TXbandit

I was banded in December 07. I lost slowly, but went from 235 lbs to 188 lbs (I am 5'9"-) and kept that off for a couple of years. Then I started eating too much and had a dilation. All Fluid was removed and I recovered from that - then started getting fills again. My weight went to 193 and stayed there for another year. The next slow gain was to 203 for another year. Now I have been at 210 for 2 years, currently size 16-18. Still I am happy with the band. I have restriction and I can't eat much at a time....I am 61 years old and have been on a diet since I was 13 I took diet pills for years, and I believe I "burned out" my metabolism, so I now have problems losing weight. If not for the band reducing the amount I can eat, who knows what I would weigh? The band is just a tool.....you have to "listen" to it and feel when you are full, then stop. It is easy to eat foods that go down easily and it is easy to eat too much and not "listen." The band is a part of me now, and I have to remember it is there and not stress it.

I haven't posted in 2 years about this topic, but I still have dilation issues. As anyone who's been pregnant knows, pregnancy changes everything, even your shoe size. You probably ate more when pregnant, and got used to that .Look at your portion size. I have 7 cc in a 10 cc band and I can see by the barium that I have restriction and a small dilation. I don't feel the restriction at all like I did at first, but when I think about the amounts I eat now compared to before the band, I have really cut down. I haven't lost any more weight, though. AndI still have dilation. Other than that, I have no complications and don't even realize I have the band. I miss things getting "stuck" and I miss losing weight...but I would probably be much heavier without it!

I had surgery in December of 07 and lost 50 lbs. I had 70 to lose, so I was pretty happy with the 50 lbs. I kept that off for 2 years (easily due to the restriction), then it became easier to eat more and more at a time, so I went in for a tune-up. I found I had a dilation, and they removed half of the saline (I have a 10 cc band). I behaved and corrected the dilation and currently have 7 cc. It certainly isn't enough and my restriction isn't great. I guess I will call them today and make an appointment....I know I probably have another dilation and will have to go thru the routine again. i'm kinda bummed out. i didn't get the band because I am a great dieter. I CAN'T diet and I have been on every diet ever imagined. I find that I am back on that roller coaster. I have gained back 10 lbs. I really want to feel that restriction again...you know, the feeling that "I hope this little bite of food will make it down okay..." I love that feeling and want to get it back. Guess I will go listen to Barry Manilow :-)

I was a TX state employee when I had my surgery in December 2008. I had to self-pay. I also used to work for the Dept of Insurance, and if your insurance doesn't cover weight loss treatments, they don't have to cover it even if it is medically necessary. I just considered it "my new car..." and made payments like car payments!

I had my band about 18 months, and had been getting regular fills. I had been eating more volume-wise and eating too fast. I thought I needed another fill. I got a fill and the next few days I couldn't eat anything solid and keep it down....went back and had a barium swallow and found I had a dilation (no slippage). I didn't have any other symptoms other than not being able to eat solids. Some say heartburn is a symptom, but I didn't have that....what are you experiencing? I think it is pretty easy to get a dilation after having the band awhile - beware eating too much too fast!

Sue, the heartburn is supposedly one of the signs of dilation....I didn't have it, though. I was continuing to get fills every 6 weeks or so since surgery in Dec 07 (I have a 10 cc band) but I still seemed to be able to eat too much (not like binging...for example, a Lean Cuisine entree dinner). With the last fill, I could only tolerate liquids, so I went in for an unfill. My physician assistant noticed I hadn't had a barium swallow since my surgery and that is when she found the dilation. I would guess that many people who have the lap band over a year, have most of the band capacity full, and have gradually been able to eat 1 - 2 cups of food at a time, have stretched their pouch. Just a guess, but it makes sense.

I went in for a barium swallow today and found that my esophageal pouch is too large - no slippage yet. I had 1/2 of my 7.5 cc (10 cc band) removed and have to stay on liquids for a week and mushies for another week. Anyone had this problem? Did it resolve? I am almost to my goal weight....maybe this liquids/mushies time will jump start me again.

I am an "oldie," banded Dec 07. I remember clearly being able to eat a horse 2 weeks after surgery....that was worrisome! Then I got my first fill and knew how restriction was supposed to feel. I kept up with fills often during the first year and have found that is really the key for me. You'll get used to it!!

The key to this, I have found, is the fills. When you start losing restriction (can eat more) you may need another fill. I had 10 fills the first year (banded 12/7/07) and one just the other day. The wt loss is slow, but it always came off the best right after my fills. I would get a fill, lose 3-4 lbs, then stay the same weight until the next fill. To me, that was always the key - keeping up with fills.

Hello, Merry Losers! I just got a fill the other day-last one was 6 months ago - and feel like I just had surgery!! Liquids and mushies and counting protein....last 10 lbs need to come off. I was beginning to "diet" again and remembered I had this great tool, so went to get the fill. Woo Hoo, it works when you keep up the fills. Wt. loss has been slow, but that is ok. I actually have not gained any weight back, which was my goal for having the band. I could lose weight before the band, but always gained it right back. The band keeps it off!! I love it....clothes shopping is fun. I am in a size 12-14, which at age 56 and height of 5'8" looks just fine, thank you very much. Hope "all y'all" are enjoying your band!

I am 56 and have had the band for 1 year. If you have patience you will not regret doing this. No, you may not lose your weight in 1 year - it may take 2, but you will not feel like "I am on a diet." Take care of yourself and chew everything very well! Get your fills - I have a 10cc band and have had 8 fills. Listen to your body and you will know when you are full - stop there. I have struggled with weight all my life. Finally, I eat "normally" and have lost 60% of the 60 or 65 lbs I wanted to lose after one year. I have no doubt I will have the rest off in another year. It's not a quick fix, but actually, at our age, you don't want to lose too fast, or the skin will be pretty loose...go for it and ou will not regret it!

Hi, fellow Dec 07 bandsters! The lap band has become such a part of life, I haven't been on the site for awhile. During the first few months, I was discouraged that I wasn't losing 10 lbs a week, but as time and fills have gone on, I am taking it in stride. My goal is to lose 60 lbs, and I have lost 46 over the past year. I am getting rid of clothes the minute they become baggy, and going to resale shops to get clothes that fit. I can eat anything that I chew WELL, just alot less of it. Happy Bandiversary, and I hope you have a great 2009.