steph_co

Hi, all! It's been a long time since I've been on here because it's been like a rollercoaster ride with my Lapband. It's like I have good months and bad months or entire years. LOL I was diagnosed in December with a major slip. Mostly since then, it's been plain awful. I'm having the band removed later this month. Since you guys were there for me at the beginning of my journey, I thought I'd share with you. I also know when I was first looking at getting a band, I looked at some of the past support groups to see how common removal was and if anybody had anything convincing to say about NOT getting a band. If you don't want to read negativity about the band because you would like to believe it is the magic pill to fix your weight, then skip the next paragraph. When I first got the band, yes it was great. It was forcing me to eat slower and smaller meals. It is what started me down the road to losing weight and getting healthy. In 2009 I became somewhat of a health nut and researching A LOT about exercise and nutrition. At that time, with all I had read and learned, I wished I had never got the band. I did my best to just deal with it after that. My weight has been up and down over the years, even when I had proper restriction. I'm currently 10 lbs over the lowest weight I have been since getting the band. I have done a ton of work in the past year to work on my emotions to handle the comfort eating and have a bunch of tools there. I also know a lot more about physical training and nutrition. I CANNOT WAIT to get this stupid thing out of my body. I wish I had already had all the information I have now and I never would've gotten it. It is not a magic bullet. By getting a Lapband, you are treating the SYMPTOM, not the disease. Yes, obesity is a symptom. For me the disease has been depression, anxiety, ADHD, pure and simple laziness, and apathy. I really wish proper nutrtiion and physical exercise was a standard core curriculum for schools. It would also help if they took those crappy vending machines out of schools and stopped serving kids pure garbage. /end rant I'm positive I can keep the weight off and continue to lose after getting this band removed. I cannot wait to get back to normal internally so I can eat the way I'm supposed to in order to get the amount of physical exercise I would like to do. If anybody is reading this who is still considering whether or not to get a band, I BEG you to do a ton of research about failure/complication rates. It's not worth it. There are a ton of resources out there to learn how to take care of yourself if you just utilize them. Take a nutrition class. Get a personal trainer to learn how to exercise properly for your body size. Research, research, research. For me personally, since my slip occurred, it has been pure hell to try and eat. I've had periods where I couldn't eat at all and was reduced to only liquids and struggling to get enough calories. It's been a painful past couple of months. If you have any other questions, just ask me. If you're curious about some of the resources I've used to learn about fitness and nutrition, go ahead and ask me. I'm open to any questions. As for my group - how is everybody else's Lapband journey going?

If you're deadset on believing that Lapband is perfect and can do no wrong and don't want to hear about complications, then move on to the next topic. Given what I've gone through, I think I'm obligated to say something. When I was first investigating whether I wanted to get this surgery for sure, I would have appreciated a lot more honesty and more stories about what HAS happened to people. I got my lapband in 2007. I followed all the rules and did what I was supposed to - so I'd appreciate not pointing fingers. It is a FLAWED mechanism. I would be shocked if this device never got recalled. I've had problems off and on over the years. Success and failure, both. Since about 2011, I started having problems with severe heartburn, pain, and fluctuating weight. I was in the hospital a few times. An upper GI in December showed a major slip. I went in for surgery two days ago to have it removed. The surgeon told me it's one of the worst cases he has seen. No fault of my original surgeon, and nothing I had done wrong. He said the band had deteriorated INTO my stomach and was in pieces. He had to open up my stomach to get it out. I now have two drains - one coming out of my gut and one through my nose down into my stomach. It was supposed to be a quick turn around surgery with me flying home yesterday. The surgeon is keeping me here at hospital until Sunday and the NG tube will be in until tomorrow. Who knows the state of my stomach once everything has healed. I know part of the appeal of this surgery is that it's "reversible." Is this really what you'd consider reversible?? I urge everybody to read the story in "complications" called "My Stomach Died" and tell me if that sounds reversible to you. It's a dangerous surgery. I know this won't be EVERYBODY's outcome. But had I known 7 years ago that this (and ESPECIALLY the "stomach died" story) was possible at all, I never would've done it. Do tons of research. Be sure you can live with ANY of the possible complications. I share this story because I don't want anyone else to have to go through it. Research other surgeries. I refuse to get a revision. But knowing what I know now - if I'd known it in 2007, I probably would've gone with the sleeve or similar. I would do a ton of research and find the worst complications to decide if I could live with that possible outcome. Just be careful, people - I don't want anyone to have to go through this.

