reenie11

to answer Kadaroo.... for me it was lack of weight loss. I lost 50 lbs the first year after my band. in the three years since I've gained it all back. My experience with the band wasn't positive. Once I finally had restriction, it was too much and I vomited most things back up. I could only hold down sweets and was so damn stubborn I refused to have any of my fill taken out since it had taken soooo long to finally have restriction. But with time even with restriction, all the weight came back. I have a sweet tooth and was told I prolly wont have good results with lap band b/c of no dumping syndrome. After the first year or so you become hungry again, I have heard many people say the same happened to them. I just wish I would have went with RNY the first time so I wouldn't have to pay for it. I've decided to try to pull out my retirement to pay for my surgery. It makes me sad, but I wont live to retirement age if I don't do something soon.

Back for an update,,,,, After talking to Doc I contacted my Insurance co. They will pay for the band removal. But they have an wls exclusion meaning they wont pay for any further bariatric surgery. I'm just lost. I don't know what to do. Ideas for self pay? I mean my doc had wanted to do it all at once, take band out and do gastric in one surgery. But rny is an inpatient surgery and being self pay, thats not an option rite now. I can save forever, but be miserable the next few years until I can pay for it. I'm just so sad that at 35 years old I've lived like this for 20 years. Had lapband 4 years ago and am now in the same exact place I was then. Has anyone went to Mexico for removal of band and then RNY at the same time? I live in ohio.

glad to have found this site! I too was banded in april of 08, lost a grand total of about 40 lbs, completely on my own, not b/c of the band. Saw a surgeon today & we've decided to look into band removal to gastric bypass. I'm so excited to see others in my situation!!! I felt like such a failure for the past 3 years. Are you happy with your decision Leslie??? Thanks for being a welcoming bander/gastric bypass friend!

I am 4 years post op. I never lost more than 40 lbs. I havent seen a dr, or had a fill in 2 years. I have always had a problem with spitting up I don't consider it vomiting, b/c the food never hits my stomach, its bulges up above the band in the bottom of my throat and it HAS to come back out. Its worse in the mornings, but sometimes at nite, I can eat as normal people do. I've learned to live with this. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I cannot hold ANYTHING!!!! Its not gastritis b/c I have no acid, stomach pain, swelling etc. I have no clue what to think about this, but I am starting to get weak. I've lost almost 20 lbs in 2 weeks, I'm so thirsty and dehydrated i guzzle guzzle and it all just comes rite back up. even if I take baby sips, it comes back up. I CAN hold small amts of food. Very small. I no longer have medical insurance and wonder if anyone else has had this happen??? I don't know how much longer I can do this. I keep thinking that since i'm losing weight, my band will loosen and I will be able to hold liquids again. I can take my vitamins at nite, but the next morning when I drink and then spit it up, I can taste the vitamin, so I dont know if i'm absorbing the vitamin.......I dont know what to do............

It all just started today, but its definately a muscle twitching. I dont think its gas and I am going to call dr. tomorrow. Its the same exact feeling as when your eye or leg or arm starts twitching involuntary. but its right between my breasts about 1-1.5 inches down.

Ok, FREAKING out here, I am 5 months post op. Everything going smoothly. Not really losing, but its my fault I have been eating fast food etc. I know how to get back on track, that is not what this post is about. This is hard to explain but, I am having a twitching either at the top of my stomach muscle or bottom of my chest?????? Its like when your eye twitches involuntary. There's no time or situation that it happens, empty or full, morning or nite, just a lot lately. At first it scared me like maybe a heart murmur or something, but I dont think that is it. Theres no pain involved. Anyone EVER heard of such a thing????? suggestions????

went to doc this am, did xrays, no breaks/fractures. I do have heel spurs but he said it would not cause the severe swelling I have. I have good circulation, bp is perfect. He ordered full labs and put me on presidone to subside the swelling. go back in 3 weeks. He said it could be a case of acute ankle arthritis. YEA!!!!! 32 and arthritis..............bummer.

I had my surgery 4/15/08. I have lost close to 40 lbs. My ankle is NOW deciding to swell daily. When I wake up in the mornings, the swelling has gone down, BUT both feet are both so stiff that I can barely walk. I image its how a body stiffens up after death, to give an example. My heels and toes actually all of it is immobile. Has anyone else ever had this problem? The only time I ever had them swell even at 250 lbs was during 6 plus hour drives in the car. I ended up making an appt with a podiatrist on friday. (I have even taken a dieretic (sp) to see if that would help to no avail. And my choice of tennis shoes vs. flops makes no difference either.

All of go through those thoughts. On several occassions I've worried that I've stretched my pouch. But every post I read about it, someone says, no, your just in bandster hell. So I want to know has ANYONE ever had their doc say......"You've stretched your pouch." And what is the next step if you actually have?

Wow, I am having the same problem. My surgery was 4/15. I've lost right around 35 lbs. I've completely stopped losing. I actually called doc to get my 3rd fill moved up b/c I'm eating soo much. I have NOOO restriction. I've never had any. Any weight I've lost, I"VE LOST, the band hasnt seemed to do much for me. But I'm tired of dieting, I'm getting burnt out and have slowly crept back into the old habits. Now I need to jump back on the bandwagon but am having difficulty doing so. My willpower is one of the reasons I got the band. I thought it would help tremendously. so far nothing. sad. discouraged. disappointed. Everyone keeps saying "wait til you get to your sweet spot" I hope its soon. I'm close to giving up. :wink_smile:

In the beginning I got SUPER mad that guys were dropping compliments. But I dont find skinny guys attractive, so I think of it that way. We all judge, some are just really rude about it.

Salsa, Did you exercise a lot to lose that much that quickly? I was banded 4/15. all together, pre-op diet included I've only lost 24-26 lbs. I'm walking close to 2 miles every nite when I get home from work. scale is not budging. I feel like maybe I need to kick it up a notch with the exercising, maybe that will help?? I have very little restriction but have kept myself on Lean Cuisine's, smart one's etc. I dont have another fill til 7/15. I really thought this would be (pardon the pun,) a piece of cake!!

All went well. Although I have had many days doubting I'll lose weight. I lost the first 3 weeks, that was 3 weeks ago. I'm stuck at 223 for the past month. And I was very niave thinking I wouldn't be hungry. I think I am more hungry than I was before. I've only had 1 fill of 2cc's so I have little to no restriction. I've realized how slow of a process this actually is. But I'm sticking it out and looking forward to being under 200. That is my goal for the summer.