kaybee

TRUE STORY: weight 5 years ago: 294 banded 5 years ago weigh in 4 years ago: 178 more than 100 pound lost in 1 year! first slipped band 3 years ago 2nd slipped band 2 years ago new 14 cc band 2 years ago 8 ccs in band for 2 years new weight: 294 Well if I don't feel like a complete failure. Failure of wasting $$$$$, time and effort to lose the 1st year and money on revisions and new band. This band is not helping me at all. I am going to the surgeon this Friday for a fill I hope and if it doesn't help restrict the way the 1st band did, I want to rip this thing out. HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!

I am sorry that I don't knowthe name of the bands but they are both from Inamed. I have the 4cc band and this one is the newer version that is a complete roundish circle and has "treads" inside so that is is softer and grips better so as not to slip. The older ones were not a complete circle and I have heard that is is believed that part of the stomach can actually slip out of it a little. I am not certain this is true, but I believe that is part of what happened to me. The new band is so much better and I am lovin' life. By the way, I just started up a beauty business because of my new found self-esteem I started up a new beauty business with Mary Kay. Order 24/7 off my website. Please e-mail me for my site.Being a fellow BANDSTER, receive at 20% off !!!!! Mention BANDSTER in comments. I hope you all are taking great care of yourselves; before, during and after the surgery. Feeling good is so wonderful and now I am looking fabulous too. Try out the new MINERAL Makeup line and for those of you (like me) who need a boost brightening and tightening the facial skin........the SPF Day Radiance.......It is FABULOUS !!!!!!! Kathleen

I have not been reading up on this site lately, but feel I should let you all know my experience. The good and the bad. I was originally banded 2 years ago, lost about 100 pounds the first year and all was well......until.....I could not even swallow my own spit ! I was in so much stinkin' pain so I went to the ER and they took all of my fill out and the next week I had the slipped band "repositioned" and stitched. I gained a few , maybe 10 pounds, over the next year and then, again....symptoms. This time I was vomiting everything I ate and liquids barely made it down. I let it go for a few weeks hoping that "it" could not have happened again. Well, the barium swallow showed the same slip. So, 3 weeks ago I had the band taken out and the newer type of band put in. I am in HEAVEN !!!! This band is fantastic (so far of course) and I don't have a fill but have re-lost 7 pounds ! Just a note: when all seems like this is not worth it, hang in there ! I came close to having them haul the band out and leave it out, but I thank God I did not. I am so happy and I don't care that I have had 3 surgeries. :scared2:

Well, best wishes to you. I, too, recently had a slipped band and I went on liquids for a week and then in for surgery to reposition and restitch. Odd thing is, the surgeon admitted the band had already slipped itself back into position but they didn't realize this until I was already being operated on. Have them do a scan (just prior to surgery) if you are told that you need surgery to make certain you really need it. Anyway, I have been unfilled for 5 weeks now and am going in for my 1st fill this week. It has been a major struggle not to gain tons of extra pounds as my hunger is back almost FULL force ! I am ready to shed the last extra 10-15 pounds. Again, good luck and try not to worry; at least it is usually fixable one way or another !

Here I sit , myself 2 days out from surgery to FIX or reposition a "slipped" band and I really feel for you ! The news of a slipped band is devastating as you wonder "what did I do wrong?" and "can they fix it ?" I was short of my 1 year BANDIVERSARY, lost almost 100 pounds and then, BANG, in the EMERGENCY room with the TIGHTNESS FROM HELL ! I spent the night in the hospital and then was sent home to let my tummy calm down before surgery. I only had 1.2 cc fill in the 4cc band, but it slipped. Anyway, I went in for the surgery 2 afternoons ago, they got in there, and lo and behold, it had slipped back somewhat ! They finished re-positioning and then stitched it back up. I am so very thankful that when I woke up from the surgery and felt, my port was still there ! Cannot figure out what happened or why, but I am on the raod to recovery. I wish you the best and HANG IN THERE !!!!!

Goldthimble, I am almost 1 year out after surgery at Portsmouth Hospital and they are FANTASTIC !!!! Best wishes and as far as insurance, just do exactly what they say to do and provide every document they need. Don't try to rush and then forget something; The wait is WORTH it in the long run !!

Portsmouth Reginal Hospital !!! Dr. Gens is my surgeon and there are 3 others wo also perform this surgery there. The entire program is fantastic and the surgeons are very supportive, friendly, "up " on the latest procedures , and are super super understanding !

