted. I was so tight before that I sometimes couldn't eat anything. So, I am now up 40lbs from my low. Still down 50lbs, but, not good. It frightens me that I still after 5 years have no will power! I have found a surgeon up here (moved from AZ to Seattle) and a support group so am hoping to get on track. I do believe it is still the best thing I did, 100lbs overweight was certainly killing me, just hope to get rid of this additional 40 now. Is this what we all face, a set back and we gain back the weight in a flash!

Great pearls of wisdom! I am so proud of what you are doing and accomplishing AND posting it here to give us all motivation to get back to our healthy goals. THANK YOU! I certainly needed your inspiration today!

Proud of you for getting back on track, it is hard! I have been "inching" up or pounding up to be more accurate, and not happy. I lost my support group when I moved from my surgery area. I know that is a contributing factor. BUT, I also know I have to take responsibility. I think Weight Watchers is a good program and that is what my husband AND myself need to do. Keep us posted. I am hopeful that maybe getting back at least to the support of this website I can get back on track, and hopefully others of us as well. Let's here from you ALL! Successes and those like us that are still working at it. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

As others have said it is great to see our '07 group back on the board. I had thought that maybe because I hadn't been "on" for awhile that I was just out of the loop. Glad to have a thread going. We do need the support. So sorry to hear that many have been having problems. I hit a major stop and only seem to be able to move the scale up 2 then down 1, up 1/2, then down 2, then up 3, so basically about the same only at this point have to admit to up 6 from my low for the last year. I have started back exercising and I think that should help, if I just showed more restraint. Ice cream usually always goes down! Meats, not so much. I still have the problem with fainting with my vegus nerve when I eat sometimes, so I have to be particularly careful. BUT, I feel so much better than I did for years, and feel blessed to have the band that did help me lose nearly 90lbs. I hope that nothing happens to my band. I don't want to even think about life without it, I would opt for the sleeve for sure. More and more insurances are going to start covering it soon I hope. Good luck to everyone, and let's try to keep in touch!

I had my band placed May 10, 07, and have lost 90lbs, nearly at goal. I wrote about this a couple of years ago and at that time no one had any responses to this problem. I have passed out (lasting only seconds)several times because of the vagus nerve. I have been checked out by my surgeon and a cardiac doctor and they just explain it as a veagus nerve problem. It does seem that I am having more episodes lately, so I am not "happy" about this. It was nice to read tonight (I haven't been on the site for awhile) and see that there is more information with regard to the band and the vagus nerve. I will keep checking and would certainly appreciate any information.

So glad to hear everything is going well. AND, even with the problems you had in the beginning you like it better than the band. That is good news. Please keep in touch.:bored:

Sorry to hear you are having problems eating. Are you keeping up your nutrition with shakes? You don't want to get sick on top of all of this! It does sound like the early days of the "band" or after a big fill, fish always seems to be what I fall back to as well. Good luck! I get the "no longer obese" so insurance won't cover. I have found that too. The good news is I am no longer obese, but, the bad news now I can't get coverage for fills or to see the doctor! I have appealed saying that a band patient is like any patient with an implanted device like a pacemaker or an insulin pump and they require on-going care. I have succeeded in getting "A" visit covered but, it appears I will have to appeal for every visit one at a time, with no guarantees, nerve racking to say the least!

I realize I have probably missed a few of your updates, but, I am curious, did your insurance cover the procedure? I am hopeful that they will come around to accepting the sleeve procedure. I am sure there are going to be others of us who will need this IF our bands ever need replacing etc. Glad to hear you are losing and doing OK. Keep us updated, please! Thanks!:w00t:

Will they do the new procedure if you don't have anymore weight to lose? I am sure it is hard to stay at goal without the band, I live in fear of that. I can't seem to get this last 20lbs off WITH the band! Keep us posted, I will be very interested in what the new doc has to say. Congrats getting to goal!!!:smile:

WOW! Good for you! 14lbs!!! I am so happy for you, I know what a great feeling that is. Keep us posted, you are an inspiration!:smile:

Congrats on getting so close to your goal, you may reach it with the tummy tuck! I am still "lurking" reading when there is a thread reply, but have not posted in a long time. I am trying to get the last 20lbs off, and it seems to NOT want to leave me! I have not lost anything in months, gained 8lbs, and now have lost 4 and that has been so hard, I can't believe it, not like in the beginning when it seemed to come off so easily. I know that a lot of it is my own fault, not exercising like I should. We moved from Arizona back up to the Seattle area, and the winter was so hard to get out and do any walking (my excuse). Now it is summer and I am still slacking. Maybe getting back to seeking support here will help me be more accountable. I feel so great, but do want to feel I have completed this process by reaching my goal (and then of course keeping it off!). I also need to find a support group up here and a doctor! We have been up here now for almost 10 months I can't believe that. I had my last fill in September in Arizona, and still feel pretty good. Here is a real strange thing I wonder if anyone has ever experienced. Twice now when I have had a tooth issue, like a root canal, I get so tight for a week I can hardly eat or drink even. That just helped with the 4lbs I lost, tough way to do it however, think I would rather use will power than have another root canal! Sorry to ramble. Good to be back in touch, take care everyone. We can and will succeed!:thumbup:

Laura, your post was very meaningful. I too am at that 20lb stop. I feel so good now that I guess that has made me less motivated. BUT, I have come so far to not succeed would not be good for me or fair to all the people who have been so supportive including this board. So, I am back, and need to be more accountable and that starts here, tonight. Thanks all! Back to the what I was doing when I lost the 90lbs! Excercise and eating right! Let the tool work!

Oh yes, not sure of the count, but there were chins! That was something I wondered about prior to surgery. I attended a couple of support groups and noticed several women around my age that had the surgery and lost over 100lbs and they looked great, no sagging. But, I have to tell you that I would take the sagging if I had to over how terrific I feel and the energy I have. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself! Good luck.

I just read this, so am hoping that you are home and doing well. Everyone is different post surgery, some have port area pain, others their shoulder. Just remember to walk, walk, walk, it really helps. And, don't think you are a whimp if you need pain meds, that is why they prescribe them. Good luck it is a terrific tool and you will be losing right along with the rest of us!

I agree, how fast this year flew by! I love the new energy I have. Life is wonderful! It will be fun to see what this next year is like for us.

Great job! It has been an amazing year! I would sure do it again and again if I had to, it was the best decision I have ever made for my health. I would love to hear how other May bandsters are doing also.

Several times I get the sensation that things go black when I have gotten stuck or even just gulped water. Last night however, I did black out and fell out of my chair eating dinner. It didn't last long. Has anyone had this sensation? I asked my surgeon about it a couple of months ago, and have an appointment next Tuesday where I will tell him it became more than a sensation. I am sure it is just something peculiar to my anatomy and is a wake up call that I need to eat slower and chew much more carefully! Just wanted to know if anyone else has ever had this happen.

Great post, one of the best and meaningful I have ever read! Terrific weight loss also. My one year is coming up, and I too am ready for the journey into year 2. Let year 2 be the year of our "goal" reaching and maintaining. We CAN and WILL do it!

I have donated twice since being banded. The first time was fine (several weeks ago). I donated a week ago (I am 10 months out and have lost 70 lbs.)and had quite a bit of lightheadness all day. I happened to have an appointment with my cardiologist on Monday and he said no more donating. Maybe because we don't eat that much, it is harder for the body to recoup. Frankly, I was relieved he said that as I really did not like the effects this time. Good luck.

Thanks for the info. That is what my surgeon thought it was. I have been careful about eating slower and chewing well, and since then have not had it happen again. I am interested in the breathing exercises that were mentioned to help with that plus I have always had a fast heart rate, that I would like to lower. I really appreciate the link.

:thumbup:Good attitude! I haven't had mine a year yet, but, I too cannot think about life without it . . . . it has changed my life so much for the better, 70lbs gone and now the energy I have, and the confidence that I will get the rest off and keep it off. Good luck to you and a speedy recovery.

I have wondered about this also. I have lost 60lbs so far and have thought that I was losing more below the waist than above, so I just did my measurements. It is almost the same as far as bust and hips in the loss. I was surprised because it my pant sizes seem to be smaller now than the tops, but, who cares - I am in the regular clothes sizes, it feels great! I figure that the when the rest of the weight is gone both ends will equalize.

I agree with the stool softeners and taking Benefiber with lots! of water.

Congrats! Way to go!!! I have not been very good, but, have started walking, AND enjoying it, which for me is a huge step. If it would just cool down here, it is 85 at 6AM still, that makes it hard. No excuses anymore. You are a terrific role model. I hope we extend this for next month and I hope more of us are as successful as you. Keep it up!

This is a good motivation for me also. I have been slow to get on the exercise "band wagon". Thanks for the incentive!