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To be honest, I don't think it's ever really permanent. Even once you achieve a more lasting restriction, you have to return, periodically, for a "tune-up." As we lose weight, the stomach around which the band is seated becomes smaller, necessitating adjustment in fill. And this can continue for as long as weight loss continues. Beyond that, periodically having a fraction of a cc added here and there is pretty common, too. For whatever reason, Fluid finds its way out of even the closed system making up the band, its tubing, and the port. Or, our bodies shift just a little, and need a tad bit more. But if you're asking what I think you're asking, you're wondering whether this will be the fill that gets you to the sweet spot that allows you to go a good long time before another is needed. I hope it is! It's different for everyone, but this might just be the one that "sticks." Good luck!

Hi all, I am a newbie to the site and basically looking for some support on my journey to becoming a healthier person. I am a 33 year old male ready to make a serious change. I have been heavy since I was a little child . During my high school years I was able to build some serious muscle and lose a bunch of weight but as soon as the dieting and weight lifting stopped I would gain everything back and some. Weight loss has been a never ending battle for me. I have tried many diets like the Atkins,South Beach diet,The Zone, and many others with some pretty good success but it was short lived success because I would just gain back what I loss and some. I will be going to my pre-op surgery on 6/24/08 and hopefully will be banded early July. I look forward to meeting new friends who are fighting the same battle that I am. Best wishes to everyone on their journeys to weightloss success. :tongue2:

I don't know about that. My mom is the one who made me clean my plate all the time. Not that I blame her for me being overweight but she sure didn't help the problem either. I know, I have issues. I'm working on them. :smile: Melmarlem.....way to go on your weight loss, that is just awesome!

I'm getting sleeved on Friday...yes, this Friday! Maybe its just jitters...but is getting sleeved really worth the bad breath, bad BO, loss of hair, dumping, constipation, almost pukes, full blown pukes...what else am I missing? I know the weight....but does it really and truly "outweigh" the above? Any advise, stories, pat on the back...would be welcomed. Thanks!

I have yet to buy it but I plan to on the suggestion of many, many people on this site...it called The Emotional First Aid Kit by Cynthia Alexander. I hear it's almost a must read for those of us who have had weight loss surgery.

I have no belly button!!!!! In 2004 after a major weight loss, I had to have a panniculectomy to remove a very large roll of fat that hung down from my stomach. It was really causing serious back problems for me... It was wonderful to have that horrible thing removed.... I gained some weight back after that and where I am now, but not having that roll was so wonderful that I never even missed the naval.... At 56 years old, I never plan to wear a 2 piece swimsuit anyway. The only person who is confused is my little granndaughter, who keeps looking for Gramma's button!!!!! Cheer up, dear, I think this will all work out for you.. It is very unfortunate, and I really understand why you are crying, but try to remember all the good stuff.... Look what you went through to get to this point.... A little old belly button can't stop you now!!!!! Best wishes for a speedy recovery........ Julie

Yes it is comon when you lose that much weight that fast. Fast WL shocks the body and thats when you start to shed. I started losing my hair at 5 months out and it started growing back at 9 months. I lost a TON of hair... I was in tears. There's no meds that will help regrow it, its just time that your body needs to adjust....so hang in there. It will grow back so don't worry... but it is devistating to say the least.

Hello, My name is Tia. I am happy to share my success story with you. I was banded 9/15 and have lost 80 pounds. I started at 274 and 5'2and now am to 194. I feel so much better and more healthy. I exercise 5 days a week and lift weights. The band is so awesome. Its the best decion I have ever made? Have I had some issues, yes, but the benefits have totally outweighed those situations. Its all a journey and u live and learn. I have no problem with what i eat and i treat myself once in awhile to foods i love. If you follow the rules , follow the lifestyle, and exercise it will work for you. Not all are fast losers and that is ok. Its intended to provide steady weight loss 1-2 pounds a week. Read the boards they are so helpful and so is the chat. Good luck on your journey

I am also at a stand still. I exercise 2-3 times a week, do cardio another 2 days and eat small healthy portions. I lost 55 lbs. in the first 6 months after surgery, I haven't lost anything since, and am coming up on my one year anniversary of getting banded. What is going on? I figure my body was getting adjusted to the loss. but this is going on for too long. I know I'm not in the green zone yet, but that didn't matter when I lost the first 50 lbs. Would like to get moving down on the scale again, but don't know how to jump start it. Suggestions?

Well done - on both the slide show and especially the weight loss! You are one handsome fella!

