NewSho

I'm kinda tall (about 5'9" with my hair fluffed up, LOL) with a curvy, hourglass-ish figure. The Past: my initial aim was to get out of Plus Size H-E-L-L into wearing an easy Misses 14/16 that wasn't a Womens Plus Size. Now: My Size 12 pants fit OK, depending on the brand. What's keeping me out of smaller bottom sizes is my thighs. I think that with my ample thighs (Uh oh, I smell Thigh Lipo, or "Thi-Po" coming!) I look better in Misses Size 12's better than Junior Size 11 pants, which are designed for slimmer, no-curves body types. Junior Size 11's run snug if not downright tight on the bottom and kind of big on top. Some body-sculpting by a dedicated Plastic Surgeon will help get my boobs up, and my thighs down. :biggrin1: The Future: My Ultimate Goal is to be able to wriggle down to any designer's Junior Size 9 (Which on me should look like I wear a Size 5/6 or 7/8) . I want to keep my curves but I want to wear the hip trendy brands. Then, I can finally buy the overpriced $180 jeans (like these) that only go up to size 9 or so. Or even better, to squeeze into the coveted, rare Japanese designer jeans that cost $500 or more, per pair. See some here. Oh yeah. I know. What a glutton for fashion punishment, I am! :rolleyes

Welcome. We're glad you're here. We are all on different parts of our journey so we try not to judge or accuse. Hopefully you'll find support here. I guess I agree with Lianna - you're probably UNDERFILLED. Burger and fries, eh? :hungry: WHEW. Well that's the sound of a band that's not 'tweaked' properly. The band is a wonderful tool, but it does not work without actively keeping up the restriction (or " Fill " ) level. And frankly it takes a few fills for most of us to get there. So first things first, access your fill level - you really just need a jump-start to make better food decisions. None of us is perfect, we need help to succeed. That's what band restriction is - a gentle (sometimes not so gentle ) nudge to help us stay on track. You can do this, Meli. Keep your head (and your Fill Level) up, OK?

YAY FOR YOU and your baby Bandster!

I'm a half-veteran, half-new Bandster technically. Originally I was banded over 5 1/2 years ago here in the USA, in the intial FDA trial before the LapBand was approved here. But as my surgeon said, it shouldn't even count because due to events, I was never, ever filled. That's a long story. Anyway my original Old-School band is still (knock wood) intact but I had my port replaced to a newer low-profile port with new tubing last year. So I have my 2001 band and 2005 port. Remember that in Europe, Australia, and Mexico - banding has been performed for more than 10 years. In Australia, more than 90% of weight loss surgeries are Lap-Bands. Hopefully the U.S.A will join the rest of the world in realizing that this is a efficient, safe option for long term weight control. So don't worry!

YES. As a single woman, vanity had a big part in me having surgery. It's H E L L to be single and obese as a woman, no matter how attractive one is. For many women being obese means fewer available men, and being treated like you're invisible is really hard on anyone's self-esteem. I'm smart, funny, fashionable and attractive. But guess what? My weight made it harder for people to realize it. I was toooo cute to be soooo fat.:phanvan So, my long diet history (WW in grade school :cry ) got me approved, but vanity spurred me to finally get help for a long time weight problem. So I wanted to look better, buy/wear more fashionable clothes and I'm unapologetic about it. My weight meant I got less interest from men, affected my career, and made it hard for me to live the life I aspired to have. Losing weight doesn't solve all life's problems at all - but many parts of life are much easier when I'm not obese. If that's vanity, than so be it.

Bill, Sometimes Insurance Companies use co-morbidities (symptoms/diseases that are caused or aggravated by obesity) to justify approval for Weight Loss Surgery in those with a BMI under 40. (Especially those with BMI of 35 to 40). I fell into that 35-to-40 BMI range before banding, but because of my long diet history (I even did Weight Watchers in grade school :cry ), I was approved without co-morbs. Some common co-morbidities are: Diabetes or pre-diabetes (a demonstated history of blood sugar fluctuations) High Blood Pressure / Hypertension (whether or not it's controlled by meds) High Cholesterol (whether or not controlled by meds) Sleep Apnea (diagnosed after a Sleep Study, whether or not CPAP is used) Chiropractic disorders (herniated disks, spine misalignment, for example) Orthopedic disorders (knee/joint pain or arthritis from carrying excess weight) Hormonal issues (irregular testosterone in men; or gynecological issues or PCOS in women) GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) or severe Acid Reflux Podiatric issues (Plantar Fasciitis, heel spurs, foot/heel pain) All of these can be weight-influenced, and are often common justifications for approving bariatric surgery. Good Luck.

