Any old timers still around?

[kbklassykimb 23]

i everyone! I was banded in 11/2005 and my band began leaking about a year later. I lost 100 lbs and halted. I maintained through very expensive $100/month fills for as long as I could, then gained 40 lbs, then lost 20, then was able to get the port fixed plus extensive skin removal surgery in Dec 2009.

I'm healed from that, but last week went in for a fill and found my old band is leaking. Through some miracle, my new insurance is covering it and I am being REBANDED in 30 days, and I am beside myself with joy. I'm holding around 200 - 205 now, I'm 5'7, and look strangely good for still being 50 lbs overweight.

There have been some major ups and downs but I have learned something....Hunger is my trigger. And for me, and I suspect a lot of people like me, that trigger needs to be completely decommissioned in order to have any sane/healthy relationship with food.

I absolutely love my surgeon, Dr. Christine Ren at NYU, who believes in me and is a real champion of not only beating obesity, but learning how to trust yourself, and what works for you. She's even rebanding me on a Saturday to accommodate my two hour drive from Philly.

I can't believe this isn't the end of my story - although I am in size 12 pants and XL top (and 13 lbs of skin lighter), I am humbled and thrilled that I get to finish this journey. I've had friends get banded and pass me. I maintained for a year with a new port, and now that my band has quit, I gained 5 lbs. but I'm keeping it at bay and going on a pre-op regimen. I can't even remember what it's like to live with a tight fill.

In my secret life, I've been trying to get to 150 since I started this journey. People have said to me, "Oh I would kill to be 200 lbs" or "you look fine the way you are" but I'm simply not satisfied being a "more normal pudgy" versus a super morbid obese. I don't accept being a 200 lb woman and I'm frankly sick of other people telling me what I should and shouldn't be. I will decide for myself.

Happy at 200 lbs...but man, I can't wait to post the150 lb picture.

I just wanted to tell you that you are gorgeous, and yes I am straight. Like you, I am around the 190 mark and have sooo many people tell me how good I look, and that I should stop losing now ( They don't know how much I weigh). My goal is 160, and I will continue until I get there. It's not their choice , it is ours. Be healthy, be blessed, and keep going until you decide it's enough.

[Jack 855]

kb: re :"t I have learned something....Hunger is my trigger. And for me, and I suspect a lot of people like me, that trigger needs to be completely decommissioned in order to have any sane/healthy relationship with food" appreciate your comment and respect your wonderful results. For me the essence seems to be not just 'hunger' as I finally have found what I regard as a Normo Hunger response mechanism. What took so much effort was finding that I actually *CAN* eat a Normo amount and be satisfied and without hunger thereafter. That is an entirely new experience. I had never had the hunger-->eat-->no hunger-->stop eating Revelation [one hand smacking forehead] :woot: :woot: :woot: for all of us!!!!

[abby1 0]

I am feeling very frustrated. I got to within 20 pounds of my goal, then had several surgeries and broke my arm. I gained 15 pounds that I can not get off. Worse yet, some of my old bad habits have returned. My doctor does not want to tighten the band, he says the flow is good and the pouch is the right size, but I am feeling hungry all the time. However, I would do this again in a heartbeat. If anyone has advice, I would appreciate it.

I became unactive on the list, when it seemed that there was nothing of interest being discussed and old issues were being rehashed.

[Jack 855]

re: "Worse yet, some of my old bad habits have returned. " could you elaborate on what some of those might be? and how did you manage them before? We all need new ideas once in a while.

[abby1 0]

re: "Worse yet, some of my old bad habits have returned. " could you elaborate on what some of those might be? and how did you manage them before? We all need new ideas once in a while.

I feel hungry a great deal of the time and I eat, trying for lo cal.

I think about food or eating more and more. When can I eat again and I hungry, etc.

I sometime wake up in the middle of the night and have a cookie.

These are urges that have come back and I am not handling them well.

[Jack 855]

Ah yes, the old Belly Beasts calling in the middle of the night!!! They used to be with me every waking second whether eating or not. I did find before learning that subtle duet of hunger/satiety, anxiety/fear of becoming hungry rather than actually 'being' hungry, that I ate and overate by habit.

Also a triggering fuel was anything with corn Syrup in it, and even just plain corn tortillas, would create a flame I could not extinguish by eating. I discovered the 'non-sweetened frozen yogurt' I was inhaling in ever larger amounts, had some additives not listed as 'sweeteners' yet they created a monster appetite.