About NSAIDs - as a general rule, no. Have I EVER while being banded? Yes. I avoided it as much as possible. When I was having really bad pain that Tylenol wouldn't touch, I got a script for tramadol.

@@Ladybandito - you know, I barely remember the event. I had to go back and read it. I never ended up at a doctor. That much I do remember. I do know that from that time, there pretty much never was a time again where it felt "normal" to eat. Things would randomly felt stuck and it didn't matter what type of food it was. It was incredibly rare to come across foods that could be considered "slider" foods. Some things went down easy, some did not. It couldn't be predicted. At the beginning of 2011, I had ALL of the Fluid pulled from my band. That was awful. I suppose I was too tight for too long? That's what they told me, anyway. When they pulled the fluid out, there was a notable sucking feeling as it was pulled out of the tissue it felt embedded into and I almost vomited. I have had zero fill since that time. So go figure. I had to get checked for a slip when I was having a hard time drinking fluid.

Best of luck on your journey. Mine's coming out next week. No revision for you? I'm not getting one. Straight up removal. I'm done with WLS.

My vote is to work on your emotional tie to food first. That was my biggest handicap and the thing that ALWAYS set me back. No matter if I was banded, well-restricted, pre-banded, on a diet, etc. Bill Cashell writes with wonderful insight - a book called The Emotional Diet. It's so chock full of tools, that I honestly had to kind of pick what really worked for me because it was overwhelming to try and use all of it at once. But the fact that there is so much to choose from is great because if one thing doesn't work, you can go back and try something else or a combination of things. The thing that has helped me the most with my emotions, though? EFT. You can find resources all over the internet for free that describe how to do it and you can even google "EFT for..." and fill in the blank with "emotional eating," "anxiety," "social anxiety," etc, and get specific scripts for specific issues. I say work on your emotions first and get your head and heart straightened out before you make any concrete decision about what to do with your band. The fact that you had such a strong emotional reaction to the thought of being restricted by the band sounds SO familiar to my own struggles. I hope you can find your answers and get to a place where you can cope with this. I know it has been a long journey for me. I'm looking forward to getting rid of my band and giving myself a chance to do this on my own now that I have so many tools to help me that I did not have before. Good luck with your decision.

Your story just really got to me. Perhaps www.pawsibilitiesunleashed.org ? And perhaps you could try gofundme.com . There are lots of options that can be at least tried. I hope you can find something.

Oh - I did have one question. This would definitely be considered disabling. Have you applied for disability since you can't hold a job? I'm sure there would be some type of grant program out there somewhere that would be able to help you pay for the service dog. FTR, from what I've heard about SSI, they generally deny the first claim across the board. Continue applying and don't give up.

Oh...my...god. I have never heard of such an extreme complication. Holy cow. I'm telling you - your story right there would've been enough to have scared me into never getting one in 2007. I wish I never had gotten mine. My journey hasn't been anywhere that bad and I can't wait to get rid of the stupid thing (1 more week). I'm so sorry to hear of all that you are left to deal with - the aftermath of the damage the band left in its wake. I hope you can find some way to be able to cope with the BG instability. Whether that's a service dog or whatever. Best wishes to you. I strongly encourage you to keep sharing your story. If even one person could be saved from complications, I'd say it's worth it. Hang in there.

Welp...I'm having mine taken out in one week with no revision. So my vote would be having it taken out. I'm not against other people getting revisions. I just do not want one. I have a lot of reasons for it. I really just think life is too short to deal with the pain and BS that the band carries. Am I glad I did it originally? Yeah...because it got me on the road to health. Would I do it over again knowing what I know now? No way. I say do your research. If the possible complications of a sleeve sound manageable to you, then I say go for it. I did read about potential complications before getting the LB. I think I had a form of denial that either that stuff wouldn't happen to me or that it really couldn't be any worse than being obese. I just wish I had known back then all that I know now about health, nutrition, fitness, and managing emotions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a little extra help (surgery) if you need it. I hope you find the answers you seek. I"m sorry to hear you are struggling.

@@Annette_33815 - isn't that such garbage? My insurance is the same way. Even if it were a dire emergency like I couldn't swallow Water. They won't cough up a single dime. Amazing. I'm self-paying to just get mine removed. I've had it with the Lapband. I wish I had never gotten it.

