tizag

Hi Anthony, You can read my story here... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12313&highlight=tizag but the bottom line - I had the most horrible back pain for the 3 months prior to having my band removed. I had back x-rays and went to quite a few doctors.... The moment I had my band removed, the back pain was gone. I remember waking up from surgery, and thinking... "ahhhh, my back doesn't hurt". No question it was related. Good luck.

Hi, I had my band removed last month after lots of problems (you can see an earlier post of mine) and before I was taken into surgery I asked if I could have the band and my surgeon said sure... and he gave it to me. I keep it under my pillow in my bed. :) It's also an Inamed band....

Hi DeLarla and everyone! DeLarla, so glad you are feeling better!!!!! I have been unbanded now for over a month (I stopped counting...) and I am sooooooooooooooooooo hungry all the time now. *sigh* This sucks. With the band I didn't feel hungry - now I am starving even after eating. I now understand how people gain back all the weight lost if unbanded - it's not just about new eating habits, it's about feeling hungry ALL the time. Also, I wanted to add - DeLarla, I am so sorry you had such a hard time with your band removal surgery. But just so that others don't panic if they have to have their bands removed... for me the removal surgery was super easy. I got back to my room at 8pm at the hospital, and I was up and walking 2 hours after. The next morning by 10am I walked around the mall (next to the hospital) for at least an hour and went shopping (got my kids some stuff at ToysRUs...couldn't resist...) :) I never took anything more than Tylonol the day after surgery, and then nothing. (I am not writing this to make you feel bad, just writing it so others don't worry!!!!) xoxoxo

Hi, I got pregnant 4 or 5 months after I was banded. I had a fill the first and second trimester and didn't gain any weight. The third trimester I had the fill taken out and gained about 10 pounds - not bad for a pregnancy. Congrats!!!!!

Hi Francesca, My band was removed on Dec 1st and I also feel like it is still there! I can only eat small amounts and I get full very quickly. I also don't wake up insanely hungry like I did before I had the band. Also, when I eat a bit fast, I get all these gurgling noises, just like when I ate too fast with the band. Weird, huh? Maybe we are both losing our minds.

Hi, Yes, I had this. Please please please go to your doctor! It can be serious... for me it ended up in having to have my band removed in emergency surgery with severe infection and inflammation. Don't worry, I am sure nothing as drastic is happening with you, but have you get your get band unfilled ASAP. In all honesty, I let this go on for months and months... maybe if I hadn't ignored the symptoms I would still be with my band today. Rememver, even if nothing has changed with you the past few months, something is going on with your band.... Good luck!

Hi Penni, **hugs** Not sure if you had time to read my post from earlier in the week, but I was unbanded last week after 4.5 years. I am certain I haven't come to terms with the fact that my band is gone. Consider yourself lucky that you were able to cry (even if on the endo table!). I haven't been really able to cry or mourn the loss of my band yet (only time I got a few tears was when posting to LBT). I guess I do feel a bit more relief that you do however, since I really have been feeling so bad lately.... now I feel great. Just crazy scared to think of life unbanded. Since I had my band out, I have been getting completely full on "band quantities" of food. I don't want to get overly optimistic or anything since I have only been 9 days without my band... but so far it's going good. I swear I still feel the band there. Weird.... Anyways, hang in there - I know it doesn't help much, but you are not alone. -Tizag

Yes.... you are right. The infection was only found 2 days before I had the band removed. Maybe he said that knowing I was having the CT the next day. Then it was decided to remove the band.

Hi all, I just wanted to all that lots of people are so scared of the endo and try to avoid it... it's really not bad at all. I have had around 8 of them the past 6 years (even before banded life). Just make sure you have a good doctor who gives you something to make you 'out of it' for the test. You really don't remember a thing - it's a breeze if you just think positive!