I often visit the Main Chat Room of ObesityHelp. The site has great information and its chat room gets a lot of traffic. Recently more and more pre-op and newbie Bandsters have mentioned that they feel like the O.H. ChatRoom is "Anti-Band." I have no problem with a primarily-RnY Chat Room (I have more in common with someone who had RnY than I do with someone who has never had any WLS) but I admit that as more Bandsters come in, I do hear more anti-Band or ignorant-about-the-Band statements. So I spend time with chat room visitors, giving authentic band info. Well, I've taken more flack in the last couple of weeks from the Bypassives - which is what I call the rabid fanatics who insist that any surgery other than a bypass type is worthless - who have given me heck for standing up for the LapBand. Well get this. Our own Dr.Pleatman (whose rather ambivalent feelings about the LapBand has been well documented here :rolleyes ) was in the Chat Room earlier tonight. Basically, those in the chat room were privy to hearing a WLS surgeon who grudgingly performs some bands, to enumerate why he doesn't care for the bands. (Gee, who is it who is paying this doc to do their bands when it's obvious he has no faith in LapBanding? He seems like a very competant surgeon, frankly, but if he prefers RnY bypass, why doesn't he just perform all bypasses, like many other WLS docs only do? I never understood that. Maybe those pesky LapBands are good business, eh?) Anyway, a Pre-Op visitor came in and asked the surgeon - "I'm torn between the LapBand and the RnY. Any suggestions on questions I should ask my doctor?" And Pleatman said Oh, great. Just what they wanted to hear. I do respect his opinion, but talk about fuel for a fire. Oh well, the Bypassives were so excited to hear that. It made their day. However, they didn't get to enjoy the moment long. See us poor, misinformed LapBanders :mad: were thankfully upstaged by Dr. P making a comment that doctors who only perform Open Surgeries (like Open RnY) are doing it because they aren't well trained on Laproscopic technique. WHEW! Did the sparks fly when he said that! I just sit back and watch them argue amongst themselves on that one. :guess See next to the "Bypass is better than band" constant refrain, another great ObesityHelp ChatRoom rivalry is the "Open Surgery is better than Lap Surgery" debate. Man, do they get fired up about that argument. :phanvan I don't get it - why can't everyone just be happy about their surgery? I respect all Weight Loss Surgeries - and if one didn't work, I'm glad there are other choices. But there are always those who like to argue that their way is the only way. But in between bickering, there is genuine concern and positivity towards Weight Loss Surgery. Sometimes though, It's like a Soap Opera - but in real-time and via the Internet. That's why I call it "As The World (of ObesityHelp) Turns..."

I'm with you! I used to be a slave to the scale but it used to affect my whole day, just by what I weighed that morning. Finally my WLS doc made me get rid of it - he told me to just weigh at his office and not worry about daily up's and down's. So now I realize - scale numbers don't mean anything to me, but clothing sizes do. In getting near goal, I've gone from wearing a Size 22W ( or a 22W/24W) to an easy 12. (Which looks great on me since I'm a tall, curvy type of chick. I always look 1-to-2 sizes smaller in person, than the size I wear. Unfortunately this ability could have helped to delude myself about my weight - but the mirror never lies! ) However, when I was larger, I dreamed of being a Size 14. That's when I knew I'd could just shop in normal Misses departments instead of the "Womens' Dept." or the "Plus Sizes" area. So a Size 14 used to be my first goal size. Now I'm thinking I might have to put my soon-to-be-too-baggy Size 14's away (along with those 16's, 18's, 20's, 22's, and 24's that I've already gotten rid of thru donation or eBay). Now I'm ambitious: I want to get of those 14's, move out of 12's and get into a Size 9/10. Once I'm officially a Junior size 9/10, then I'll think I've accomplished something. :clap2: Now as a 30(mumble)Something, I know I would look absolutely traffic-stopping good in a solid Size 9/10. Hopefully my body co-operates...I plan on stimulating the retail economy with my shopping if I lose some weight and get plastic surgery.

I can understand that it's scary for friends & family to watch us take such a significant step. Hopefully most people in our lives should be supportive, even if they don't understand the experiences that convinced us that having this surgery is the right decision for us. On the other hand, there might be those friends & even family who can't support us emotionally (due to their own issues with weight or food.) Just last night my always-petite sister told me how proud she was of me. :clap2: She apologized for not supporting my initial decision to have surgery, but she admitted that she was wrong and that she was so happy that I stuck to my guns and did it anyway. That meant a lot. As for personal relationships with the opposite sex: I think my personal relationships with men should improve. Frankly it's not easy to be single and trying to date while being obese or overweight, no matter how attractive you are.:phanvan I'm certainly hoping to improve both the quality and quantity of men that are attracted to me since I've had surgery. (Hey, it's a numbers game - one of those millions of men has got to be the Right One, am I right?)