Hello. I am having my Lapband removed later this month due to a major slip. I work at a desk job that COULD turn physical (corrections officer). In the nearly four years I have worked there, I have never once had to physically engage an inmate. But the possibility always exists. I took two weeks medical leave just to cover my bases. When I originally got the band, I was not physically active at all, and can't remember how long it was before I felt closer to normal (6+ years ago). I was also about 70 pounds heavier. Can somebody who has had theirs removed tell me how long it was before you felt "normal?" I currently cycle 4-5 times a week. I'm holding off on weight training very intensively until after I get it out. I don't want to make gains just to lose them. So somebody who was physically active prior to the removal, how long was it before you were able to get back to your previous level of physical activity? I'll of course talk to my surgeon about this more when I get it done. I was just hoping for some real world experiences to be shared. I really appreciate any help.

I know they "have to" honor it. I've read all the FMLA paperwork and submitted it. What I was getting at is that I don't WANT to be on light duty. I'd rather rest up for two weeks and be done with it as far as work is concerned. On the other hand, please understand I am not saying after those two weeks I could run out and join a cycling race. I know it's going to be a slow build back to where I am now. What I do know is that surgeons are overly cautious (yes, I understand why) and I want to know when people actually FELT ABLE to return to their previous level of activity. Not what the doctor prescribed. I would just consider my own experience when I originally had it placed, but I don't remember. I'm also wondering how useful that info is anyway - did those of you who had yours removed have more or less pain post-op from removal compared to the original surgery? And now you've actually kind of scared me, Bandarella. LOL Why was yours so extensive? Was yours a slip or erosion? I'm hoping mine is pretty straight forward. Yikes.

Emotional Freedom Technique or "Tapping." Thus far, it is the only thing I have found that consistently works for me. I have been a lifelong emotional eater. I can stay motivated to lose weight for only so long before the emotions take over. I have battled with this Lapband vs my emotions for the past six years. The weight goes updownupdownupdownupdown. I have finally accepted that the physical barrier is not going to "fix" me. I have to do that myself from the inside. I've been tapping since June 11th and I'm down 17 pounds since then. You'd think I'm on some crazy restrictive diet to have been able to do that, but no - it's been easy. I just don't turn to food, nor do I want it, like I used to. I use it for nutrition instead of comfort or pleasure. If you're interested, google it - there are tons of resources out there that describe the process. I do like the way Nick Ortner describes it: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/web-exclusive-tapping-technique . I have also used a lot of this PDF: http://harmonyharbor.com/angieseftweightlossprogram.pdf . But like I said - you can find info all over the place.

It's been awhile since I've been on here. There have been several gaps of time when I have "slacked" off in my motivation. TBH, what I struggled with was not being able to get ENOUGH calories with how active I wanted to be. I had finally made the decision to have my band unfilled and that was to occur this past Thursday. But strangely enough, even though it had been since summer of 2009 since I had been adjusted, I started having issues the week right before my appointment. It was a gradual build-up over three days to the point where I was struggling to get down fluids. I had to make an emergency appointment to get the band unfilled. This didn't upset me - it's what I was planning, anyway! The nurse practitioner couldn't believe that it had been 2-1/2 years since my last adjustment and I had zero issues since then. I joined a weight loss challenge with my employer at the beginning of the year that lasts 12 weeks. I stalled in my weight loss right before the issues that led to my emergency unfill. After the unfill, I had a major WOOSH and lost everything plus a couple more pounds. So, since the last week of December, I have lost 8 pounds. I HAVE to get about 1800 calories everyday, or I can't lose weight. VLCD (very low calorie diets) don't work with me for the level of fitness I am working on. I used to be running a lot and weight training. I couldn't get past a certain point in my weight loss because my body kept kicking into the starvation response. Considering that it's easier for me to get calories now, I'm eating healthier, and it's working like a charm, I'd say my theory was right. But we'll see. Currently, I'm doing the Insanity workouts, eating up to 1800 calories a day (split into 6...3 meals, 3 snacks), drinking Shakeology as one of my snacks, taking health supplements, and drinking lots of water. I feel fantastic. I do feel that the Lapband was a necessary evil and given the choice to do it all over again - I would. Over the course of my journey, I have learned SO MUCH about fitness and nutrition that I never took the time to really delve into before the band. I knew I was eating unhealthy, but really didn't have a clue of the best way to approach nutrition. I'm positive that I can take off the rest of my weight and keep it off. The surgeon that did my unfill said if I'm able to stay at a stable weight for several months, then I should consider removal. The Lapband was a great tool...but I think at this point, I may have outgrown it. How is everybody else doing? I'd love to hear updates.