Hi again everyone, Still hanging in here! It's so strange that I still feel banded. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe it's like when people lose an arm or leg, but they still feel it? To answer questions.... BigBellyKellie & Ceparano- I honestly have zero desire to be banded again right now. Maybe in the future I'll think differently, but right now I am not considering it an option. Bubbame - After the gastroscopy I was told there was an infection in the esophagus, but the dr. didn't seem to think that was the cause, or that it was a big deal. He told me I would have to take meds for it (what's it called in America? Prilosec I think.) When I go back to see him I will ask why he thought this didn't have to do with the band. Dody - I did lose about 60 pounds with the band and was 150 pounds when I was 6 months pregnant. Even if I never lost more with the band, I was very happy with this weight! I felt amazing.... La Madam - How are you doing unbanded? I will be in touch with you!!! Thanks all!

Out of the 30,000 people or so who have been banded (how many banded people are there?), has anyone ever got to goal weight? I never heard of anyone actually.....

Hi, I want to try to answer specific questions people asked. Alexandra: I was banded in Israel. My dr. gave me no indication as to how long the infection could have been there, or how I got it. HarleyNana: PLEASE tell your mom to see her dr. I know the thought of having to have the band removed is awful.... but if something is wrong, having the band removed is a much better alternative than dying from complications. Desertmom: Same for you. Don't ignore your symptoms. It might not sort it out by itself. I know you want everything to be fine and all the stuff to just go away... I have been there. *hugs* Everything might be fine, and it might not be fine. Remember thought that the endo doesn't show everything. Please go to your dr. As I wrote above, if it comes to it, having the band removed is a much better alternative than dying from complications. And is suffering the quality of life you want? You have lost 105 pounds... there is nothing to say you won't keep it off and continue to lose if you have to have the band removed. Melati: The infection just happened. No connection to the surgery or to a fill. The band is a foreign object in our body. The area around the band and port got infected. I don't think I'll ever know why or how.

Hi everyone! I am sure my post on being unbanded has lead to some fears. I just posted this on my thread, but I wanted to add it here too. I want to make it clear that I did NOT post this to scare anyone.... After everything, I do not regret being banded. In fact I feel very priviliged to have had the opportunity. Right on the Inamed website it says that 25% of people banded end up having their bands removed. It's something that everyone should be aware of. I was aware of this before being banded, and it didn't stop me - so don't let it stop you, or scare you.... just be aware! I was sure when I was banded that it would be for life, that nothing would happen to me. And I was good with eating and following the rules... so you never know. Everything has it's risks in life, you just have decide what is best for you. For some people it's the band, for some people it's gastric bypass, for some people it's weight watchers, for others it's nothing. All are OK if you are comfortable with your decision! I would however advise people that want to get pregnant after being banded to wait 1-2 years. I actually read this recently on one of the 'doctor' websites. Lose your weight first, then get pregnant. The band was perfect for me - the problems only began after my pregnancy. It might be connected, and it might not be connected. We'll never know. One of life's mysteries. I often heard that the band is not only banding your stomach, but also your head. I am certain there is a lot of truth to that. Today is my 4th day without the band. I have permission to eat everything. So far I am eating great. Small amounts of healthy foods and chewing very slowly. The cravings and desires to binge that I had before I was banded have not returned. I might be naive as I just had the band removed.... but as I mentioned above, for the past 4.5 years, I just ate to live, I didn't live to eat. My eating habits and relationship with food has changed completely - there is no reason to think that I can't keep it this way, right? Before I was banded I never was able to feel the wonders of healthy eating. Being with the band let me see how wonderful it feels to be filled up with healthy foods, not tons of sugars or carbs. I don't want to feel yucky again from eating the wrong way, so hopefully I won't. I have tasted the good life full of energy - I am certainly going to try my hardest not to let that go! I promise I will keep you all updated on what happens over the next year, because as time goes on, more people will have to have their bands removed, I think that is inevitable. But maybe it won't be a bad thing. Who knows... we'll see. So for those of you who are thinking of getting banded, my advise is that if you are comfortable with your decision after researching everything, GO FOR IT! If you are not sure, or don't feel it's right for you, then don't do it. Personally however, I would not deter anyone from getting the band. For those of you that are banded, enjoy your band and be thankful everyday that it works good for you. And don't look back and have any regrets ever - have fun and look towards tomorrow with a smile. :)