CONGRATS To You! No kids, so thankfully there's no Halloween candy here - but temptation can come 365 days a year. It's an ongoing fight, but it's nice to have the band to give that extra kick of willpower.

I always think I can eat more. In fact, I am sure that I crave carbs more during that T.O.M. than any other time. Usually with good restriction, I can minimise carbs but for a few days a month, crackers & chips start to look good to me. EEK!

I don't know about the statement that "those who have problems tend to post more" or that those who post are those with problems. We get a pretty even mix here. Like many Bandsters, I've had more than my share of bumps along the way. But now my doctor has informed me, I beat all band stats and lost over 90% of my excess weight. I'm at his goal,:clap2: although I plan to lose another 5-10# (12# more would be awesome) if I can. So now my only problems are getting fills - docs think it's OK if I don't lose more weight, but the designer jeans makers apparently feel otherwise, LOL . So I'm always aiming for that (mythical?:rolleyes ) "Sweet Spot" of restriction. And I'm getting ready for the next step, which is plastic surgery to reclaim my 'girlish figure' :nervous ! But I've learned a lot being banded a zillion years (feels like it) and I try to share what I've learned with other veteran Bandsters and newbies and pre-ops alike. It's a journey, we might as well do it together.

These are all good questions for your Band surgeon. Your pain under your sternum could be a classic band sign of 'overeating' or 'pushing your band' a bit. Sometimes eating tough, fibrous things (like broccoli and stuff like that) can make me get a twinge like that. So I stop before the 'twinge' becomes a pain. So maybe that is the beginning of good restriction for you. And less of course we usually eat less with the band, but please remember - without good restriction or fill - the band can, at best, just help us maintain. If I stay at the same weight for an extended period of time, for me personally, that's a sign that I need a fill. Good Luck to ya, OK?

Lyndsey, I wondered how you were doing. I'm so glad you got a concerned doctor to take on your care. Your new doc sounds like an angel. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for you. P L E A S E keep us posted, OK?

Wow, Curley. Professor O'Brien really is a giant in the field of LapBanding. He's known worldwide for his innovation in banding- you're lucky to have him on board. To DDee: ((( HUGS ))) You're in a difficult predictament, indeed. I also wish you could have had the option of being re-banding (or otherwise repaired or revised) during the removal surgery. I don't wish an extra surgery on anyone. But my fear is (my doc confirms) that like most patients, if something happened that if I had my band removed tomorrow, I would certainly gain all my weight back. So eventually I'd be back at Square One. I know we have some here that have had their bands removed and still maintained their weight. Bless 'em... I'm not claiming to be disciplined or a trooper. Only with this band do I eat less and stay fuller longer. If it were gone, I'd probably be looking for an immediate re-banding or a revision to another Weight Loss Surgery. Good Luck in whatever next step you take on your journey. ((( HUGS Again )))

Oh my goodness. Bless your heart, you've really been through it. ((( HUGS )))

Thanks, everyone. I honestly feel as if I can bring some positive info for Bandsters who wander into the ObesityHelp chat room. And I do work to fight 'mis-information' and now when pre-Bandsters or Newbies come in, the chat room regulars often point them in my direction. So there is some progress... but sometimes it feels like an uphill fight! :rolleyes

My fellow Bandsters: PLEASE don't do this.I made this mistake at first, also. I didn't think it was making a difference, since with a band I was still eating less than I did before being banded. So I thought "It's OK." Wrong! :omg: This is a hallmark of possibly not being very filled. And we can all lose some weight while not being very restricted. That's the interesting thing about the band.:straight But once you get real restriction - drinking after eating is just not going to work. Not because it makes you a "Bad Bandster" or because it's a No-No (I mean, who cares?) but because once you get closer to your "sweet spot" of fill, it's no longer possible. Learn from my mistake: Remember once your band is well-filled you might just not have enough room to do more than sip after eating... That pouch gets full fast when you're well-restricted, and it will let you know when you overdo it! :phanvan Try not to drink while you're eating, even if you can do it. It just makes it harder to do banding, even if it seems harmless at first. Take it from me, folks. I've learned the hard way. :rolleyes

