delfinajones

I'm going in tomorrow to request band removal after 5 years. i don't consider it a failure as I got to the weight I desired and will work to stay there. But after the band broke loose we took all the liquid out hoping I could just avoid surgery and things got worse this past year. I figure I may as well resolve this now that I have good insurance and as I heard there is a big chance the second time around it will also come loose I am not getting another one. I would still recommend the surgery as it worked great but things like this do happen so we just move along.

Would love to hear how October bandsters are doing. I was banded October 27 and have had one fill. I dropped most of the weight 6 months before but I am still very very slowly losing. I do have my appetite back and am still pretty much using dieting to stay on track. I got to Weight Watchers for support. I realize it'll be a couple of fills before restriction also helps with appetite. My recovery went very smoothly- I didn't need pain meds and the 5 scars have healed well. I am very glad I did this as it has already helped my mood.

The nurse gets the needle in on the first poke with me -I never get bruises. Make sure you have a good doctor. Sorry you are going through this.

Interesting article on new research on this subject in the New York Times today-link here: Weighing the Evidence on Exercise - NYTimes.com

What I found key was the recommendation to "keep moving"-that just "standing up" was better versus sitting around and that just standing could effect long term weight. More gardening, house cleaning or walking can do the trick. Humans, it seems, weren't meant to by laying around watching TV or playing with the computer for hours. Obvious but....

You need to take a chill pill or lower the dial on the sarcasm.

I had my surgery at a hospital associated with a teaching university medical program and they advise against drinking your meals. The thought is that it is a slippery slope with over eaters who might then start drinking milk shakes. They take a slow and cautious approach and feel if you can't chew and swallow you are too tight which can lead to complications. So yes- there isn't one overall approach over here to bariatric after care. And don't feel bad about sharing your experience.

I am now at 9 cc in a Realize band (6 fills) and finally am where I want to be. Can't eat a lot and most importantly have stopped thinking about food 24/7. The second is the amazing part and I waited 2 weeks before posting to make sure the change was going to last. (I have never NOT thought about food.) I pushed to get the final small fill that did the trick-- which meant I got the final fill only 7 days after. I told the nurse it seemed to me the band was not about a dieting mentality and that is what I have been doing all along. I wanted the band to kick in for me. And it worked. I feel the difference. I am still going to WW for the support and because it is all about good eating/living habits but now I feel the band truly helping as I am not thinking about food.:thumbup:

Not until now. I kept having philosophical discussions about whether I was imagining that I was still hungry despite 5 fills---but with the 6th there is no doubt. I'm not fixated on food period. Plus I can't eat as much or I will get stuck. That helps too. So I would say it took 6 fills to concretely feel something.

Thanks for the responses and support. And yes it will happen for you as well so just hold on.:thumbup:

Glad to hear it went well.

I know you've been waiting for a while. Hope it was easy.

Post what you usually eat each day. Maybe we can help more if we see what might be lacking.

I've been in therapy--off and on--since college and it seems to me it is all connected. You might go in with issues related to a parent or spouse and as you talk it all starts unraveling. I would try a therapist that comes well recommended no matter the specialty. The person I went to was a specialist in couples counseling but did a fantastic job with the food issues which were connected. You might find it helps to have an objective ear tot alk to. As I present my problem to someone who doesn't know me I get clarification from myself as I am explaining this or that. And a good therapist can see when you are avoiding an issue or making light of something important. I think going to therapy also makes you feel you are being proactive and taking care of your self and all these positive moves feed each other.

I have a realize band and felt no pain--I didn't even take any pain killers after surgery.The amount of pain you mention seems severe. I know there is a realize band web site that we can join--you might go there. Your physician should have given you a code to access the site.

I tend to agree with Jachut--especially as there are people online trying to sell books and things associated with this diet. Plus the name makes newbies think it is some official lapband procedure to check your pouch. It's a high protein diet. That said if someone wants to try a different approach--why not. I am saving exercise for my plateau period rather than a new eating regimen.

I like Taco Time or Taco Belle cheesy pinto beans. That way I control the amount --if I cooked a pot I'd want to eat them all. And I can't have cheese in the house. For me this is more a treat than a regular meal.

I could have anything that could go through a straw after three days--they key was I shouldn't need to chew. Homemade soups that were blended did the trick for the hunger.There is also an egg custard or flan that is sold in the dairy case that I ate quite a bit. Not lo cal but it had a lot of protein and I lost quite a bit of weight anyway as I recuperated.

You might want to get into therapy to talk about your food issues. It helps a lot. Also--are you saying your physician lets you decide when to get a fill? That doesn't sound right and you may need to look for a better practice. When I go in I meet with a nutritionist and the nurse who does the fills and we go over my records and my last month in detail and then make a follow up appointment for the next month. Your medical staff should be a support system. That said, now that I have restriction, if I feel like eating at night--which I usually don't-I will take a bite of something that is difficult to eat like oranges, or tofu or tunafish. It feels uncomfortable and quickly makes me lose all desire to eat any more.Good Luck!

I think you need a new wife- a supportive one. You can have have snacks with a lap band and most of us do- the key is not to overeat and have a slow steady weight loss which you do have.I don't exercise so I am not one to give advice. You are doing great. You just need to find a support group as your wife is not able to give you that help.

I had coffee the day after surgery- doc said it was okay.

I'm so sorry. What happened? Can you tell us anymore about the erosion problem?

Why don't you write your mom a letter if you can't talk to her about it in person. You'll have one more person on your side.

I agree and what works for me is just staying busy rather than exercising. Cleaning the house, walking, gardening- activities I can easily keep up. When I had a personal trainer it seemed to make me feel I had the right to eat more and it was not good for weight loss as I would have had to exercise hard for an hour to burn off an ice cream bar. I know for some going to the gym also helps their mood but I would agree with you. Pls in the back of my mind I am saving it for a plateau period. Something I can do to shake up the scale.

I have no regrets but I am glad I took a few years to decide.I was really informed and sure about what I was doing. The pros and cons. That helps. Plus I chose a practice with very good follow up.