LaLu

Okay not that I want to admit this to the world, But I was banded almost 2 years ago. I was 18 and the first few months were great. I lost 20 kilos and had a few top ups. Down from 130kg to about 110kg Then, things started happening in my life (I won't go into detail) And I stopped thinking about my Lapband. I stopped seeing my doctors and I stopped eating right, I just didn't want to think about any of it because I wanted to concentrate on my mental health at the time. I put on weight and stayed around 120kg until a few months ago. I'm now back to almost 130kg but too scared to go see my doctors and get a fill. I don't want them lecturing me, I know I screwed up. Everyone always talks like if you screw up then that's it, it's over. Which is why I feel so guilty, but I feel like if this Lapband is in my body for the rest of my life. Why can't I keep trying until I get it right? I can now eat normally like I never got banded. Just a bit more pain then there should be. But after reading this forum again for the first time in 2 years I realised that I didn't have as many fills as I should have. I didn't get to the point that I wasn't hungry. I can't even remember buti think I only had 2 fills. So maybe if I can get the courage up to go and get more fills it will make me stop eating so much? My point is, I always hear of people and their success stories, And I also always hear of people who fail and then give up... But is there ANYONE out there who failed and is motivated to try again? And if so, where should I start? Because I only just decided 10minutes ago that I might give this another go.

I hate how many people on here lecture other people. They tell everyone what they should be doing and that if you don't do it a certain way it won't work. Which is bull. And not to mention how rude everyone is these days. I come on here for help and support, and now if I come on here I just want to scream at people to lighten up. Don't be so strict on others! If that's how you want to do this journey that's fine, but I don't need to hear your lectures and you don't need to be so stuck up just because your loosing weight. Everyone here is loosing weight, you aren't any better or smarter than other people. As long as you're loosing weight and happy with yourself and what you are doing, that's all that matters!

Haha yes thats true, you've got me there. Thanks hun.

That's actually exactly what got me angry in the first place and that's why I posted this. A few people have told me the same thing as well. There's a difference between telling someone they should try harder and that we all make mistakes every now and then, and being lectured to make them feel worse which could send them in to more trouble. If that makes sense.

I don't know how I'm "stirring the pot" but I will say one last comment and leave it at that. This has gotten a big out of control and I'm not sure why everyone is so defensive about what I posted. I was simply saying that people shouldn't be so harsh with others and that everyone can loose weight their own way, there isn't one "right" way. I know I'm not the only one that thinks people are being rude because I see it in posts all the time and a lot of people have actually left this site because of it. I honestly can't believe that people are okay with talking like this to others. Especially when we have all been through so much. It just leaves me speechless.

I will assume that means you get humour out of being rude to others. Clearly worth it.

Well said floridays People do new thicker skin, especially to survive here. But it just sucks that that's the way things are. I feel sorry for the people who don't have thick skin, because they probably need more support than anyone, and they are the ones missing out or getting these harsh/judgmental comments and maybe not coping as well as the rest of us. People don't think about who's on the other end of these comments they make and what they have been through. I just wanted to make everyone think about the comments they make and how they effect others, but looks like its just made things worse.

Harsh and judgmental is exactly what I meant! That's the words I needed. That's what I mean when I said "rude". Haha thanks dfav you said it better than me (and yes you're right it's not the majority of people)

I got past that bit of weight that kept going up and down randomly just dropped off me lol. I'm not on a diet or anything I'm just watching what I eat and exercise when I feel I need it. Figured as long as I'm loosing weight it doesn't matter what im doing. When I first got my lapband i did all the dieting and exercise and lost heaps of weight and then it got too much for me to deal with life an all the pressure of diets and exercise an the rules of the lapband, and it didn't work and I put all the weight back on. So now I'm only doing it casually and that way its not possible to go back to old habits, because nothing has changed dramatically. And it's slow enough that my body won't put it all back on. So I got past that weight I was struggling with, and I still refuse to go outside and walk or exercise because at the moment it's summer and 105 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Australia. I started swimming but just for fun not for exercise. And today I got out the total gym and some weights, but I don't like doing that because it's never worked or me to loose weight, that's why I like my treadmill so much cause it's easy and i know it works for me. A mate is going to see of he can fix my treadmill for me, so fingers crossed!

