marys

I have had no weight loss in over one year - I am back on the dieting, yo yo try every diet again and just so frustrated and sick. I'm having metabolic tests now but really feel just hopeless and depressed. I am a failure even with the band. I'm going to my parents 50th anniversary fat as ever with 150 friends of family etc that will see me. I never thought i would be one that wouldn't lose weight. I am so restricted I cant eat solids some days - I eat tons less - I eat like I'm suppossed to and I exercise 5 times a week. I don't know what to do when discouraged cuz i live it 24/7 - you just go on. My boyfriend says - the band is keeping me the same size - i probably would have been 50lbs heavier so there you go - that's something, right? I wish there was someone who could help us that have failed but I've found people don't want to hear about it or be around you when you are a failure. It's a bit lonesome.

God is a Girl (Groove Coverage) kinda transe-y, huge disco beat - really 'pumps you up' -

Telly or others: has anyone taken the supplements mentioned in the first thread - it is : Scorch by Man? Just wondering how that goes witht the band - i'm always somewhat concerned about taking any piills with the band and only take what is absolutely necessary. Any cautions, special instructions, etc. Well, I'm off to the gym for my 60-90 minutes - wish me luck.

I never lost weight with 'the band alone' even with calories under 1500 (i have one year of food diaries showing an average of 1200 calories a day)- now I exercise 3 hours a day 5 days a week and one hour on both Saturday and Sunday - I eat 1000 calories a day and am losing 1-2lbs a week. So for me exercise is the only thing that works in getting weight off. many times with the band I was so tight during the day i would only eat dinner and a protein shake and still never got a pound off - so, i agree with others - exercise and diet - just like before the band.

My friend's mom is the hosptial for three weeks recovering from heart surgery/problems. She is a former teacher and loves to read and I was wondering if anyone had any good book recommendations - I was thinking along the lines of humor and healing but any suggestions are welcome. THANKS

the only time i have pb'd on purspose is to get it over with - a few times i've taken a sip/small gulp of drink to make it come up - as I know it will eventually and I hate to suffer. HOWEVER, the last time i did this i threw up violently and was sore for all night and on liquids for almost two days to let everything rest. SO i don't recommend it but i did do it. otherwise i hate to pb and hate throwing up though i've noticed i can do it now pretty good - thank goodness i didn't know this before - i had such an aversion to throwing up i've only done it 3 times in my life (before surgery) now - i'm afraid without the band i COULD be bulimic - please do try to get some help as throwing up is a sure cause of slippage etc. I'm thankful everyday i still have this dumb band - esp with all the throwing up i've done. I guess my doc stiched that thing in pretty darn good.

dr. mckeen charges 375 for the first fill and i think 325 for the subsequent ones - i would say definitely try him before fill center - not knocking fill center but it's good to have a regular local doc to call if you have any follow-on problems or needs. for example -i've been wanting to get a rx for phenegren (that anti nauseau - can never spell that word- medicine) and since i don't have a local doc, etc. he did it for me. i also really liked him and his nurse chris. good luck.

Thank you SO much everyone who took the time to write - I love all your suggestions - I'll start looking today! mary

How do I 'quit' lapbandtalk - don't want to be notified on subscribed threads and/or get personal messages, etc. Thanks

I'm just starting my search for an endocrinologist but I am requesting (and doing whatever he/she suggests in addition to) a thyroid test and a test for Cushings - this is new to me although i did have a thyroid test many many years ago. I too have successfuly dieted in the past although right before i chose lapband i did try weight watchers again for the 1000 time and couldn't get any weight off - so that probably should have warned me. I have food diaires for almost a year and I would always be around 1000-1300 calories - i was never a bandster that couldn't or wouldn't eat - i love food too much - so restricted but not overly. i was always one to find or say - i can't believe how fast it all adds up. i was also eating probably too much for many months as I didn't know what full is suppossed to mean -

I'm not reading all these posts either but I did want to respond to your question for suggestions -of course, I'm not Sue but the band didn't work for me either so here is a suggestion from me... I would love to know why the band didnt work, is there anything u did or didnt do that may have affected its success? What would u suggest to those of us that are getting the band (the decision is made) to prevent failure if there is anything. I would suggest you have any and all metabolic tests done before banding just in case there are other issues going on with you and losing weight. I should have done that before banding because now I've spent all this money with the band and just starting getting tested for a myriad of things. Maybe they will find something, maybe they won't but it looks like it will cost me several thousand dollars more again out of pocket since i don't have insurance. In my case, I am following the bandster diet and rules and eating tons less than prior to surgery and exercising and I'm at a dead stand still at 7lb loss - for a yo yo dieter that is pretty good because i have never stabilized my weight but its not enough to make me happy. congrats on your decision to be banded and good luck on your journey

Muggles - thanks for starting that new group for struggling bandsters - sorely needed and where I want to be - terrifc

Absolutely - I have many 'regrets' although I hate to admit it - I never want to regret anything in life as I try to not 'go there'. However, i really wish I hadn't done it - definitely read the other suggested threads as it's true - those of us who are unhappy or 'regret' the band don't tend to post alot/often - for me, it just reinforces my lack of success. Although the support and encouragement here has pulled me up out of the dumps more than i can say - without this site i would have lost my mind by now!

Do your research - Ortiz is awesome - great surgeon - tons of experience but if you go to mexico make sure you have LOCAL SUPPORT as you will need it. No matter what doc you go to - if you have problems LIVING WITH THE BAND - they aren't set up for that (generally) - most patients seem to go home and just drop the pounds but if you are one of those folks who just cant get that tool to do what's it suppossed to do - well, find out what they have in place to help you BEFORE YOU HAVE THE SURGERY. good luck.