My words of wisdom would be to consider that it is YOU that makes the band work. Some people ask "What if it doesn't work for me?" It'll work for YOU if you work for the band. Keep on top of your fills, don't eat foods that go down too easily, and don't try to use the first month as a weight loss period. It's a healing period. You'll have more energy to do what you need to do if you get calories in during the healing period. You'll do fantastic! Use positive self-talk and remember that the band has no "magic period." I lost the majority of my weight during the last 9 months, when I really started to enjoy exercising. So don't get caught in the "I've only lost 30 pounds in 5 months" trap. Just get back on the horse and do it. Good luck!

It may be just me, but I consider 20lb in 3 months, good healthy sensible weight loss.

My surgeon said weight loss ramps when you get on regular food. Don't know why but its what he said.

I am trying for the 2nd time to get approval from bcbs illinois..for the lapband procedure. The last time, they said I needed 1 yr of documented medically supervised wt loss attemps, and more co-morbidites. I am now another yr of high blood pressure, ..I tried to do the wt loss for a yr..but failed.( ONLY DID 4 MONTHS) I got THOSE records, got a cardiologist to do tests on me, which show damage from PHEN-PHEN, got a letter from him and from my Orthopaedic surgeon, saying has I would benefit from the surgery, because of my severe arthritis and risk factors for cardiac disease, Listed everything possible I have wrong with me, weight related...and now I am waiting to hear. My question.....DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH BCBS OF ILLINOIS? HAS ANYONE BEEN APPROVED?? I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT. THANKS!!

Anyone have the "Green Zone" Lap Band by Allergan? It's supposed to help the Dr. measure the stomach so he can adjust the band during surgery which helps with quicker weight loss and less fills are needed.

I find I don't loose weight unless I eat low-carb, even if I just stick to "good carbs" my weight loss stalls. Also I have diebeties, another reason to restrict carbs. I was able to get off my blood sugar medication. I stick to high protien such as fish, chicken, eggs, eat non-starchy veggies, snack on nuts and cheese and have the occassional LC protien shake. I agree with what was said, everybodies body is different, find what works for you.

Good for you! Sept 6 was my surgery date. Down 39 lbs, not everyone is the same, so weight loss is different. Honestly I wish I had done this 10 years ago. Learning that a little goes a long way. Eyes still think I need a full plate. Stomach just needs a few bites. Learn to listen to your body. Drink, drink then drink some more.

It is totally normal to mourn the loss of your current relationship with food. It's been a support and a friend, of sorts. Just remember, it's the bad friend that got you in all sorts of trouble. Just realize, you're not giving up these foods forever, although hopefully, you are giving up the quantities you currently enjoy. Eventually, you'll be able to order your favorite meals at restaurants again. But now, you'll have leftovers to enjoy for 3-4 more meals. (It makes the cost of eating out a lot more reasonable!) For the hair loss, start taking your vitamins now. You can also add biotin and l-lysine supplements to help support hair growth. Do not wait until the hair loss starts as I did. By then it's too late. The first week or two after surgery are hard for most of us. This surgery is a big deal. However, your chances of surgical complications are far less than the chance you'll develop complications due to obesity. Don't focus too much on the next few months. It's tough, but you can get through it. Think about what you want for yourself 2 years from now, 10 years from now . . . The overwhelming percentage of people on these threads think the temporary pain/struggles were well worth it to get a better life in the long run. Think about how much of your current life is passing you by because you're too big to participate in it. I wish you well and hope you'll continue to ask your questions and vent when necessary. We've all been there.

A pound per week is pretty good loss. Right now you probably don't have much restriction (my doc says the average number of fills to get good restriction is around 3...but everybody is different), so you'll have to be careful what you're taking in. Eat only until you're not hungry (as opposed to "full") and eat healthy foods (no junk!!). Eventually you will get to where you have good restriction, but until you get there, use common sense, exercise, and try to be patient (I know that's hard). Good luck!

I agree wholeheartedly with TMF Your doctor might be ok with your weight because he's used to seeing morbidly obese patients on a daily basis, so to him you're skinny. But if you don't feel too great and you're able to lose a few pounds without being underweight, then you need to have a chat with him That being said, congrats on your weight loss and being in a place that your doc doesnt want you losing any more weight! yay for you!

I am considering having the LapBand procedure done. Currently, I am looking into whether my insurance will cover it. I am 23, and I have been overweight for most of my life. It is currently causing PCOS, high cholesterol, and prediabetes. My family has an extensive history of diabetes and heart disease, so I am certain that I will end up with both if I don't take care of my weight. I have tried many times to lose weight, but it always comes back, plus some. I even tried a medical weight-loss program, but was only able to lose about 15 pounds. Of course, I gained 20 when I went off it. I have a BMI of 37, so I don't know if my insurance will cover it or not. I am hoping they do, because I can't afford it otherwise.

