1Corinthians6:19

It's interesting that you gained 30 lbs eating only 500 calories a day. The band does not change your metabolism, so I'm confused about that. But yes, for me the discomfort and constant feeling of having a heart attack is simply not worth it. I was absolutely miserable. It's only been 2 weeks since I've had no restriction but I haven't gained anything at all. There were times with the band where I gained 10 lbs in a week because I fell off the wagon with my diet. My eating habits are so much healthier now, so I'm looking forward to keeping a good attitude towards food without the band. I was also doing cardio and strength training 4-5 days a week, which I will get back to when I'm healed up from the removal. I was very encouraged by a post on this site by AZbandster. She had a very similar experience to mine and has done well maintaining without the band. I just found that the band did not actually stop weight gain for me. Like I mentioned, I could eat horrible and gain 10 lbs easily even with the band full. I had to make permanent changes to the way I thought about food. I actually began a pescatarian diet 6 months ago which helped me lose the most recent 10 lbs I lost. Now I'm looking forward to trying a more vegan based diet with seafood proteins a few times a week. The pescatarian diet is helping with my digestion, sleep, and so many other improvements, like my hair and skin so I'm hoping to continue to see benefits. With regard to the payment, my insurance covered the removal with no hoops but not a revision. Wish you the best as well. I'll be sure to check back in on you to see how you're doing.

I had my band removed yesterday and it was covered by my insurance because I was having esophagus and stomach spasms and difficulty swallowing due too much acid.

My advice is just to have it removed and make it a point to keep your same eating habits. I was banded for 3.5 years and had to get my band removed yesterday. A little over a month ago out of the blue I started having what I thought were PVCs. I had fluttering in my chest every time I layed down and it slowly got to the point where I started feeling like I was having a heart attack for several hours a day even when not laying down. After multiple ER visits (and all tests showing that my heart rhythm and rate were normal, all blood work normal) I went into my surgeon after not having slept more than 2 hours a night in 2 weeks and in tears I told him that I wanted it removed. He advised that we should start with emptying the band first and warned that I would gain 10-15 pounds. That day he emptied the band and I still did not get much relief until I went into my primary care physician and he put me on a once a day antacid. He explained that I was having esophagus spasms which can be painful and feel like a rapid heart rate. I did begin to get some relief after a couple of days of antacids with the band emptied. I was scheduled to have the band removed and kept my eating habits exactly the same. I did not gain any weight while I waited for the the removal surgery. But again, I kept my eating the same. Yesterday I had my band removed and I have had almost no spasms. My doctor says they should completely disappear in a few weeks. While I did lose 50 lbs with my band, I don't really credit the band with much. I could still drink milk shakes and eat potato chips and that was actually easier than eating fish and vegetables. I found that I lost weight when I ate clean and exercised and when I didn't eat clean, I gained. The band does not change your relationship with food. Only you can do that. I prayed about it quite a bit and came to the conclusion that our bodies are just not meant to have these foreign materials in them for long periods of time. Just take it out, eat properly and exercise. You're used to eating the way you should. Keep doing that and you'll be fine.

Prayers going up. Did they tell you if they caught it early?

My mom had a similar situation a couple of months ago and the mass was benign. Sending up prayers for you.

Nothing has given me trouble either. I'm scheduled for another fill on Monday. I think this could be my last one because I was in the yellow zone last time. I'm thinking another half CC will really help me get satisfied with less for longer. When I had my first fill I had a strong sense of satiety for about 3 days. Now I'm back to feeling hungry every 3.5 hours after eating about 4oz protein.

Christmas is WAY harder than Thanksgiving! There is just constant food. Food everywhere. Lunches, pot lucks, dinners....Ugh. I have tried to make the best choices, but I must admit I've had a few dessert samples. I have not lost any weight in almost a week. But I haven't gained any so I'm counting that a victory. The good thing is I go out on Christmas vacation for two weeks so I'll escape the constant schmorgesborg of food at work.

I see the pic now that I scrolled all the way down! Gorgeous!

Please post a pic!

@@Browneyesin tx - That sounds perfect. I can't imagine why you're not losing more. Maybe get a visit with the nutritionist??

Congratulations! I had a similar NSV! We wear purple on Wednesdays at work as part of an internal networking group that promotes women in science and technology. I have this purple dress in a size 14 petite that I could not zip up. But I gave it a try yesterday and that puppy zipped right up with no problem and a little room to spare!! All day people were telling me that I look thinner. Felt great. We seem to be on the same track! Band sistahs! :-)

What are you eating?

I had no desire to eat for days. I was coming up on a week before I even felt any type of hunger at all. I had to make myself drink my shakes. But after a week or so, my appetite came back. Then I was hungry every 3 hours until I got my fill 3 weeks later. Now it takes me about 4.5 hours to feel hungry after a meal.

Glad to see this thread! I posted a question about caring for your skin during weight loss and didn't get much response at all.

I wonder if you're allergic to lidocaine and that's what caused the rash.

It's on my Christmas list!

WTH?!!!!

90% of the battle is what you eat. Exercise is definitely something you should do, but you can't out work a bad diet. I had no appetite at all for days after my surgery so I used it as a good point to start over and followed the surgeon's instructions exactly. Be encouraged! And remember 1 Corinthians 6:19. :-)

Okay you guys probably read this on the other thread, but in case you didn't my fill went very well. No numbing, but no pain either…just a little pressure when she found the port and put the needle in. I had 6, yes 6cc placed in my band at the time of surgery. The Fluid was removed and added back and an additional 0.5cc was added. It was quick and easy. I was on liquids for 24 hours and I'm eating normally now. I made it almost an extra hour before I got hungry after lunch today so I think I'm pretty close to the green zone already. They said the reason I had so many CCs to start with was because there was not much of a fat pad, so more fluid was needed to get the band snug enough.."there is a skinny girl waiting to get out!" were the exact words used. :-)

Glad it's gone. Did they numb you first? I didn't get any numbing, but it was really not painful or uncomfortable.

I say no carbs is awesome! And the fact that food is not "wowing" you is a good thing. You should embrace the fact that you're not obsessing over eating a big donut or something crazy like that. :-) If it didn't wow us so much in the first place, we wouldn't have ended up here. The most carb I've eaten so far is veggies and a little brown rice, but no more than 1/4 cup. The rest is all Protein.

@@Ldimples - Mushy foods are generally higher in calories and carbohydrates. E.g. If you're eating mashed potatoes, you're not going to lose weight like you would if you were eating fish and chicken. Now if you stick Protein shakes and sugar free Jello, then you'll keep losing.

Oh yeah…I see a nutritionist every visit too. She has really helped me figure out my eating. More so than the doc.