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Hi guys and gals,just thought I would post a nice happy thread to let everyone know I finally love my band! lol I was banded on 1st March 08 and have been having a few hiccups along the way..mostly with no restriction,weight gain and feeling generally like I was a failure.But......after my 3rd fill on 11th June 08,I have been having better results and feeling much more positive. I was at a low point thinking that I want going to have any success with my band,and my weight kept going up. I am finding things much more easy now.I can eat a fair amount still,I dont feel too deprived.I am much more satisfied for longer and dont think about food 24/7 like I used to! To anyone who is feeling like the band isnt helping-hang in there! It will happen!! I was helped by all the words of encouragement on here,and it takes the right adjustment and it will work!I love my band now. Good luck to everyone on their banding journey. x x

The research is mixed on this. I wrote a white paper on this very issue a few years ago. I was addressing a hospital that banned all sugar sweetened beverages from being sold on its campus. I wanted to see if there was a link in the research between artifically sweetened beverages and obesity. There is emerging evidence on this but the physical link is not very strong. I found several studies on animals and only a few of them seemed to indicate that there was a metabolic effect and it was not replicated by peers, which means it's somewhat questionable. However, the mental link between consuming artifical sweeteners and weight gain in observational studies is more compelling. (essentially meaning, that those who drink diet sodas are more likey to engage in food craving behaviors) If you want to send me a private message with an email address, I would be happy to send it to you. It has a lot of good literature referenced in it that you could look at. As an aside, I consume splenda. I count my carbs, Protein, fat and calories everyday.

I had a tummy tuck four years ago-it was a great decision. After a csection for twins, my stomach was never the same. The recovery is much worse than having the band, though. My only warning is that the surgery has a "rolling pin" effect...all of your weight gain travels upward. I gained all of my weight in my arms and upper body. So...it doesn't make the weight disappear-it just shifts it!

It can be confusing,that's for sure. When I was first thinking about getting banded, it seemed like there were a LOT of posts about erosion and band slippage and that was scary. But I kept a couple of things in the forefront of my mind to help me stay focused: 1) The people most l active in a community like this one fall into three groups - those who want to be banded, those who were banded very recently, and those who are having problems. All three groups have a lot of nervous and/or excited posts. People who are doing well tend to spend less time here, and tend to lurk more than post when they are here, so you just don't hear as much from them. 2) The incidence of complications is really very slim. Because of my point above, it may seem like a bigger problem than it is. But if you look at the statistics, you'll see that erosion and slippage are very rare and becoming even more so as doctors in the US get more and more experienced with band placement. In the end, no one can assure you that you won't have complications. No matter what, it's still a gamble, but the odds are very much in your favor that you'll be ok. 3) What is the alternative? As far as I was concerned, this was my only option. I couldn't continue on the way I had been. At the very beginning of this process, I was shocked and horrified to discover that I weighed 70 pounds more than I thought - 45 more than my previous all-time high. It terrified me how easy it was to stay oblivious about my weight gain. I was gaining and gaining with no end in site. I could't drum up an ounce of willpower to diet, knowing that I'd ultimately end up even fatter than I was at that point. It all of a sudden became real to me that not only would I weigh over 300 pounds, it would be 325, then 350, then 375 and I felt completely powerless to stop it. I couldn't delude myself into thinking that I could just do nothing and stay exactly where I was at 266 pounds. The truth was, I'd tried everything else. I was either going to have the surgery, or continue to gain weight. I was tired all of the time, I had trouble walking, and my knees and back hurt all the time. Once all of these things came together in my mind, I realized that there truly was no decision to make - other than band vs. bypass. At that point, I made the decision to do it and I went through with it and never looked back. For someone like myself who tends to be incredibly indecisive about big stuff like this, the decision to follow through with banding was a surprisingly easy one. The band could be the answer for you, but maybe it isn't. Search your heart, but analyze your situation logically. Don't let fear guide your decision.

