10 years banded, not sure what to do.

[MelissaGG 9]

I am new to this site and not sure where to post sorry if you may see it twice....

Hi there, I am Melissa from the Chicago area but originally from NY. I was banded almost 10 years ago and moved away from my hometown to start a new life here in Chicago almost 6 years ago now. When I was first banded, there was not much support and I found some folks online to help. I met with a nutritionist who did not have an office and I had to go to random locations to see her. There were no of ill schedules and I had only 1 or 2 fills total in NY.

When I moved I found a surgeon to help and had another 1 or 2 fills and was unfolded just over 3 years ago when I was pregnant. I am now 45 and have basically ignored my band until I started gaining weight and started having pain. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have run in 5k races and regular workouts but I have yet to be successful. I am a career Mom and commute just about 3 hours per day and I have very little time to be thinking day and night about exercise and diet. It kills me to say this after making some serious efforts over the years. I am starting to snap at the seams so to speak and I am worried every day about the damage this band may have done. I feel internal pinching, I still can't eat chicken, fish or rice but Pasta and chips slide down pretty good. I eat and have no issues with veggies and eat them every day. I am not a soda drinker but I am never too far away from my last cup of coffee.

I was in a great deal of pain this past November and I was having a particularly stressful time. I made an appointment with the surgeon here in Chicago and put myself on mushies. I think I may have done something while working out that triggered this all. I am currently 270 and put on 15 lbs in the past 3 months. My weight had remained at 257 since the day of my surgery 10 years ago, except while I was pregnant and I weighed 270 as I do now.

I am very scared. I am scared to remove the band, I am scared to keep it in, I am scared to get a new surgery and mostly I am scared of not being here to raise and support my little boy who is now 3 years old and deserves a mom who can get out and have fun. I push myself but I balance too many things. I feel like I should lose weight and then have the band removed and keep it off by myself. That would take watching my portions at. Every meal, fully dedicating over 1-2 hours per day to exercise and keeping a perfect schedule where everything is in balance...my work, my son, my house, my husband, my commute...everything. I think that is unrealistic and I do not know where to turn.

I did get to see the surgeon here who said that my band was placed well and that he saw the barium...so why the pain? No answer. I was STUNNED when he said there was nothing wrong and did I want to get a new surgery. Apparently I do qualify but I want a second opinion. I am not sure where to go from here and would love to hear your thoughts.

[Rycherchick 147]

You wentthr ough all of that to get the band and did not lose any weight? Have you considered disbanding and having the sleeve?

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

I am a revisionista, had my band remove and sleeve done on September 10, 2012. It was the absolute best decision I could have made. I had my band for 5 years kept off 60 pounds but knew that I could not keep the band forever. The sleeve is soooo much better in 4 months I lost 60 pounds, I really am at my goal weight, maybe a few more pounds we'll see.

You can eat way more foods with the sleeve, nothing gets stuck, you can eat chicken, life is wonderful!! Good Luck in your decision, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

[MelissaGG 9]

Thanks for responding, Did you have this done in 1 surgery? What was your recovery like and did the band.do any internal damage?