Failure

[copper146 3]

I was banded in 2012 and lost approx. 90lbs. Since then I have gained all my weight back and I have given up. I dont no where to turn. I am a 58 yr old male.

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

What happened between the weight loss and now? Did you stop seeing your doctor? Did you get your band unfilled? Did you start eating sliders? What do you think happened?

[KarenWB 20]

So sorry to hear your disappointment... and I admit a little scared that this might happen to me. I hope not!!

I think this might be why I've heard that the sleeve is the "industry standard." I guess they mean that it works the best with the least trauma? I just couldn't face the finality of it, tho.

Karen

Richmond, VA

[copper146 3]

I stopped going to my surgeon because was ashamed. I started drinking pop to wash the food past the band. Stopped the Protein Drinks and was right back to eating wrong things.

[2muchfun 8,927]

Unfortunately there's no magic wand that will give you the will power or motivation to get back on the band wagon. It must come from you?

No reason to feel ashamed when you go to your surgeon. They see this all the time from all forms of weight loss surgery. It's common for many of us to fail initially. Giving up our pacifier/comforter/blankie(Food) was my biggest fear before surgery. Make an appointment with you surgeon and your nutritionist? This won't work for you till your band is adjusted properly and you know what foods to eat and which ones to avoid.

Keep in contact though. We want to help as much as we can!!

"I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" ....Thomas Edison

tmf

[pink dahlia 2,513]

You did the right things once, you can do them again ! You have to start somewhere, here is a good "somewhere !" You have lots of support here, and you should see your surgeon and a Nut. too to help you get off to a healthy start both mentally and psychically. Good luck ! You can do this !

[copper146 3]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the support.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

It's never too late. You're not the first person to post here looking for a fresh start. We are all rooting for you!

[B-52 7,113]

Like TMF said, the band is adjustable and therein lies the key.....although finding that perfect setting, IMO just tight enough but not too tight, can be a very fine line and hard to find.

I read stories as these and, speaking for myself only, I find it difficult to imagine how it can happen with the band doing it's job.

Then, not too long ago, I asked to have 1/2cc taken out...(for no good reason)...and that balance was totally disrupted, SCAREY even, that suddenly I was able to eat/drink in ways I knew would lead me where I would rather not go....so I went back and got that 1/2cc put back in.....My Dr. kept (who I get along with very well) kept rubbing my face in it saying "I told you so" and "Did you learn something?"

The band has the reputation of having a lower success rate than other surgeries....I spoke with the PA at my Dr.'s office about this, and she said she would not blame it on the band, but rather than it is adjustable and the patient has the ultimate final say how it should be adjusted to fit their comfort levels....other surgeries are cut and dried....

She always shares stories how people want Fluid taken out so they can enjoy big family dinners, vacations, etc, than come in later to get it re-adjusted.....

Sounds like the rationalization I used with traditional diets that always led to failure...."I'll indulge today and start fresh again come Monday"

Best thing for anyone to do is to keep regular visits with their Surgeon, and follow his/her treatment plan....having the surgery is only the first step, what follows in the months, years, to come is most important of all....

Sorry for rambling, I tend to do so at 5am.....

Edited September 5, 2014 by B-52

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi Copper, shame is such a deep emotion and many (all?) of us here have used food to tamp that down. Know that you deserve all good things, that you are showing up for yourself -- you had the surgery, you had initial success, you are here in the forum. Next steps are the appointment with the surgeon to assess for fill and get back on track. I benefitted from seeing a therapist to sort out my triggers. Just knowing what I'm doing is a big step, even if sometimes I still do whatever it is, have that programmed response. So for me the thing is to change the programming. Addiction to soda pop is very common in this country. Diet sodas contain sucralose (Splenda) which in some people tell the rain food is coming. Other beverages have high fructose corn Syrup -- maybe there is something pharmacological going on that is causing a stumbling block. Best wishes -- you can do this thing, you will feel so good when you're back in your body in a healthy way. Let's live our lives fully.

[Rojasanoll 920]

Well, I only see my doctor about once a year now. Im close to level in the band. Now and then I do not feel restricted which tells me I can slide. I use this tool like a wand is waving in front of me and I tell myself eat properly when this happens. In two years Ive only gained about 5 pounds as my biggest gain back. Then I go back to all liquid diet for about 4-5 days and it triggers me back in shape.

The only preparation I do is when I'm going out on a weekend where ther are eating parties, Thursday/Friday I drink Protein shakes and a banana to prepare myself. Enjoy my weekend, weigh myself, then Monday/Tuesday 2 out of 3 meals are Protein Shakes.