@@ivyh are you taking a steroid like prednisone? If you are on something like that it could be the meds that are making you more hungry as well as putting weight on you. Certain anti-depressants and even NSAIDS can cause Water retention etc. Don't give up, keep pressing Dr.'s to find out what's going on with you and see if they can find a medication that works with your weight loss goals but keeps you feeling good. The most important thing is your health so don't stress over the weight gain too much right now, light a fire under the Dr Try to if you can manage it to break up your meals into smaller more frequent portions so you feel like your eating something every few hours but keep your portions in check and that might help. I had to have Fluid removed recently and that is what is getting me through. Having something every few hours, and I have actually lost 4 pounds! Feel good and let us know what your Dr.'s say.

The positive is that I have lost 40 pounds. My ankles no longer swell up so much that I can't wear shoes and my pain level is a lot less. My feet have shrunk (yeah!) and my clothes are loose. I can fit in a restaurant booth. Man, for about 3 weeks there I had bad head hunger, but I have now overcome it and lost 7 pounds this week, after I was staying the same or even gaining. Before I had the band I was on a steady weight gain and miserable. Now for the first time I am losing weight! I can't eat bread (it's a blessing, probably), but I eat all the veggies I want, moist meats, fish, string cheese, and soft foods. I can eat most fruits. I forget to chew enough sometimes, but I get a "quick" reminder. (ouch!) So am I starving? No. Can I eat lots of healthy food? Yes. Can I eat my beloved bread products? No. But who the heck cares when I am on my way to being a normal person. I just spent the last 3 weeks barfing daily, in pain from eating the wrong stuff and feeling lousy. When I saw that I gained 2 pounds I told my husband that I should never have gotten the band. Then I realized that the band was working, I had ceased to work at it. I gave myself a pep talk, went to the gym and was a good girl. And I lost 7 pounds in a week. Now this sounds stupid, but I made my family fried potatoes last night for dinner. I wasn't going to have any. Then I tasted one. It was like heaven. There were a few slices left over and I picked them up to eat them. I realized that I was starting down a "slppery slope" and would eat all night if I put those salty, fatty slices of pure heaven in my mouth. When I turned to physically toss the potatoes back onto the plate, my innards literally panged really painfully for about 2 seconds. They wanted those potates but I said NO! That shows how head hunger can cause a physical response. For me to not listen to my gut and to do the right thing is a tremendous victory. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Maybe you should step away from the scale for a few days, Elizabeth. Sometimes weight can fluctuate so much from one day to the next for a number of reasons. It could be a weight gain due to hormones or you could be retaining water. Are you close to that time of the month? Does the stew have a high amount of salt in it? Just be patient. That band is not going anywhere, but the weight will! Just concentrate on following all of your doctors orders. This time is about healing and learning all of the new, healthy eating habits that you will carry with you on your journey. If you have a local Lap-Band support group, try attending the next meeting. Maybe someone there has experienced the same thing and can help ease your mind. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. You're doing great!

Hey guys. I'm 29 yrs old and I had my band put in March 19,2012. Went into surgery 273lbs and went into surgery yesterday morning 209lbs. My hubby says that I should've just taken off my band but HELLO!? I've lost 64lbs in 5 months and not only that I paid $14k cash to get rid of my investment just like. But my main concern is weight gain, I weighed myself 2day and I weigh 8 more then yesterday. And I've gotta wait a whole month and a half before getting my band re placed properly.

Hi. I don't have a band yet, but was dx with reflux-induced asthma one year ago. It preceded my most recent and serious weight gain. I coughed for 6 months straight before I was correctly diagnosed and treated so you can imagine I wasn't really up for walking... Anyway, I have been taking Protonix (reflux) for a year along with Allegra (allergies), Advair (asthma), Singulair (asthma), and Astelin (allergies/nasal spray). I've weaned off the last 3 and am still doing OK. Protonix gave me immediate relief. After meetings with my PCP and a GI doc, I saw an ENT re. allergies who explained that the reflux basically acts like a chemical burn on the lungs and that it can take 3-6 months for the lungs to heal once the reflux is under control. Best of luck to you. I know how difficult this is... Kelli

During my initial consult, I was given a questionaire about weight gain, eating habits and goals. I set my goal at 200lbs and the PA said my goal was very conservative. Their goal weight for me is 177lbs...so, I decrease my goal to 190lbs...still conservative, I guess but, I'd be darn happy with it. They do use a formula to come up with your goal weight.

