Status Update from Veteran

[B-52 7,113]

Ok, for those who do not know me, a little background.

Was banded Jan 2011....met my goal weight within 12 months. Have been 100% successful and as happy as can be ever since, the band did everything I had expected to. I will also add I never had a single problem. If you call getting stuck, regurgitating a problem, well good luck with that.......I call that a learning curve. Stop doing what caused those issues.

Toughest Part?? Letting the band make the rules, and me changing, adapting to get along with what the bands demands. That meant giving up a lot of things I used to enjoy.

Goal Weight? I let my body decide, reach an equilibrium-balance, settled where it wants to be.

Today...went back to my surgeon (and office staff) who I have not seen in a few years......Reason? To discuss having the band removed. Why? Not that there are problems, not that it does not work, but because it did work...for years. I figure by now I have learned new habits....eating small portions, abstaining form certain foods such as meat, flour based products, etc....learning Protein and Water is a daily given. I feel I can survive with out the band. So they removed ALL the Fluid from my band, 8cc's. Will go back in December and start planning the pre-surgery clearances and decide on a surgery date. probably Jan-Feb.

It's been a very rewarding experience. Best decision I ever made. Literally saved my life.

Now for the fun part.....My surgeon and the weight loss center, stopped doing bands altogether.

I asked why, and was told, with a few exceptions such as myself, there is a high failure rate. Now I know this has been a topic here, and I did not have an opinion, until today. I trust these people whole heartily. I asked if the band was no good? Answer was the band is just fine...it's the patients who get the band who are the problem. The staff just could not "Babysit" anymore.

Sorry, many did not want to hear that...but take it from me who is successful..there is nothing wrong with the band.

I do not come around here that much....today I cruised all the topics, and they are all the same as they ever were.....Sorry, but veterans can answer the same question over and over just so many times. And I can read between the lines from the questions being asked, that many just don't get it...they are asking old traditional questions other than the new way of thinking questions.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Haven't seen you in a long time! Nice to see you again.

We are going to have to agree to disagree on the band. Sure lots of people eat around it but, the human body rejects foreign objects. The band is also know for eroding stomachs and it can slip. I think the whole point of it was residual income for Doctors.

Glad to hear you are doing well! Wishing you the best of luck and continued success.

And yes it is the same questions over and over in an echo chamber. I always wondered why no long term WLS patients were active on boards and I completely understand now.

[DropWt4Life 957]

B-52. ....Welcome back to the community.

My wife's friend had lap-band several years ago. She lost and kept off over 100 pounds, so I would consider that a success. She has had issues with her adjustments though, and has had spells where she couldn't swallow anything. She also had a time where she had no Fluid in her band, and gained some weight as her hunger returned. She is now looking into getting VSG, because she doesn't want to have to keep up with the maintenance any longer. She has also had to change doctors twice as her old doctors no longer service the band.

I do agree that many people bend the rules a bit too far, which can lead to a less than successful outcome. I have known people to disregard the pre-op diet, and have meals the night before surgery. I have also known someone to eat solid food as early as 2 weeks post-op. Luckily, she didn't cause a leak or some other issue, but she definitely could have.

As far as having to answer the same questions over and over......It is less than ideal, but YOUR input is greatly appreciated as you have been there and done that. I CANNOT STRESS HOW INVALUABLE THE INPUT FROM VETERANS IS TO THE COMMUNITY. I wish that people would stay, and I am happy that OutsideMatchInside, Introversion, proudgrammy, shedo82773, Julie Norton, and others have chosen to stick around.

I, for one, have answered several questions several times myself. I don't mind though, as I know that I am blessed to have experienced a little bit of success so far, and I wish that for everyone. I was a youth in crisis counselor in my former life, and I love helping people.

Congratulations on your successful journey. A complete reversal of the surgery is just something you don't hear about every day. Maybe you can start a thread on how you eat 6 years out without the assistance of your band. I would be interested to find out.

[LadyMaggie 145]

I also appreciate the updates over the years from B52; I have followed his posts since I had my lap band surgery in April 2012. I wish him good luck on the next phase of his life without the band.