Just an update (and to get off the topic about that comment about the book lol). I'm still on track, I think ive been going for about 40 days now. Since my tightening i haven't lost any weight. It keeps going up and down and back up again. It's really frustrating. I am not hungry what so ever, so I'm having trouble forcing myself to eat. Apparently that's why I'm not loosing weight because I'm not getting my metabolism going. Which annoys me because I feel like what's the point in having a lapband if I have to eat more than usual anyway. I'm starting to regret getting it tightened but I feel like I'm in my green zone since I'm not hungry. So a bit confused at the moment. But still trying anyway which is a good sign for me. Besides that - Christmas is coming, and my treadmill just blew up. Im not good at other exercises yet because of my back problems and I can't afford a new one (or any other machine like a treadmill) for a month or two. Which has really upset me, now I'm going to have to be insanely careful with Christmas and I'm really scared to put the weight back on. Ive only lost 5 kilos so far but it's taken so much effort I would be devastated if i put that back on and I'm scared I would give up again if I did. The other thing that's got me worried is my addiction to milk is back. That's apparently the reason I'm overweight in the first place, cause I've never been a big eater - just love milk for unknown reasons lol. Not sure what to do about it all- but I'm still on track and I guess that's the main thing (for me).

That is because of the surgeon. It's normal they put a lof of pressure on your shoulders/chest/neck when they operate on you. It's normal for any operation. You can also get bruises and stuff but the pain is the main side effect from it

It is possible but highly unlikely if you look after yourself. This can happen because once banded you will be eating very little, and not getting the amount of nutrition and vitamins you need. You must take a multi-vitamin and keep checking in with your doctor so you don't get sick from lack of nutrients. Not sure if there is anything else you can do but that's all I was told to do

Your doctor will be able to tell you the average for your band I don't have that band, I have a French band that holds 8cc and I'm currently on 5.5. The average greenzone for my band is 5-7. I'm feeling great at the moment and not wanting to eat at all (actually having trouble forcing myself to eat) but I only just got a fill 4 days ago. It probably won't last, so I'm thinking around 6cc for me Sorry I cant help with your exact band though.

Burping is nothing compared to sneezing! SO much pain (for me). I had to try put off the sneeze until I was ready for it, which meant standing up, leaning over and holding my tummy/incisions lol. Don't worry though the pain with burping is normal at first. I've had a fill recently and it's starting to hurt me again but only a little bit, and only if I'm not expecting it.

Thats friggin awesome! Congrats! I am looking forward to moments like these. And I just realised how in denial I am, I've always thought I couldn't paint my toenails because I wasn't flexible enough. It only JUST clicked in when someone said the painting toenail thing that it's because I'm big!! Hahah. Now that I realise, I think that will be a good moment for me Maybe that's also why my little toe is impossible to paint! Haha

I get really bad pain in my left shoulder/neck if I end up eating too much or too fast. Instead of getting a full tummy the pain is reflected through to my shoulder and neck. My doctor told me if I didn't have the lapband, instead of getting shoulder or neck pain I would probably have really bad heartburn/reflux/indigestion. I've never had any of those problems before, but I assume my neck pain is better than getting that Not sure if it's the same pain as you, but just thought I'd share incase someone else gets this pain. I also get unbearable pains in my arms when I drink alcohol, to the point of laying on the bathroom floor crying and screaming for about 6 hours lol. It's because my body wants to throw up the alcohol, or just from bad reflux, but the lapband stops it and reflects the pain into my arms. So I rarely drink, and when I do I prepare myself to deal with a lotttt of pain lol. I went to my normal doctor about these problems heaps for like a year thinking it was something major like blood clots, and then I saw a new doctor when my normal doctor was away and he knew straight away both problems were lapband related

Totally in on this! I am over 2 years post-op, failed from personnal reasons and started back on track 3 weeks ago, and got my first fill today in almost 2 years. I am down 4kgs so far and my bible is currently the "my fitness pal" app. Would love to be apart of this support group!

It will be harder to find people who have had the band for that long, not because you can't have them for life, but because banding has only become very common in the past 5 years or so. Even though it's been around for ages people were still a bit hesitate as to whether it worked or not. But of course there would be plenty of people out there - just harder to find I'm 2 years and 3 months