Glad to see your response, Ann. We've all had our stop and starts. I know I have done my fair share of fluctuating. I have to keep reminding myself that a commitment is a choice you make every moment and every day. It's not something I say once and it just sticks. I have to consciously keep making that choice. And there are certainly days that I struggle. Today has been rough so far. I feel tired and sluggish and did not want to work out. I did it anyway and hated it the entire time. I am craving processed garbage like crazy. Because I have been doing so well, as long as it's within my calories allowed for the day, I'll probably fit in a small treat. I find that I do better that way rather than denying myself completely. Committing to your own health is difficult! Especially when you may have a lifetime of experience abusing your body (which I certainly do have). Hang in there. We've all been there.

I wasn't around when you posted this, so here's a late "good luck." But I'd love to hear an update on how things are going for you at a lower restriction.

I'm having a heck of a time figuring this out. I've never been on any form of birth control, DH is the only man I've been with that way and we've only gotten pregnant once, this past July and then I miscarried. Well, the social worker at my surgeon's office said I have to wait 18 months before TTC again after I get the band. :faint:I HATE that, but I'll do it just so everything turns out healthy. I can't figure out what to do. pills will NOT work for me - I'm terrible at remembering that stuff and I know I'll get pregnant if remembering everyday is up to me. I've been looking into the Nuvaring, but I'm really nervous to take any kind of birth control because of the weight-gain thing. Does anybody have the Nuva Ring and is still losing weight? I hate this kind of stuff. I haven't even seen a regular gyno since 2004 when I got fed up with all the infertility testing and quit going. I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum - I wasn't sure where to put it.

November 2007 Nymphs! So...I was just curious if anyone still lurked about in here, at all. Anybody? <echo> <echo> I got lazy with my eating and have been dinking around with the same 10 lbs off and on. I am recommitting and getting rid of the dang things. I have 5 lbs to go to get to my lowest I have been with the band, then I plan to go 22.5 lbs past that. Anybody want to share how life is with their band? :cursing:

shortgal - I think that's amazing what you've done even without the band. I would not be where I am without it. I'm not at goal, but I'm 70 lbs lighter than where I started. I obviously wasn't able to do that before without the band. Given what I know NOW, I *might* be able to do it. But to have lost the band earlier, I would have been lost. Your strength is inspiring. :thumbup: Keep up the good work. Wendy - Thanks! I'm super excited to go back, actually - not nervous. I can't wait to get moved, already, and get going! Cherlita - WOW!!! 100lbs!!! That is amazing. :biggrin: Major props! I still have some distance to cover, so I'll still be checking in for a bit. Keep us updated on your progress. That is AMAZING!

I went to Dr Brown in Denver, CO. My surgery at the time was actually more expensive, but it looks like these days they are charging $9,925. That's for all the pre-op evals and 3 months of fills afterward. I can't remember how much fills are on self-pay after the 3 months. I only needed one outside the 3 month period and I got it like 2 years ago. The only "surprise" charge I had was a blood draw that was required right before surgery (I can't remember now, but I assume for blood-typing?). I had that done at a local lab and I can't remember how much it cost. I'm 2 years and 7 months out from surgery and couldn't be happier with the band.

Shoot. One more reason I need to get a Droid, already. I would love that thing.

TOTALLY agree. I absolutely abhor the heat and my body is much better regulated, these days. I also like the fact that I feel comfortable wearing shorts, now, when those days get warm! Somebody mentioned the chafing between the thighs - anybody else have to keep buying new pants cause they'd keep getting holes worn in that spot where the thighs rub? SO embarrassing. I am so glad those days are behind me.

I'm trying to eat about 1800 cal/day. You wouldn't believe how stinkin hard it is to get that many calories in when you actually eat right. But eating that amount, along with running 4 days a week and strength-training 4 days - I am down 8 lbs in 3 weeks. We'll see if I've lost anymore when I weigh in again on Saturday. But my body is DEFINITELY changing even if I haven't been able to weigh in. I have two pairs of pants that I bought too tight and they are both so freaking close to being able to wear comfortably. Running is an awesome calorie burner. :devil_smile: It's much better to burn the calories than to starve your body of them.

They'll probably be easier to find in the June 2010 forum: June 10 Bandsters - LAP-BAND :devil_smile: Good luck with your procedure and following weight loss.