Scout

Hello....I found out about the band creating scar tissue on my liver from the surgeon who took out the band. The good news is that with the band gone, he says it should heal up just fine. I am so sorry about your struggles with the band. I think you will be much relieved to get it out. It has been such a huge relief to no longer be constantly vomiting and/or worrying about vomiting. May God bless and keep you on this journey.

Hi Gals... I had my band removed on Nov 5th and, although still a bit sore, am so happy to have it gone. I can only echo the relief of no longer having to vomit at any given time and for any given bite of anything. To have gone a full week without throwing up seems to be such a blessing. I totally disagree with the naysayers who are predicting weight gain for those of us who have the band removed. I don't understand why someone would want to plant those kinds of negative seeds. I believe we can do it, gals...and do it in a healthier, less physically risky way. I wish you God's best. Again, do not accept the prophecies of doom. We can, and will get rid of this excess weight. Seek out whatever support works for you and do not fear or underestimate your ability to create a healthy nutritional lifestyle.

My opinion would be to go for band removal. The surgeon will use the same five points of entry to remove it as when you were banded. This is not major/scary surgery and you will be better off with it out of your system. You will then never have to be plagued with complications,erosion or other possible damage because it simply won't be there. Good luck. God bless.

P.S. Your private message to me indicating that the surgeon should have offered to do a second surgery at the time of removal, as well as your statement that I will now have to have a third weight loss surgery was also uninformed and ill-advised, as I do not plan to have any more weight loss surgeries. My surgeon was absolutely correct in not advising any more surgery.

Your response is interesting, as the surgeon who removed it communicated concern about the scar tissue around my liver. Perhaps you are a bit quick to dismiss this concern when you were not the surgeon who saw the scar tissue or performed the band removal. Telling me to "relax" about it was not helpful or informed.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

Hi All... I thought I'd do a short update on my successful band removal yesterday. Everything went well and I was able to come home late in the afternoon. I'm feeling so much better now that the band is gone. Here is something to keep an eye on. The surgeon who removed it found that it had been causing scar tissue to build up on my liver. This would not have been caught had I not made the wise decision to have it removed. Apparently, the band had been rubbing against my liver, thus causing the scar tissue. I have no idea how much damage was done but will certainly be following up on this with my doctor. So...after 1.5 years of PBing and vomiting, I now have liver damage. Boy, I am so glad to be free of this thing. If I could share one bit of advice, it would be to encourage those of you, whether successful or unsuccessful with the band, to please have yourself checked out for possible complications that you may not even be aware of, which could be doing significant physical damage. As in my previous reply, I plan to remain on my organic, whole foods regime, continue to increase my exercise at a reasonable rate, and enjoy the steady weight loss I am experiencing without the nasty side effects of the band. I wish you all health and success. God bless.

This reply will probably not be very popular, even on this thread. I was banded about 1.5 years ago. I lost about 15 pounds before the surgery and another 30+ shortly thereafter...much due to limited eating (protein shakes and soft foods) as well as a great deal of exercise. During this time, I was regularly PB'ing as well as just plain vomiting. Numerous attempts were made to find the ostensible "sweet spot" but either there was no restriction or I was vomiting. When I first mentioned to my surgeon some months ago that perhaps the band was not for me, he said that he had never had to remove one...thus cowed, I agreed to give it another shot. After yet another adjustment and several more months of vomiting due to as little as a sip of liquid or a small, well-chewed bite of egg, I flat out told him I wanted it removed. I never knew when the vomiting would happen....sometimes in my waste basket at work, other times I managed to make it to the nearest sink or toilet,several times in a napkin at a restaurant...definitely no way to live. By the way, I should tell you that during all this intermittent vomiting, I also managed to re-gain all the weight I had lost except for my pre-band loss, as when I wasn't vomiting, I had no restriction. About a month ago, I quit all the low/no fat junk as well as processed foods and went to "real foods", ie, organic raw milk (yes, real, creamy full-fledged milk), meat, butter, eggs, cheese, vegetables. I am now easily sated and have lost 11 pounds. In addition, I feel terrific...my blood pressure is down considerably (108/70) and my energy level has exponentially increased. The only problem that remains is the intermittent vomiting due to the band, which will, thankfully be removed in early November. My regular physician said that the surgery to remove it is less risky than having this piece of plastic in my gut which could, at any time erode. What was I thinking? We fat folk are so desperate to try anything that we will, in fact, try anything. For me, I'll be grateful to be done with it and simply go on eating real food which, unlike the no/low fat nutrition-void, chemical filled junk we pump into our systems, actually satisfies and assists in weight loss. Check out your local organic farms...buy local, know your food source...try sites like the Weston A. Price Foundation and learn to love real food again. You may want to read a book called "An Unburdened Life" which can be ordered from this site. I wish you all the best. __________________ Scout

