sweetviolet

had band on 6/13/06..trouble all along the way but persisted cause I thought it was normal (distress, pb's etc) my esophagus dialated and it was all over!! Had emergency revision on Nov 27,2008....I am now near perfect...no problems but I have not lost much weight since the revision and don't know why...but no throwing up thank G-d!! Feel great and am happy where I am...have lost 154# and want to lose another 30 or so but not going to have a hissy over it LOL..best to you all...

Yesterday is the second bandaversary for me--june 13,2006....I amm baout 30 pounds from goal but lost my band on Nov 27th of 2007..converted to gastric by-pass at the same time--have not lost much since but my total is 149#...I have had other problems but I assume that if i had still had the weight--I would be DEAD!! Had a hard winter..heart stent March 17th, then another angiogram 2 weeks later, then an obstruction..and finially a bloody nose from hell. I told the doctor that while I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, I did not expect a van from DSW with such a big load.....lol!! All in all, I am a happy camper--I am NO LONGER DIABETIC...and that is by far the best!! Luck to all of you!!

YES!! When it finially becomes apparent that it is not what you are eating but what is eating you...you have finially lost the weight and realize that you can eat, live and lose weight--and the only thing that changes is your size and perhaps your abilaty to move. The rest is the confidence you gain in yourself when you stop beating yourself up for all the wrong choices and just get on with life!! Give yourself time!!!

grazing in general--more than 1 cup of food 3 times a day and calorie free liquid in between...and when you do eat take 1/2 hour--if there is food left, don't save it for a snack later...either thow it out or incorporate in the next meal to equal your one cup of food...took me a REAL long time to understand this...the band is only a tool, lots of ways to eat around it especially when the junk goes down easier than solid protien!! DARN IT

I do the squash in the microwave...about 6 minutes on high in a plastic bag--much quicker....and make turkey meatballs and jarred sauce--or just a pesto w/toasted pine nuts. You can also toss w/ gorgonzola cheese..it has a very mild anise taste.

Hey you guys!!! I just had a light bulb moment... I am posting this here cause I am hoping that a moderator will take care of proper placement if I am too off base....with so many of us sabatoging ourselves it seems to me we should be thinking of what's eating up instead of what we are eating....I just found out my thyroid has not been operating for many months and now I am fixing it w/synthroid but while I have not changed what I am eating, I have not lost much since November.....but my brain wants to eat EVERYTHING and that's BAD...I think I will finially give in and get some HEAD help..even though I have lost 141#!!!! Food for thought!!

I have HMOI and I had a lapband removal on nov 27 and immediately had RNY...I had a dialated esophagus that would have caused permanent damage if not corrected--I cryied about it and was scared to death that I would die w/ RNY--not only did I not die but it was like I never had a problem right from the start!! I wish since I have had both, that I could have eliminated all the trouble I had w/ the band and done RNY in the first place!! I lost most of my weight w/the band, but I have now maintained easily w/RNY and can eat most anything...but still go by the band rules and am careful!! Because of other health issues I only swim for exercise...and it is VERY hard for me to get to the pool--something always seems to get in the way...like a stent on March 17...who knew!! However, if I had not lost 141# the stent would not have been possible and I would be DEAD...95 percent blockage in the anterior left atery of the heart!! Life is not over if you lose the band--only if you give up!! As for the insurance, the doctor does not make this decision to pay--only the wording to help get the job done. You can call the insurance company with a query and not give your name and ask the question!! I fortunately did not have to jump through any more hoops to have a conversion...no questions asked, it was an EMERGENCY as I could not get food down or back up and the surgery was done at night time...got to my room from recovery at midnight...went home the next day as though nothing had happened--no shoulder pain/gas/etc...I called the Doctor to see if he really had done the conversion!! Only thing now is I don't think I can look at another cup of creamed soup of any kink for the rest of my natural life!! If anyone cares to further discuss this, just pm me...I don't come to this board very often anymore...while I would like to be supportive to anyone who need it, I am in a good place and don't think too much about anything except getting on with the routine of life...what a change!!

I am 22 months out with my share of problems from the band--did not want to have bypass because others that I know had it with their share of BIG problems...I had problems with the band and ended having it removed and bypass on Nov 27 2007--had lost most of my weight..and had gall bladder out in Oct...thoght that was the problem--then had dialated esophagus and had band removed...thought all was fine, G-d knows I had every test under the sun...March 17 I had what I thought was indigestion--not that simple!! had a stent put in my heart--not the fault of the band/bypass/gall bladder--just a lifetime of bad eating and genes!! If I had not done something about my weight over the last 22 months what I had was called the "widow maker"...hopefully I have beat the grim reaper...and LOL without a"white castle" eatery ( I am sure you have seen the comercial) all kidding aside, I am grateful for the journey and the results no matter what...it hasn't been easy but noone gave me any guarantee!!! Make an educated decision and be mindful of the pitfalls. Best of luck!!

I now have had both the band andthe bypass....I lost the weight with the band--141# in 16 months. The bypass is much less of a hassle. no stuck, no adjustment but boy was I scared that I would die from the complications...I am fine...but I have kost very little weight with the bypass..11# in4 months...but I also am close to goal and have lost more that 60 percent of my weight...the choice is yours....educate yourself and make a decision...work with the tool and the tool will work with you

The going out is a social event not a food-a-thon...buffets here in Chicago seldom honor the card--nor do I care to discuss it with people. Ameal at McDonalds these days is as costly as a buffet and does not give the variety nor do I wish to take it home so the money is all the same. If you go to a regular place you can share or take home whats left if you choose....all that said, I make up my mind that the company is what I was going for and whatever the price it was the price of entertaining myself with friends...it is a insite...and what a pleasure it is now to go to a concert and be able to be comfortable in the seat...costs the same but the pleasure is much greater now that my thighs are not black and blue from squeezing into the seat!! Why bring attention that is negative to yourself by ordering from the childrens menu that probably does not have what you need to eat anyway?? I am after all trying to be "normal" and normal people leave food on their plate and think NOTHING of it...I am done with the clean plate club/ and the starving children in Europe...just a few thoughts!! THANX!!

when someone asks me how I lost all tat weight I tell them one day or one meal at a time..that's enough of an answer for most people...if they want more I tell them don't eat and drink at the same time, and I gave up bread/past/rice. If that helps them great--they don't need to know my life history--nor do they need to judge me for having taken the EASY way out when they have NO idea!! I still have a food problem--I want to eat chocolate...thank G-d there is seldom room for it!! Best of luck to everyone here who support one another....let th rest of the world fend for themselves!!

OK so here I am with both experiences--first the lap band....had nothing but trouble from the start but did not know any better so I just delt with all the fills and unfills, pb's,etc until I was to the point of nothing in...and if in...nothing out and a dialated esophugas(sp). Doctor id an emergency band removal and a gastric bypass that I said I would NEVER do...never is a long time. I did not and have not had one problem--no more reflux etc...I have lost a total of 141# and am not looking back!!! All but 8# was with the band...I am maintaining with no complications and am now exercising 4 times a week at the YMCA....all works if you work with it!! I am not at all sorry for either procedure..just greatful to have the weight GONE!! I carried fat around all my life and just celebrated my 61 b-day...free at last!!