HI Lyn Take it one day at a time. I have no regrets at all. Don't compare yourself to others. The band can be different from person to person. I can eat ANYTHING except rice, apple skins and no carbonated beverages. I LOVE my band... it changed my life. If you any questions feel free to ask. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs tomander@bell.net

My favorites I got at Kmart on the discount table - think they were Joe Boxers. I have them in all sizes and I think they had them in 2x and 3x as well. I also really like the ones hubby got me from Aeropostale and Rue 21 now that I am smaller, but they're not any more or less comfortable now that I'm smaller. Honest. And, because they have less fabric, it's only hip size that matters, really. I've found that thong panties last through more stages of weight loss which could SAVE you money in the long run. Also, as my jeans get bigger and fall off my bum, I at least feel confident that I'll be sporting cute panties. I kid! Sorta kinda.

About a month and a half ago I was diagnosed with PCOS. Ever since my daughter was born two years ago I couldn't lose the weight. I would lose some, gain a lot, lose some, gain a lot. Before I knew it I was heavier than I was when I was 9 months pregnant. I feel like crap all the time. Body aches, chronic fatigue, constantly feeling sick to my stomach, hair growth on my face, hair loss on my head and oh god the acne. My periods were nothing short of a nightmare and when I went two months without getting it that's when I knew something wasn't right. I moved and changed insurance recently so when I made an appointment with an obgyn it took a month before they could fit in a new patient. She sent me for a sono and a blood test and it turned out PCOS was the cause of all this. Without really explaining much about the condition she sent me on my way with a script for provera(to induce a period) and necon(super strength BC). That's when I decided I really wanted to get the gastric sleeve done. Six hours into my day I eat for the first time when the nausea subsides, no matter what I eat or how little my body is storing fat like I'm about to hibernate for a decade and after five minutes on a treadmill I feel like I'm about to pass out. If I push through it and make it 30 minutes or more I feel like someone beat the crap out of me. I'm so easily winded. I wasn't like this before my daughter was born, I was at the gym 3 nights a week and walking 3 miles to work and back every day. It's frustrating and depressing. So I made an appointment with a PCP and explained the whole thing to him. He said he wanted me to come back in 3 weeks and 1 week before the appointment come in for a blood test. I asked if he would want my obgyn to fax the blood test I JUST had two weeks before and his response was "It's ok". Whatever. I was ecstatic. I got the process started. I did what I was told. I came back for my next appointment and the doctor told me he wants me to eat oatmeal every morning at 8am and a piece of fruit every hour until 12pm when I have a sandwich and again until dinner and also join weight watchers. I said "but.. Don't you think the sleeve will help me? With my PCOS symptoms I mean if I lose the weight my hormones will regulate and the PCOS can go away" He said "No that surgery stuff is no good. I wouldn't recommend that stuff to my patients. All it does is shrink your stomach and you can do that yourself by doing what I told you. These surgeries all they do is make you throw up and it's messy and you will have a miserable life". He went on to tell me some story about one of his patients who had 27 surgeries and I just stopped listening because honestly I could've just cried right there and then. Why couldn't he just have said that in the first placr instead of wasting 3 weeks of my time? He told me if I really wanted it I would have to call my insurance and find a new doctor. So I went home and called my insurance. I told the woman on the phone I was looking for a new PCP and please give me the number to every single one who takes Aetna in this town, the next one, give my the whole county and then some. She gave me three numbers then started saying "Hello? Ma'am? Are you there? I can't hear you" then eventually disconnected the call. The first number I called told me they weren't accepting new Aetna patients but they do recommend patients for the sleeve and if I change my insurance to Blue Cross they can help me. Second number said they weren't sure if the doctor recommends the sleeve because she's on vacation. They took my info and said the will call me in a week when the doctor returns. The third number was an answering service and they didn't even name the doctor that the insurance woman gave me. I felt so defeated, depressed and hopeless at that point I couldn't gather the strength to call the insurance company back and ask for more numbers. I'm not really sure where to go from here. I can keep calling doctors. If that fails I could try changing my insurance and hope that by the time I get blue cross that doctors office is still taking new patients. And also hope that I can find a good pediatrician for my daughter. I'm also not sure if I can get blue cross considering I get my insurance through medicaid. I feel so miserable now. My optimism deflated. I don't want to give up. Sent from my LGMS395 using the BariatricPal App

I had my surgeon appointment today after completing the 12 weeks option program through Kaiser insurance the doctor was amazed by my weight loss 55.8 pounds he did not put me on A special clear liquid diet he told me just to do what I've been doing and I'm actually having my surgery on May 31, 2017 I am super excited it is a little over a week away I have to do my bloodwork EKG and chest x-ray and I have to do my pre-admission to the hospital.