band free, never felt better

I can't see Naomi's psot as she ahs me blocked. But from Tami's quote....

I am self-pay as are most of the people I know. I have never kept my band too tight - and neither have they!

Sometimes the bandster is at fault but often the problems arise however careful people are. We shoudl not leap to judgement.

Kate

Sorry Naomi, but that is a major generalization, and a wrong one at that. I wasn't self pay, nor were any of my friends who have had their bands slip (mine more than once). I never kept it too tight, never had reflux and my band still slipped twice. I would throw up yogurt a soup with only a few cc's in. I just revised to the sleeve last week and the upper gi showed permanent esophageal damage from the band. We won't even talk about how safe it is when they have to spend 2 hours surgically removing my stomach scar tissue caused by something that's supposed to be reversible.

I'm glad you're doing well with your band but unfortunately most of the people I know who have been banded haven't been so lucky, and not because of being self pay or being too tight.

I am self pay for the band 20,000 dollars and Im the opposite I dont keep my band tight if fact I keep mine on the loose side just for the fear of getting to tight and complications happening.

Good for you! I guess what I was trying to say was I've seen way too many band slippages over the years that self paid and these were unnecessary complications --- meaning, only if they went in to see their surgeon quickly if any problems arise; some people over the years admitted to not having the funds to pay for that needed unfill which meant the difference of keeping their bands or getting it removed. I am with you, if I paid $20,000 dollars for something I would make sure that I would follow rules and see my surgeon if ANY thing unusual happens, I almost slipped my band 4 years ago, but I was saved by a complete unfill and rest period, if I had not gone back to see my surgeon I am sure my band would have been removed long time ago, but aftercare is necessary ESPECIALLY if someone keeps their band on the tight side.

Right now, I am properly restricted and I probably don't need to see my surgeon but only once a year just to make sure things are OK, I don't need anymore fills and I have good restriction and I don't fear band slippage at this point since I am not too tight, I've been there and done that.

they say you should never say never, so i hope this doesn't come back to bite me...but i have ZERO intention of ever having surgery again.  i don't regret having the band, but it didn't work for me and i feel like i dodged a bullet on weight loss surgery.  i have learned so much about nutrition and control, i am going to have to have confidence in myself to stay healthy. 
let me say.  the "diet" i am on now leaves me so satisfied.  i miss nothing.  and because i am putting next to nothing processed or manufactured in my body, i look and feel amazing.  my skin looks great, my hair looks great.  my body is strong and leaner.  i am so happy that i am finally nourishing my body with "real food" not synthetic, industrial garbage. 

Im like you I will never have another WLS done this one and done deal . If something happens I hope to have the common sense to continue on my own from what I have learned so far through all this .

I knew all long what I needed to do it just took me a 20,000 dollar surgery to finally put it all together . Most expensive learning lesson I have ever had in my life lol.

look at it this way:

i paid $13,000 to put a new roof on my house
my surgery was $16,500.

aren't we worth more than a roof?  we need to value ourselves

You are very right.

I told hubby if something happens to the band I have to have it taken out I will be 100% grateful for the weight I have lost because I would have never lost it without getting started on the band .

The most important thing to me also is I would have never quit smoking if I hadnt gotten the band.  I had to quit because of my doc and that alone has put yrs and yrs back on my life just from not smoking anymore  that is worth the 20,000 grand right there .

 
I don't know, I wouldn't say never.  Once you get a taste of thin it's damned frightening to realize you might regain.  I said your very words at one point, if the band didn't work or had to come out i was done, no more.  HA!  Not so much!

Stats for regain are very poor if someone loses their tool albeit a band, or any other surgery type malfunction.

My healthy fear of regain is what keeps me doing things the right way but I know me and for me I couldn't do it without my sleeve.

Yep I can for sure say its never going to happen I will not get another WLS done .  I just dont want my insides taken out or rerouted I just feel to strongly about that .

also, right now its like I dont even have a band in me to be honest.  I have no fills in me , my band is empty  all I'm doing is eating right and got off my ass and started to exercise and like any normal healthy weight loss I'm losing my 1-2 pounds per week and I'm totally fine with that .

The band right now is reminding me that I dont need all that food, to slow down to eat, and to chew well .  Maybe this will work for another month, six months or yrs down the line , or I could be going in next month for a fill who knows but right now things are working well without any fills.
But , there will be no other WLS for me I'm one and done with this no matter what happens to the band tomorrow or yrs down the line .