BQT

It doesnt happen often but it does happen. I've been banded 3 years and restricted at the save number of ccs for the last 1.5 years. does it ever happen to you? iffffrffff so, how often?

Im really depressed and nervous about this. I went into to complete debt 3 years ago as a cash patient. best 15k (fills included) I have ever spent though (sleep apnea went away, better habits and I feel great!). My last fill was 2 years ago which is when I finally started to loose weight. I am 5'5'' 137 pounds and have maintained this weight over the past year . My doctor text messages me from time to time to just "check in". last time I sent him a picture and his response was "you look perfect, now lets un-fill your band and give your stomach a rest. now it is up to you to just keep up the good habits" I am soooooo terrified! I fear that I will begin gaining my weight back and he will not re-fill me (so he is just done with me) . Is it dangerous to keep your band filled indefinately? once you reach your goal is it typical to un-fill?

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. It means alot since I really have no other friends or aquantances with the band. It is so good to know that this de-fill and/or removal is not common place! I think that the worst case scenario is one where I just ignore him next time he texts' me (you are right, he cannot force me to do this). I have concluded that he either wants more money or who knows what. here is his original text, after he checked to see how i have been doing and i sent him a picture: TEXT #1 FROM DR" "damn, you look great. time to loosen up the band because it shouldn't stay tight around you forever. now you should begin just working on maintaining your weight by practicing a healthy lifestyle of three meals a day and only eating lean meats and veggies" (on a side note: i have to say that I find that a little bit condescending, that is the lifestyle I attempted for all the years leading up to the band.even now WITH the band I struggle, but I find this TOOL helps me to lean significantly in the direction of making better choices. better choices than ever) " TEXT#2 (ME):I have been thinking about your suggestion to unfill my band. is that customary? I'm not too skinny or anything(Im 5'4'' and 135lbs) and I stopped loosing weight about a year ago. at this rate my band issimply allowing me to maintain this weight. If i unfill I fear it will render this tool useless. I thought you said we only need to unfill in the event of pregnancy. THEN HE CALLED and tried to convince me again and mentioned loosening the band little my little until I get used to eating and maintaining my weight and then we take it out? TEXT #3, ME:IT Just dawned on me that you mentioned taking the band out ? I dont want to undergo another major surgery. originally you said the band could stay in indefinately and I hear removal is not recommended. TEXT #4, last one from DR: "it can stay in foreer, but if you've changed your lifestyle and you keep the weight off on your own for a year with an empty band you wont need the band anymore. its minor surger" im very emotional about this :-(

Hello I am a cash patient (included fills) because I was only about 180lbs.I had it done 3 years ago and and I am now a healthy 135. my doctor said he wants to unfill my band because he says I have reached my goal and I need "to give my stomach a rest". I honestly feel like he just wants to cut ties so he's not liable if anything happens? Im not sure, but I am terrified that I will gain my weight back and he wont refill me. if that happens, can someone tell me the approximate cash cost and is this something a doctor would do for me, even if I was not their initial patient? thank you very much

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IT GET worse.. I just spoke to him and he said his goal would be to unfill so that we can eventually remove it??? In my consultation 3 years ago I believe I asked about whether it stays in and he said only if there were complications.rhat was a MAJOR surgery , so why should I go in again and take it out? Also why would I not need this tool simply because I reached my goal ? I'm beginning to think he just wants to remove it so he doesn't need to worry about keeping tabs on me in definately ? Or maybe he wants more money for another surgery? Or something bad happened to another patient ? I'm really depressed at the thought of all of this. I have read from various lap band clinics that removing the band is not recommended .

Sorry for the duplicate post

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DID MY BAND SLIP? Ive noticed over the past 3 months that I've been having to throw up, pretty often. Since having my surgery and last fill (a year and a half ago)I can think of a few times that I would eat too fast or eat something that I shouldn't have and would have to throw up. but for the most part it was not the norm. lately, I've been having the urge to throw up what I've eaten approximately once a day. I'm scared because I heard from a friend that she heard on a radio program that this could mean my band has slipped. I have no insurance and paid cash for my surgery. I don't know what to do about this. I feel like I could LIVE with this increased urge to throw by just being more careful about when and what I eat , even if I do throw up a couple times a week. I just dont want this to cause a problem longterm. Im not in pain, just inconvenienced or embarrassed when that urge hits unexpectedly. AMAZING SUCCESS: I feel like my life is so much healthier! I finally take Vitamins, drink fresh veggie juice and obviously eat waaaay less! I have gone from a size 16 to a size 6!!! I scraped every penny together to pay for this surgery, but I lost my job and have no insurance and don't feel sickly at all. I just cant think of where else to ask but here :-( IF IT DID, DO I HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN OR CAN I LIVE WITH IT? thanks so much for your time and for listening to me! signed, MIXED FEELINGS (SCARED, ECSATIC WITH MY RESULTS AND SUCCESS, BROKE)