Please give me your suggestions for what tests one should have to determine if lack of weight loss is hormonal or something- i only know of a thyroid test - what else would be good to have. I'm interested in exploring other possible reasons for only losing 7lbs in a year with the band. I've logged almost a year of food diaries so i have tons of records. i have no insurance or regular doc so money is an issue but at this point what's another couple of thousand dollars - ha - i'm in debt for the next 5 years just for the surgery and fills so i'm not overly concerned with the cost. i just need to find what i need and i can go to a local clinic for the tests. thanks,

I have not gotten any answers or responses from my doctor or his staff -and I know longer try with them - that is why I am starting my search for my own answers - i want to be armed with as much info as i can before i go as I don't think docs are the end all be all -

I was 183 and am 5'2 at surgery - my bmi was around 33 (I think) - while this is lower than alot of bandsters i am the same as you in the sense I was a yo yo dieter my whole life and have been up and down the weight range (125-250) my whole life - a struggle filled with heartache my whole life - Yes, many mexican docs will do your surgery - I went to Dr.Ortiz in Tijuana and was very pleased and he does many patients at even a lower bmi than i - I was and am very happy with him as a surgeon - however, i have struggled like mad with living with the band and have lost 7lbs since surgery last november - so not a steller result. However as a yo yo dieter you know i could have easily gaiined 40lbs over the last year so i'm trying to be positive. plus i have learned what a hard head i am around food.eating etc and learning to stop before stuffed, chewing food and going slow has been harder than anything (almost) i've ever done in my life. after one year i am finally learning some things - again thankful for that. getting to the right restriction, learning to eat in the manner above, etc etc have been very challenging and while I love Dr. Ortyiz and staff to pieces - i needed more after care support than i was getting with them. So, if you go to Mexico make sure you also have a local support group and doc (imo) that will help you if you are one of the few that struggle as I am. am i glad i did it - yes - although some higher bmi folks might wonder about why to do it at your weight - i understand completely - just do your research, realizxe you will still have to work at being successful and there are no guarantees - you will have to address ALL of your issues around food and dieting etc. but you can do it. good luck. mary

I was banded last Nov and this has been the hardest year of my life - while i am unhappy with my weight loss - i am learning so much about myself and slowly learning to eat in a healthier slower manner. I know longer wonder why i am fat - all my bad habits have come and slapped me in the face and I am slowly chipping away and trying to change them. My surgery was a breeze but because I have had so many struggles trying to lose weight I have had many months of feeling depressed about my 'failure' with the band. I've decided I won't view myself as a failure anymore and have found a local doc that has given me hope I can succeed. That with two close band friends - one i had surgery with and another local friend and this group (so supportive) I think I can make it. for anyone out there ready to give up - please try to hang in there - sometimes its true, you have to change what you are doing to get a different result. we are all worth it. happy thanksgiving to all -

Hi Jessica, Thanks for your suggestion - I will check that thread out and nice to meet you too! Yes, Chris (Dr. McKeen's nurse even emailed me today with some other questions/suggestions from Dr. McKeen) - I'm very happy and impressed and comforted that he seems to care so much - didn't realize how much i needed that.

Melinda, so happy to hear of your progress/success - it goes to show i guess we all need to hang in there - not give up - sometimes hard to do

actually i have a question too - what does a sore esophogus feel like cuz i do occassionally feel soreness like bruising in my middle of chest area - maybe same thing and only after a bad pb.

oh my gosh sunta i am TOTALLY ON THE SAME PAGE AS YOU. i pb about the same amount as you and go through almost the same emotions - although i don't think my espohogus is as sore. it is esp bad for me when i'm sore for hours and then i do the liquids too. in the beginning my doc said unless it was happening every day i just needed to practice better behaviors. now i find it's behaviours plus a fickle band. all i can say is while it can lead to slips and probably has - most slips i've heard of are from the other type of vomiting (like when sick) or pbing all the time with the band. I'm always feeling better about the band when I dont really think about it and food goes down fine - as soon as it hurts or i realize it's stuck i get that deer in headlights look and wish i had never gotten this thing. all i can say is i am with you and to hang in there - we both did this so no sense in regrets - make the best of it and try not to worry - you are not alone and to me, it seems like you are doing pretty good. mary

hey again - just checking in - now don't get all re-worried but i was a little concerned when you said you couldn't keep water down after the night time - so, just wanted to say - if you can't keep water down after today you do need to call the doc - now still don't worry about slipping the band - unfortunately i have a bit of experience with this pbing thing (more than i want -smile) and while it would be very doubtful you had a slip you still might need a slight unfill. Once a few weeks after a fill i ate a piece of sushi in the a.m. and i threw up for a day and couldn't keep anything down - the doc said come in immediately - as soon as he took some out i was ok - so, slight chance you are super irritated etc so don't wait more then today - if you can't get liquids down you need to see the doc. again, don't freak ok - it takes a lot to slip the band - but if you can't keep the liquid down - you are so irritated you need some relief that a slight unfill will give you. good luck and keep us posted - you'll be ok.

When i have a very bad pb and i'm sore in my chest i don't do anything by mouth - no liquids at all for several hours after the pain is gone and then sips from a spoon to make sure it doesn't hurt. then liquids as suggested earlier for 24 hours. i know its a terrible feeling - try to keep busy

Muggles and Kare, I too share your frustration and have had my share of depression too over my failure with/having the band. It is a very lonely place - no matter how much support we receive - it is hard to read and hear of so many others success when we struggle so much. IMO an unfill will give you some relief and time to decide if you want the band removed. I have thought about starting a yahoo group for those of us who have not had success with the band - surely there are many more that don't post - yes, there is much support/help/encouragement here but it is hard to come here as I once did because it tends to make me feel worse about my situation. What do you think?