This reply will probably not be very popular, even on this thread. I was banded about 1.5 years ago. I lost about 15 pounds before the surgery and another 30+ shortly thereafter...much due to limited eating (protein shakes and soft foods) as well as a great deal of exercise. During this time, I was regularly PB'ing as well as just plain vomiting. Numerous attempts were made to find the ostensible "sweet spot" but either there was no restriction or I was vomiting. When I first mentioned to my surgeon some months ago that perhaps the band was not for me, he said that he had never had to remove one...thus cowed, I agreed to give it another shot. After yet another adjustment and several more months of vomiting due to as little as a sip of liquid or a small, well-chewed bite of egg, I flat out told him I wanted it removed. I never knew when the vomiting would happen....sometimes in my waste basket at work, other times I managed to make it to the nearest sink or toilet,several times in a napkin at a restaurant...definitely no way to live. By the way, I should tell you that during all this intermittent vomiting, I also managed to re-gain all the weight I had lost except for my pre-band loss, as when I wasn't vomiting, I had no restriction. About a month ago, I quit all the low/no fat junk as well as processed foods and went to "real foods", ie, organic raw milk (yes, real, creamy full-fledged milk), meat, butter, eggs, cheese, vegetables. I am now easily sated and have lost 11 pounds. In addition, I feel terrific...my blood pressure is down considerably (108/70) and my energy level has exponentially increased. The only problem that remains is the intermittent vomiting due to the band, which will, thankfully be removed in early November. My regular physician said that the surgery to remove it is less risky than having this piece of plastic in my gut which could, at any time erode. What was I thinking? We fat folk are so desperate to try anything that we will, in fact, try anything. For me, I'll be grateful to be done with it and simply go on eating real food which, unlike the no/low fat nutrition-void, chemical filled junk we pump into our systems, actually satisfies and assists in weight loss. Check out your local organic farms...buy local, know your food source...try sites like the Weston A. Price Foundation and learn to love real food again. You may want to read a book called "An Unburdened Life" which can be ordered from this site. I wish you all the best. __________________ Scout

This reply will probably not be very popular, even on this thread. I was banded about 1.5 years ago. I lost about 15 pounds before the surgery and another 30+ shortly thereafter...much due to limited eating (protein shakes and soft foods) as well as a great deal of exercise. During this time, I was regularly PB'ing as well as just plain vomiting. Numerous attempts were made to find the ostensible "sweet spot" but either there was no restriction or I was vomiting. When I first mentioned to my surgeon some months ago that perhaps the band was not for me, he said that he had never had to remove one...thus cowed, I agreed to give it another shot. After yet another adjustment and several more months of vomiting due to as little as a sip of liquid or a small, well-chewed bite of egg, I flat out told him I wanted it removed. I never knew when the vomiting would happen....sometimes in my waste basket at work, other times I managed to make it to the nearest sink or toilet,several times in a napkin at a restaurant...definitely no way to live. By the way, I should tell you that during all this intermittent vomiting, I also managed to re-gain all the weight I had lost except for my pre-band loss, as when I wasn't vomiting, I had no restriction. About a month ago, I quit all the low/no fat junk as well as processed foods and went to "real foods", ie, organic raw milk (yes, real, creamy full-fledged milk), meat, butter, eggs, cheese, vegetables. I am now easily sated and have lost 11 pounds. In addition, I feel terrific...my blood pressure is down considerably (108/70) and my energy level has exponentially increased. The only problem that remains is the intermittent vomiting due to the band, which will, thankfully be removed in early November. My regular physician said that the surgery to remove it is less risky than having this piece of plastic in my gut which could, at any time erode. What was I thinking? We fat folk are so desperate to try anything that we will, in fact, try anything. For me, I'll be grateful to be done with it and simply go on eating real food which, unlike the no/low fat nutrition-void, chemical filled junk we pump into our systems, actually satisfies and assists in weight loss. Check out your local organic farms...buy local, know your food source...try sites like the Weston A. Price Foundation and learn to love real food again. You may want to read a book called "An Unburdened Life" which can be ordered from this site. I wish you all the best.