Wow ! I cannot imagine eating that sort of diet with the band. Protein first, then veges and fruits. There should not be much if any "room" for Pop Tarts and such ! Try to steer clear of most breads and white starchy or sugary things; they are evil ! Honestly, you will feel more satiated with healthier foods and you will lose a lot faster. That being said, EMBRACE the fact that you have taken off 25 pounds in a few short months !!! Congratulations !!!!! Think of where you may have been without your band ! If you think about next year at this time, you will probably have lost a lot more weight. BYE BYE Pop Tarts, grits and evil things like pizza and Hello lean protein, fruits and veges !!!!

I think that only you can know what is best for you, however, I can say that for me, the band has guided me towards not picking at food all day because I really am not that hungry anymore ! I do not think constantly about food like I used to. I have to be the one to say "NO" to overeating and to avoid lots of "junk food", but the band has been a great friend in helping with making the right decisions. Good luck and I think that you should really consider what is best for you before going either way. -95 pounds banded 4/18/2006

I love my protein shakes and drink them every day ! I like the GNC Whey protein in chocolate caramel mixed with skim milk, ice and a squirt of sugar free chocolate syrup. I also love a Designer whey chocolate shake with the powder, skim milk, ice, 1 tbsp. peanut butter , a banana . OMG it is yummy, filling for the whole day ( I drink 1/2 for breakfast and 1/2 for lunch). I also get the GNC strawberry Designer whey and add milk, ice and frozen sugar free strawberries or a banana. You can make almost all the protein powders taste great if you use your imagination and add fruits, Splenda, flavorings or even a tablespoon of sugar free pudding ! I always keep Achieve 1 bottled cappuccino around for a quick boost. Also, make a chocolate shake and heat it up for a soothing hot chocolate if your band is tight. I cannot live without my yummy shakes ! A good belnder is an essential tool for bandsters . ps........those canned pre-made shakes make me gag and are too thick for me and too sweet.

Bluehill, you are the best ! Thanks so much............. don't we love our new best friend , Mr. BAND , and all it does with us and for us ? I say a huge congratulations to all April 2006 Bandsters and for the hundreds of pounds lost ! Bluehill, keep us the remarkable progress you have made and Happy New Year to all ............ think of where we can all be at this same time next year :clap2: !!!!!!!!!

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/223/150 - 40 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/169/132 - 39 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/128/110 - 52 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/180.5/134 - 53.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/244/180 - 114 total 4-10: DeltaDawn - 358/221/180 - 137 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/140/120 - 100 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/198/180 -86 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-20: TrustUfirst - 210/205/177/135 - 32 Total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/179/130 - 41 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/228/156 - 60 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/212/150 - 61 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/98/69 - 27 kgs/59.4 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano- 255/270.5/205/170 - 65.5 lbs. total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/210.5/165 - 78.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/216/160 - 46 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/191/150 - 73 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/237.0/140 - 46 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/243/145 - 90 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/158/135 - 67 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

WOO HOO GIRL ! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: YOU HAVE REALLY LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT IN SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME......... DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE AS YOU GO ALONG AND YOU GET HUNGRIER, YOU WILL NEED ANOTHER FILL AND THE WEIGHT WILL COME OFF MORE AND MORE SLOWLY AS TIME PROGRESSES. YOU ARE BARELY INTO THIS .I HAVE BEEN BANDED FOR A LITTLE OVER 6 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS, PLATEAUS, ON AND OFF HUNGER ETC. PLEASE BE PATIENT, TRY TO REMEMBER THIS IS A LONG TERM, LIFELONG COMMITTMENT ALL OF THE EXCESS WEIGHT CANNOT AND WILL NOT DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT ! EASY TO SAY AND SOMETIMES HARD TO REMEMBER. BE PROUD OF WHERE YOU ARE AT THE MOMENT........THAT IS A TERRIFIC WEIGHT LOSS. YAHOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

TOO FUNNY...........MY TUMMY IS A NOISY BEAST ! I WAS BANDED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND AS I SIT HERE SIPPING SOME DELICIOUS PECAN DECAF, THE TUMMY TENOR IS JUST A SINGING AWAY........... THAT IS OK WITH ME THOUGH; "BETTER A BEASTLY SOUNDING GUT THAN A BEASTLY SIZED GUT" ! MY FRIENDS AT WORK HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH THE BEAST,,,,,,,,,WE ALWAYS CHUCKLE AT THE SILLY NOISES IT MAKES. I GUESS YA HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FUNNY BRIGHT SIDE OF IT AND TRY NOT TO BE TOO EMBARRASSED.

WOW !!!!!!!!! :biggrin1: I hope you are super super proud of yourself !!!!!! FANTASTIC, you are a star:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: . Keep up the great work and stay happy and healthy !

