jms462001

This is an old post, but for people considering the lapband and not having insurance coverage, it's food to hear more views. I am self pay and only had 3 fills to lose all of my weight other than to refill after being emptied for a hyst. Not all and I would dare say most people never need a full band and certainly do not need monthly fills. IMO the reason many people have problems and complications is related to having too many fills and/or keeping their band too full.

The flu sounds horrible. I'm glad I have never had it yet. I get a stick out instantly by drinking a small gulp of Water, bending way over the toilet, and it comes up with the water. Much better than coming out without the water!! You have done great with your weightloss. My excess skin is not that bad compared to many pics I have seen. Perhaps that is because I have been overweight since childhood. I am 55, but still would love to have a lower body lift! I am more scared of the pain than the loan! I had a breast lift 10 yrs ago and they cut a lot of skin. It was the worst pain I have ever had in my life the first couple days. And I never have forgotten about it!

Wow, you did it very quickly!

Sunny, I'm sorry to hear of all your struggles and it does indeed sound like your Dr. is mostly to blame. It seems some surgeons learn how to do the surgery, but neglect to learn how to treat their patients in their follow-up care. We have to be our own best advocates and you know you were too full and that is why you were struggling and each fill just made it worse. Over and over it is seen that people simply cannot lose weight when the band is too tight and it can cause lots of other problems besides no weight loss. I hope you are now telling your Dr. what YOU want and You know is best for you in regards to the fluid in your band. Just a tiny unfill can make a huge difference. Just makes me appreciate more that I have a well informed Dr. who listens! I hope it will get easier for you.

Well, it's been close to 2 yrs. since we had our surgery. Like me, most of you do not come here much anymore. This is probably a testament of how well we have done and are doing!! I still would love to hear from everyone as to how you are doing, are you still really happy with your band and that you got it? Also any problems anyone is having. I am still doing great and maintaining a 90 lb loss. I really have no fat to lose, just wish I could afford to get rid of the excess skin. I wear shapers and it does the trick and makes me look really nice! Some days I am really hungry and eat lots. This is usually followed by a couple days of little appetite so if I gain a couple pounds it comes off right away. I can eat anything I want since I do not eat too much. It is so nice to not have to refuse any foods due to it being "fattening"! I still use lots of sauces with meat and poultry and lots of dressing on my salads. The extra calories do not seem to make a difference thankfully and everything tastes wonderful. I hope and pray I continue doing well and have no problems since my insurance will not cover anything. I have not seen the surgeon since I had my hyst a yr ago and had an unfill followed by 2 fills to get back to where I had been. I think I am at 5.6 cc's which seems perfect for maintaining. I do still PB sometimes due to eating too fast or trying to eat a sandwich or something else I should not attempt. I worry about doing that and I am now an expert at getting stuck food out immediately, but I know it can cause problems to do so often. So, my November sisters, take a minute and let everyone here know how you are doing!! :thumbup:

Well, it's been close to 2 yrs. since we had our surgery. Like me, most of you do not come here much anymore. This is probably a testament of how well we have done and are doing!! I still would love to hear from everyone as to how you are doing, are you still really happy with your band and that you got it? Also any problems anyone is having. I am still doing great and maintaining a 90 lb loss. I really have no fat to lose, just wish I could afford to get rid of the excess skin. I wear shapers and it does the trick and makes me look really nice! Some days I am really hungry and eat lots. This is usually followed by a couple days of little appetite so if I gain a couple pounds it comes off right away. I can eat anything I want since I do not eat too much. It is so nice to not have to refuse any foods due to it being "fattening"! I still use lots of sauces with meat and poultry and lots of dressing on my salads. The extra calories do not seem to make a difference thankfully and everything tastes wonderful. I hope and pray I continue doing well and have no problems since my insurance will not cover anything. I have not seen the surgeon since I had my hyst a yr ago and had an unfill followed by 2 fills to get back to where I had been. I think I am at 5.6 cc's which seems perfect for maintaining. I do still PB sometimes due to eating too fast or trying to eat a sandwich or something else I should not attempt. I worry about doing that and I am now an expert at getting stuck food out immediately, but I know it can cause problems to do so often. So, my November sisters, take a minute and let everyone here know how you are doing!! :thumbup:

Banded 11/08. I have had no problems and have gone from size 22/24 to size 6/8. It was the best thing I have ever done in my life and I feel 20 years younger!!!!!!