Ouch! Bless your heart. Heck, I totally sympathise. Been there, did that, and wished I didn't have the T-Shirt. I only tell my story because I agree, obesity can be a special burden on women. I was on the operating table during a routine TT when the Plastic Surgeon found numerous uterine fibroids. He was so shocked (mad?) that he dragged my WLS surgeon out of the next Operating Room., and pulled him into the O.R. to look at me. The PS demanded to know if he knew I had them. (Of course my WLS doc didn't know. Heck, I didn't know either. ) My WLS doc famously said in exasperation, "But, I don't look at her uterus!" The PSurg then called in an OB/Gyn into the O.R. (the room was so full they should have inplemented a cover charge, LOL ) and he confirmed that it looked like fibroid tumours. What? Unbelievable! I had no symptoms and no idea. Later I had to have them removed (too big for laproscopic) and my PS 'sat in' and handled the incisions. I'm eternally grateful to him for catching what my former OB/Gyn did not (I have a new one now and she did a fabulous job with the surgery.) So I'm sorry you had to go through it. But think of it this way, it's the fastest way you'll probably ever lost your 8# and a few inches without lipo! :nervous

Unjury - Absolutely my #1 pick, too. It's a well-crafted, tasty little Protein powder. I tried more than a dozen different Proteins (literally!) and Unjury is my choice of them. Good flavours, mixes well, well tolerated... And I love the little packets that you can purchase to try out the flavours. The only other protein I tolerate is nectar ( NECTAR™) by Syntrax. It comes in yummy flavors like Fuzzy Navel Peach and more.

This is true. He was the youngest mayor ever of Cincinnati. And how did he lose his job as a fairly popular mayor of Cincinnati? Get ready - Mayor Jerry lost his job as mayor (was forced to resign) due to his affinity for utilizing the services of call girls. :omg: But wait! Nope, he didn't get booted for that. He patronized call girls and paid by check. The checks bore his real name. Nope, he didn't get booted for that EITHER. He patronized call girls and paid by check and the check bounced.:heh: The call girl sued him for 'non-payment of check' and he was forced to resign. Now THAT is a great story, but it's absolutely, positively true. He really is an intelligent, and fairly sensitive man in actuality, but his political career has been sidelined by that hilariously bad case of judgement. Ah, well... we're all human, right? :nervous

The "Silicone Freeloader." :biggrin1: OK, that sounds harsh, but I do think it kind of sits around, hangs out, and only chips in when it wants to do something, LOL.

. Gee, lucky me. I have an "Antique LapBand." My band (which I call my little "Silicone Freeloader") could well be a ticking time bomb. Since my surgery was done so long ago, mine was done with the old-school perigastric technique that is no longer performed, as DrC has mentioned. This older surgical technique had a higher complication rate, so my 5 & 1/2-year "Antique" LapBand is defying all odds so far...(*sigh*) Let's face it. I'm realistic about the fact that with all technology, it gets perfected over time. So bands now have a higher success rate - and older studies may reflect the early LapBand surgeries done here in the U.S. As for my band? I watch it carefully, what else can I do? Hope it lasts! :pray:

WELCOME. You're starting a wonderful journey - and remember... we sometimes have smooth bumps and bruises along our Lap Band journeys. But every one that you see on this forum (all those who are post-op) have survived it. It's OK to be wary, but there is no reason to be frightened... because even those of us who had a little or a big issue - lived to tell about it. Unfortunately, that's not always true of all Weight Loss Surgeries, but it's very true about LapBanding. So - you have chosen a wonderful tool that is respected worldwide for it's ability to deliver us from obesity to normal-weight. And it does it without having to re-section or re-route our intestines. So good luck and enjoy your journey. You'll do fine!

Pam, Believe me, I totally understand your dilemma. I hope you get some straight answers. What you've experienced isn't common, but it happens enough to disturb us all. And why is the Mexican erosion complication rate, so much higher? :girl_hug: Is it because they've been doing it longer, and do more per year? Whatever the answer is, It's troubling for all of us Bandsters. I was banded here in the 'States, but with the older technique. Since I know my 'antique band' was surgically done in a way that is no longer performed, I keep getting it checked via Upper GI annually for issues. To be honest Pam, last year, when I suspected a complication that would need a repair surgery - I did soul-searching about it, and decided to be rebanded. (Turns out it was the tubing, and was an easy fix, thankfully) My choice then was to try re-banding. I figured I'd ride off on the horse that I rode in on, so to speak. So I gave the band a second chance, and it turns out my band was actually in place. Now, later after that when I was erroneously convinced I wasn't going to lose any more weight (errr, turns out I was under-filled, sigh) I questioned being converted to RnY.... Only your doctor(s) know the actual degree of erosion, and it sounds like you have options, which is a testament to you having caught this early. So I would give the band one more chance personally - and be re-banded. Only much later, if I had another problem, I would explore a conversion procedure. Three times, and it's out, as I say. :phanvan Here's a big question I have for you, though: Usually doctors don't charge the same fees for repairing erosion - what has he said about helping to de-fray the cost? I'd also ask for my replacement band price to be significantly discounted, at the very least. An erosion is not a patient-caused complication. So please find out exactly what they expect you to pay, and what expenses they will minimise for you.) No matter what, I've got your fingers crossed.