I found this fabulous article about Water & how it helps weight loss. It made me want to go drink all 8 glasses in one sitting. I thought it was worth passing on to the group to read. It's a little long, but well worth the read! (sorry!) Water How 8 Glasses a Day Keep Fat Away Water suppresses the appetite naturally & helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have show that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here’s why: The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of the load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But, if the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work it can’t operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and & weight loss stops. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for Fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold onto every drop. Water is stored in extraceiiular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs & hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat & will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus the condition quickly returns. Te best way to overcome the problems of water retention is to give your body what it needs – plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released. If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy – drink more water! As it’s forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium. The overweight person needs more water than the thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water. Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract & by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss – shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which pumps the skin and leaves it clean, healthy & resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss the body has a lot more waste to get rid of – all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water helps relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns. So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water & weight loss: ~ The body will not function properly without enough water & can’t metabolize stored fat efficiently. ~ Retained water shows up as excess weight. ~ To get rid of excess water you my drink more water. ~ Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is average? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-oz glasses every day. That’s about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 lbs. of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly of if the weather is hot & dry. Water should preferably be cold – it’s absorbed into the system quicker then warm water. Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule: Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-min. period. Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-min. period. Evening: 1 quart consumed between 5 & 6 o’clock. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the “breakthrough point.” What does this mean? 1) Endocrine-gland function improves. 2) Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost. 3) More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat. 4) Natural thirst returns. 5) There is a loss of hunger almost overnight!! If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, & you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain & loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you’ll have to go back & force another “breakthough.”

I know you are 5 foot 2 but at 216 pounds, you are not going to drop a ton of weight really fast. Stalls are normal. If you keep doing the same thing you will still lose. I stalled for a week or 2 at a time all the time during my weight loss. I still lost 172 pounds post op, not relying on protein shakes. I stalled every single time I had my period, and sometimes that came with a weight gain of 5 pounds. I had a period every 2 weeks for over a year. So imagine all the stalls I had. It is better to track your weight loss by the month, not the week, even if you weigh everyday. Monthly totals matte more than weekly totals. You can lose more weight faster with real food because your body burns calories just processing real food. When you have protein shakes you are giving your body immediately available calories it does not have to work for. Stalls are a part of the process get used to them.

I just give up weighing during my friend -- it is discouraging! I never really had the weight gain with my period prior to banding. Everything is different now with my cycle -- including the 2X month frequency! But I have noticed that if I lose weight it is after the friend comes & goes -- definately not during! And cheri, don't feel bad, I had2 muffins yesterday since my friend is here......I PBd on one and still had another later -- how stong is that munchie urge!?!?!?

Aspartame has been know to produces headaches, body aches, bloating, and gas. CNN had a report about how artificial sweeteners may actually cause the body to not metabolize foods correctly. Crystal Light is synthetic - made in a chemistry lab. They are artificial. The body is not designed to process or digest synthetics. Its like eating plastic. Can we digest plastic? These ingredients are known to cause addictions, allergies, and some researchers have even claimed ... weight gain. Just because something is low in calories doesn't mean its necessarily good for you. If you don't know what an ingredient is, research it first before taking it in. ------- For the record, here are the ingredients in the ready-to-drink raspberry ice flavor of Crystal Light: Ingredients: Water, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, MALIC ACID, SUCRALOSE AND ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (SWEETENERS), RED 40, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, AND Calcium DISODIUM EDTA (PRESERVATIVES). Now, here's that same flavor in the powder mix version: Ingredients: MALTODEXTRIN (FROM CORN), CITRIC AND MALIC ACIDS (PROVIDES TARTNESS), RASPBERRY juice SOLIDS, ASPARTAME (SWEETENER), RED 40, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE (PREVENTS CAKING), ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (SWEETENER), BLUE 1. Drink safe!!