Are you/were you diabetic? Careful attention to high glycemic foods will prod that Belly Beast into a furor without you realizing what's happening. There are ways to evaluate what types of food you are eating. Do you have a local nutritionist/counselor you can consult?

Don't panic, but it is time to start rowing toward the beach. That old boat load of eating behaviors needs to be carefully overhauled it sounds like. Are you keeping a food journal of any kind? What is your hard Protein intake etc? Get it down on paper and start reviewing the weak points and you can find where to apply your efforts most effectively. Getting out of control too far means bailing harder for a bit.

It happens to all of us, as far as I know. Whether it is a day or 2 or a week or 2 the longer we let it run without trimming our sails and applying helm control the greater the urgency. So speak up, let's get this ship back into calmer waters!!!!

[Birinak 19]

Ah yes, the old Belly Beasts calling in the middle of the night!!! They used to be with me every waking second whether eating or not. I did find before learning that subtle duet of hunger/satiety, anxiety/fear of becoming hungry rather than actually 'being' hungry, that I ate and overate by habit.

Also a triggering fuel was anything with corn Syrup in it, and even just plain corn tortillas, would create a flame I could not extinguish by eating. I discovered the 'non-sweetened frozen yogurt' I was inhaling in ever larger amounts, had some additives not listed as 'sweeteners' yet they created a monster appetite.

Are you/were you diabetic? Careful attention to high glycemic foods will prod that Belly Beast into a furor without you realizing what's happening. There are ways to evaluate what types of food you are eating. Do you have a local nutritionist/counselor you can consult?

Don't panic, but it is time to start rowing toward the beach. That old boat load of eating behaviors needs to be carefully overhauled it sounds like. Are you keeping a food journal of any kind? What is your hard Protein intake etc? Get it down on paper and start reviewing the weak points and you can find where to apply your efforts most effectively. Getting out of control too far means bailing harder for a bit.

It happens to all of us, as far as I know. Whether it is a day or 2 or a week or 2 the longer we let it run without trimming our sails and applying helm control the greater the urgency. So speak up, let's get this ship back into calmer waters!!!!

Arrr, me matey!

[synicalchick 0]

Chest Pains/cramps/spasms?

I have had my band for about 4 years now and have never experienced this before and have now twice since Saturday and hoping there's someone on here that has. My doc is out all week so I can't talk to him.

It would see that I have been to tight for about 8 months.. was waking up around 1-2 at night, liquids coming up through my nose, mouth or ending up in my lungs no matter how much earlier I was eating and drinking before going to bed.

Finally went in Friday and had 1.6 taken out of my 4cc band. I've slept like a baby for 3 nights now, HOWEVER, Saturday I had this HORRID HORRID cramping or spasams going across my chest, both sides, working it's way up into my Jaws and the top of my head. This lasted about 10 minutes before fadeing away. The again this morning but this time it lasted about 15-20 minutes. I just can't even describe acurately how horribly it hurt.

I am wondering if maybe I was banded to tight for so long, that when the pressure was relieved it's causing spasms or cramps?

Any advise or comparisons would be nice.

thanks

Tracy

[Jack 855]

If that were happening to me, I'd be at the hospital getting checked out thoroughly regardless of where my own Dr. was. Those may be referred pain symptoms, or they may be symptoms of something unrelated to the Band. Please get medical attention SOON to find out the cause and let us know what you discover.

[synicalchick 0]

If that were happening to me, I'd be at the hospital getting checked out thoroughly regardless of where my own Dr. was. Those may be referred pain symptoms, or they may be symptoms of something unrelated to the Band. Please get medical attention SOON to find out the cause and let us know what you discover.

Ok. I just called my doc's office and his nurse is going to call me back when she gets in.

[HeatherO 7]

Ok. I just called my doc's office and his nurse is going to call me back when she gets in.

I agree with Jack, it is best to get to a doctor right away. Those aren't normal symptoms of banding and could be something much more serious especially when you are speaking of chest pains/spasms. If it were related to the band, I would thought you were less likely to feel that way after an unfill as compared to before when you were too tight. Good luck with everything and please let us know what happens. I hope you feel better soon.

