Now what?

I had Band surgery in 2007 and although I am a slow loser, had managed to lose 74 pounds by Feb. 2009.  I feel the doc used too large of a band, (14cc's) to start with.  It took so many visits and a year and a half later, I finally got decent restriction!  Why did it take so much?
After just re-joining OH tonight,   I have read several posts about stress affecting the band.  In April of last year, after several months of severe stress on my job, I had to have alot of fluid removed from my band because of 12 solid hours of vomiting even over my own saliva!
A week later, after waiting over an hour for my surgeon for a scheduled appt., I found out he was in the adjoining hospital on rounds instead of keeping his appt. with me.  Thanks Doc!  I was so upset I walked out and do not plan to return.  Problem is, I was laid off, now have no insurance to see another doctor and have since regained half of the weight I had managed to lose.  My band is working, even though I can eat too much now, it does restrict me.  Just not enough!

 

The band can be very costly if you don't have insurance. As far as Drs. actually keeping the apt. times that THEIR offices set..............doesn't always happen! :-( Might try a different Dr. though.

At this point you have 2 choices..............either pay for fills. Or just don't have enough restriction. :-(

Look up fill centers in your area . They can be cheaper than a surgeons office. If you are going to find another Dr I would get on it if not you could always give yours another chance and tell him what happened and how upset you were. The band will not work w/o the maintanance and aftercare . Good luck to you though which ever you choose.:)

 So you're still down 30+ lbs., right?  So, you're still a step ahead.  I know it's not where you expected to be four years out from surgery, but without the band you might have regained it all.  At least, that was always my pattern before getting the band.  I could lose weight when I got my mind and motivation in gear, but I couldn't maintain that motivation long-term, and the weight would quickly come back, along with more.  

The band is certainly not a quick fix, and it's not easy.  You have to get adequate after-care, and you have to significantly change your lifestyle (food/exercise) to lose weight with the band.  It's really just a little bit of extra help beyond traditional weight loss methods.  I may be reading more into your message than you meant, but I'm a little concerned about your comments on restriction.  The band really isn't meant to restrict you from eating, and the term "restriction" is really kind of mis-leading.  Here's a link to a post with an article from a well-respected bariatric doc about what we can expect the band to do.  

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/4320963/Dr-Simpsons-artic le-on-restriction-Should-be-compulsory/

I'm completely unfilled right now, but when I follow the band rules, and drink my water, I can still manage my hunger and lose weight, even with minimal restriction.  In a way, it's been easier for me since getting unfilled because it's more comfortable to eat dense protein and fresh veggies.

Wishing you better luck with your weight loss journey.

Tami

Thanks Tami!  I have to say that prior to this issue, I realized that I had been asking my band to do alot of the work for me and was realy surprised to come to that understanding.  I thought I understood what was to be expected of the band and what my role was in it all.

 So, I had actually started owning my part in it and had finally gotten to a weight I haven't seen in over 20 years.  

May I ask you, are you unfilled because you have reached your goal?

I agree about the veggies and dense protein, had the same issues.  I will look at the link you provided and hopefully can glean the info I am needing about restriction.

 No, I am unfilled because I took a wrong path, and fully own up to it.  I got to goal, and then had some personal life issues that led me to gain about 15 lbs.  Rather than dealing with those extra pounds like I did to lose to goal (by eating whole, healthy foods and exercising, and only using the band as an *aide*), I went to the doc and got a fill.  I knew for months that I was borderline "too tight", but justified to myself why I was at a good level.  I had too much stomach acid, and ended up with an ulcer (diagnosed by endoscopy).  I will get another endo in a month or so, and believe the ulcer has healed because I don't have any problems with heartburn an longer.  But, I don't plan on another fill anytime soon.  Besides the fact that I am pretty close to goal (158, would like to be 145-150), I know from my personal experience that I actually have better quality of life, and better eating habits when I am a bit on the loose side.  Even completely unfilled, the band still limits the amount that I eat at one sitting, and helps keep me from being as ravenous as I was before getting the band.  But, I really, really have to be careful about what I eat.  When I eat the wrong stuff (primarily simple carbs), I crave more of them and I just feel ****ty, mentally and physically.

Tami

Thanks for telling me this.  And I did look up the link for the post you had provided.  Although I know that my failure to work with the band is indeed my ownership, that link was so valuable!  It should indeed be a pre-requisite for any bariatric surgery!!
Once I realized that I was expecting my band to do more than it is designed for, I have been able to become more responsible for myself.  I still do not eat the breads, pasta, rice, etc. because they were part of what got me here.  I too was always "borderline" too tight, I thought that was where I should be.  But I could not eat most veggies, any salad type food, most chicken without a sauce of some sort, etc..Since I had fluid removed, I have been able to enjoy those foods.
  I look forward to hitting my goal and know it will take just a bit longer than planned.  But thank you so much for your information!  It helps to know we are not alone.