You said you hear from the dietitian.... What about your surgeon? Does he/she know what's going on? I would definitely make an appointment to see the surgeon. And if you feel like you should be living off liquids only, how about an unfill instead o a fill. A band that's too tight can lead to stall or worse, weight gain. I know it's tough and disappointing when we expect one outcome and it doesn't materialize, but DON'T GIVE UP!! There will always be people who will wanna kick a horse that's down, SPECIALLY those closest to us. Don't let that defeat you... You CAN be a success story, but never give up. Keep searching and searching until you find an answer. Just because right now you're not in a good place doesn't mean you won't find your way... Just keep swimming!! ((HUG))

Hello! I'm unable to find much about this online, so thought I'd see if anyone has had a similar experience post-removal. Long story short: I was banded about 11 years ago, lap band slipped, I was scheduled for removal. My original surgeon had moved to CA, so I went through Northwestern Hospital. (Sidenote: I HIGHLY recommend them! They went above and beyond when it came to ensuring my safety throughout the entire process). The surgery went very well and immediately afterwards, all of the side effects I'd been experiencing (horrendous acid reflux, pain, spitting up blood) were 100% gone. My doctor mentioned that he left the stitches in place that were holding my band in, explaining that this would give me a bit of restriction still and hopefully deter weight gain. It's now been almost exactly one month since surgery. I've been trying to watch how much I've been eating and signed up for a gluten free healthy food service. However, yesterday I celebrated my birthday and ate wayyyy too much. For the first time since before my surgery, I was spitting up food. Today, I have a weird sensation around the area where my band would have been - not pain per se, but it's not comfortable. Almost feels like gas pains. I'm back to the meal plan (i.e. smaller portions) today, but still regurgitating small bits of food a few hours after eating. My questions: - Has anyone who's had the band removed had their stitches left in place? - If so, has anyone else experienced this sensation? - Is it possible to rip these stitches from over-eating?! I'm an idiot and was *supposed* to have my follow-up appointment tomorrow, but rescheduled for next week. Now, I'm kicking myself and worried that perhaps I ripped the stitches or something.

One year ago I was rolled down the isle in an 2XL gown, big ole booties and a smile because I knew my life would change. I went in prepared to face the challenges and joy that this decision would cause me. The first month I survived the liquid diet, post-surgery pain and discomfort and lost bonus 10 lbs that I have yet to see again. The second month I noticed my clothes getting looser and another 5 lbs gone, I can eat but the problem was I wanted to eat everything so I was welcomed to Bandster-Hell. The third month I had gotten my first fill 2ccs humm felt tight for like a day then back to eating it up… good thing no weight gain and another 2lbs gone. Month four, I noticed my size 22’s are falling off of me literally and another 2lbs gone, this is going slow I thought time for a fill and off I went another 2cc’s now 4ccs in a 10cc band. Month five another 2lbs goneI am still hungry and my 20’s are fitting loser, food still goes down pretty easily, and I have yet to experience a stuck episode I was so happy. Another .5 ccs in the band. 4.5 ccs Month Six no weight loss nothing, not a pound, I am starting to feel full faster but I can still eat two burritos and taco bell. And my workouts are sporadic time to make an appointment with the doctor .5cc’s he said I say more but I will see. Month Seven, Had .5cc’s in my band I don’t think that will do much of anything for me, but I took the doctor said wait another week and if it doesn’t work out then I can come back however, I got really busy with life and alas no weight loss but bread is off the menu forever, I experienced my first episode of slime and stuck with a piece of pork chop, and then a piece of bread. 5.5 ccs in the band I am halfway full that has got to count for something. Month eight, I am feeling discouraged I ended up not losing any weight this month, I lost 5lbs with my fill and I gained it back. I don’t know why because I can’t eat as much, and I am moving more it is spring and hot around here. I ended up having hernia surgery and couldn’t get a fill until I recovered from my surgery and I finally got the fill I wanted 1 cc’s now I am more than half way there 6.5cc’s and I am really feeling that day to day stuff that I have read about on the boards, feeling tight in the morning, I can eat a yogurt and be stuffed, and be satisfied for hours oh and my 20’s are now gone, I am now in a very loose fitting 18…I can’t wait. Month nine, it has been a few weeks since my fill I lost another 5lbs which is nice and my 18’s are gone I am in a 16 which I haven’t been in since 2003, I still have a ways to go I somehow thought I would have gotten further in my pounds lost but it is not that bad. I would have hit this point without my band. My eating is good I think I have hit my sweet spot but some days I am a little tighter I have learned to eat slow, I can’t eat fries, bread, and dry turkey oh and nothing on the McDonalds dollar menu goes down… so no bad foods for me. Month ten, weight loss has slowed down I think my body is doing the starvation hold, so my goal to combat it is to increase my exercise. Month eleven, I have increased my exercise and I am starting to feel better, I went shopping and no matter what store I went in I fit the 16’s and some were even loose and I lost another 5lbs this month. Now at month twelve I don’t regret my decision to have the band, my life has changed in my activity level my confidence I am still struggling or say dealing with the consequences of not planning my meals, eating too fast or trying those forbidden foods, but I know I am this for the long haul which is awesome to me. I have increased my activity level and plan to keep that up, I will be at my goal weight next year this time and with my band to use as my food tool, and my motivation as my next I will be there… Happy Bandiversary!!! :redface:

The subject of Psych Evals comes up here every once in a while , and I am always amused while reading the responses and reactions people have. And, I sometimes get a little angry as well, because of some of the comments I see people making. The “psych” component is one that is REALLY overlooked and downplayed by people when they are getting weight loss surgery. They complain about having to do it, and I think that is a BIG mistake. So….I have a few…(ahem)….”comments”. I think that many people are missing the point entirely when it comes to the Psych Evaluation portion of the Lap Band (or any WLS) process. While it varies from person to person, the problem of obesity comes down to a very simple equation: We eat TOO much of the WRONG stuff. And most of the time, we do that not because we are physically hungry, but because of the “head hunger” that so many of us experience. And, simply because it gives us physical pleasure to eat good tasting food. Sure, there are segments of the Obese population that have some form of metabolic disorder, there are absorption issues, and some other elements that play a role in the path to becoming Obese. But MOST of the problem lies in the fact that we simply eat too much of the wrong food. And, of course, we don’t exercise our bodies nearly enough. The fundamental mechanism of the Lap Band is to restrict our consumption of food. Plain and Simple. If you eat too much, you’re gonna suffer. If you don’t chew properly, it’s gonna hurt. It’s a valve. It’s a Spigot. It’s a throttle whose job it is to keep you from eating TOO MUCH (note to those engineer-types out there: I know it’s not technically a”valve”…it doesn’t open/close. I know…but you get my point…lol). There are some theoretical elements to the Lap band experience such as reduced appetite and hunger, but that does not occur in all people….it is more the exception than the rule. The point here is that a HUGE component of the weight loss process is the MIND GAME. It is psychological in nature, and if that particular part of the puzzle is not dealt with, you will not be entirely successful in your weight loss efforts, with or WITHOUT the Lap Band. Some people get lucky and the band is all they need to lose all the weight, but they are really the exception. And, if the band stops working or needs to be removed, then you have a big problem if you have NOT dealt with the mind/emotional issues relating to obesity. So many Lap Band patients see the Band as some magical device that is stuffed in their stomach and Voila! ….they’re not hungry any more. Nothing could be further from the truth, for MOST Lap Band recipients. It takes discipline, self control, patience, and a strong personal commitment to the process to make it work properly. And THAT is why they make you go through the Psychological Evaluation. To make sure that you are up for it emotionally. For those of you that are complaining about having to go through the process, I would say that your attitude is sorely lacking…big time. Particularly “Shonette”, who doesn’t seem to want to do ANYTHING to help herself in this process. She wants the band to do everything for her, and it’s too bad, ‘coz that AIN’T how it works. You don’t want to do the 6-month diet? Here’s a news flash for ya….the Lap Band IS a diet,,,one you’ll be on as long as you have it in you. So get used to it. Personally, I feel very strongly that regular sessions with a Psychotherapist that specializes in bariatric issues (and I mean SPECIALIZES, not just as part of the practice) should be a requirement of getting a Lap Band, not just a single session before the surgery. This should be an ongoing process, designed to support you in your weight loss efforts, and help you identify and manage the issues that have driven you to overeat in the first place. Now, on the other side of this, I do think that SOME of the consultations ARE a joke. The insurance industry really needs to do some “housecleaning” with regard to how they handle these evaluations. Some of it really is “going through the motions”, and that, honestly, doesn’t help anyone at all. But that doesn’t keep the PATIENT from taking a proactive stance and seeking out quality behavioral therapy to assist them in this process. So, as a prospective Lap Band patient you should absolutely NOT be rejecting the idea of psychological intervention in your quest for better health,,,,you SHOULD be wholeheartedly EMBRACING the idea that your problem with obesity is multi-faceted, and needs help from multiple resources, and NOT just a noose around your stomach. Some comments on what some of you have said here: Cwm812: “I can't imagine any other demographic group having to have a psych consult to get corrective surgery.” Sorry, but what you are having is NOT “corrective” surgery. There is probably nothing “wrong” with you physiologically. You EAT too much, of the WRONG stuff. It is a CHOICE you have made. The surgery will NOT “correct” that. It MIGHT keep you from eating as much as you do, but there is nothing “corrective” about it. It is NOT the same as someone who was born with one leg shorter than the other, or someone who has a faulty hip. Or a bad heart valve. This surgery is about preventing you from following through on the Bad choices you are making. In your case, it looks like you have lost most of your weight with just the use of the band, and that is terrific. But for MOST