Seems to work for me.

Best wishes and Keep the faith.

[alotlessofme 3]

Cooper, I lost 100lbs with my band. I are well and worked out 4x per week. After hurting my back I slowed down, after surgery no exercise at all. I gained 40lbs back. I know how you feel. How about a fresh start? We can do it!

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@copper146 Every day is a chance for a fresh start! For that matter every moment we breathe is a chance to make a choice and to choose to take care of ourselves.

Shame while a very valid feeling is a reaction to an emotion that defines how we feel about ourselves and our value in the world. To say that you are ashamed is to say that you feel less then worthy, that you are not as important as another. The truth is that you are VERY important! You are as important as the most important person you can possibly think of! To you and those you love you are even more important. As a VIP you deserve that very special treatment and extra TLC!! It's not a gift or a luxury it is your right! (As it is for everyone who is reading this post! You too are a VIP and you deserve extra special treatment and TLC)

Changing our habits as TMF said starts within. We can't change our outside if we don't change what's on the inside. If we put ourselves down and keep telling ourselves that we are failures then that is what we will be, so even if you don't believe it mind body and soul today, start telling yourself that you special and you are worthy and you are a VIP!

The first step should be to forgive yourself, not to punish yourself. You are where you are, no shame there. If you want to be someplace else, and your ready to get there take the first step. Give your doc a call, let them know you've been hanging out in one spot for a bit, and your ready for a reset and to start moving forward on your journey. Let them give you a thorough check to make sure your band is all good and in working order and maybe tweak the fill if you need it. Then take it back to band basics. Start again as if you just got your band that day. Once in a while when I find myself going off the rails for what ever reason, for me it's mostly stress and drama in my life. I will "reset" mind and body and go back to the basics. I'll do a day of Protein shakes and liquids, and move to soft foods and practice taking the small bites using my knife and fork. Eating in places that are appropriate for eating like the kitchen/dining room table and not in front of the TV or at my desk working.

It really helps me to reset my mind to get back to what I want to achieve with this band and why I had this surgery to begin with.

This space right here at Bariatric Pal is a great place to start! This is a HUGE community of people who are caring and supportive of each other so check in often when your doing great, not so great or just feel like saying Hi!

Best of luck to you!!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

I was banded in 2012 and lost approx. 90lbs. Since then I have gained all my weight back and I have given up. I dont no where to turn. I am a 58 yr old male.

i was banded in 2012 also

we be related

so what, you gained it back.....so lets just do what we did when we had surgery

(def see your dr and have your band checked out via fluro if possible to see if in great working order)

and then revert to Protein, veggies, fruit and a lot of liquids (stop at 20 min eating mark (my dr recommends that but others vary so if in doubt, ask yours).......stop at 1 to 1 1/2 or 2 cups of food.......basic basic formats...

you lost it once and by gawd you will do it again

[Mac the Knife 1]

Copper, I underwent a LapBand procedure in February 2008, and today weigh exactly 5 pounds more than I did on my surgery date.

First, there's nothing to be ashamed of. In my case, about four months after I was banded I realized something was wrong. Initially my weight dropped like a stone - 35 pounds in that time. "Fills" would work for a few days, after which I'd find myself so hungry I thought I'd gnaw on my furniture. I was throwing up everything I ate, and violently.

My bariatric surgeon - a quack who ultimately lost his practice due to malpractice suits - refused to conduct testing to see if something had gone wrong. Every month I'd visit, get a fill that would let me feel restriction for about 72 hours, and argue (more and more heatedly) that the reason I was regaining the weight I'd initially lost was cause for testing.

8 months after my banding, my insurance coverage changed, going from BCBS (who covered anything and everything, without question) to United HealthCare (which not only covered nothing bariatric, but a few years later would make me wait two days to approve coverage for cardiac stents). My visits, not covered, came to an end - as did the weight loss, but not the periodic vomiting and other symptoms.

Flash forward to August 1st. Thanks to Obamacare I was able to dump United HealthCare and go back to BCBS (and save $200/month for better coverage for my family... that damned pinko socialist!). I immediately resumed bariatric care with another physician's practice. Lo and behold, testing revealed that while my LapBand was doing its job, the lower portion of my esophagus had expanded to compensate for the restrictions, in effect creating a preliminary stomach pouch above the artificial one created above the band.

I'm now looking to LapBand removal, followed by a gastric sleeve procedure in all probability. But my point is this: don't get down on yourself. For years I thought I'd somehow failed, when in fact what happened was beyond my control through personal discipline. Go see your doctor. Have yourself checked out. You could very well be in similar straits as me.