deniseb

Mom of 4 I researched getting the MGB too but opted for the band only because I knew of an excellent band surgeon and here in Michigan we did not have an excellent MGB surgeon at the time I was banded. I think you are making a wise choice. IMHO the MGB is superior to the band. I read it is the only WLS that affects the grhelin hormone and that is major in keeping your weight off long term. I do think your money will be well spent, just be sure you have a surgeon who has performed many of them. Good luck to you and let us know how it went.

I would have liked Star better if she had just admitted to the surgery. As for the show, I don't find that show entertaining and didn't watch often. All those women talk at the same time and over each other. I don't imagine it will get any better with Rosie O. She is not particularly soft spoken either. Meredith was my favorite.

So sorry to hear of your trouble. I too have problems with the espohagus. Sometimes I strain to get up the food that is stuck and there is a little blood. My insurance did cover the placement of the band and there is no way I can afford to have it removed on my own. But I agree no one should suffer long term health complications from this gosh darn thing. The thing I keep reading with the band is if we would all just diet and exercise the band would work. LOL if we could have accomplished that impossible task - why we wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. So the band only works if you are totally compliant with the eating rules and let's face, they know it is not likely that we can be. My question is will insurance cover your band removal. Thanks and good luck.

Avon makes some sort of little calculator counter too. It was only 12.95, I'll look for it and post the info if I can find it. It was pretty cool and I should probably be using it myself right now.

My experience is exactly like Saul, full up top, never been full in the lower stomach since banding. My experience with hunger has been - no hunger when overtightened, when unfill to a comfortable can swallow level, lots of hunger. This is the toughest thing I have ever done. But I have to believe by the weight loss taking so long we are all learning new behavior in eating less and being okay with it.

I can now at 2.5, but I couldn't until the unfill. Water would hurt before the unfill.

I'm sure many of us struggle with that decision. Please let us know how it goes for you. Good luck.

Okay Schel how did you lose that 8 pounds? Way to go. I'm just like you, embarassed by slow weight loss. What exactly did you eat to jolt your system to give up those 8 pounds? Help.

I have a question and hope someone can help me. When our band is too tight and you have to get an unfill (I did). Won't it be too tight again if we get another fill. I'm confused and afraid to get any more fills. My band is at 2.5 and whenever we tried to put more in, it was bad, pb'ing, etc. So what do you do then, just not get any more fills. I want another fill to bump weight loss efforts, but I don't want to feel bad again and then another unfill. Suggestions?

I watched the upper gi barium swallow I had last month and could tell that the barium did not want to go down. I felt pain and the xray tech pointed out that my body was making secretions to try to help the barium flow through. I could actually see the contraction (pain) in the esophagus. So I think a PB and a slime are the same thing. The food never comes back (for me) it is always just the secretions that build up because of the temporary blockage. Don't know how long it would take to clear and the pain is pretty bad so I always try to bring up and spit out the slime. I think if food actually comes back that would be vomiting. But I have wretched just PBing, but not since I had some saline taken out. Relief!

NOW I keep an old sour cream container with lid in my car because it happened to me once on my way home from work. I got a pill stuck and knew I had to leave work, but couldn't make it home. Of course I peed myself as well. Wretching was the worst part. I never forget to break my pills in half since that day. But now I know I could catch a PB in my handy container, hopefully I won't have to, but just in case....ya never know.

I had horrible back pain for about 4 weeks after my surgery. Swore I couldn't live like that and would have to have band removed rather than live with daily back pain. Thank God it went away all by itself after 4 weeks. It must have been part of the healing process or something. Hope yours goes away too.

Great informative thread!

Would a recipe forum be okay? Let's face it, we are some of the best cooks.

I would love to be a 10. I am a 16 now. But of course I will be singing when I get to a 14, and I will get to a 14...oh yeah....

Your post is so right on. I think my doctor really tried to talk to me too about what type of overeater I was. I think what you said was so key and that is why lapband is not for everybody. I was too scared, way too scared to consider RNY, but now I see it is also done laparoscopically (sp). From reading posts for over 6 months now, I think that is what Dr. Pleatman is trying to tell people. He is not trying to sell RNY over lapband, (as I see he has been accused here on LBT) I think he truly wants to see his patients succeed and be happy with their decision re WLS. I wish I had done RNY, I was just too scared. I am not totally unsuccessful with lapband I have lost 50% of my excess weight, but alas I am a sweet eater and was probably not the best candidate for lap through no fault of my doctor I have the best in Michigan.

Wow, the same thing happened to me. I would only lose weight when I couldn't eat. It took me 3 months to realize my band was too tight. I kept reading about other bandsters being able to eat and still lose weight and I was just so frustrated all the time because first bite would give me enough pain that I would not want to try another bite of the offending healthy food. So then I would wait 2 or 3 hours (mind you, still hungry) and to be sure I could end my hunger I would eat ice cream. I finally had an x-ray and lo and behold I was too tight. Now I am not so crabby anymore. It's weird though because after a fill, they have you drink water. Odd isn't it, they are only concerned that you drink water so food does not really have to go down for the adjustment to be successful. You will get a lot of good advice from the other posters here, reading their posts has helped me a lot.

Wow, 59 pounds is wonderful. I hope I can achieve the same. Even if you don't lose another pound you are a real beauty and inspiration.

I understand your frustration. Sometimes the band has a mind of its own. I know from reading other posts, that this will be worth it once we figure out all the little nuances of living life with the band. I'm not sorry I got the band, I know I couldn't have lost this weight without it. Its just we are still learning how to live with it and sometimes it gets a tad frustrating. Hang in there, talk to your doctor, I'm sure together you guys will figure this out.

I understand if you can only eat soft foods, you need to talk to your doctor. Maybe need a slight unfill.

I know it can sometimes be frustrating, but worth it in the end.