Hi All.... Made it though the banding process on May 15th, spent the night in hospital and am home recouperating. It was a rough first couple of days...today is my first day off pain meds and my "runs" have started to slow down. I'm doing more walking each day but still not a lot. Tonight actually felt like ingesting something...before this I was doing liquids because I had too...sure didn't feel like drinking anything. I believe I have rounded the corner but am admittedly disappointed that I didn't seem to bounce back as quickly as many seem to do. I am 56 so that may have something to do with it :rolleyes Guess I'll just have to give myself the time I need to get back up to regular functioning. I had initially planned on going back to work on Monday but am thinking otherwise now. Anyway, I wanted to check in and let you all know I made it through surgery and am now a "bandster." I'm rooting for those just banded and with banding coming up. Pat

Hi All... I'm 56 and will be banded on Monday. I'm very excited and experiencing some intermittent fears (mostly totally irrational) as well. Thanks for starting this thread. A haven for seasoned bandsters. I like that :clap2:.

Hi All.... First of all....it is encouraging to hear from you folks who have just been banded. I will be counted among you on Monday. I'm excited but nervous. Two regular meals left,as I've been on the Slim Fast gig (two replacement meals) for the past couple of weeks. Given that I'll be on clear liquids only on Sunday, I figure I'll eat two favorite last meals tomorrow and Saturday. I read on another post that it's like getting a divorce from food. In many ways I can relate to that....at times feeling pretty pathetic about grieving for the loss of mac and cheese, however :think. Oh well....I am planning to heal up physically and emotionally from this historic pattern of addictive eating and am very eager to see the weight come off. That ought to be a pretty good source of comfort as I'm learning to separate myself from unhealthy eating patterns. I solicit your prayers (I admit to some weird, irrational fears about 'buying the farm' on the table) and will certainly pray for you all. I can't wait to report in. I'll be spending the night in the hospital on Monday and home on Tuesday. Gonna get stocked up on Gas X, stool softener, broths, jello, heating pad, mild tea, chewable calcium, Flintstone vitamins and protein drinks...did I forget anything? You folks are the best support and inspiration! Many thanks for making this forum such a great place.

Hi All... Went to my pre-op this afternoon and my surgeon's nurse informed me that my surgery has been moved up one day to the 15th. I am excited...so far I've lost 15 pounds on the pre-op diet and feel hopeful that I'll make my goal of 20 lost before surgery. Seems like I'm feeling a zillion different emotions every five seconds. Sometimes totally positive...other times thinking I'm gonna buy the farm on the operating table. Anyone relate? It is great to hear from those early May bansters and I am eager to join the ranks. Thank you all for being here. Pat

Hi All.... I got word this morning that I will be banded on May 16th. I am excited, hopeful, scared,eager and generally overwhelmed at times. Two more weeks of the Slim Fast diet....so far have dropped 13 pounds and am ferociously hungry for a good part of the day. I continue to remind myself that the pre-surgery weight loss will make recovery much easier and will be very much worth it....in the meantime, I just plain want to gorge myself on something completely ridiculous. I intend to hang in there, though and am doing a lot of self talk, i.e. choosing life over food. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I will be a May banster. I'm grateful and glad to be counted among you folks. Pat

Hi all..... Just heard this afternoon that UHC has approved me. I'll be calling my surgeon in the morning and am hoping for a date real soon...I am very pumped and a bit nervous...still, mostly relieved that I have been approved. I've dropped 12 pounds since going on the Slim Fast 2 x per day plus one meal regimen...hope to drop 8 more before surgery. My head is still spinning. This is really gonna happen. Hellos and best to all of you. Pat