It's amazing how fast we lose all the band eating ways isn't it? When I had all my fluid removed for surgery, it was 3 wks before i could have any put back. It felt like I had never had a band as I found myself eating like I had before the band (faster, larger bites, less chewing) without giving it a second thought! And I was able to eat a lot more as well. I was worried I would gain lots in that period of time, but really did not. Elyse, pre-band, you probably would have ordered a much larger burger!!

I cannot believe I can wear a size 6 (28) designer jeans. In all my life I never was under a 12 or 14. I do have a big problem however. 9 years ago I had a breast lift. It was sort of a gift to myself after my divorce and 24 yrs of marriage, 3 kids, breast feeding, and gaining, losing weight 100 times. The surgeon said if he did not put in an implant i would be flat on top. I said ok, but just wanted to fill out the bra I was wearing which was a D cup. I weighed 220 at the time at 5'9". He said I was a big person and my breasts would go well with the rest of my body (still planning on a D cup). Well, when he was done I somehow ended up a 44 DDD!!!!!!!!!!!! I am now down to a 38 DD, but needless to say I have a very difficult time buying blouses and dresses are out of the question. I have to stick with stretch knits for the most part and I feel like I look a bit like Dolly Parton now. I have no money for a revision so I am stuck with this problem. I wear a size M top, but like I said if they are not stretch I probably cannot button them.

That is great news Tris!!!!!!!!! I bet you are so relieved. I wonder what caused the reflux so bad. It happens to a lot of people and often is due to a tight band, but seems not to have been the case for you. Anyway, here's hoping you have no more problems. You have done super well with your weight loss. I am holding steady. My body does not seem to want to lose anymore which is ok, but I would like to lose a few more pounds. I have a problem with lymphedema in my legs since my rad hysterectomy last Sept. I guess from having lymph nodes removed. It comes and goes and is not real severe, but I hate it when they swell and one is quite a bit worse than the other. I have not had my scope test yet due to all my medical bills. I don't think I have any band problems, but should get it done. I do have sensitivity at the port area from time to time and then it passes. I can really feel it now that the fat is all gone. I think over activity makes it tender and if I do too many crunches (which does not happen often LOL).

I'm glad you are doing better. This has come up at my monthly meetings a few times and it was said to be so important to go in immediately and have some fluid removed or risk losing your band. This board is good for getting out info like this that can make or break someone's success with the band and even the possibility of losing it!

How much are your co-pays? I had to pay $370 for my first two fills and $265 for any after that so I am very hesitant to go back!!!!!! Thankfully I was able to lose the weight without many fills.

Ok, That makes more sense. I guess it's good that I have to pay for my fills which kept me from getting many. I think many people just keep getting them because they are covered by insurance and often they are not needed and that is what starts their problems

I read somewhere just recently that someone else had a big port problem after a couple yrs. Her Dr. said it came "loose" because of all the weight she lost. Now if that was the case, it seems that we are all in for a port problem.

They may have to play around with your fill level to get you at your sweet spot. You will probably need to be patient. It seems like I read more of these problems with people who have the realize band.

Yes, most definitely!

For every fill. unfills??? Sounds crazy to me!

So so sorry. Do you have any idea why it might have slipped and how did you find out? I sure hope it can be saved.

Why are you sick all of the time?

Wow! A bikini!! I have lost 1 of those last nasty 10 pounds. I never will be in a bikini though!!! We want pics of course! Good for you!

So sorry to hear you are having these problems. I wonder why they don't just do the endo exam in the first place to look at everything. I did not have mine at my one yr mark like I was supposed to. I am waiting to get ahead with some bills......don't know if that will ever happen. Keep us updated. I hope it works out ok for you.

Lapbands are certainly not dying out at the center where I was banded because the Dr's have expanded to two more locations and keep growing. We are encouraged to do our best to lose well the first year as it is the easiest time to drop the weight and after the second year it becomes more difficult to lose weight. 50+ pounds is not a bad loss and I would certainly be upset to be treated that way. Sounds like he does favor bypass so perhaps he should just stop doing the banding!!

I saw your photos. You do look beautiful!!! Doesn't it feel good? I never thought I would ever wear a size 6 (28) jeans and now I'm so obsessed with designer jeans I am going broke!! Yours is such a dramatic change.

Fantastic!! Way to go.