Hello, I am planning on being very selective with who I share my surgery secret with! so, that being said, is there any good white lie that I could use in the event that someone sees the scars on my stomach ? for instance, I travel out of town for work approx 3 times a year and often have to share a room with a coworker or what if someone sees me changeing at the gym and asks about the scar. does anyone have any good explanation for the scar? appendix removal? im also interested in seeing what the scars look like from a distance several months after the procedure. i have seen the threads where people shared their scars but alot of them are pictures that are so close up that its hard to really get a realistic grasp of their visibility. THAAAAAAAAAAAAAANKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSS Again everyone, you are all so amazing and awesome!

Thanks eveyone. Yes, I definately dont plan on showing them much. But I'm sure that there will be instances where people see and possibly ask. I have another large scar on my upper thigh due to a surgery that I had when I was 14 and have been asked by people. They didnt seem to mean to offend me, but seemed to ask out of pure curiosity/possibly concern. or maybe it was just small talk. I didnt really consider it rude or nosey. So I just the same may happen with this procedure and I feel like my not giving an answer might come off as defensive and suspicious. I think Ill go with something like gall bladder or appendix. I dont anticipate it happening much, but if it does it would be nice to just have something in my arsenal to move on from the issue! Thanks again!

is anyone willing to post photos of their scar a) 1 year post op :scared2: from a distance (so that we can see how visible they are to most people , overall) THANKS SOOOO MUCH!

deleted...got all the input I need for now. Thanks to EVERYONE that responded!

Thanks Foxxy, I promise to keep you all posted on my journey!

Im pretty sure Im gonna do it! the pills are bad and without them Im sure to be at 200lbs. I want to enjoy the most out of this life that I can! now concentrating on my next task of kicking the pills. thats probably gonna be more difficult that the surgery. didnt take a pill today and my appetite was out of control!

thanks for all the replies, I think I am going to close the thread as I think I've gotten enough feedback. but again, thanks everyone!

:thumbup:thanks for your reply!

:tt2::tt1:thansk everyone, I think I have all the imput I need. Im so happy that I found this board because I am sure that I will come rely on it during my journey somewhat.. what a great resourse. I think that part of the issue with my family is that they dont even want to hear much about the procedure and seem to be confusing it the more invasive and risky gastric bypass surgery. maybe in time they will hear me out and believe me. Im sure that once the procedure is done they will be there for me. its just beforehand that they will try to talk me out of it. :thumbup:

THANKS ! I am not married. and my best friend has seen my yoyo ing weight and struggle and is very supportive.

bless u .I feel like I just need the votes of confidence or that someone is in my corner, so it feels so good to hear that Im not insane, lazy or vain for wanting this. jennifer:I think that this really is an important part of my decision. its not so much that I must be at 125 to be happy as it is that I know that i I stop taking these diet pills I willdefinately go back up to 200. Im on these diet pills now and I still struggle . I actually DID TRY to kick the diet pills the first time I started on adipex about 5 years ago and back up to around 200lbs in a matter of months. which is why about 2 years ago i started back on adipex again. I just had my thyrid checked and doc said its fine. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT, GUYS

thanks so much for taking the time to respond...I know--Im so frusrated because I feel so accomplished with the first 25, but even with the aid of the pills I feel like I can hardly take it anymore...

exactly a big factor for me. it feels like its adipex 37.5 or lapband. I've been on the adipex for 2 years (sometimes off for meridia) ...its not good for my heart but its the only thing that has gotten me to loose this first 25 lbs of my 75 lb goal! honestly, I tend to enjoy taking them (another concern) and they really just seem to be my crutch to keep me from eating in the evening.:thumbup:

thanks for your responses.so ill answer a few questions: over the past ten years my average weight has been about 190. current excercise: 5 days a week I either take a dance class or walk these stairs in my neighborhood for about 25 continuous minutes.

THANK YOU for your response. I am just feeling so sad and torn. I want to do it. I am 38 years old. and doesnt seem like much when i say im 5'4'' and 175, but this is with my unhealthy carb diet and 37.5 strength of phentermine daily. I dont know how much longer I can even do this. my normal weight seems to be up closer to 200 lbs. I want to do this so bad , I just feel like I need this aid. I also currently use the cpap for sleep apnea and I am so scared about this phentermine I have been taking for 2 years to loose weight.