Ok, I FINALLY did it to myself ! I ate snack-size bag of goldfish crackers, a bag of snack sized cookies and a mini candy bar. Actually, I pretty much wolfed them down..............It has been an hour, I am still sitting here in total agony, burping, hiccuping, constantly spitting gobs and gobs of mucus and drooling into a bowl as I sit here like a darn fool ! Who has had the longest PB ever ? I am praying to God this will pass soon for I feel like I have hurt myself and it will never go away............ Any recommendations othe than never to do this again ???? :angry THANKS

A huge thanks to all of your replies ! So it has been a few days since my "I wanna die PB" , first one and hopefully the last ! I made it..........finally barfed 3-4 times and became unstuck. Yup, taught me a huge lesson and I have been super super careful since. I was too scared to eat anything the day after, but I am back to eating a small amount now. Hope you all don't have your first PB experience as painful as this one was, however, I do not believe I will EVER eat that much and that fast again !!!:faint:

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/173/132 - 35 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/136/110 - 44 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/185/134 - 49 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/258/180 - 100 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/207/140 - 35 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/209/180 -75 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298/278 - 114 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/236/156 - 52 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/218/150 - 55 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/104/69 - 21 kgs/46.2 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/220/170 - 50.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/224/165 - 65 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/225/160 - 37 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/197/145 - 67 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/243.5/140 - 39.5 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/253/145 - 80 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/170/135 - 55 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total

Telly, you are an inspiration, however, most of us ain't as bootiful as you are ; we need our hair !! You look great..............

Hello and yes, I had to do the 6 months with Cigna. They seem to be pretty much looking for 6 months of a consecutive "attempt" at losing some pounds . They want to see a doctor's notes that you visited for obesity and are trying to follow a weight loss program. If "weight" was mentioned at each of your visits, maybe they will accept it. I was minus 1 month of a doctor note, but they ok'd me to go. The months of waiting are the most agonizing and longest days as you just want to get the whole thing over with. Be patient, easier said than done, but will be worth it in the long run. You can always submit your paperwork and then they will let you anything else that is needed before the final submission. I worked with a case manager who was very helpful . Maybe write a letter of your thoughts on why you NEED this surgery to submit along with your doctor and your surgeon's recommendation. GOOD LUCK..........I was banded 4/18 and I am a total of 58 pounds lighter !!!!

OMG !!!!! I am a total WACK-O as I weigh every darn morning and then maybe 2X more per day....... I am thinking of bringing the scales to the cellar so I won't be tempted to weigh myself everytime I pass the upstairs bathroom..........I will GET RIGHT on that ; tomorrow after I weigh myself in of course !!!! he he

Port pain, yup ! I had the surgery on 4/18, had the burning, tugging stabbing feeling off and on for weeks and maybe a month after surgery. Well, I mostly forget it is there now, however, I did a backwards somersault in the pool 2 days ago and I must have pulled the port scar tissue or had adhesions that tore, because I have been in agony since. My port has been sooooooooo sore and yet I can feel it starting to get a bit better. My own fault; yes I do forget I have had the surgery quite often and I goof with bending over on things and then feeling the port , ouch ! ect. It does get better with time and hopefully you will forget about it too. YEAY, minus 56 pounds now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST LOVE YOU AND YOUR FREAKIN' GREAT ATTITUDE ! A BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK !:clap2:

I am soooooooooooo scared of this occuring to me and I feel bad that it has happened to you already ! I had a 4cc band placed in mid-April this year, have lost 52 pounds and have 1.5cc filled. I have never PB'd and I can eat EVERYTHING ! I do not want anymore fills until it is absolutely necessary as I cannot fathom going through what you have described ! Does anybody PB with 1.5 in a 4 ? This is definitely one club I wish NOT TO JOIN, EVER !

Hello Nervous Nelly ! If you are not ready, you are not ready ! I feel this surgery is for those of us who have reached their "breaking point" and will do almost anything to get "the tool" put in to help with weight loss. Sounds as though you need to do more research and soul searching before continuing on. That said, I have NEVER pb'd , slimed or even come close. I had the surgery 4/18 and I lose 1-2 pounds per week average eating NORMAL foods that I CHEW CHEW and take my time with. I have had 1 fill and it TAKES THE EDGE OFF my hunger, I eat far less than before and feel GREAT ! I was nervous at first and was scared of the first few sips after surgery, then more scared of the 1st few bites, but I try to remember to take small bites and kepp chewing to a pulp. This will help you to not PB or SLIME. I suppose after a more dramatic fill ( I have 1cc now) I will have to be more careful, but so far, so good. Only you can make this decision and ask yourself if it will be worth it in the lifetime ahead of you or not. I felt I could lose weight time and time again, but I always put it back on, plus more ! I also "gained more weight" to make my BMI higher in order to qualify for insurance. For me, it is clear that this was the right thing to do for MY BODY, MY SITUATION and MY MIND SET. Take your time to make an informed decision and do what is best for YOU !! I feel for you, BEST WISHES !!!