Old-Timers (3+ Years Banded) Recommitting To The Bandster Lifestyle

[lellow 1,713]

Morning all (well it's morning here anyway!)

Welcome to all the new people! I think it's a great thing to see so many people recommitting to the lapband lifestyle. I think 'falling off the wagon' is only natural, but saynig that this is a lifestyle change means just that - it's for life.

I'm sorry I've been MIA. Started a new project and that always is a frantic time for me. I have been reading but haven't had time to post.

Well my port and tubing replacement surgery is tomorrow. This week, I haven't counted calories, haven't exercised, have been eating junk and smoking too much, thanks to working 15 hour days. But hopefully this surgery will fix the band issue at least and I will get back on track. I know that exercise was helping me deal with the stress of work, but (and I know this is an excuse) I already feel like I don't have enough hours in the day to cope with my workload, and takign an hour out to work out just doesn't feel like something I can do right now.

But once I heal from the op, no more excuses. I need to put aside time for me.

My partner is leaving for New York tomorrow for work and he's freaking out about me being alone after my op, but I actually am looking forward to laying in bed, reading, watching TV and not having to do anything all weekend!

[Cocoabean 430]

Best wishes tomorrow, lellow!

I've been eating better. I have a friend looking into lapband, and I feel more accountable. I've started going to my surgeon's educational seminars, he does one per month where he has post-ops come in a do a panel for pre-ops. I am the longest out that attends other than the facilitator, and she is quite anti-lapband. At least it seems that way to me.

I went with my friend to his formal surgical info seminar last night, trying to be incognito. I hadn't seem my surgeon since September, and had my hair cut off since then. He's only seen me twice in the last 2.5 years. So I didn't really expect him to recognize me. She says, hey doctor, do you recognize her? So he asked would I get up and speak for a few minutes about my experience.

Thanks, pal! At least I don't have a fear of public speaking! But all this, and this thread is helping me to eat better. I had told my friend I don't always make the best choices, but my weight is stable. But will it stay that way? So at the panel-type seminar, someone asked me what my typical eating day is like...she says out loud, "don't you lie!" Crap...busted!

I think it's been good for me to get involved, and find my roots.

[shues138 35]

Lellow I was thinking about you in regards to your surgery good luck tomorrow and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

Nothing much here to report I'm glad we have this thread and this forum it keeps me accountable. Since I had my fill on Monday I'm on my last day of mushies and will be back on solid food tomorrow. We will see how that goes.

Just got back from the gym did some light weights for my upper body I'm a little sore which is good. More c25k tomorrow then I rest for the weekend.

Hope everyone here has a great day and weekend! Thank you for keeping me motivated!

[twi 40]

Send you good thoughts and praying that you have a good recovery. Enjoy your bed time it's gone sooo fast Ha

[Jachut 487]

Best of luck for tomorrow Lellow

[JPS 0]

Hello,

I was banded almost 5 yrs ago (3/27/07) can't believe it's been that long. I also had a leak in my port after only 6 months. My dr immeditally put me back in the hospital and replaced the port. I am proud to say that I have maintained my goal wt for the past 3 1/2 years. I only need to go back for a refill about every 18 months and it's usually only a small amount. I've never actually fallen off the wagon and gained a significant (more than 2lbs) amount of weight. I have severe RA and whenever I think about eating something I know I shouldn't I just think about all the pain I was in prior to my surgery. It works for me. I think everyone is so different that you really just need to find one thing that will really help you stick to the program. Good Luck and keep going toward the negative numbers.

[Cocoabean 430]

Welcome JPS! So, they didn't say the RA was contraindicated for a band? Just curious if you had to convince them. My surgeon doesn't like a band for auto-immune patients.

Congrats on your success. I have maintained very easily myself. I want to be sure it stays that way!

[lellow 1,713]

Hi JPS and welcome! I have to admit I too maintained easily and only began to worry about not having been committed to the lapband lifestyle once I sprung a leak in my band about 3 months ago now. Once I no longer had any restriction, I was amazed at how much the band had done for me in terms of Portion Control and hunger. Even so, in the last three months, I haven't gained, which I'm happy about. But it's been very very hard work.

But my leak was hopefully fixed yesterday with a port replacement. My band, as I understand it, currently doesn't have any fill in it, and won't until my first post op appt on the 16th of March. So I'm still going it alone. I'm on liquids for 2 days (today is the second day) and it's not easy without a band, even after all these years of being a bandster.

Well, time for me to make a shake for brekkie. I'm sore still and my tummy is swollen but nothing like it was yesterday. So on the mend now, thank goodness!

[elcee 3,341]

Glad you are Ok.

Cocoa I also thought that the band was contraindicated for autoimmune problems.

I have just got back from a w/e away for hubby's Birthday and have a million emails etc to catch up on. Will pop back into LBT once the backlog has been cleared.

[Cocoabean 430]

Lellow, glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing Water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?

[ibbanded 4]

Getting excited got first of a six-month program appointment on Thursday; having to use new followup surgeon as my lapband surgeon quit doing them and providing followups for lapband. New doc requires u attend 6-month program will be good for me as will be new accountability every month to them and hoping will kickstart my weight loss and break my plateau!

Hope everyone is doing well today here.

[shues138 35]

That sounds awesome sometimes its good to go back to the Dr for that accountability. Right now I go once a month and then we will see what happens.

Started the second week of c25k its tough and I don't think I'm running fast enough. I'm going to try to amp it up tomorrow.

How is everyone else doing?

[ibbanded 4]

Lellow' date=' glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing Water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?[/quote']

Well it could trigger tightness, but u could need just a slight unfill as after first week of sdjustment it should be ok for ur pills but i have always crushed my pills as i am always afraid of them being stuck; if i get a stuck feeling i push hot tea or coffee to help ho down

hope u are better today did u get an appt to get it checked?

[ibbanded 4]

Lellow' date=' glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing Water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?[/quote']

Well it could trigger tightness, but u could need just a slight unfill as after first week of sdjustment it should be ok for ur pills but i have always crushed my pills as i am always afraid of them being stuck; if i get a stuck feeling i push hot tea or coffee to help ho down

hope u are better today did u get an appt to get it checked?

[Cocoabean 430]

Hi everyone, I am doing better. Got slightly stuck today (made a bad choice at lunch). But I stopped eating and it went down. We went to a Mediterranean restaurant and there were no explanations of the dishes on the menu..so I had to guess. Not feeling as tight as I have been.

Maybe it is just this crazy changing weather!