labandster

I could be your story. Had lapband in March 2006 at 372 lbs. By March 2008 had lost down to 260. But for the next year I did the exact same things, exercised 6 days a week and the scale stayed at 260. The I hurt my knee and was out of the gym for six weeks - started back in the pool. Long story short - The head took over after not losing any weight for 18 months. The "old" hiding food and eating late at night gradually became the norm. Ate around the band and I have now gained back to 298 lbs. I am going to purchase the book you suggested and thanks for posting this. I often feel like the only person in the world that has not been successful with lapband.

Thank you so much for this post. I was banded in 2006. Initial weight was close to 400 lbs. I lost down to 258 by my second anniversary. I was in Destin on vacation and got stuck - and started throwing up. That went on for 2 hours so I had to drive back to Mobile, AL (3 hours away) to meet my surgeon at the ER. He removed all saline and it immediately stopped. Over the next couple of months he gradually added back the saline. But, I never lost another pound. After a year of that plateau the old "I might as well eat if I'm not losing weight" started in my head. I had two more fills but just did not seem to make a difference. I had not seen my surgeon in the last 15 months because I have gained 38 lbs. I started having awful reflux at night. Severe choking and coughing. I knew I had to go face the reality and see my surgeon. I was so scared the band had slipped. He order upper GI and they said it was too tight. Food was gathering in my esophagus and to me looked really large above the band. My surgeon suggested the "too tight" and eating soft foods also. He took out some last week and I am hoping this will help. I have tried to start back on the "bandwagon" of how to eat. But, I had really started developing my old habits that got me to 400 lbs. I'm also hoping the "too tight" theory gets me back to losing again.

I am so glad I came to this forum. I too was banded in 2006. I lost 138lbs by 2008. But then the plateau hit for about a year. I had another 75 lbs to lose. I decided last March (2009) to get a personal trainer. He did not really understand the band and put me on a diet. That was the worst thing that could have happened. Once I thought I had to eat this - not that crap just like the last 25 years of my life that just made me gain weight. I have gained 40 lbs and just can't get myself back in the game. I have not been back to my surgeon because I am too embarrassed that I personally paid $19,000 and failed. I too need a buddy or mentor to get back on track.

What if the insurance company started covering lapband after I had the surgery as a self payer? Would they then cover complications?

I have been in Canada and just saw your message. I would love to keep in touch because it has now been 8 months and I have not lost 1 lb. In fact I gained 7. I have been suffering from what they initially thought was plantar fasciitis flare up but after 8 weeks I finally convinced the physical therapist that my pain was not getting better and it was different than any other plantar fasciitis flare ups I have had in the last 20 years. So they now realize it was a stress fracture and I have not been able to exercise for 8 weeks. That has not helped. I did go get a fill last week and hopefully this will help. I totally understand the meat restriction and the "chocolate" going down with no pain. It seems after this amount of time I have fell back into the "bad old habits" that kept me at 350 lbs for 10 years. It is one more example of weightloss surgery is not the panacea people that are skinny think. It is still hard work after surgery. And surgery does not change the brain. I will be 55 next month - so I feel like I am running out of time. Although, I will never regret the 18,000 I spent for this surgery if I don't lose another pound. I couldn't manage to lose this much before and keep it off. That is why I freaked out when I started to gain. I feel like I have gained and lost the same 5 lbs for 8 months. Keep in touch and guess this really just one day at a time. Oh yeah, I have the same band as you so I would love to hear if the newer ones are more successful. Kay

I was banded March 2006. At the time I had BCBS AL and Aetna - and neither covered lap band. So I self payed. My surgery was March 6 and Aetna started covering the procedure in April 2006. BCBS Al also now covers as of last year. My question - if I have any problems down the road will my insurance cover - since the procedure was not approved at the time of the surgery? Do you think they will now cover fills? Let me also say that if I had waited for BCBS AL to finally decide that it was not experimental - I probably would not have been alive.

Gayle I am so glad you posted. I was banded March 2006. I weighed 375 and I am at 259 right now. However, for the last four months I have gained and lost the same 8lbs. I exercise 6 days a week. My last fill was in June 2007 until the week of Christmas and the surgeon did give me another fill. I have been very frustrated with the amount of food I can eat lately and I also have been eating the WRONG foods. I do feel so much better and love going in a regular store and buying clothes - but I am so scared this is all going to go away and I will fail once again. Once again - thanks for your post it was good to hear someone else's journey.

I just had a fill today of .25cc and now at a total of 2.5. I was banded March 2006. My last fill was June 2007.

Hey I was banded on March 6, 2006 and know exactly how you feel. I finally hit the 100 lb loss about 4 months ago and now I have only lost about 3-4 lbs a month. Which is much better than the road I was on before (gaining). But, I have another 100 lbs to lose. I keep freaking out that this is going to stop working and I will never see the scale drop below 200. It just seems that it is easier to eat more now, but my doctor does not think I need another adjustment. Good luck on your future!!!