people, but problem is a little deeper. And you have to keep in mind that there may come a time when you will have to have the band removed. There is increased incidence of erosion, slippage, and other problems that can happen with the band. These problems are surfacing in people who have had the band longer than 3 years, and it is happening with greater frequency, and more people are having to have their bands removed. So, while you may have solved the “physical” component of your obesity by using the Band to limit your intake, based upon what you have said here it is unlikely that you have addressed the psychological component; and there may come a time when you will have to live without the advantage of the Lap Band and the restriction it places on your eating. “I have no problem with psychologists. I have even gone to them for various problems throughout my life, but as a condition of this surgery, it's demeaning to have to prove that you are competent to be of normal size!” The Pysch Eval has NOTHING to do with “proving competence to be of normal size”. What an absurd statement. What is has to do with is to make certain that you are aware what the challenges are post-surgery, and that you are capable of sticking to the rules, and willing to do the work that is necessary to reach your goal. And a GOOD therapist will want to work with you to help isolate issues in your life that might get in the way of doing so. THAT is what it is all about. Cwm812 and 4Sammy: "I hate when we waste our medical resources in this country." So, you guys see obesity as merely a PHYSICAL issue? Something that just “happens” to you? Something you didn’t play a role in? It’s nothing that you had a CHOICE about? That’s how you see it? You know…there is a significant percentage of people who think that Weight Loss Surgery IS a waste of “Medical Resources”…..Many people think that we, as obese people, simply have no self-control or discipline, and that WLS is a waste of Surgical Talent that could be used on more “serious” maladies, like heart disease and cancer. As a Weight Loss Surgery patient, I do not entirely agree with that notion….but I UNDERSTAND it. I understand what they are saying. I recognize that obesity IS a self-inflicted wound. For the most part, we do it to OURSELVES. And wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to solve the problem WITHOUT tying up Surgical Theaters and other resources? We all know that it is not that simple….BUT proper counseling and psychotherapy CAN make a world of difference to people who are struggling with weight issues. I have personal acquaintances that have been able to lose significant amounts of weight by seeking out a properly credentialed psychotherapist, and getting to the root of life issues that have contributed to large amounts of weight gain. Regular Psychotherapy played a HUGE role in my own transformation. Christiemr: “Just one more benefit to being self pay I guess, no psych consult! Woohoo!!! In medicine we call it CYA (cover your a--) medicine. I'm sure there's one person out there somewhere who had the procedure expecting the magic quick fix, didn't do what they were supposed to, got stuck, slipped band, etc and then tried to sue their doctor so they all freaked out and started requiring the psych eval.... Just a theory. “ Wonderful. “just one more benefit”….meaning just one less thing you HAVE to do that might very well make the difference between your being successful or failing in this process. Shonette: “Why in the world do someone need to tell me what my thoughts or feelings need to be concerning my over weight condition. I know that am over weight and that is why am doing something about it. “ You really don’t get it, do you? It’s not about “telling you what your thoughts should be”. It’s about finding out WHY you feel how you do about eating and then coming up with methodologies to deal with those issues. And there’s other stuff involved too, but for you to discount something very fundamental to weight loss (and ANY behavioral Psychologist will verify what I am saying) is to dramatically decrease your chances for long-term success with ANY weight-loss procedure, surgery or otherwise. “Am willing to do only those things that I have to do and nothing more.” That is the purest recipe for failure that I have heard in a LONG time. To kagead: It sounds like you have a Dr that’s “gets it”. I hope you keep Psychotherapy as part of your “band lifestyle”….I can guarantee that it will play a role in your success. Ok, I have spent far too long on this. If anyone who is reading this thinks that I have been insulting or something else, that is NOT my intention. But understand that I have been involved in weight Loss surgery-related areas for nearly a decade. I have undergone multiple Surgeries, have made many mistakes, and I have learned the HARD WAY what it takes to be a success at this. And one of the most important elements of this whole process is to pay close attention to the MIND element of this. Because THAT is where the success begins and ends. So, when you are sent for your Psych eval, I would heartily suggest that instead of seeing it as a waste of time, think of it as another component of a successful Lap Band experience….embrace it, and consider making Psychotherapy a part of the process of becoming a Healthier person. It might be the difference between success and failure.

