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I don't remember your story but it sounds pretty amazing. I am glad that things have turned around for you

Whilst I understand your frustration they may be a reason for this. Young people seem to really struggle with the band and the changes required to make it successful. There are quite a few examples of younger people that belong/ed to LBT that have had these issues. Going away to college also seems to present a whole other set of challenges as well. It seems that people struggle to find and/or afford the best type of foods when they are at college. I am not saying the band is not for your daughter or that you should give up but maybe now is not the best time for her to be banded.It will be very difficult for her being so far away from her support system. You have obviously learnt a lot since you have been banded yourself and a lot of what you have learnt can help your daughter now while she waits and hopes to be approved for the band. I will keep my fingers crossed that you get the outcome you desire but if for some reason they make her wait then try to see that as a positive. It might mean that in the long run she is more emotionally ready to deal with the changes and it might give her a better chance of success.

I wish my sleep quality had improved. I still get up a gazillion times a night and often struggle to fall asleep. I don't think the band or anything else will ever fix it!

It sounds as though you are taking too big a bite and not chewing properley. Often when we let ourselves get too hungry we do that. As to the donuts they were just a really bad choice. Not because they are fattening, unhealthy etc but because of the consistency. They are almost guaranteed to make you get stuck. What happens is they sort of stick together in a doughy ball and that swells and makes you really uncomfortable. So try slowing down. Smaller bites Chewing more and making better choices and hopefully you won't have problems.

Glad that things are looking up for you.

Way to go! It's a great feeling isn't it?

I'd be complaining too. I think it's only natural. Things haven't turned out the way you wanted/expected so it's only normal to be a bit upset.

I think there are other ways of looking at it too. Lets say that you had a problem with your leg, your Dr will probably offer the least invasive surgery first. You will probably be told that it has a good chance of success but that it is not guaranteed. Most of us would be happy to try that. If it doesn't succeed and it then turns out that we do indeed have to have our leg amputated we will know that we gave all the other options a shot first. The band is similar. It works for many but not all. Most of us when we are trying to commit to WLS are happy to do something like the band but would not be ready at that point to go for a sleeve or a bypass. If it works great. If you are one of the unlucky ones and something goes wrong at least you know you gave the minimally invasive option it's best shot first before trying the more drastic solution. Wishing you all the best with your bypass and fingers crossed that you manage the waiting period until then without too much stress and gain.

I generally drink wine but a lot less these days. As you are eating less you tend to feel the effects a lot quicker. Do not be tempted to overdo it as there is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night with severe nausea and not being able to hurl to make yourself feel better.

That is ridiculous, you would think that it would be easier to get insurance as theoretically you should be healthier. Surely they could just exclude the band as a pre existing"condition' and give you insurance for everything else?

The gas x isn't going to help you, you need to take the painkillers that your Dr prescribed (they do that for a reason you know). The gas is not in your digestive system, it is residual gas that was pumped into your body cavity to give the Dr more space to work. I know this article is about gallbladder but the same is true for lapband. http://www.livestrong.com/article/182083-how-to-treat-gas-pain-after-laparoscopic-gallbladder-surgery/

Yes it is fairly common and quite often it does fix itself.

You might have to change your name to that after you get the band anyway. For some reason postband a lot of people seem to produce more gas. Sometimes it comes out of the top end, sometimes it comes out of the other.

I'm not sure. Do you have gallbladder problems? If you do then maybe it's a good deal but if you don't then why remove a healthy organ just in case it causes problems in the future. You wouldn't have a kidney removed because it might fail later on.

This is a problem that you are unlikely to have. If you do manage to get to your ideal weight it will be more of an issue maintaining it and not gaining. The longer you have had your band the easier it becomes to eat things that you couldn't initially eat, your motivation lessens a couple of years down the track etc. Plus the worst thing is that the less you weigh the less you need to maintain that weight. Having said that it is still easier to maintain with a band than it ever was without it. Give or take a kilo or 2!

It is normal to have fluctuations from day to day. Hormones, Water, all sorts of things can cause it. To weigh yourself throughout the day is pointless as it is perfectly natural to be heavier by the end of the day than it was at the start. When weighing make sure you do it on the same scales at the same time of day and in the same state of dress (or undress). I disagree with the others about only weighing once a week. Whilst I was losing I weighed every morning without fail. If there was a slight fluctuation I did not stress but if the pattern was up over a couple of days then I knew that I had to review what I was doing. I found it much easier to get things under control that way than waiting a week or a month. I would still weigh myself every morning now except that it's too darn cold first thing in the morning to stand in the bathroom with my kit off!

Well done - you are looking great.

That is why losing weight is so hard compared to other types of addictions. E.G if you are a drug addict you are not surrounded by drugs you have to make plans to see your dealer, if you smoke you can give them up cold turkey but with food it is everywhere and you cannot ignore it completely , you need to eat to survive. I am sure people who have never struggled with their weight do not understand how hard it can be.

What are you eating? How much are you eating? Are you able to do any exercise? If you can give us some more info we may be able to help.

I am 3 years and 2 months out. For breakfast I eat a poached egg on 1 slice of wholemeal toast or homemade muesli with greek yogurt or oats with cinnamon and stevia. lunch is my problem meal, i am often out and not normally disciplined enough to take something with me. If at home I eat a wrap or a taosted sandwich or a bowl of healthy homemade Soup or leftovers. dinner is whatever the rest of the family are eating but in smaller portions. Generally meat chicken or fish with a spoonful of rice or Pasta or potato and veg. So basically my diet is the same as it was before ( I have never been big on fast food or deep fried stuff) but in smaller portions. Snacks are still an issue, especially when i am not working ( boredom eating). I try to stick to yogurt, fruit, nuts, dried fruit etc but sometimes the chocolate, cakes and biscuits attack me and I have to give in!

So are you going to put them in your scrapbook?

It's a bit like when you are about to crash and your life starts flashing before you and you know that there is nothing you can do to stop it.

I did that already

Well done. You look great and I bet you feel it too.

Oranges, and other citrus fruit, can be a problem because of the pith and the stringy bits.