Andi

I was banded in July '06. I took a long time to get the fills right and I didn't really get "with it" and serious about going for fills until Sept of the next year (long story - mostly to do with money, etc). But now I have tons of restriction and that's my problem. I am totally stuck, I can't lose weight no matter what I do. I live on Water, Soup, veggies, a little bit of Protein mostly from Peanut Butter because I throw up everything else. I walk 3+ miles EVERY DAY and I have been doing this religiously. I am 50 years old, I have lost only 47 lbs since this was done. I hardly eat anything. How the HELL can I not be losing?? Do NOT say that I'm over-filled because I would just go back to eating again since I really do miss it so much. Eating is not even fun anymore, I dread meals because I know if I hurry I'll be in the bathroom. food is not joy anymore, it's pain. I just don't know what to do. I wish I had gotten the stupid gastric bypass now. My stomach doesn't even feel like mine anymore, I used to be able to diet and lose my stomach but now it's just there... Help! I'm so sad and frustrated at this point. I don't know if I should have had this done or not! :thumbup: Started at 257... "down" to 210... don't know if I'll ever see the 100's again in my life... I mean, it's been 2 freakin' years now!!!!

If anyone is wondering if they should do this, I would say no. I had it done in July '06. My first consultation I was 257 lbs; had to lose 12 lbs to get the surgery which I did, so the morning of the surgery in July I was at 245. It's now 6 months later and I'm hovering around 230 which is only 15 lbs. I can eat anything and everything I could before with the occasional PB episode, but I manage to choke everything down anyway. I didn't really believe that I would be a failure. I fully expected to do everything "right" but use this "tool" to lose the weight once and for all. I now feel exactly like I did before, obsessing about food, dieting just as much as ever, and not getting anywhere. No, I haven't been to any support groups because they never schedule them for a time that I can actually go. No, I am not living on Protein shakes and liquids when I "PB". Yes, I do feel fuller after I eat and don't think I'm eating as much as I used to, but chips and crackers go down just as easy as they ever did. I'm just rather disgusted that I spent over $15,000 for what feels like nothing. My last fill was around November and I can't tell if I should go for another one. They make me feel like I have to beg for one and if I don't do everything "right" then I won't get one. I feel like I'm pretty restricted anyway. The foods I'm supposed to be eating hurt when they go down so I just stick to the foods that don't hurt. I feel so very discouraged and hopeless... If I had known I would have opted for the gastric bypass. The minute I figured out that you can basically eat anything and everything the same as before, the old habits kicked in. It's not a magic bullet. Think long and hard before you jump in. I wish I would have. Now all I have to show is a big ugly scar in the middle of my big ugly stomach. At this rate I will probably lose about 2 lbs per year. So discouraged! Andrea

I had my surgery on July 27th. I've been cruising this site ever since and don't usually respond but I've learned a lot just be reading the Q&A's. But I really feel kind of dumb asking... what exactly is PB-ing??? It sure seems to be a common thing, everybody seems to have experienced it. It sounds gross whatever it is... I've never felt nauseated or thrown up. I hardly feel any restriction at all. I was doing great till I started eating tiny bites of real food. Now I feel that I can eat ANYTHING, I'm not feeling anymore restriction, and I don't get a fill until Sept. 5th. I'm a little discouraged and mad at myself. I certainly don't want to go through all this and feel exactly the same as I did before the surgery! I hope that I'm not one of those that I've read about who just don't have success because that's not what I want. I've been doing pretty bad on weekends but weekdays are easier. I drink my protein shakes and eat better. But it still feels suspiciously like all the other diets I've been on before... Thanks for any input. Andi:help:

Thanks for answering so quick Susan. I just posted that. It was helpful. I think I can avoid that after first fill by eating slowly and chewing thoroughly? What do you think of the fact that I can eat almost as much as before? Is this normal until the first fill? By the way, congrats on your weight loss. You're an inspiration. Andi

correction, 1st appt after the first seminar was in May, not June. So it was almost 4 months to the day from the seminar. United paid 100% minus the $100 co-pay. I'm so grateful!

I have United Ins. I hear it's one of the best for fast approval, minimal requirements, etc. I went to the seminar on March 28; 1st appt w/dr. on June 12; approved shortly after that, and got a date around the end of June. In between there were blood tests, the psych test, they made me do a sleep study, etc; the all-day seminar was July 17th; and then surgery on July 27! I was required to lose 12 lbs and I lost exactly that. I pretty much did that the last two weeks before surgery. I'm writing this on August 7th and feel great. I went in for my post-op check up a week after on Aug. 5 and had lost another 4 lbs and am holding steady with that until my first fill on Sept. 5th. I can't wait for that. I'm going into my 2nd week on full liquid and getting tired of it, can't believe I'm looking forward to pureed stage. I've been taking small bites every once in a while of "real" food and chew it to within an inch of it's life. I feel great and think it was a total success! Just an FYI: they don't really stress the pain aspect enough, at least to me; I was a little surprised at how sore I was at the port site, and the 1.1/2" scar right in the middle of my stomach that's still healing. It does get better every day though. I never had any of the throwing up that they speak of, but I followed the rules to the letter, at least the first two weeks after. I've been watching this site almost daily and this is the first time I've responded. It's so helpful! Good luck, Andrea:)