@@Kathy812 thank you so much for your response. There was nothing in the coverage that says there can't be any weight gain, I did check. I'm also sure I can lose it before I go to my last preop appointment on the 14th.

I got pregnant 2 weeks after i got my band! I lost about 5 pounds! I was bummed but really happy, it was hard because it was my first (and only baby) that my husband and I wanted so bad, but I just got banded. My surgeons nurse wanted to take out my meager fill, but since i really had no restriction, i refused, and I never had a problem with it. My suggestion is get a really great obstetrition with experience with "high risk", she thought nothing bad of my band, and even suggested it would help me control the inevitable weight gain of pregnancy, she also said i was lucky to have the band, as though it was adjustable. She was a gorgeous little 100 pound thing, but she never judged me, and did a great great job. I only gained 10 pounds in the first 8 months, and 30 the last (i got gestational hypertension, it was all water weight). Nadia came by c-section (little breech brat) an was absolutely perfect. Doctor even took extra care not to disturb my port. My altime high was 324 a day after she was born (swelled up even worse because of c-section) but by my 6 week check up, I was down to 280 with relatively little effort (recovering and all, you know) and now 2 months out, and a good fill, I have lost another 15 pounds. The band was GREAT with my pregnancy, but having an understanding support team with my care was what made it that way. I hope you all the luck, and I strongly suggest you get a good baby doctor, as to be honest, my doc never thought of the band as an inconvienience, but rather, a helpful tool. Good luck.

Hi there, Can I assume that u all are from US? Im from UK. I started with an overactive thryoid (Hyperthyroidism). After suffering for over 4yrs, and no of carbomizole can help, doc put me through radioactive threatment which after 1 month, I went straight and became underactive (Hypothyroidism) When I was overactive, I can eat anything I like and not put on any weight. Once I went underactive, within 3 years, I put on nearly 3stones. In that 3 years, I kept going back to my consultant and GP and beg them to do something cos of my weight gain but they would not increase my thyroid tablets and kept confirming all the tests are show that they hv given me the correct dose of thyroixine. In the end, after weight watchers, gym, all kinds of diet, I gave up and went for the lap band operation. I had my lapband op last Sept, and my weights has gone down to 12 1/2stones now, I have 1 1/2 - 2stones to go before it goes back to my previous weight when I was overactive. U can also find all the info on thyroid on this very good book by Mary Solomon (I think thats the author) She wrote a book on how to control your weight when u have a thyroid problem. Very good info book, even though it didnt help me to lose any weight. So, for all those with underactive thyroid, and have had the lapband operation done, did you all managed to lose a big percentage of weight???

