Betelnut

Thanks to thoe who have replied! So far I'm keeping the band filled. My heartburn has subsided so I'm feeling more optimistic. Thanks again!

I'm surprised no other lap band person has had cancer. Oh well, live and learn. What a great helping community!

Thanks Mis73! You're right--I think anyone that has a band can get down on it for numerous reasons but I certainly wouldn't tell someone not to get one or that they are useless! The struggle is part of life!

Sorry about the formatting on my post above--I have it nicely formatted but it went away and I can't get the edit function to work.

What are your negatives with your band? I can't think of one that I have myself, honestly.Hi Holly Dolly! I couldn't get the quote function to work so I hope your quote is showing up.I have had my band for almost four years so I've had a long time to "get used to it" but I guess I have "failed my band" since I still struggle with many aspects of life with the band. Such as:1. Not being able to drink and eat at the same time--this has actually led to issues with dehydration2. Not being able to enjoy going out to eat--I almost always have a sense of dread about the experience3. Watching a cooking/travel show and thinking, "Well, that restaurant looks so yummy--too bad I'll never be able to enjoy it"4. Throwing up a lot, a lot, a lot5. Off and on acid refluxThe positives, of course, are being many pounds lighter and I would never say that I don't enjoy that aspect of the band. I KNOW that most of my negatives are because I am not "being good." But I am human and I bet there are a lot of people on this forum who also struggle with these same issues--that's why I feel that it is definitely fair game for discussion.

Well, PBing (I just call it "throwing up") does relieve the awful burning sensation in the middle of your gut so it is "good" in that it relieves that feeling. It is bad because you aren't really supposed to be eating/drinking in a way that makes you throw up. That is, you shouldn't drink and eat at the same time (this is one of my big problems), you shouldn't be eating fast, you shouldn't be eating a lot at a time--all these things will make you PB. Apparently also, PBing too much or throwing up too much can lead to a band slip so it is bad. Plus it is no way to live, especially if you PB/throw up a lot (after every meal).

Okay--all's good!

Carolinagirl--I'm not sure if you are addressing me? As you can see by my ticker, the band did work for me. I've lost almost 100 pounds although I have stayed steady at my current weight for a few years. That said, I do think there are a lot of negatives to having a lapband and I don't think there is anything wrong with expressing those opinions. This is a forum to discuss lapband issues and concerns therefore both positive and negative comments are perfectly legitimate. Good luck on your surgery!

Welcome to the lapband life. You will experience pain upon eating all the time or, at the very least, frequently. It is just part of having a lapband.

It stands for "poductive burping" which is when you burp which can relieve pressure on your band or actually spew out the food/liquid in your pouch. It is not like vomiting food in your stomach--it feels and tastes different (no stomach acid).

Maybe start taking them at night as I have found that the band loosens up throughout the day.

Actually, I think that any device that only allows you to eat a bite that is the size of a grain of rice IS failing you. That is simply ridiculous and no way to live.

I was wondering if anyone on this board has experience with going through chemotherapy with the lapband. Did you get an unfill? I've already had three sessions of chemo (out of six) but I'm still thinking of getting an unfill because the chemotherapy itself is giving me acid reflux and heartburn. Having the band there is really not helping but, then again, I can't overeat either, so it is helping me not go too crazy when I'm taking Predisone (which increases appetite). One of the main reasons I haven't done the unfill is just that I would have to drive 1 to 1 1/2 hours just to do that and I don't feel that well to do that plus it just means more time off work when I'm basically gone most of the time due to chemo. For the record, I should be "cured" after the chemo of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (thank goodness). It is just a matter of getting through it. Anyone else gone through this?