[mousek 4]

Thanks for the email Alex, It's been a LOOOOOOONG time since I have been on here. I had my surgery 8/2005. I was 238lbs and am now between 120-125lbs I can't believe how amazingly happy I am. The lapband is the best thing I ever did for myself.

my before/current pics

Current

Holy mackerel! What a transformation! :youcandothis: :welldone2: :welldone:

[mousek 4]

Hello!!!

I'm going to send an email to members that haven't been around in a while with a link to this thread. Would be great to hear from some of our old timers. I'm sure all of us are wondering how everyone is doing and where we're all holding in life as well as with our Bands.

I'd really love to get that sense of community and comradery back on LBT. Any suggestions from some old timers please ?

This is one of my most enjoyable posts on LBT - to see people years after their surgery is terribly exciting. I hope some other people look at these posts especially when they fall off the wagon or need a boost. It really has helped me to see this. It also has really helped to come back to this website to continue and finish my weight loss.

[mousek 4]

Have been a bit timid about posting on the "old timers" thread. Guess I am in the same boat as Kartman....maybe could be considered a mid-timer. Let me clarify...In human years, I would be considered an "old timer"...agewise...55 yrs old. (In dog years, I'd be in an urn on the mantel). But, with the help of the Lapband, I can honestly say that I could run circles around any 19 year old. I have had the ideal Lapband experience.

I was banded on June 17, 2008. I worked REALLY hard to prepare myself for this life change. I researched three years prior to actually going to the initial Lapband seminar. My biggest fear was waking up from surgery and feeling as if the rug had been yanked out from under me. I decided that in order for this to work for me that 8 months prior to surgery I would religiously stick to eating like a lapband person. It truly prepared me for what was to come.

I was able to lose 52lbs prior to going under the knife and felt so prepared for the challenges ahead of me. My highest weight was 249lbs. I had a "moom shaped" face and my body was a true apple shape. (Take a look at my gallery photos...OMG....I still have a tough time looking at them). My mid-section was blown up like a nickel balloon. Skinny arms and legs but the fat around my middle was killing me. I was able to reach my personal goal of 136lbs on Oct. 15, 2008....without starving. I never missed a meal. Not very big meals but ate every couple of hours. Without trying, I dropped another 20lbs or so and have stayed at the same weight for over 2 yrs. My daily caloric intake averages 2500 calories. Lucky girl. My LP doc and his staff were such a huge support system as was my DH. I can count on one and a half hands how many times I have PB'd throughout this journey....and usually those incidents were self-induced by not chewing. No acid reflux after living with extreme acid for 15 yrs prior to LB surgery (one huge hiatal hernia (sp?). I guess I can say I am one of the lucky ones and I thank some higher power for being gifted with this second chance at life. I cannot say for sure but I wonder if I would have stayed on that self-destructive path, that I would be here today to share.

I am now starting a new journey. Just submitted photos, etc. to my LB doc's office to start the process to get rid of my panni. Waited a little more than 2 yrs to see how "things" were hangin' and decided that I need to complete this journey. Wish me luck.

Sooooo very nice to see all of you come back on and post on how you are doing. I recognize most of the "names" and have to tell you that most of you were very influential and I looked up to you.

Looked at your pics, you look like you are the daughter of your former self. Incredible transformation.:drum: Drum roll please!

[mousek 4]

Chest Pains/cramps/spasms?

I have had my band for about 4 years now and have never experienced this before and have now twice since Saturday and hoping there's someone on here that has. My doc is out all week so I can't talk to him.

It would see that I have been to tight for about 8 months.. was waking up around 1-2 at night, liquids coming up through my nose, mouth or ending up in my lungs no matter how much earlier I was eating and drinking before going to bed.

Finally went in Friday and had 1.6 taken out of my 4cc band. I've slept like a baby for 3 nights now, HOWEVER, Saturday I had this HORRID HORRID cramping or spasams going across my chest, both sides, working it's way up into my Jaws and the top of my head. This lasted about 10 minutes before fadeing away. The again this morning but this time it lasted about 15-20 minutes. I just can't even describe acurately how horribly it hurt.

I am wondering if maybe I was banded to tight for so long, that when the pressure was relieved it's causing spasms or cramps?

Any advise or comparisons would be nice.

thanks

Tracy

I've experienced this at least 20 - 30 times over the past year and it always ends up being gas. I drink a bit of gingerale and try my hardest to burp until it goes away. That has been my experience. Hope you will get better soon!