Hi all.... Gosh, I keep finding more and more cool threads! Thanks to you all for being here. Well....here goes. My high weight was 333 with a BMI of 55. Geeeezzzzzz, that was a bit hard to say...and the shame factor just keeps dropping I should be hearing by Friday on the authorization from UHC. I was told by my advocate there, that it's a no brainer. I started my pre-op diet (two protein drinks and one meal) on Monday and know I must be losing weight, as previously I ate enough to feed a hungry family of four (more on some days). As of last week's weight at the doc's, I am down four pounds and believe more will be rolling off w/ these bad tasting protein drinks. Anyone have suggestions for good ones? In any case, I am so grateful to be here and hope to be banded the week of the 8th or 15th per my doc's nurse. Can't wait. The best to you all. I look forward to getting to know you. Oh yeah....last night I had a bunch of very unflattering pics taken for "before" shots.....every conceivable bad angle of my gut, chin, back, arms...you name it. This was a scary thing to do as I have, for years been the one hiding behind anyone or anything when there was a camera around, much less ATTEMPTING to get the most telling shots. While the pics are difficult to look at, I know it will be so cool to watch the changes in my body. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for being here. Pat

Good question, Seminole. I am now on day two of my pre-op diet. Yesterday was definitely a change in my eating habits! I have dropped about four pounds since my highest weight due to increased walking over the past month +. That leaves 189 to go till I get to my desired weight. Actually, 179 would put me at a pretty darn good place. Interesting..... till I joined this forum, I would not have been able to say how much I needed to lose....just too hard to share with others how much extra I have been carrying around all these years...lying on my driver's license, demurring when other people would discuss how much they weigh (like I could fool anyone with a halfway decent guess mechanism). This is such a positive place...no room for shame, only support, encouragement and hope. Thank you all for making this forum such a healing environment. Oh....got a call from UHC yesterday and may be approved by the end of this week, thus making the May 8th or May 15th week a lock for surgery. I sure hope so....while I intend to be totally compliant on this pre-op diet, my stomach is still the size of Montana and HUNGRY! By the way, have you all found the place where it shows the whole surgery done on video? While totally fascinating, it may make you a bit squeamish if this is not your thing. If you haven't seen it and are interested, please let me know and I'll send the URL. Happy Tuesday all !!!!! Pat

Hi All.... Looks like I'll be getting banded the week of May 8th or 15th. I spoke with my surgeon's nurse on Friday and she confirmed that all has been completed and the approval request sent in to UHC. I'll be starting my pre-op diet tomorrow and, must admit, had pizza and ice cream today as a farewell. For the next couple of weeks, I am to substitute two meals a day with Slim Fast and eat one light/normal meal...this, I intend to do religiously, as I want the surgery to go as smoothly as possible. I am very eager to get the date set and move on with this new chapter of my life. Like so many others have said, I am totally sick of being obese and am grateful for this opportunity to truly make permanent weight loss happen. I am feeling pumped and optimistic, but have some scary feelings to contend with as well. I am thankful to have found this forum and especially the May bansters...thanks to The Woman Within for telling me about this thread. I am looking forward to getting to know you folks....to give and receive support and to share all about our new lives. Bye for now....can't wait to let you know when I have a date scheduled.

Hello all. I have been lurking about for a while and figured it was time to say howdy from the Midwest. I have recently finished all but the pre-op support group, which meets on May 4th. I was told today to start doing Slim Fast, two meals per day on Monday as my doc has sent the approval request to UHC. If all goes well, I will be banded either the week of May 8th or 15th. As with many of you, I am very excited, yet simultaneously experiencing some anxiety regarding the huge change about to occurr in my life. I am so glad that my Doctor gave me information about this forum, as it has helped to inspire and educate me further while preparing for this journey. I have a great deal of weight to lose, but am pumped and determined to make this work. I am hopeful that UHC will approve expeditiously and will probably bug them with daily calls till they do. I am feeling so ready to go for this procedure. I am looking forward to getting to know you folks and will, undoubtedly have a zillion questions as things continue to progress. Thanks so much for being here. I am eager to become a regular contributer to this forum.

Hi... I am hoping someone can help me with this. I have tried numerous times to list my MSN instant messenger handle on my profile, but it keeps coming back as invalid. I have no idea how to make the system accept my handle, which is Scout. Any suggestions? Am I not including something in addition to my handle? I'd sure like to be able to use this here. Many thanks.