looking to here from long term banders

Thanks you. I'll visit your blog for more info. I hope all is well with you. Sorry about the port replacement, but I give you a lot of credit for not giving up. What kinda head work did you do? I'll take some head tips if your willing to share. I really want to succeed so if there's something else I can do before hand that will benefit me I'm open to it and all ears.

thepose

 Hi there!  No regrets here.  I was banded 4-1/2 years ago, lost 120 lbs. in a little over a year, and have remained within a 20 lb. range since then.  I think I probably had the best case scenario with the band until very recently, when I was unfilled because of an ulcer that may have been caused by keeping a little too much fill in the band for too long.  I truly believe (and hope) that this is just a tiny blip in my lap band journey.  Here's a link to a recent post I made about it:  

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4321420/TamiFromAL-Yep-th ats-me/#35627435

I have to say that even though I love my band, and appreciate all it has done for me, I personally know several people who did not have the same kind of band experience that I had.  The band does take effort on your part to be successful.  It helps with portion control and hunger management.  The rest is up to you.  Before you make a final decision, investigate all your options.  Once you make a decision, stay positive, and know that you can be a success!  There are a lot of people on wls forums who genuinely believe that their surgery is the best, and another surgery should be avoided at all costs.  That's because they've suffered and struggled.  It doesn't mean that *you* will.

Tami

Thanks Tammi,

I don't want to be one of those people who get banded and then go into by-pass or vsg or ds etc. I've been seeing a lot of people with band surgeries that are successful. You are right just because they struggled doesn't mean I will. Thanks for that Tammi.

thepose

 Hi, pose-smile-love ya!

Hi Bette B.

Love ya too and you go gurl!

I love my band. It was the best decision for ME. I've had no complications, only a little too tight a couple of times and I went in for a slight un-fill. Usually due to stress. Just keep researching, good luck.

Thanks Mari


Keep up the good work.

thepose

Well I'm one that wishes I hadn't gotten the band. However I don't thin I was a usual pre-op either. I had already been on a 1000 calorie a day diet for over a year and I have a truck load of health problems that pretty much prohibit exercise. I also lost my bariatric insurance after the first year so haven't been able to get fills altho I'm at a pretty good spot right now and probably couldn't handle a fill anyway. That said tho I never did have great restriction before all this and I have always still felt hunger, unlike some other folks. I wish I had known a bout the sleeve because that seems to work like the band but you get instant restriction and don't have to mess with trying to get a good fill restriction. That's my 2 cents on the situation, so research everything before you decide. Good luck to you!

Hi hilady,

I'm sorry the band didn't work our for you as you would of liked it to, I can certainly understand how the health problems hindered your success. I still give you credit for trying wand wanting a better life. There's no real way of knowing if the sleeve would of been the best fit you could of had the same problems you have now or more. Again thanks for the post and for replying. I appreciate everyone 2 cents including yours.

thepose

 I am going on 6 years post op, no complications thus far and I still have my original band and I lost most of my weight and still maintaining and Happy!