I saw my sugeon yesterday about this darn band that has never been the same since I unfilled it. He gave me a monster fill and I'm going for a barium swallow. we think there's several possibilities - it might be leaking for starters. Although all through the refill process as I've complained of not having the restriction I think I should have (although I have had restriction, just not what I previously would have had a certain fill levels) when the docs have checked the Fluid, its been there. But this time, I only had 3cc, when we thought I should have 3.4cc. Well, the records say that, verbally the doctor I'd seen said I had 3.8cc! When it was unfilled, there wasnt the fluid in there we thought there should be. So the other possibility is that the records have been stuffed up along the way, we've gotten confused and I've never had in there what I thought I had. Other than that, of course, there's the possibility of a slip, I'd be surprised as I've had 3 CT scans and about 4 abdo xrays in the last year for cancer related reasons and my band has never looked obviously out of place. A very remote possibility is erosion - I'm horribly Iron depleted to the point that suggests a GI bleed somewhere and I know its not from my colon as that has all been checked out only in November. But my surgeon didnt think that at all likely, he said I'd have lost restriction entirely. After my monster fill, this morning, I can feel it, its at least held overnight. Its pretty good restriction but again, I've never had this much fill in before and would expect to be actually too tight. But lets just see how it goes. I've held off any weight gain the whole 9 months I was unfilled, and managed to get through seven months of this fill process with inadequate restriction but its darn hard work and I'm ever so slowly losing the battle now, a half kilo here and there that sticks around. Hopefully at least this fill will stick long enough just to lose 4 or 5 lb again! Not terribly worried, if the band needs to be replaced, the way it works here with my clinic, I paid $4000 up front and the rest was covered by Medicare and Private Health Insurance. All my aftercare, including any revision surgery will be free to me, the cost is billed directly to Medicare and I never have to put my hand in my pocket again. It will just be incovenient but oh well!

First is to remember that the scale measures your entire body mass, not just your body fat. A main culprit of unexpected weight gain is Water retention. This can happen for no apprent reason, or one of several that are more apparent: PMS/menstruation, eating salty foods, hot weather, etc. You don't mention an exercise routine. If you eat 1000 calories, and your daily routine burns 1000 calories, you won't lose weight.

Research is always good. Have you considered the sleeve ! You loose weight a little faster, you can eventually eat what you like "BUT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FOOD" , you are no longer hungry "That's my thing" I had my knees replaced do to weight gain, I lost 120lbs. by myself in order to get those knees replaced. Then Banded. Lost 28lbs., and the band blew on a fill. 4cc band blew on 2cc's "defective" I now have insurance again and will be going in this month to see what they want to do or change to. Just remember it is like a tire, it can go bad at any time. Then gl with getting it fixed especially if you have it done in Mexico. You have to go back to your original surgeon to fix there mistakes. "THAT'S THE WAY THE SURGEONS THREWOUT THIS STATE EXPLAINED IT TO ME ! So I'm letting you know that somewhere you will need follow up work. Check this with your surgeon.. Shirley.

Shortgal - I agree 80 pounds is great and the size 10's I'm in now are already smaller than the size 14's I originally hoped for. My biggest problem lies in the fact I'm still sitting at a 10 pound weight gain nearly 6 months after plastic surgery. There is just NO WAY that is all from swelling this far out and even though I shouldnt be focusing on a number on a scale I just can't seem to see my way to being happy with myself unless I can take off those 10 pounds plus at least another 5 pounds to account for some of the 10+ pounds of skin they removed. It also doesn't help much that one day my DH will see me trying to watch my food and comment that he really doesn't want me losing any more then the next day he will see something I'm eating and ask when my next fill is as if he thinks I'm pigging out. I don't really feel there is anything wrong with my current weight being my goal. And I've met plenty of women even heavier that I consider at goal. The problem lies in my recent weight gain and whether or not it is a sign of my falling down an all to familiar slippery slope. I'm just afraid if I allow myself to be too comfortable with this weight it will only lead to my continuing to rationalize even more and more weight gain until I'm back to square one.