I suffered a stroke in 2004 and will be on Coumadin the rest of my life unless I have my PFO repaired (heart). At the time I attended the lapband seminar I had a BMI of 62 and was 53. The surgeon did not have a problem with doing the lapband if a cardiologist agreed it was safe to be off the coumadin for 5 days before the surgery. I had the surgery in March 2006 with only one complication. I also have sleep apnea and asthma. I developed pneumonia the following day of the surgery and had to stay an extra two days. I have lost 115 lbs and believe it was the best decision of my life. Good Luck!!

I started at a really high weight and have lost 115 lbs. The first year was about 2 pounds a week - but now I am pacing at 1lb a week. I have not had a fill since May 2007. I have another 80 lbs to lose. Do you attend the support group for bandsters? I have not made it yet, because I work in Fairhope and it's hard to get there by 6:00. But I plan on going to the October meeting. GOOD LUCK!!!

WAR EAGLE - HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded in Mobile - March 2006 by Dr. Lane.

Does anyone else suffer from panic attacks after a fill? My first fill was in June (.5cc) and seemed to be OK. However, I had my second fill yesterday (1.0cc total 1.5cc) and went into a panic. Could drink the water ok, but felt like I could not breathe. The panic hit be about 30 minutes after I left my doctors office. Still have the "I can't breathe" feelings. Anyone else?????

I was banded by Dr Lane on March 6th 2006 in Mobile. Total self pay cost was $18,000. It is now 17 months later and he has not billed me for any of my monthly visits or adjustments.

I live in Spanish Fort, Alabama

I live in Baldwin County. I had lapband surgery March 2006 by Dr. Daniel Lane at Mobile Infirmary. I have BCBS AL and they would not cover. I also have Aetna as secondary, but at the time they did not cover. So I was self pay. However, Aetna starting paying at the end of March 2006. (About three weeks too late for me). I love Dr. Lane - he has been a very supportive surgeon. I do not regret spending the $18,000. My surgery lasted 45 minutes and my beginning BMI was 61. I do not know anything about Dr. Dyas - but good luck on your insurance.

This is the best post I have read in a long time. I taught anatomy and physiology for years and I knew this - but never compared it to my band experience. Thank you for reminding me just how different everyone's body is.

I can only tell you my circumstances. I weighed 375 (5'6") and was 52 years old when I had my consult appointment in January 2006. My surgery was March 6th and after the two weeks of liquids I went into surgery at 358. I had suffered a stroke 18 months prior to my surgery. I had sleep apnea , asthma, high blood pressure. The only concern the surgeon had was taking me off the coumadin for surgery. SO he sent me to a cardiologist for his recommendation and he said I needed the surgery. I did have a few problems in the hospital and had to stay three days. (pneumonia). But I have not had any other problems since the hospital visit. I condsider this as saving my life. One of the women in my surgeons office told me when I sent in my paperwork - that my BMI was too high for the lapband. However, I made the appt with the surgeon and he had no problems with my BMI. So 10 months later I have lost 85 lbs that I would not have lost without this surgery. If I erode later, so be it. I can't worry about that. Keep searching for a good surgeon - it is worth it.

I can't seem to locate a thread for March 2006. If I have overlooked please let me know. I was banded March 6, 2006 in Mobile, AL by Dr. Daniel Lane. Self Pay $18,000. Best money I have spent in a long time. Lapband is not a miracle - but is the best success I have had in years. I hope I never lose my band.

Thanks - I just did not see it and thought that surely somebody else was banded in March. Gosh - you have done great since March. I really feel like it is slow going now after looking at your figures. Great Job!!!!!

Hey, I live in Baldwin County. I had lapband surgery March 2006 by Dr. Daniel Lane at Mobile Infirmary. I have BCBS AL and they would not cover. I also have Aetna as secondary, but at the time did not cover. So I was self pay. However, Aetna starting paying at the end of March 2006. (About three weeks too late for me). I would recommend Dr. Lane to anyone - he has been a very supportive surgeon. I do not regret spending the $18,000. My surgery lasted 45 minutes and my beginning BMI was 61.

I finally made it to twoterville. I had a two month "fear of 299" stall. I pray to never see the 300's again. I just can't seem to lose as fast as other people in this forum.

I have been very honest about having the surgery - because for 30 years I wanted to hide everything. What I ate, if I was on a diet yada yada. However, sometimes I wish I had kept this quiet. I am so tired of "How much have you lost?" "I know someone that had the surgery and they lost 100 lbs in 5 months" At this point I feel the necessity to explain that I did not have gastric bypass and people just look at you odd. The whole failure issues are strong with me. I am still not convinced I will be successful longterm. But, it is the first time I have not rebounded in 6 months. When I get the "how much have you lost" question I feel very vulnerable to criticism. I started at 372 in March 2006 and have just reached 300. But the last two months have really been slow losing. BUt I pray I don't have any complications - because I never want to lose this friend of mine.

Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I have suffered from panic attacks for 20 years. I have managed to get them down to about 3 a year now. I do take xanax when I feel a really big one coming on. Xanax has been a lifesaving drug for me. If it had been around when I first started having panic - I believe my anxiety would have never progressed to my worst stage (agoraphobia). I think because this was the second fill and it takes my surgeon about 30 minutes and at least 20 sticks to ring my port that was the culprit. I really going to beg him to meet me at the hospital next time and use xray.